Beans'Talk October-November 2020

Download a printable version of the 2020 October-November Beans'Talk with photos.

Ten grandkids and counting

Our daughter Emily just gave birth to a baby boy, Elijah Oliver Ackerson, October 10! Patti went to Houston for several days to help and to watch their 18-month old foster child. The cutie in the photo recently became adoptable and hopefully in this coming year all ten grandchildren will be official.

After returning home, Patti learned that Emily is still in a lot of pain, since her two hips, dislocated during labor, had re-dislocated. So, Patti’s back in Houston to continue helping out. Meanwhile, I (Mark) am in Cleveland.

Spread the Word!

These past few weeks we’ve had fun getting the Word out via the Internet! We just finished running 28 days of a Facebook ad targeting people in one particular area of the Andes.

The ad grabs people’s attention with a video rapidly sketching out its message before their eyes. For those of you reading this update electronically, you can view it by clicking here. The first sketch translates to something like “How cool! The Bible is in Quechua now!”

Those who click on the link given by the ad are taken to a web site I prepared in Spanish (those who have a smart phone would also know some Spanish). This site acts as a clearing house with links to all the apps for the different varieties of Quechua.

Here’s what the top of the opening page looks like, with a quote from Psalm 119:30 “The teaching of your word gives light.” You can access the site by clicking here.

The results are in! The ad has reached over 79,000 people. During the time the ad ran, the Bible apps for two of the varieties of Quechua were installed onto cell phones 78 times.

We know that these ads don’t reach the great majority of Quechua speakers, but they reach some, including those who are most likely to be leaders and future leaders.

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Mark & Patti October 2020 Prayer Requests

* Before being able to release any Facebook advertisement for all the downloadable Quechua Bible apps, Mark needed to create a webpage to point everyone to. That's just about ready to launch. Pray that this month the website goes live as well as the advertisement targeting Quechua speakers whose hearts God has prepared.

* Patti plans to travel to Houston to be there while our daughter Emily is in the hospital to deliver their son. Patti's was fingerprinted, background checked and took a Red Cross course to be able to watch their foster son, little Nathaniel. Pray she can work out some good tricks to avoid lifting Nathaniel. Pray for a safe delivery, healthy baby, and safe travels to and from.

Beans'Talk August-September 2020

Download the August-September Beans'Talk with photos here.

Cool screenshots!

One of our goals this past month was to begin advertising the (now) twenty-nine apps Mark has been working on, introduced in our last letter. However, it soon became apparent that we need a more attractive presentation. So, Mark has been developing more eye-catching screenshots for the landing page in Google Play Store.

Next are three screenshots (out of seven) from the newest app. This app is designed to give people practice reading, and will soon be available for two Quechua varieties. We still need to finish the last audio narrations before we post it.

Music in the air

Mark was able to improve the apps for the five hymnbooks by including a new option allowing the user to listen to each hymn. One of the hymnbooks is located here. You can click here to listen to a favorite Quechua hymn accompanied by a traditional Andean harp and violin. The start of the hymn translates: Day after day I keep on, trusting in you, continually thinking of your Word…

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Mark & Patti August 2020 Prayer Requests

*Continue to pray for our Quechua partners who are giving messages and devotionals on Facebook and recording easy reading materials for do-it-yourself practice since no classes are happening. Pray for their safety as well as the safety of their families as they seek ways to minister while remaining stuck at home.

*We are thankful for continued good health, energy and rewarding work. Mark continues to tweek different apps and is figuring out how to best show them off for people to find them and have access to their Quechua Bible, Bible study materials, easy reading materials and their hymnbook - all on their phones.

Beans'Talk June-July 2020

Download a copy of the June-July 2020 Beans'talk with photos here.

Hey! How does everybody know?

Turning 65 must be a big deal. We can tell by all that comes in our mailbox. First it was Mark who kept receiving massive amounts of junk mail. Now, it’s my turn. All sorts of people know not only when our birthdays are, but also how old we’ll be.

If you haven’t hit this milestone, be forewarned. Everyone wants your attention. The upside: you won’t have to be sad about an empty mailbox! Mark just had his birthday earlier this month. Mine’s coming up in August. I guess that officially makes us senior citizens.

Consulting

One of Mark’s jobs is checking over the translation work of colleagues. Since our last Beans’Talk, Mark finished checking the book of Acts for another variety of Quechua. He also worked through the book of Colossians along with the book of Mark. Now his consultant hat is hanging on a peg until more books come his way—which could be any day now.

App progress

Mark continues to convert Quechua materials so they can be accessible on people’s cell phones. Building apps for cell phones has not been a smooth process, but Mark is thankful for the progress made so far. To date he has posted 16 apps to Google Play Store:

• Three apps with 75 topical Bible studies in each, one app for each of 3 different Quechua groups.

• Three apps with 14 topical Bible studies in each, one app for each of 3 other Quechua groups.

• Five apps with an assortment of resources for Scripture memory, evangelism, basic discipleship, using the helps in the Bible, etc. Each app is for a different Quechua group.

• A course about the Bible, with readings, assignments and final exam. This is also x 5 apps for 5 Quechua groups.

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Bean Family June 2020 Prayer Requests

*Mark continues to convert Quechua materials so that they can be accessable on people's cell phones in Peru. Building apps for cell phones has not been a smooth process, but Mark's thankful for the great progress that's been made so far. 

*Pray for advertising. Soon Mark will begin investigating how to go about targeting Quechua speakers via Facebook or someone other venue in order to advertise the fact that all these Quechua materials are (or will soon be) available to download for free.

*Pray, too, for Mom Bean. It is hard not being able to visit her in person.

Beans'talk April-May 2020

Download a copy of the April/May 2020 Beans'talk with photos here.

Wish you could go, too

We had a great visit at the amazing Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. We are so thankful for the opportunity we had to enjoy the museum and give a presentation. We were there the end of February before anyone started talking about sheltering in place. We highly recommend a visit. This photo is in their Illuminations room with the collection of Bibles and Bible portions from all around the world. This special display highlights Quechua and shows off the five Quechua Bibles we worked on.

Almost separated!

Mark was just days away from leaving for Peru in March when he received a note from there saying it would be best not to come. Whew! Good thing! We would have found ourselves separated on two different continents if he had left. Originally I was going to follow him three weeks later. We’re SO thankful we’re together in the same spot!

Bible dedications on hold

Peru has aggressively locked down their country. Just last week the prime minister announced that public activities like sports events, movies and nightclubs will remain closed even after other areas of life begin to open up. He warned that they may be closed until the end of the calendar year. Big Bible dedications fall into that category. They are on hold.

Video Update From Mark & Patti Bean

Mark and Patti Bean are members of Wycliffe Bible Translators working among Quechua speakers in the Andes mountains of central Peru. They are currently in Ohio, but are continuing their translation work from a distance. You can watch their ministry update below. The video is just under 2 minutes long.

WATCH VIDEO

Bean April 2020 Prayer Requests

1. We thank God for the time in Washington DC, at the Museum of the Bible.

2. Like many other people's changes in plans, our have changed, too. Mark was to have left for Peru on March 17. Patti had plans to fly down on April 6th. At first we thought the upcoming Bible dedications in Peru would simply go on without us, but now it looks like they will have to be postponed as the county of Peru takes measures to slow down the advance of the virus.

3. We thank God that Mark has plenty of work to do from home to support the Quechua speaking church. He may end up meeting virtually with one of the translation teams he consults for since he won't be able to be there in person to teach.

Bean's Talk February-March 2020

Bundled up

This past month I’ve had a couple occasions to “dress-up” someone in Quechua clothes while talking about Peru. The first time was a kindergarten teacher and the second time was an older woman at the facility where Mom Bean lives. They probably thought I was exaggerating as I added layer after layer of woolen petticoats and blankets. Things can get heavy!

Dates for #4 and #5!

Yes! There are now dates to celebrate the arrival of the fourth and fifth Quechua Bibles. Easter Sunday we will be in Pomabamba, Peru, for the North Conchucos Quechua Bible dedication and the following Sunday in San Marcos, Peru, for the South Conchucos Quechua Bible dedication. These are not areas that we know well, nor do we have many personal contacts in the churches there. We look forward to meeting more of the church in these areas.

Washington, D.C., here we come!

Have you ever been to the Bible Museum in Washington D.C.? We’re looking forward to visiting the museum for the first time and checking out where the five newly published Quechua Bibles are shelved. While we’re there, we will also have the opportunity to give a brief presentation.

Read more here...