DSOL (Designing for Speakers of Other Languages)

Things have been so busy, sorry I haven't posted much! But, here's some designs I've been working on for the Translation Center. For most, I still need to coordinate with the translators on the actual text for the covers — which means the type will be totally different!

Miracles of Grace is a devotional book dedicated to literature evangelism ministry (think door-to-door), with testimonies and inspiring stories from literature evangelists around the world. It's being translated into Khmer (Cambodian language), which is actually one of the more challenging languages to work because of the unicode font issues (booklet layout in Publisher, maybe even for the cover). Not my favorite program to work in... but I can take it.


Cover for Steps to Christ, being translated in a Southeast Asian language (forgive me if I don't say which due to religious liberty issues). I'm not sure if they're familiar with the poem “Footprints” but it makes for a nice abstract representation of one's walk with God. Personally, I'm pretty reluctant to have illustrations of a Westernized Jesus to reach an Asian audience.

Cover for End Time Countdown, being translated in a Southeast Asian language (again, forgive me if I don't say which due to religious liberty issues). This cover will look TOTALLY different once I get the actual text, as the said language groups itself into phrases, much like Thai. We may even change the title to be something more appropriate for the audience. Anyway, the book shares/compares the Biblical signs of Jesus' coming with world events.... Ok ok, I take it back about how everything gets longer when translated into this language! They changed the title (because the translation doesn't sound as good) to “End of the Road for the World.”




Health book, in editing process for a Southeast Asian language, that's been retitled as “Listen”—which I thought was interesting for a book like this. Below is an inside spread and a screen shot to show how complicated editing the language is. As far as I know, there's no plugin for handling phrases in this language... so that means I have to wait a long time on my edits!

Prison Ministry (from Feb 20)

A couple weeks ago, the other volunteers and I went to help the Bangkok Adventist Hospital team with prison ministries. Through gracious donations of care packages, supplies and time, we were able to help care for and minister to many prisoners. This prison has about 4,000 inmates, and supplies and even beds are scarce. If the prisoner has no family or friends to bring him new flip-flops or toiletries, he goes without. Our church ministry donated 2,000 care packages to those without family or friends. Also, we saw about 400 dental patients that day. There is next to no resource for them when having medical or dental problems, so we were thankful that God could use us to be a blessing. We also had a small worship program with the kids singing songs. We are praying that God would help strengthen our brothers in prison.

Triage for inmates. They are short-staffed, it seems and they help each other with this process.

Setting up tools and pharmacy.


The student missionaries I work with helping assist! Good job you guys!


Part of the sterilization process. The line behind doubled after lunch. Can you imagine *your* waiting room like this? Below, mother and daughter team as assistants. :)


Here we are in one section of the prison, with the piles of care packages. Even though it was quite hot, everyone was in a good mood for this gift giving process.


Many of the prisoners had been without shoes for quite some time. They looked happy to get new flip-flops!

Back at the dental station, here is the old auto-clave. We are praying for a new one, since it so old and we don't know how long it will last. In order to keep visiting prisons and doing this ministry, we must have sterile tools, since we cycle through them constantly — about ever 10 minutes. A replacement auto-clave costs about 2500USD. Please pray that God would touch someone's heart to help us with this need.


The kids cheered some of the prisoners with songs and a short worship service. :)

After lunch I got to help, and learned about the different tools. These guys are tough (and happy to see the dentist), but I still cringed for them every time we had to dig the roots out! :(

Inmates from another section receiving their care packages... I could hardly believe there were 4,000 at this prison. The men sleep in shifts since there aren't enough beds/mats. Please pray that God would comfort their hearts. And pray that we could continue to visit and help.