Elaine dreamed from a very young age of going to Africa, and she’s grateful for the support of her family and church, who nurtured this desire and enabled her to leave for the field in 2009. Through Wycliffe, she is able to use her analytical and management skills as a linguist supporting Bible Translation. After six years in Cameroon, Elaine finished her MA in linguistics and transferred to work as a linguist in Chad.
Chad is a harsh but vibrant country, with over 120 spoken languages, the majority of them used by unreached people groups. There is much language work to get done, but the laborers are so few. We’re excited that God is raising up more Chadian colleagues, and Elaine is getting ready to move from a field assignment in the center region to the position of countrywide Linguistic Coordinator based in the capital.
Elaine loves living in Africa, and one of her great joys is her host family, with whom she’s been staying for six years. Through them she has a precious goddaughter, Little Elaine, along with the stability and security that family life brings. As a single missionary, it’s easy just to focus on the work and lose sight of the good things God has given, but having a host family gives Elaine a balanced life.
In addition to work in linguistics, Elaine also serves as our branch’s internal board chair, and on the side she runs a small crochet business to raise additional funds for literacy work. Check it out at the link!
Elaine gives thanks to God’s provision of so many prayer and financial partners, and she would love to share with you what God is doing here in Chad!