GEORGE & WENDY PAYTON • Wycliffe Bible Translators – Tanzania

Contact info George & Wendy Payton • c/o SIL-UTB • P.O. Box 6359 • Mbeya, Tanzania • george_payton@wycliffe.org wendy_payton@wycliffe.org • George cell: 951.445.1465 • Wendy cell: 951.216.4005

Anniversary: September 5, 1981

Birthdates: George 10/7 • Wendy 3/13 • Adam 1/16 • Luke 5/25 • Kerry 3/17 • Emily 8/5

WYCLIFFE BIBE TRANSLATORS: P.O. Box 628200 • Orlando, FL 32862-8200 • 800-992-5433 • 407-852-3600 • Fax 407-852-3601 www.wycliffe.org www.thetask.net info_USA@wycliffe.org

Ministry Synopsis

The Paytons work with Wycliffe Bible Translators.  They joined as full-time missionaries in 1982.  Currently they are based in Mbeya, Tanzania, in East Africa.  George is a translation consultant for Tanzania and Uganda.  His main assignment is to consult with the translators of the Mbeya-Iringa Cluster Project, a group of ten languages in southern Tanzania that Wycliffe is working among.  Goerge’s responsibilities entail training the Tanzanians who are translating the Bible into their own languages, and to check the translations in each language to ensure they are of publishable quality.  He is also developing a training program to equip new missionary colleagues in how to work with the Tanzanian translators, and how the missionaries can assist and advise the Tanzanians throughout the translation process.  Wendy works in the translation department, and also offers occasional help to other departments such as linquistics and literacy.  She assists new colleagues moving to Mbeya by lending practical advice on how to finding housing, get set up, and which places to shop.

In addition to their translation work, George and Wendy are looking to be involved with a local congregation.  The Paytons enjoy serving others through hospitality by opening their home for informal social gatherings and Bible studies.  George also preaches in local Swahili speaking churches on request.

About Wycliffe Bible Translators

Today more than 300 million people do not have the Bible in their own language.  Wycliffe’s vision is to see the Bible accessiable to all people in the language they understand best.  To make this vision a reality, Wycliffe also focuses on literacy development, community development and church partnerships.  We are men and women, young and old, from many nations and of many colors and cultures.  We come from many different churches and denominations, but we all worship one Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Unified in our calling, we pray for and work towards the day when every language community will have an equal opportunity to discover God’s truth in the Bible.

More Interesting Tidbits from the Paytons

The Paytons have five children.  Their two older sons, Adam and Luke, attend Biola University.  Kerry & Emily, following in their siblings’ footsetps, both attend Rift Valley Academy, a missionary boarding school in Kenya.  Hilary, their eldest, is married to Andrew Boone and they have one son, Ezekiel James born September 30, 2007.  Favorite family food:  Ethiopian food, Indian food is a close second; Favorite family pasttime:  Card and board games, quoting lines from movies, viewing African wildlife; Favorite family movie: Princess Bride, George of the Jungle, Milo and Otis; Favorite family vacation:  Spending a week at the beach (preferably on the Kenyan coast); Unbelievable fact:  Our family has moved house more than 40 times, and still counting!