“Choose not to be offended. Instead, look for ways to understand what happened.”

 Diane Lovell, Translation Consultant-in-Training, SIL Southern Africa I serve in Bible translation with SIL SOA and also work as Dean of Students at George Whitefield College in Cape Town, South Africa. I live and work in a multicultural family of Christian believers who all have ample opportunity to intentionally or unintentionally hurt each other. I’mContinue reading ““Choose not to be offended. Instead, look for ways to understand what happened.””

A lifetime of mentoring – interview with Dr Katy Barnwell

Dr Michael Jemphrey, Translation and Anthropology Consultant, SIL Dr Katy Barnwell needs no introduction to anyone in the Bible translation world. I first met her when I was a newbie consultant in training in Cote d’Ivoire at a consultant workshop she led in the 1980’s. The way she gently encouraged us and sensitively handled someContinue reading “A lifetime of mentoring – interview with Dr Katy Barnwell”

Speaking grace and truth in mentoring: how we grow through challenges

Kate M, Translation Consultant, SIL If somebody asked me, what was missing from mentoring I received as a translation consultant-in-training, I would say, “Being challenged – challenged to grow in my consultant and interpersonal skills; challenged to develop deeper knowledge of Biblical languages; challenged in writing papers; and challenged in my knowledge of related disciplines.”Continue reading “Speaking grace and truth in mentoring: how we grow through challenges”

Be careful what you ask…

Paul Murrell, Linguistics Consultant in Training, SIL Central African Republic “What work would you like to do next year?” I thought our question was a fairly straightforward one, but the stony silence that greeted it suggested otherwise. I was first amused, then bemused and finally completely disorientated as the minutes of silence stretched painfully intoContinue reading “Be careful what you ask…”

Expériences personnel dans le mentorat au travers des cultures / Personal Experiences in Mentoring Across Cultures

Joseph Koabike, Translation Consultant, SIL Togo-Benin We are happy to publish some posts both in English and in French. The English translation of this post is available below. To read in English, please scroll down. Dans l’exercice d’encadrement en tant que mentor, j’ai eu l’occasion d’accompagner cinq personnes de cultures différentes de celles d’Afrique. ParadoxalementContinue reading “Expériences personnel dans le mentorat au travers des cultures / Personal Experiences in Mentoring Across Cultures”

Les défis et les possibilités du mentorat au travers des cultures / The challenges and opportunities of mentoring across cultures

Joseph Koabike, Translation Consultant, SIL Togo-Benin We are happy to publish some posts both in English and in French. The English translation of this post is available below. To read in English, please scroll down. Toute activité qui met des gens de cultures différentes ensemble pour une même cause est une bénédiction pour les partiesContinue reading “Les défis et les possibilités du mentorat au travers des cultures / The challenges and opportunities of mentoring across cultures”

Discussing expectations right from the start

Sarah Daubert, Linguist, SIL Cameroon I received a testimony from someone about a mentoring experience that didn’t go as expected. “I was mentoring two people who attended a Learning that Lasts workshop. For the next course that we co-taught, I thought I would give them the opportunity to apply what they’d learned. A month beforeContinue reading “Discussing expectations right from the start”