‘Whatever we can do, no matter how small, it can be used in his kingdom!’

Mum told me that she became a Christian aged 13, around the time of the Lewis Revival. She and her friend both gave their lives to Jesus and would travel to church meetings together

Her early life was important and she always felt her roots were well planted in Lewis. However, when she reached adulthood she moved to Glasgow to train and work as a primary school teacher. She also had a period working in Inverness, before returning to Lewis, where she lived and worked for the rest of her life. In 1972, Mum married my dad, John, and eventually had me and my brother, Finlay. Lewis is where we were brought up and where I’d regularly return to visit them. Later in life she loved to travel, especially to Scandinavia.

‘Bible truths were always at the forefront of our lives’ 

When I told my Mum I’d become a Christian, she didn’t seem surprised. I guess she’d put so much prayer into me, the news was just a great blessing to her. Throughout the years, I’ve never known Mum not to be involved with lots of mission work. She would write to people she knew overseas and would support all manner of great causes. I still have my old mission collection box, from when I was a child, which Mum gave me and my brother to help raise funds at mission meetings!

‘People can only truly understand God’s word when it’s in their own language’

Bible translation interested Mum for her whole life. Growing up with Gaelic, she knew that people can only truly understand God’s word when it’s in their own language.

As the years went by Mum always felt connected to the Leafa people – that she in a small way was helping them to hear the blessing of God’s word. Every time she got updates on the progress of the Leafa translation she would share them with the family. I still have every copy. They were precious to her.

Mum always had lots of wool and loved knitting, so that’s what she did for God’s kingdom. She began by knitting a pair of socks and would go on to knit 200 pairs – all to raise money to help fund the work of the Leafa translation team.

‘Her final gift was to leave a gift in her Will’ 

When Mum died, I found out that she had decided that her final gift was to leave a gift in her Will to Wycliffe’s work.

At some point I know she will meet Leafa people in heaven and know she had a part in that.

Joan’s gifts have greatly blessed the Leafa Bible translators, with whom she partnered for over 25 years.

‘We give thanks and praise to the Lord for “Sister” Joan’s enduring support and love for the Leafa people. We appreciate the support, prayers and encouragement from the Bible translation family.’ – Leafa team

The gift in Joan’s Will has helped fund the last year of the programme as they look to dedicate and launch the New Testament later this year.

If, like Joan, you would like to consider leaving a gift in your Will for the work of Wycliffe we would love to hear from you.

Simply click the link below and complete the short form and we will send you some information to help you to explore how to leave your own lasting legacy for the work of Bible translation.

Consider a gift in your Will

Thank you for taking the time to reflect on this, and for considering a gift in your Will for those still waiting to receive the Bible in their own language.