Download the December 2013 Beans' Talk here.

More traveling adventures

When we ask for prayer for traveling mercies, we really mean it. “Traveling adventures” could be a subtitle to our lives. I wish we’d had our camera handy traveling to this work-shop. What would we show you?

Photo #1: a long line of cars paralyzed at a dead stop on the narrow mountain road.

Photo #2: the two of us pulling very heavy suitcases full of equipment and books, gingerly walking a narrow strip between a steep drop-off on one side and freshly poured asphalt on the other (the reason for the closed road.) After a good half hour’s work, someone rescued us when we reached part of the road that didn’t have asphalt poured yet.

Photo #3: the two of us perched high up in the cab of a giant dump truck working on road repair. The dump truck driver rescued us.

Photo #4: waiting (for two hours) in hot sun and blowing dust at the intersection where the dump truck dropped us off, hoping to find a ride to the town where we would catch our bus. We missed the bus that leaves at noon.

Photo #5: the shed located in the bus yard that has a motorcycle stored in it as well as three rickety, lumpy beds for travelers. The only other bus leaves at 3am. We paid $2.20 each to use a bed that countless others had already used. There was only one other traveler in the room with us.

Photo #6: peering out the bus window on our way to Huaraz. Hurray! We made it in 26 hours!

Sticking with translation

Juan Julio is one of the guys who works with us in translation. Up until recently, we have been able to keep him employed nearly full time by sending him work to do between workshops. This last time, however, we had too many other commitments and weren’t able to send him enough work.

The first day of this current workshop Juan Julio told how in October he had decided to quit translation and had accepted a full time job in a city on the northern coast. His wife and family were not keen on his accepting the job so job far away.

The day he thought he was to leave he was told that the employers would come by for him the next day. So, he went home and worked on his roof.

In the process of repairing his roof, he fell and bruised his back so badly he was in no shape to travel the next day. Juan Julio felt like God was trying to show him he needed to stay put. So, he showed up at the workshop after all and is sticking with translation.

Enrique was also offered a full-time job driving for a mining company. While his mom and siblings rooted for him to take the new job, his dad encouraged him to continue on the translation team to see the Bible completed. When Enrique heard Juan Julio’s story, he wondered what God might have done to get his attention if he hadn’t stuck with translation!

We have two full years left to work as a team. Although we will be cutting back, we are trusting God to keep enough of us together until the end to be able to finish well.

A follow-up on sending out disciples

Last workshop, Mark worked up a teaching guide on Psalm 19 for the guys to take home. Coming together again for this workshop, we learned that ten of the twelve men had opportunities to teach Psalm 19. We thank God for these men and how he uses them to en-courage others.

Not a full house

This workshop we are struggling with not always having all the guys together. For the first time ever, one man had the dates wrong and missed most of the first week of the workshop. We couldn’t get a hold of him be-cause he lives out of cell phone range. One arrived late still recuperating from a bad case of bronchitis. Others had to miss time for important events like weddings and a long awaited doctor’s appointment in the capital city. Still, we are making progress.

So thankful

There are SO many things to be thankful for. We don’t often stop to thank YOU for your part in this work. Some of you faithfully pray for us, for the men we work with, for a stronger Quechua speaking church, or for our family. Others support the work financially. And still others encourage us personally. We are thankful for each one of you!

Praises and Prayer Requests

? Praise: For the men on the team who taught others from God’s word since the last workshop. Pray that they will continue to have opportunities to teach others.

? We’re just half way through this workshop: one group finished John and is now working on Matthew; the other group is in the Psalms. We’ll post the translation progress chart next month.

? December we’ll be plugging away with Walter, Felipe and Leoncio finishing up revising the final books of the New Testament for future workshops.

Grateful for the life God gives us,

Mark & Patti