Download the January 2016 Beans'talk here.

It’s the end of the year

Our goal has been to finish five Bibles before the 2015 calendar runs out. With only ten days to go, it is not going to happen. But, we are definitely getting closer!

Our goals expanded this year as one translation split into two. Both sides need more time to re-work all the books. Another translation needs more time to incorporate suggestions from the northern part of their area.

We trust that sometime this summer we will be able to turn these Bibles over for layout.

Checking things off

This past translation workshop we did a lot:

* We worked together through the 3,475 edits the men had individually made that needed further attention.

* Those edits came from looking over the 21,773 verses they have made edits to since July. We still have 2,316 more of those verses to check. More edits will come as the last three groups finish reading and editing.

* We wrote the last 38 book introductions and reviewed all the rest for both the Old and New Testament.

* There are 4,783 parallel passages in the Bible that we need to check. Multiply that by 6 versions and you get 28,698 verses. We’ve checked 4,129; not quite 15%.

* We started adapting a thematic index.

* We began preparing the glossary entries.

* We ran the entire Bible through an analysis program for two of the translations and cleaned up all the spelling errors.

* As a further translation check on key verses, we re-worked 3 more Bible studies, and adapted them for each of the six Quechua groups.

Scripture memory results

Shatu beamed as he told what a difference it makes when he gives messages on texts that he has memorized. He has thought a lot about these verses as he’s gone over them many times. When it comes time to preach, he says the message comes out much more powerfully. “The congregation really pays attention. There is something different. At moments like these, I feel like an instrument in God’s hands delivering his word.”

This past workshop we finished set two of the Navigator’s Topical Memory System with the men and started set three. See the verses at Navs TMS. Memorizing not only helps personally, but it is a great way fix key verses that need polishing.

A holiday tip

It’s easy in the States to overeat during the holiday seasons. If we were talking Quechua, maybe we would recommend that you don’t go looking for your stomachs too often! When the translation guys say: “Let’s go find our stomachs!” it means it time for a snack.

Street scenes in Huaraz

I’m learning my way around town. The top three photos on the first page are scenes you don’t see in Huanuco: towering snowcap mountains, newly plucked chickens hanging up right on the street, and fresh roast pork sandwiches, sold on the corner. Mmmmm!

Praises and Prayer Requests

* Praise: This month we finished both a 4-week translation workshop and another week with pastors, church members and Scripture promoters. This was our third time together with this group. We are thankful that they seem to have a better understanding that we are not simply translating their favorite Spanish version. They concentrated on word choices rather than translation choices.

* To get more information about what words people would like to see in their Quechua Bibles, we worked up a survey. Pray as people collect survey information the end of December and all of January. It’s important that we get information from all corners of each language area.

* January 17th to 23rd is our annual retreat down near the capital with colleagues. The time is always a relaxing break for us. Pray for the time we spend taking care of business with administrators, and praise God for refreshment and rest as we listen to messages and enjoy fellowship together.

We are thankful our children all have some family to celebrate Christmas with. What a priceless gift we’ve been given to be counted as part of God’s family because of the work of Jesus.

Mark and Patti