Download the December Beans'talk with photos here.

A shot in the arm

After our last Beans’talk, I had a lump in my throat and teary eyes reading all the encouragement many of you sent our way. Thanks team! Thank you for your faithful prayers moving this work forward and holding us all up in the process.

Missions

Some of you may remember Wilmer who worked in translation with us for years. His church now devotes the last Sunday night service each month to missions. Wilmer invited us to speak at their October missions night. We were impressed! With Wilmer’s guidance and the Holy Spirit’s work, adults and youth alike are learning & praying about the world.

Pastors & promoters together…

The first week of November leaders from three areas in the “state” of Ancash met together again to read Scripture, learn about translation, work on Scripture memory and work through some basic Bible studies. This time we studied prayer, what the Bible says about itself, and sharing one’s faith. Groups read from 800+ to almost 1,300 verses of Bible selections.

We had a number of new participants this time. Each of them expressed how much more deeply God word speaks to them in Quechua. A number of them read portions they’d never even heard of. A few men wondered aloud why most churches don’t simply read and teach what’s right in the Bible! Here Mark is checking in with the group representing South Conchucos.

Did God poison them?

Reading through Scripture portions one man came upon John 6:49. He was convinced that he had found a mistake. The text says, Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. His solution was to add a negative marker so the text would now read, “…but they didn’t die.”

“What?” Mark wondered when he saw the edit. Upon reflection he realized that the man had probably understood it as the people died as a result of eating manna. And, that couldn’t be right! Surely, God wouldn’t poison them! We’ll check to see if we can say something like “they all eventually died.”

A quick move

When we wrote last month our plan was to start getting ready to move so it would be easier at the end of the year when the landlord wants her house back. I’m glad I started sorting and making lists. Just a week before we were to travel to Huaraz for our scheduled workshops, we decided to totally move out of the house and move over to Huaraz.

Saying goodbye

Packing up and giving things away is easy. What was hard was trying to squeeze a bunch of goodbyes into one week. Saying goodbye is really important here. Mark taught at mid-week services in two different Quechua churches, each followed by lots of handshakes, hugs and photos. We were invited out for goodbye meals. The ladies’ group from church came to pray with me. More hugs, food and photos.

Each time I walked into town I tried to take a different route so I could stop and say good bye to people I regularly do business with, like the “egg lady,” certain shop owners, the money changers. All in all, I was emotionally spent. I can’t imagine what it would have been like if I were leaving for good and had no hope of being back in Huanuco to see some of them again.

Praises and Prayer Requests

*Praise: God provided a driver with a pickup truck that took us and our stuff all the way from Huanuco to Huaraz. We moved into a small furnished apartment belonging to another mission that’s available for a number of months.

*Praise: The time with leaders was good. We meet with them again December 14–18.

*Praise: Sumer has recovered enough to attend this workshop. All who can be here are here. Felipe arrived with bronchitis, though. Pray that he doesn’t share it!

*Pray: We are just finishing week one of a four week translation workshop. Pray for stamina, good health and attention to detail as Mark and the guys go over the edits that need to be considered together. This workshop is due to end December 11th.

We are thankful for YOU. May you each have thankful hearts through out the year, not just this Thanksgiving season.

Mark and Patti Bean