A Smashing Success
This past weekend the women’s ministry in Margos started a new Bible study: book #1 of our basic discipleship series. The 49 participants represented at least six different villages. Many hiked in drizzling rain to attend. So many ladies showed up from the village of Yacus that their pastor asked if it would be okay if he taught it right in their own church. He and his wife will team teach. Another church much further up the mountain decided it was just too far for everyone to hike to Margos. So, one of the leaders who is from there will be teaching the course in her church. What an exciting beginning!
They did it themselves
I’m so proud of these women. They planned, organized, executed and financed this all on their own. At times there was creative chaos, as when they made paper flowers with only 4 pairs of scissors. At the end of the lesson they used a chalkboard for review. You can see it here held up by two women while everyone else came up to write a word.
A “women’s event”
See the two men in the photo below? It is no big deal for men and teens to attend a women’s event. Not included in the head count were lots of nursing babies and toddlers, too.
Pleasant problem
We have sold out our second printing of this first Bible study book. That’s a thousand copies out, not counting all the original studies done with Xerox copies. That’s good news! With others planning to start the series we need to get hopping on a reprint.
Today another Old Testament workshop began! Somewhere in the midst of all this activity we will work in all we need to do to update and reprint the Bible study book.
Praises
- The translation chart has a new purple square: the book of Proverbs. That means that it’s ready to be adapted this translation workshop. We hope to adapt Esther and at least part of Proverbs this time around.
- The opportunity to see God work in the marriage of a couple we’ve counseled.
- Our youngest, Ernie, participated with his ROTC team at the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at West Point this past weekend. Only eight ROTC teams are invited to join teams from military schools around the world for a two-day competition.
Prayers
- We encouraged a respected Quechua leader and his wife to return to the area after years living in Lima. He would love to. One factor that holds him up is their three unmarried daughters. It is hard for the mom to leave them. I totally understand her mother’s heart! Pray with us that Antonia would be excited about she and her husband doing Quechua ministry, and be able to trust God for the lives of her children.
- I’ve had an ear infection for nearly two weeks now. While it is a small thing, please pray towards its end.
Thank you dear friends!
Mark and Patti Bean
