Mark & Patti March 2021 Prayer Requests

* A number of key Quechua-speaking pastors died of COVID this past month, as well as the national director of a main evangelical denomination. Pray for God to raise up godly men to fill the void and lead his church in Peru.

* Mark just completed a two week training workshop for potential new translation consultants. He is paired up with a man from Guatemala whose mother tongue is Tz'utujil. Pray for a good working relationship as Mark guides Antonio into the next steps of the process, helping Antonio eventually step into a consultant role.

Beans'Talk January-February 2021

Download a printable January-February 2021 Beans'Talk with photos.

A heavy heart?

If you heard that someone had a heavy heart, what would you think would be the problem?

a. Their heart was too big for their chest and dangerously heavy.

b. They were stubborn, not budging.

c. They were studious, full of knowledge.

d. They were sad, not easily cheered.

Those of us who are native English speakers would choose the last one, d. A person might have a heavy heart upon giving or receiving bad news, or upon the death of a loved one or the death of a dream.

Right now I’m reading through Exodus. Many times the Hebrew literally says that someone had a heavy heart.

I am thankful that all of our English translations choose to be faithful to the meaning rather than to the literal word. Pharaoh is the one with the heavy heart. You will find that English translations describe his heart as hard or hardened, stubborn and unyielding. Pharaoh was not sad in the least. He was stubborn, choice b for Hebrew!

It’s a classic example of a common translation problem. Often one could translate literally, because the words exist—like “heavy heart”. However, the meaning would be incorrect.

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Mark & Patti January 2021 Prayer Requests

*PRAISE-that the last two Quechua Bibles (North Conchucos and South Conchucos) have begun circulating in their respective communities since the COVID-19 travel restrictions on back roads were lifted. While large groups were not allowed to congregate, the church in each major town that was visited made a point of inviting pastors from the smaller communities around them. These leaders each received a box of Bibles to take back to sell in their villages with a date in February to render due their sales.

*PRAY that people would take to heart the challenge to read God's Word aloud each day to someone who is illiterate.

*PRAISE-for the continued response to the FaceBook ads we've been running. Thus far over a half million different people have been reached by the ads. Most importantly, 5,750 people have actually entered the website with Scripture and materials in Quechua.

*PRAY that people will read their Bibles!

*PRAISE-Since November 1st, Mark has been teaching in Quechua each Sunday. A small regional television station asked if he'd be willing to prepare messages for them to air. On the Sundays that their Internet is working, Mark can also be seen on livestream as they air his teaching.