Download the October 2017 Beans'talk with photos here.

A concert in Germany

Last week, on the 13th, there was a benefit concert in Germany for the Quechua Bibles we’re shepherding to completion. “How’s that?” you ask.

Well actually, it was a concert our dear friend and colleague Angelika Marsch orchestrated as a gift to her church. It was a way to celebrate 30 years to the day her church commissioned her, and they have faithfully supported her ever since. After serving alongside us in Peru to help Quechua speakers learn to read in their language, she returned to Germany, where she served fourteen years as the director for Wycliffe Bible Translators there. She’s now in a new role.

A musician herself, Angelika once had the joy of producing a CD of Quechua-German songs along with Siegfried Fietz, one of the top Christian composers of German praise music. For the celebration at her church last week, she invited Siegfried along with his son to come put on a concert. With Siegfried’s music and the Quechua songs, the concert was a success. Part-way through the concert they did a video interview with Mark via Skype, introducing the project to the concertgoers. The church leaders had suggested that an offering be collected on behalf of these six Bibles. Then, the following Sunday, when Angelika spoke in her church, a second offering was taken.

We are so thankful for all the creative ways God uses to bring his work to completion. Thank you, Angelika (and your church family in Osnabrück)!

The day after the concert

We took off for Peru the next day. For awhile it really didn’t look like there would be seats for us on the one-flight-a-day Delta has to Peru. But, after most people had already boarded they called our names and squeezed us in. What a deal! It is still amazing that we can now fly like this.

Starting on the proofs

Two days ago we handed out notebooks with about a third of the proofs printed out to the four men who are meeting here in Huaraz. The other two projects printed out their respective books over in Huanuco where they’re meeting with the Huaraz group and Mark via Skype.

Actually, so far only one of the projects in Huanuco is meeting with Mark. The man for the other project still has to finish bringing in his barley harvest. He hopes to arrive next Monday. Time will tell how fast this proofing process will go.

Yes! We did move!

We’re happy to report that thanks to lots of help, we are now (when not on a trip to Peru) in our own home in Aurora, Ohio. Moving day was September 2nd. We are settled enough, and in time we will be more so.

We had asked God for a home to be used as a refuge and place of peace for others. God is already graciously answering our prayers. September 4th & 5th he brought friends from Indiana who needed to be at the Cleveland Clinic. We are so thankful for a home to share. You’re invited, too!

Praises and Prayer Requests

* Praise – All six sets of preliminary proofs were ready in time for us to travel to Peru.

* Praise – We made it to Peru in good time, and are busy at work here. Mark continues reading his own set of proofs.

* Pray for the Quechua team to be energized at the prospect of proofreading their respective Bibles. Pray that they are encouraged personally as they read through God’s Word. Pray for super attention to detail. This will be (Lord willing) their last time through each book.

* October 13-17: Mark will attend the International Bible Translation conference held every other year in Dallas. We should arrive back in the States just before then. He missed the last one, and gave a presentation at the previous one. This time, he’ll just get to be there.

* Correction: We had said that at a follow-up appointment on September 8th Mark would undergo some tests to learn how successful his series of lymphoma treatments were. The doctor decided that a biopsy wouldn’t tell him enough and that it was too soon to have another PET scan. So, we have nothing yet to report in that area.

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There’s so much to be thankful for!

We thank God for you, too.

Mark and Patti Bean