Coming to Terms.
Sitting in an oceanfront cafe, Bible open before her, Erika* came to a realization—God brought her to North Africa for a reason. “That was a big turnaround,” she says looking back on her first missionary term overseas. “I really didn’t like the country and I struggled a lot with the culture and the people.” But something clicked that afternoon, as she “came to terms” with God’s calling on her life. “I’m being obedient to him,” she reminded herself, “and he will work in ways that I can’t see.”
Erika’s journey to North Africa began long before her cafe experience. As an eighth grader, enamored by missionary biographies, her heart was already set on overseas missions. She went on her first missions trip as a high school senior, studied abroad during college, and entered a two-year missions term after graduation. On each of these trips—from Wales and France to Central Europe and North Africa—Erika’s Bible journeyed with her. “That was the Bible I would read when I was going through hard things like culture shock,” she recalls. “There’s a lot of sentimental value in it because it’s been all over the world with me.” That’s why, when the Bible started falling apart, she couldn’t bear to replace it.
“The moment I realized this might be a Bible I’d want recovered was when I started hot gluing the binding back together,” she says laughing. “I thought, ‘Maybe I do value this Bible.’” After a few unsuccessful attempts at gluing the Bible’s cover, her parents purchased the Bible Restoration Service for Erika as a graduation gift, after she recently completed her master’s program. A new cover will, she hopes, encourage future generations in their walk with God. “I want those who follow me to see this Bible as something I valued so much that I didn’t just toss it away when it got old.”
Erika survived the difficult term in North Africa without losing her zeal for missions. Now that seminary training is behind her, she hopes to head back overseas soon. And her newly restored Bible will, of course, once again join her for the journey. “I’m hoping it goes with me all across the world.”
*Name changed for security purposes.
BIBLE REPAIR NEEDS
Erika’s beloved Journaling Bible needed several key repairs: 1. The Bible’s cover needed to be removed and replaced. 2. The Bible’s spine needed to be cleaned and reinforced.
BIBLE REPAIR PROCESS
-
The cover on Erika’s Bible had completely fallen off the text block, leaving the pages exposed to possible damage. We removed this well-worn cover and replaced it using our c1535 leather color, including a closure strap to further protect the Bible’s pages for the future. Erika’s Bible cover now looks better and can travel anywhere for many more years.
-
As mentioned earlier, Erika tried hot glueing the Bible’s cover to the text block several times, leaving globs of glue on the spine. We removed this stream of glue, careful to not damage the Bible’s spine, and added a new mull to reinforce the binding.
Ready to Restore Your Bible?
We were honored to restore Erika’s special Bible. We would be honored to restore your Bible next.