After graduation, I worked for a couple of years as an engineer to pay off my school debts, and eventually took a leave of absence to attend the Summer Institute of Linguistics held in Norman, Oklahoma. I enjoyed the classes, and felt confirmed in God's calling, and continued on from there.

What gets you excited when you work with others in Bible translation? It is exciting when teams find a new, culturally appropriate way to discuss a biblical concept. It is exciting to see someone read and understand God's Word for the first time in their own language.

What is your consulting philosophy? A consultant check is not an examination that must be passed. I see it as one more check of the translation that all of the team is involved in. I encourage them to be looking for ways to improve the translation as we go through it. I am there to help and assist the translation team as they struggle to express the truths of the Bible in their own language. The team is responsible for the final product. My understanding of their language and culture is very limited, and they (along with the local churches) are the ones who are best equipped to make decisions about the translation.

What translation resources do you really value? My favorite resource for teams to use is Translator's Notes. Many of the UBS Handbooks are also very helpful.

How do you continue to grow as a consultant? (What helps you continue to grow as a consultant?) I find it very helpful to attend BT conferences, follow discussions on the BT list and MAP, and read articles in The Bible Translator and Journal of Translation.

How do you share your translation discoveries with others? I fear my "discoveries" have been few and far between. I have presented at the BT conference and shared ideas on the BT list.

Can you share about a time when you realized you were wrong and what you learned from it? When proposing changes in key terms, it is important to move forward slowly and to build consensus among the churches. Your "brilliant solution" may not shine so brightly for others.

What are your top tips for someone starting on a career path in Bible translation? Bible translation is impacted by a wide variety of subjects. It is good to get some experience in as many subjects as possible.

Share something that you learned from a mentor or from a mentee? From a mentor I learned that there is no one way to consult with a team. Each consultant has their own method, often based on their own strengths. A consultant should find the way that helps them help the team the most.

What do you see as the place of the church in Bible translation? The local churches are the true owners of any Bible translation in a language, and the translation should only be done with their full knowledge and participation. The more they are in control, the better.

What would you say to young/aspiring translators? Invest time in writing down and studying as many natural texts in your language as possible. They should be as many different types of texts (personal stories, advice, instructions, etc.) as possible. This is crucial to understanding the discourse structure of your language and developing a feel for how to express things in a natural way. This important step is too often neglected by teams, and the resulting translation is poorer because of it.