Getting to Know You

Neal: Born in Mt. Zion, Indiana/ 5′ 10" /farm family, dad—carpenter/ graduated Huntington College (United Brethren in Christ) 1957/ majors: math, chemistry, French/ choir/construction during the summers/ HS and college teaching career/ commercial pilot’s license/ MA. in math 1965 Central Michigan U./principal of mission HS in Sierra Leone 1966–69/ joined Wycliffe 1970/ married Carol Gratrix June 1979/ Translation of the Lama NT, northern Togo, West Africa completed and dedicated May 1994 and still committed to the Lama project/ computer software consulting and training at JAARS since August 1994 / SS teacher.

Enjoys: reading—big time, mainly Christian novels, ping pong, puzzles, Scrabble, working in the yard, quartet singing (in the past), flying (sacrificed on the wedding altar!).

Carol: Born in N. Hollywood, CA/ 5′ 7"/ dad—industrial engineer/ moved to N.Y. State 1962/ graduated Houghton College 1969/ French major/ linguistics, German, secondary education minors/ taught HS French two years/ joined WBT 1970/ seven years in Godié translation project, Ivory Coast, West Africa/ Masters in Literacy Communications, Syracuse University 1976/ writer and editor with the JAARS Creative Services team through 2014/ freelance writer/ presently working on the trilingual dictionary Lama (Togo)-French-English at www.webonary.org/lama/. 

Enjoys: reading, gardening, photography, art, needlework, Scrabble, collecting bird figurines.