The Beans'Talk August 2010

You may download the PDF with photos by clicking here.

Meet Teófilo & his family

The past two Beans’talks we’ve talked about Teófilo, the newest member of our translation team. This past month Mark was able to go up to Pacayhua and meet Teófilo’s family. We had asked you to pray for him and all the “hoops” he had to go through in order to sign up for Bible classes with his local denomination.

When his extended family heard that one of those hoops was that Teófilo needed to be married in the church, they didn’t want a rushed ceremony. That means the answer to your prayers is WAIT. Teófilo will just wait until another Bible school semester begins before taking classes. Meanwhile, he’ll be going through basic Bible studies at work.

The Beans' Talk July 2010

Update from Mark and Patti Bean Translating God’s Word for Quechua speakers in central Peru

Download the PDF version of the letter here.

Bean Sprout news

Andy, our first Bean Sprout, now has his Air Force pilot wings. He’s moved on to fighter pilot training to eventually fly the plane parked behind us in the photo: an A10.

Emily, our second Sprout was able to join us in Texas for the ceremony.

The Beans' Talk June 2010

Why do the bad guys prosper?

At the end of the recent workshop there was just time to work through the short book of Zephaniah. In chapter 1 God lists a number of reasons why he is angry with his people. Most of those reasons have to do with trusting something else for prosperity and guidance rather than trusting in God (see verses 4–6). Mark was surprised at the vigorous response from all the guys at the workshop. This topic really hit a cultural nerve.

Beans' Talk May 2010

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!

Beans' Talk April 2010

Changing words to communicate well

When you read that Lot’s wife was turned into a pillar of salt, you probably don’t dwell on that. It is outside of our cultural experience. A number of Quechua legends, however, tell of individuals changed into rocks. Not just any rock. There are certain pillar-like rock formations said to have once been people. They changed into a rock.

Beans' Talk February 2010

Snowcaps

We’ve read (and seen via Internet) that many of you have been swamped with snow. We have snow, too, but at a distance. This photo was taken on the road between Huanuco and Huaraz.

Beans'talk January 2010

A very, very special Christmas

This Christmas we made a trip from Peru to visit our kids. Our first stop was Del Rio, Texas to visit our oldest son Andy, his wife Rachel, and little Jeremiah.

Beans'talk December 2009

Eager to participate

Teaching kids the Bible in Quechua! As far as we know, it’s never been done in our area. So, we invited four people to a week-long seminar this month on how to hold a vacation Bible school in Quechua.

The Beans' Talk November 2009

Psalms taught and appreciated…

This past Old Testament workshop Mark gave the devotionals each morning on one of the Psalms that they would be working on that day.

The Beans' Talk - September 2009

The psalmist in Psalm 88 feels overwhelmed by troubles and terrors. He describes them at one point as floodwaters, threatening to drown him. Mark was surprised to see our Quechua colleagues translate “floodwaters” as “watersthat- make-you-float.”