Peru - Panao Quechua Update

Somewhere between Lima and Atlanta I lost my voice. Imagine Pablo, who can't speak a word of English, and me, voiceless, arriving in Huntsville, AL for Asbury UM Church's Global Impact Celebration. How on earth were we going to attend this missions conference and tell people about Bible translation among the Panao Quechua people?

Well, we didn't say much... but we watched a lot. Pablo saw people's hearts. He was amazed when he saw the pictures of Panao Quechua people displayed on church office walls; in awe he whispered, "They really do love my people." Many people greeted Pablo by name, recognizing him from the posters lining the hallways. He was deeply moved as people invited him into their luxurious homes, incomparable to the humble peasant homes of his people. One man, unable to communicate with Pablo, handed him a cup of cold water acknowledging him as a brother in Christ. We saw the notice: four Scripture-In-Use workshops among the Panao Quechua scheduled for 2007.

We also listened... and Pablo wondered if God was trying to say something to him. As I squeaked out a translation, or as people spoke to him in Spanish, Pablo repeatedly heard, "People need to hear God's Word and see faith in action," and "Leaders in the Christian community must be teaching God's Word to their (spiritual) children and grandchildren." We wrestle with these two issues as we translate the Scriptures and promote their use among the Panao Quechua people.

And we shared...not by saying much, but dressed in traditional clothes we represented the over 50,000 Panao Quechua people still waiting to hear God's Word in their own language. We also handed out (or mailed) calendars* so that you would especially pray for the Panao Quechua people this next year. We really want to finish translating the New Testament and get it into people's hands and hearts.

When the missions conference was over Pablo and I flew to Dallas , TX  for a three day surprise visit to my mother. But I was the surprised one! My mom got word of my visit and made sweet rolls, and my daughter Holly flew in from Oregon , and Hanna and 1-year-old Evan drove down from Kansas to surprise me. Pablo also got to see the place where people like Karla and me get much of their training to be Bible translators for the thousands of people groups around the world still waiting to hear God's Word in their own language.

Friday, November 3rd Pablo and I flew back to Peru : his US visa ran out that day, and I needed to get home to celebrate my 39th anniversary with my wife.

Thanksgiving is officially celebrated next week but as you can see, we have cause to celebrate all year long. Thank you for partnering with the Panao Quechua translation team,

Terry & Karla Smith

Pablo & Nora Villogas, Edmin & Maura León, Hilmar Durán

Some of you have asked about the calendar you received at the GIC:

January features Pablo Villogas reading to Serapio, a blind man who listens carefully as we read translated portions of Scripture. When we've translated well, he can recite the details back to us; when we don't have it quite right, he helps us try and get the right wording.

February , a group of children waiting for a Scripture-In-Use workshop to begin show us a potato field in bloom.

March , Susie's clothes identify her as a Quechua lady, but her blond hair confounds this Quechua grandmother.

April , Hilmar Durán, in the center of the picture, reads Scripture portions in Quechua on a daily radio program. He is surrounded by his parents and siblings.

May features Cirila, on of our Huarichaca neighbors weaving a shawl.

June depicts a couple celebrating their wedding. Nico is standing beside his grandmother and his bride is on his left.

July , two young Quechua mothers and their babies.

August , John is reading a Scripture portion with these ladies. While he can recognize the letters and (more or less!) sound them out, the ladies understand what the words mean even though they can't read.

September features our Quechua grandpa, Alfonso, and Tomás. Tomás, who borrowed my glasses, is reading his own language for the first time in his life. The book is Heroes of the Faith based on Hebrews 11.

October portrays Antuco and Julia, part of our Quechua extended family.

In November Lucía, Edmin's mother, celebrates her birthday with a banquet of roasted-in-the-ground pork and potatoes. Edmin and his wife Maura are responsible for Scripture promotion in the many Panao Quechua communities.

December , three young ladies are intently reading a portion of God's Word. They have had enough schooling in Spanish to be able to read but this is the first time they are reading something printed in their own language.

Photo Album

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Arthur Ivey Missionary Family http://www.iveymission.org/

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