Plautdeutsch Book Translation: Between 2 Gods

Born in Mexico, into an Old Colony Mennonite family, our home was filled with violence, death threats and sexual abuse. This caused deep struggle in my teens, as I tried to make sense of God and life in a context of religion, with such troubling dynamics. Troubled, and weary of the violence, I left home the month before I turned 16. I often say "I packed 20 years worth of living into the next two years of my life!" Eventually, engaged to an ex-drug dealer, living with his father who was yet more violent than my own, I was surrounded by darkness I never could have imagined. There, God found me. Out of that desperation He drew me into a place of healing and redemption, soon after my 18th birthday. 

In 2015, I published a memoir sharing this story of tragedy and redemption. It has been my dream to have it translated to Plautdeutsch (Low German), my mother tongue, and have it be assessable to 'my people'. In 2017 I did a Low German conference in Lebenswasser Church, in Cuauhtémoc, Mexico. Roughly 250 women attended. (This was a miracle. My Plautdeutsch is rusty, at best. But God gave me the words). What my heart felt for my people before that conference paled, compared to what was birthed that weekend. A woman from my culture, some years my senior, wrapped her arms around me, thanking me through tears for daring to speak out about abuse. "I love you. I love you!" she repeated in my arms. "You have a hard story, don't you?" I asked. She nodded, and tears flowed. She was one of many. And she was one who gripped my heart.

Finding a translator has been challenging, because Plautdeutsch has only been a written language in recent years. This month Pastor Hein Theissen reached out and said he has someone willing to look at the project. I posted this exciting news on FB, and received another message with potential individuals to help with aspects of the project. 

The initial cost for translation will be a bit over $3000 USD. This will not include proofreading, or preparing for print. We will have another individual  proofread and edit, and then have someone do an audio version for those who cannot read. In all, including producing some books, we anticipate expenses at a minimum of $10,000 USD.

While I will retain the copyright to my memoir, funds from books sold through Generations Unleashed will go towards funding  the charity. 

We hope to start this project shortly, and have the funds by end of August 2020. We will proceed with each phase as funds are available. This is something we cannot accomplish without the support of friends, loved ones, and those who have a heart for the Plautdeutsch community.

Thank you for your support, your prayers and your generosity! We wish you God's blessing!