When we started working in the village, Vila Nova in 1996, Sonia already knew the Graham’s because she had worked there for a couple of years as a single missionary. So, we had sporadic contact over several years with Al and Sue. Al was like a father and a friend and Sue was like a mother and a friend.
I started translating Genesis around 2000-2001. Then, after receiving some formal training through an American consultant from New Tribes Mission I began to understand better how to translate the Bible.
During his life Al Graham did most of the Bible translation. But when he died in November of 2010; Sue felt that she wanted to finish the translation. She asked me if I would be willing to form a partnership to help translate portions which had not yet been translated. We worked together on this for around 6 to 7 years. So, I had been an active member of the translation project for a number of years.
There are several reasons why both Sue and her family and the pastors from her church felt that a revision of the Bible translation was necessary which was discussed during the time we were together in the village in 2017, and I was tasked with this responsibility.