OAXACA BIBLE UPDATE

It’s finally time for an update on the Oaxaca Bible!!! Friends, we have such exciting news to share!

But first, the backstory.

Our initial Gospel Coffee trip was to a village called San Pedro Yaneri in the mountains of Oaxaca, Mexico in March 2023. This was just over a year ago. We went with the plan to buy green coffee from several members of a small local church. We had a good plan, but God had a better one. God, through obedient people, directed us to one of the few Bibles in the heart language of the people of San Pedro Yaneri. They speak Zapotec, which has over 50 dialects. Our goal was to bring the Bible back to the United States and replicate it. They had one beautiful, old, seemingly type-written copy of the Psalms, Proverbs, and New Testament.

For the past year, we (and by we I mean Britnee) have been diligently seeking answers and the solution to duplicating the Bible. Originally, we were going to photograph each page and send them to a native speaker so that he could retype them. That didn’t end up working out. Britnee called and contacted organization after organization looking for anyone who had the dialect already digitized or someone who was willing to work on the project with us. As a last resort, we had decided that Brett would photograph each page and we would simply have to print the “pages” of the bible in pdf form for the time being so that we could get the Bible back to the people of San Pedro Yaneri.

But God has made a different way.

Back in December, Britnee connected with someone at her parents’ church small group in Texas. These people were connected with a missionary couple who led us to connect with a couple that is working with a Mexican Bible Translating organization in Oaxaca City at the base of the mountain 5.5 hours away from San Pedro Yaneri. And through much conversation between Britnee and this Bible translation couple we have some exciting news. 

They believe there are copies of the Bible in the dialect that we need in a storehouse in Oaxaca City. The story is that at the time the Bibles were made there was no church to give the Bibles to. But sometime this September, the Gospel Coffee Crew plus the Bible translating crew are planning to head up the mountain. They will show a Jesus film to the village in the dialect of the Bibles they believe the village speaks. If it’s correct and the villagers can understand the film, we will be able to dedicate the Bibles to the small church!

PRAISE THE LORD!!!

This is HUGE news! Even if the Jesus film is not in the correct dialect, the Bible translation couple and their organization are willing to help with the translation and Bible creation.

I feel like this story is so impactful in many ways. First of all, I am personally so excited for this village to have Bibles in their language. God partnered with humans to articulate His thoughts and His character and our Savior’s life. We have a treasure in the Bible. So for this village to also have the Bible that they can read…this is amazing!

Another lesson from this journey has been persistence. Sometimes I think our mindset, spoken or unspoken, is that if we are following God, He will take care of everything. And He will… in a way. But in no way does that mean, we don’t have to work diligently or that everything will happen quickly. Britnee has been pursuing a solution for a year, working on the project, reaching out to people. And finally, now there is progress. So take heart, friend, don’t give up or grow weary of doing good. For in due season, if you do not give up, you will reap a harvest. (Galatians 6:9).

Pray for us on our return trip to San Pedro Yaneri. Pray for God’s continued provision. Pray for the best outcome in regards to the Bible. Give thanks for the Lord, for His guidance and making a way. Thank Him for His goodness and His mighty hand. And continue to trust that even when you don’t see, God is still working.

Shalom from the Gospel Coffee Crew