God's Faithful Work in Action
Bible translation and ministry in South America.
When have you had a prayer answered or learned a lesson in an unexpected way?
Around the world, God is revealing Himself through His Word every day to people. God’s faithfulness is all around us, transforming our challenges into moments for Him to display His grace and miracles — if only we pause and recognize what He is doing.
Jenniffer Ortiz, a field coordinator from Colombia, has witnessed God’s divine handiwork firsthand. Her work across South America — from remote Amazon communities to growing local churches — is a testament to how God listens to our prayers, positions us in our communities for a purpose and works in ways beyond our imagination.
Ephesians 3:20-21 (NLT) reminds us of God’s goodness to us, His faithfulness across generations and how He is worthy of all our praise: “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.”
Jenniffer shared several stories that help us see that when we place our trust in God, we become part of something greater than our own plans. God is able to do far more than we ever could ask or imagine.
God’s Faithfulness in the Amazon: Ministering with the Piapocos
The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the LORD turns his face against those who do evil. — 1 Peter 3:12 (NLT)
In the heart of the Amazon jungle, the Piapocos people longed to understand the full story of God’s Word. They embraced Jesus, built churches and walked in faith, yet their hunger for a deeper understanding of Scripture remained unfulfilled. Despite the fact that they have no internet and no electricity, their prayerful hearts were resolute.
Jenniffer took multiple flights, a cargo plane laden with supplies and then a journey by canoe to travel to their remote community. There, she listened to stirring testimonies of individuals who had journeyed for days or weeks just to attend a gathering in the community. During the event, which lasted five days, around 100 people from various Piapoco communities came together to form a pastoral committee. They made decisions and assumed responsibilities related to the translation project.
God heard their prayers to know Him more fully.
When four local believers were chosen and commissioned to translate the Old Testament, there was no funding, no technology and no project approval. Yet, the persistent prayers of the Piapocos ignited a breakthrough.
By 2023, the translation project was officially approved, and by 2025, the team had the tools they never imagined possible: satellite internet, computers and a dedicated group of people working on the Book of Ruth. God provided!
Ramiro Rodriguez, the pastor of the church in the Piapoco community of Pueblo Nuevo and a member of the pastoral committee, captured the moment beautifully in a video and said:
The story of the Piapocos translation is a powerful reminder that prayer is about trusting a God who listens and acts in His perfect timing. Jenniffer shared how stories like this have impacted her faith: “[That] I have a God that hears me, that I have a God that understands and listens to me when I cry to Him, that His ears are open, that His eyes are on me, that the Lord is looking out for me … that’s amazing.”
Just as 1 Peter 3:12 encourages us, our God hears the cries of our hearts and cares for us. The inspiring faith of the Piapocos is as a testament to God’s attentive ear; He provided the resources for their community to begin translating the Bible into their own language!
Not only does God hear us, but He positions us in unexpected ways to make a difference.
Finding Purpose in God’s Mission in Panama
We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps. — Proverbs 16:9 (NLT)
In Panama, an indigenous church reached out to Jenniffer with a heartfelt request: Although they had the New Testament in their language, they yearned for the full counsel of God’s Word through having the Old Testament too. Eager to serve them, Jenniffer traveled from Colombia to Panama City and then embarked on a six-hour drive to the remote town of Yaviza. From there, her adventure continued aboard a canoe, crossing a wide, powerful river.
Instinct led Jenniffer to choose to sit in the middle of the canoe, where she expected the most security. Yet with his deep understanding of the river, the local pastor guiding her carefully assigned each person a place. To her surprise, he placed her at the very back. Initially, the position felt uncertain and less safe — but it was the best place for her to maintain the balance for the whole group. As the canoe glided steadily across the river, Jenniffer recognized the wisdom behind the pastor’s decision and saw it as a metaphor for God’s Kingdom:
“[The pastor] was excited to organize everybody in different places in the canoe. Other partners who were in the stream had to be in different places. … Eventually, I understood that the pastor knew more than me about how to keep the balance in the canoe, and he organized everybody in the perfect place.”
Trusting God with our placement and purpose in life invites us to be part of His mission in remarkable ways, and the best part — He is with us every step of the way: “We are part of God’s mission, but we aren’t alone, because Jesus said that the Holy Spirit is going to be with us in this mission,” Jenniffer noted.
Jenniffer witnessed how every role within the community and Bible translation efforts — translators, pastors, teachers and prayer warriors — can come together to form a balance like a group in a canoe. Trusting God’s placement, though sometimes challenging, is for our good and His glory.
Embracing Your Unique Place in God’s Greater Story
Today Jenniffer continues her work as a field coordinator, inspiring people in the global Church with stories of faith, perseverance and transformation that are happening in Bible translation. Her ongoing experiences in South America are a testament to the ripple effects of trusting God with our lives. As we reflect on these narratives, we are reminded that we are all part of a greater mission: To make His name known among the nations.
1 Corinthians 12:12 (NLT) affirms, “The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.” Each of us plays a vital role in advancing God’s Kingdom here on earth. Whether you partner with the ministry of Wycliffe missionaries, advocate for Bible translation or share stories of transformation within your local church, your unique gifts and talents are essential to ensuring that every person has access to Scripture.
Let’s all embrace our role in God’s mission and celebrate the incredible ways that He is at work in the hearts and lives of His people around the world today!
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