Beans'talk February 2017

Download the February 2017 Beans'talk with photo here.

What would you think if someone told you you're not a toadstool? Would they be making fun of you? Putting you down? Encouraging you? Challenging you? Check out this month's brief letter to see what that means in Quechua parlance.

We're still in the midst of the (often) tedious details necessary for preparing these translations for publication. There's a welcomed change of pace in the weeks ahead while we're back in Peru.

Beans'talk January 2017

Download the January 2017 Beans'talk here.

Merry Christmas!

This isn't a typcial Christmas letter. It's more a progress report for where we're at. We hope you're encouraged along with us. Plus there are a few nuggets of news.

Happy New Year, too,

Mark & Patti Bean

Beans'talk December 2016

Download the Beans'talk December 2016 letter with photos here.

World premiere

Ta da! The end of September, the world premier of the JESUS film in their very own Quechua was shown in the towns of Margos and Chavinillo. Everything was organized and funded by the Jesus Film Project. Our coworkers Felipe and Shatu worked on the script, and Mark checked it and helped them polish it. It’s so encouraging to see others helping bring God’s good news to the Quechua speaking world.

Over 20 years ago we were involved in getting the movie of the whole book of Luke in a neighboring Quechua language. But this is the first ever for the Margos-Yarowilca-Lauricocha area to have a movie like this.

Beans'Talk September 2016

Download the September 2016 Beans'Talk with photos here.

Is your God my God?

Back in 1988 we helped facilitate a music festival in the village of Margos. We wanted to encourage the use and writing of praise songs in Quechua. There was lots of participation.

Town officials were included on the program. One warmly welcomed visitors. Included in his welcome he commended to us the time to worship God.

In Quechua the most common way to speak about God is to say “our God.” However, instead of mentioning the time to worship “our God,” this official said, “your God.” Immediately a murmur rippled through the crowd.

Because of the way Quechua works, that phrase essentially meant, “your God, but not my God.” So what was meant to be a welcome ended up being, at best, an embarrasment.

That works well for Pharoah

In Quechua when Pharoah says, “I will let you go to sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness,” it is clear that God is the God of the Israelites, but not Pharoah’s God. It works for any pagan ruler to say your God.

Beans'talk August 2016

What do a Bible translator and a stone mason have in common? Read our Beans'talk to find out.

A cartoon and foto are included this month. Download the August 2016 Beans'talk here.

Mark & Patti Bean

Beans'talk July 2016

Download the July 2016 Beans'talk with photos here.

Thank YOU!

You’ve heard of hand-written thank yous. How about a hand-embroidered thank you? The thank you note above was presented to us the last day of April along with the handspun and woven blanket on the right.

You who have been an integral part of the team by praying, giving and encouraging should consider your names included on this hand embroidered note. We aren’t in Peru on our own strength or resources. It takes a whole team. As the note says, “Thank you for working on God’s Word in our Quechua!”

How long are you in the States for?

Beans'talk June 2016

Download the June 2016 Beans'talk with lots of photos here.

This is a BIG Beans'talk full of photos. We hope that doesn't prevent you from enjoying them.

* There's a page of photos dedicated to the celebration in Peru.

* And, there is a page dedicated to our time together with family.

* There is also a brief third page with some praises and prayer requests

God is good all - the - time. All the time, God - is - good!

Mark & Patti Bean

Beans'talk April 2016

Download the April 2016 Beans'talk with photos here.

A woman who shows her teeth

What if you were reading along in Proverbs and read about the “woman who shows her teeth”? From the context you’d know you should stay clear of her! But who is she?

Quechua speakers on the Huanuco side of the state line use that phrase to describe an immoral or seductive woman. While the phrase isn’t common over here in Ancash, women often hold a hand over their mouths when they are visiting—like the woman here. She’s being modest: not showing her teeth!

You can always find more rocks

Shatu did a great job summing up where we find ourselves. One day he gave the following comparison. “When you prepare a field for planting,” Shatu explained, “you can always find more rocks to remove. But, if you never stop removing rocks, you’ll never plant. And if you never plant, you’ll never have a harvest. Translation is kind of like that,” he concluded. “We could keep going over these books and chapters and we’ll always find something that could be improved. But, if we don’t stop and get this out into the hands of people, what good is it?”

Bean Family April 2016 Prayer Requests

1. Our LAST translation workshop meets April 12 - 29th. It starts on a Tuesday because everyone needs to be in their respective towns/villages on Sunday the 10th to vote in national elections. Goals include: work on an introduction to the Bible, select illustrations, 2 groups need to finish editing their glossary, one last discussion about which word to use for “covenant,” look at the remaining outstanding questions/issues and hopefully wrap things up. Pray against disruptions, illness and distractions. Pray for everyone to make it, for good concentration and for super attention to detail.

2. Saturday, April 30th we've invited the men who used to work with us in translation to join us for a mini-reunion and celebration of nearly 12 years of working on these Bibles. Family members who are close enough or can travel are invited as well. Pray for a special time of honoring these men who've given so much to help translate God's word for speakers of their language.

Beans'Talk March 2016

Download the March 2016 Beans'Talk with photos here.

A couple weeks ago we were out in a nearby village teaching all weekend. It wasn’t clear if we would be coming back home to spend the night or not since it was so close. We took Mark’s extra-long sleeping bag, just in case. At my size, I’m fine with a blanket or two.

Warm & Toasty

Look at this stack! There are enough sheep skins and woolen blankets to sleep a large family! The closer stack is made up of home-made blankets from our hosts’ own sheep: sheared, cleaned, spun, dyed and woven by hand. Take note, ladies! This is an example of generous Quechua hospitality!

With the sheepskins on the floor, we layered most of the blankets under us. It reminded me of the story of the Princess and the Pea. I felt like royalty being so well cared for. Unlike the princess in the story, I slept very well.