Download here 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.

Praises and prayer requests

Praise that even with curtailed travel due to the pandemic, people are able to find the Scriptures in their own language via Internet and cell phone apps. Pray that we could run more Facebook ads to help get the Word out. One of the comments I received said, “Please sign me up for Quechua!” I have been puzzling over that. Perhaps there is a way we can set up an interactive Bible (14-day? 28-day?) reading challenge that would guide folks to check off short daily readings and then receive an electronic certificate when done (Quechua speakers love receiving certificates!).

Praise: Many people find it a challenge to read Quechua. Thank God for the completion of an app in two varieties of Quechua. It features an alphabet book, some short riddles, graded reading books, and traditional folk stories. All the stories are accompanied with audio narration. Pray that these apps would help people to become better readers. In addition to running Facebook ads in new areas to promote the Quechua Bible, we also want to run ads to let people know they can find help to learn to read it!

Praise that Patti can be in Houston to help our daughter Emily as she recovers from a tough childbirth. Pray for Emily to recover quickly, and for she and her husband Blake to raise the new baby (and hopefully an adopted little boy, too!) to become wise, humble, and compassionate, reflecting Christ to the world.

Thanksgiving is coming up in just over a month! We have so many things to be thankful for, including you and your partnership with us.

Mark & Patti