Download a printable copy of the July-August 2023 Beans'talk with photos.

Your God, not mine?

The other day as Mark and I reviewed our memory verses, Mark commented that a literal translation of Deuteronomy 7:9 would not work in Quechua. The verse says:

Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.

Moses is teaching the Israelites about God. But, to say “your God” in Quechua would indicate that he is your God, but not mine. But that’s not right! So, how should we translate? Our aim is to faithfully translate the meaning, not just the words. In Quechua, Moses would say our God. That’s a message Quechua speakers understand, even some 3,000+ years later!

A collective effort

Back in February several circumstances kept the Margos-Yarowilca-Lauricocha (MYL) Quechua Old Testament from being recorded. Now, beginning mid-June another time slot opened at the ministry doing the recording. They need those who record to travel 9-12 hours to the capital city and stay there for several weeks, recording each day.

It was difficult finding people who could record. Some of the MYL Quechua speakers who helped record the New Testament died during the pandemic. Others simply couldn’t get away from home for so long.

So, some men who speak neighboring Quechua varieties have stepped up. Wilmer went for the first month. He has years of experience working with MYL speakers and knows how to speak their Quechua. Then Percy and Felix volunteered to help record. They speak two other varieties of Quechua, with different vocabulary and different sounds. So, we are praying that they don’t slip into using their normal pronunciations! Finally, Shatu was able to clear some time in his schedule. He is a real MYL Quechua speaker and will also travel down to Lima to record.

Health updates

Mark is doing very well. He has a couple follow-up medical appointments later this month. Thank you for your prayers on his behalf.

Jeremiah, our grandson with leukemia, is finishing up a variety of chemo cocktails. The next big step will be a bone marrow transplant. Insurance has approved it. His medical team has chosen an overseas donor as their first choice. If it becomes too complicated to go that route, a U.S. donor has been chosen as a second choice. There is a countdown of treatments to do before the transplant. The current target date is September 4th to be admitted to the hospital for the final days of prep and transplant.

Our son, Ernie, arrives from Germany in a few days. He is scheduled for surgery July 24th to repair a previous hernia surgery. This is evidently a tricky procedure. Join us in praying for relief for Ernie and an obvious improvement in his physical wellbeing. Ernie will arrive with Lucy, their 4-year-old. A week later Sarah will arrive with the boys after their German school lets out for the summer.

Praise and Prayer Requests

* Praise that people have stepped in to try to complete the MYL recording. Pray that the final recording for the MYL Quechua Bible will sound right to those that will be the end users.

* Praise that Mark and one translation team finished working through the books of Song of Songs and Lamentations. Now, pray for them as they do a final comprehension check with speakers from the community. This time Mark and his mentee Antonio will not be with them in person, but “sitting in with them” via Google Meet. He is also checking the translation of several Psalms. He is soon due to finish his check of the book of Romans for the other translation team.

* Pray for the all the details involved for Jeremiah to have a successful bone marrow transplant. Pray for God to guide the surgeon's hands for Ernie’s surgery on the 24th and that it would bring relief.

* Praise for the anticipated visit of family coming in from Germany during the month of August. Mark last saw them over four years ago on the day Lucy was born. That’s half of Remy’s life and ALL of Lucy’s.

So thankful for you! We thank God for the encouragement he gives through so many of you.

Mark and Patti Bean