Translating God’s Word for Quechua speakers in central Peru
Back to the drawing board!
Last month we explained that the verb “to change” has some problems for translation. We thought we’d found the solution to how to translate Malachi 3:6, I the LORD do not change. Our solution was to say, I the LORD am always the same. Our next step was to check our translation with people who were not involved in the translation. When we did, we found another problem. People thought it was saying that God looks the same as he’s always looked!
Ay yay yay! You know how we sometimes say “oh, she hasn’t changed one bit” and we mean she looks the same as she did years ago? Well, it turns out that’s the same sort of thing happening here in Quechua.
It seems that Quechua requires us to focus on what way God does not change. The rest of the verse gives us the clue: since God does not change, he has not destroyed his people. In other words, he keeps true to his promises to them, as in Genesis 28:14, no matter what. Well, now that’s something we can say! So, we are now translating in a way similar to how the NET Bible in English translates: “Since, I, the LORD, do not go back on my promises, you, sons of Jacob, have not perished.”
Good news from VBS classes
Last month we told about some villages being suspicious of the VBS classes held over the Peruvian summer vacation (January into March). Just last weekend we heard some great news from the team that held VBS up in Racchapampa and Tocana. That team met with lots of enthusiastic kids. There were so many that they had to share the same coloring page. I didn’t ask how they decided who would get to take the paper home! The kids didn’t seem to mind. The exciting thing is that many of the kids brought their par-ents to church for the first time. There may be a church plant someday in Tocana!
Try outs
In May three different young men from the Margos-Yarowilca Quechua speaking area will each spend a week with Mark in translation. We've been praying for another new person who is younger. Pray that one of these three might make a good possibility. We want to take advantage of the time the young men "try out" for work by building into their lives regardless of whether or not they end up in translation. Pray for Walter taking time to work through basic follow-up Bible study with each one who comes.
Under the weather
There are several reasons why Mark is look-ing for new men to work with. One has to do with health. If you total Walter, Wilmer and Felipe’s absences together over the past 6 months, they add up to 2 full months out due to illness.
This week (April 22nd) Wilmer is due to have surgery. Meanwhile Walter is taking medicine that makes it very difficult for him to stay awake and alert. Felipe often has sore throats and fevers. Pray for the health of Walter, Wil-mer and Felipe.
These three men are special to us. Walter now only works half days in translation. He feels too old for a full day even though he is only 62. Wilmer and Felipe are gifted in teaching and encouragement. We’re wonder-ing about helping them spend more time do-ing what they enjoy and are best at. Maybe that will help energize them.
Summer for Eric & Ernie
May in the US is the month school gets out and it’s time for summer jobs. For our two sons still in school it also means finding a place to live. Eric, finishing his junior year at Miami Uni-versity, will be working in Ocean City, New Jersey, living with a bunch of like-minded be-lievers as part of a Campus Crusade summer project. Work by day and discipleship and evangelism evenings and weekends. Twelve weeks in one spot.
Ernie, finishing his sophomore year at the University of Hawaii, Manoa, has a more var-ied summer planned. His first stop, two weeks in May, will be Vermont for Mountain Warfare School with the army.
Praises & Prayer Requests
• Praise God for some possibilities of new young men to work with. Pray for decisions to be made about whom to invite to continue work in translation. Pray for making a positive impact in their lives regardless of whether or not they continue with us.
• Pray for the health of Walter, Wilmer and Felipe.
• This month of May our oldest son, Andy, is due to graduate from his Air Force pilot training program. He still has flight hours to make up from when his ear was healing as well as some tough "check rides" to pass. They are working on formation flying now. Pray for him to do his best right through to the end, May 21st.
Thank you SO much!
Mark & Patti
