​Update and Prayer Requests: October 2023
Valerie and Nicasio Martinez
Translating God's Word with and for the people
who speak Quiatoni Zapotec
Thank you for praying for the second part of the course on 1 Corinthians that Beto, Fernando and Rebeca attended. I was sad that I wasn’t here to attend the closing program for it but Nicasio asked them to write up for me what they shared during the program. Beto and Fernando were both impressed by learning the background of Paul’s teachings about Communion.
Rebeca was most affected by learning about spiritual gifts. She wrote, “Through an activity we did, I realized that I had spiritual gifts or that what I do is because of my spiritual gifts. I used to be envious of people that could pray, that could heal people, who could easily speak to large crowds and I wondered why I couldn’t do any of those things nor did I know how to be able to do them. But now, through studying 1 Corinthians and learning that God gives different gifts to each person so that we can help our brothers and sisters in Christ.” Rebeca realized that her gifts are hospitality, which we have often experienced!, and evangelism, which we are seeing as she distributes materials in Zapotec. She ended her report by saying, “Thank you so much for the opportunity to learn more and understand better what God tells us through His Word.” And we thank YOU for making it possible for them to attend the course!
Nicasio has been busy this month with all his regular things: teaching through 1 Peter in the Zapotec church service, checking 1 Peter and the Gospel of Mark (which is what we’re reading through at the beginning of the Zapotec service), leading the youth group, teaching a course in Indigenous Language in the university, and preparing for upcoming events:
Nicasio, Beto and Candy will be leading a workshop on Indigenous Leadership during the conference we are attending in Colombia, from Nov. 28 to Dec. 1. Nicasio will be speaking about the challenges that indigenous people face, such as shame and fear, and how Jesus calls them and prepares them for what He wants them to do. Beto and Candy will speak on the practicalities of leadership.
Part of the preparation to go to Colombia involved getting Beto’s and Candy’s passports, which involved getting Beto’s birth certificate corrected. Then Nicasio took them to Puebla to actually get their passports, which they had in hand in less than two hours!
While Nicasio was waiting for them, a colleague called him and asked if he would do one of the plenary sessions at the conference! (Someone had to cancel his participation in the plenary session.) He has accepted that challenge and asks that you pray a lot for him as he prepares for it.
Nov. 2 is the yearly Quiatoni youth conference that Nicasio started some years ago. This year he won’t be involved in any leadership roles but our church’s youth group will be doing some of the music for the day-long event. Just a couple of days ago, the organizers asked Beto and Candy if they will teach the younger children who will be there. They were delighted to say “yes!” Rebeca asked if she could take some USB drives with our Zapotec materials on them and some copies of our Zapotec hymnal in case anyone is interested in buying them. We were delighted to say “yes!” to that request. Rebeca loves to distribute the Zapotec materials and is such a blessing to us in that area.
This weekend (Oct. 28 and 29), Nicasio will be distributing more Kulumi audio devices (https://kulumi.org/kulumi-x/) that the Cahaya Foundation has given us (https://www.thecahayafoundation.org/). These have all our Bible materials in Zapotec on them.  On Saturday, after church, he will be giving one to each family in our church here in Tlacolula. (You may remember that most of those who attend our church are from the Quiatoni area.) Sunday evening we will be visiting another church here in Tlacolula where several Quiatoni families attend and giving each family a Kulumi. (About five years ago, Nicasio led a Bible study in Zapotec in this church, which included learning to read and write in Zapotec.) We appreciate your prayers that the Kulumis will have a big impact on people understanding the Word of God as they hear it in their own language.
Shortly after I sent out our September report, Mike and Tara got the disappointing news that it would be another 4 to 8 weeks for the closing on their house sale. We all agreed that it would be better for me to fly home instead of waiting that length of time to drive down with them, so I flew home on October 13th, after spending five days with Rusty. Even though Rusty was working (I went shopping while he was at work), we decided that after work was vacation and enjoyed going out to eat (fast food places that are not in Mexico) and doing things together. I enjoyed watching him play pickleball; I’ve heard about pickleball but this was the first time to see it! He enjoyed playing in the tournament and even though they came in towards the bottom, it was a good experience and he’s ready to do it again!
Mike and Tara are still waiting for the exact date for the closing on their house but understand that it should happen by the end of October. We appreciate your prayers for them as they deal with the uncertainty as well take care of the final details of moving out and driving to Oaxaca. (I won’t be able to go up to drive back with them because of the Colombia trip.) They are so ready to be done with selling the house and are so ready to be living here!
I have been humbled and honored by how many people (colleagues and Quiatoni people) have said that they missed me and are glad I’m back! I’ve been busy processing LOTS of donations into the children’s library.
We are pleased to have Nicasio’s mom with us for a week. It was a little hard at first for her since she hadn’t been back since Dad passed away in February, but she seems to have adjusted. She loves to listen to her “radio” (Kulumi), especially the songs!
Your interest, prayers, and support for our ministry of Bible translation into Quiatoni Zapotec means so much to us and keeps us going! We love to share with you how God is working through His Word. Thank you for making it possible!
love, Valerie and Nicasio                                                       
www.cten.org/NicasioMartinez  

​Update and Prayer Requests: September 2023
Valerie and Nicasio Martinez Translating God's Word with and for the people
who speak Quiatoni Zapotec

Some major events have happened since we gave you our update in August! Thank you for praying! (I am still in Ohio with Mike, Tara and Royan. More details at the end of this update.)
The biggest church in the Quiatoni area had arranged with Nicasio to teach the youth group about apologetics. Because of the time constraints, it was more of an introduction to apologetics but something is better than nothing, right? Everyone enjoyed the class. As is often the case in the Quiatoni churches, other people attend the meetings even if they aren’t in the group that the event is for. The pastor’s father sat in on the apologetics classes and was paying a lot of attention. Nicasio felt that he really learned a lot and when Nicasio chatted with him, he said that it would be good to have classes on marriage, just like the classes on apologetics. It’s so good to see people wanting to learn more about what the Bible teaches!

Two days before the big UN event for the International Decade of Indigenous Languages, Nicasio heard that a pastor-friend in Quiatoni’s second largest town had passed away. He and the Zapotec music group went to the wake that night. They played and sang for about an hour and then when they were having some supper, the cooks said that they hadn’t heard the songs and so they sang some more! The family would have liked them to stay longer but since the UN event was the next day, they had to leave. We have gotten to know one of the pastor’s sons through the courses for bilingual teachers. He asked if the songs were recorded so Nicasio gave him a USB drive that has all our Zapotec materials.

The UN event for the International Decade of Indigenous Languages went very well! Nicasio had a bad cold but managed to do his part as emcee, give his five-minute presentation and then two small group sessions giving more information about his theme of how indigenous people’s identity has been damaged over the years since the Europeans arrived in the Americas. Beto and Candy did small group presentations on the course for speakers of indigenous languages to write stories. Our Zapotec music group played and sang off and on during the whole event. The event coordinator said, “The group added so much fun and love with their songs to the event. We are very glad that they participated!” People enjoyed talking with the Quiatoni lady who attended to show and talked about the traditional Quiatoni embroidery. She had a blouse that was made of fabric woven on a backstrap loom; someone wanted to buy it but since it was very old, she wasn’t willing to sell it but did sell several other blouses.

That night Beto and Candy took the bus to Mexico City to participate in another event for church leaders for the International Decade of Indigenous Languages. They spoke about how having the New Testament in Quiatoni Zapotec has affected them and others. They gave their testimonies about how they were raised in Christian homes but didn’t really understand the Gospel until they started attending the Zapotec church service. They enjoyed meeting the SIL Executive Director in person. One of the organizers of that event told me, “It was AMAZING to have them there! You could see how they had prepared. It was personal and also educational. It was very good!” She told me, too, “We also found a note in their room that made me cry. It said, ‘God is good all the time; all the time, God is good’ and 60 pesos! I’m still trying to figure out how to express how thankful we are.”

Looking ahead, we’d appreciate your prayers for the second part of the 1 Corinthians course. Beto, Fernando and Rebeca will be attending it from Oct. 2 to the 13th. Please pray for them as they commute each day (20 minutes) as well as for them during this intense course.

Nicasio, Beto and Candy will be giving some small group presentations at an event the end of November in Colombia! They have started the process to get Candy’s and Beto’s passports. (I will also be going as a learner.) I hate to buy plane tickets but that’s my role for this trip. J We appreciate your prayers for all that’s involved for this event.

Meanwhile, I’m here with Mike, Tara and Royan. There have been some bumps in the road of getting their house sold but now things seem to be working out. An investment company is buying the house; we are waiting for paperwork to be finished and a closing date to be set. Then they will buy and pack a trailer and then we’ll be on the road to Oaxaca! Please pray for all that needs to be done yet and for safe travels for us.
I’ll be spending a few days with Rusty after we are out of Mike and Tara’s house! He’s excited about being in a pickleball tournament on October 7th!

We are truly thankful for your interest and prayers for our ministry of Bible translation, for those who work with us to share the Gospel in Quiatoni Zapotec, and for us and our family. You are a blessing to us!
​
love, Valerie and Nicasio                                                       
www.cten.org/NicasioMartinez
​
​Photo: Beto, Keila (Candy and Beto’s younger daughter), Dr. Michel Kenmogne (SIL Executive Director), Candy

Update and Prayer Requests: August 2023
Valerie and Nicasio Martinez
Translating God's Word with and for the people who speak Quiatoni Zapotec
 
You may remember that Beto was the head of the Quiatoni Zapotec team who attended a three-week workshop on translating 1 Corinthians. The three new folks were surprised by how many “gringos” (foreigners in general) have left their homes to come to Mexico to translate God’s Word for people like themselves. Rebeca said, “I see these people like Paul, traveling all over to share God’s Word with people.” All three new ones commented on how they would spend an hour or more understanding one verse and then each would work on how they thought it should be translated. Then they would come together and share their ideas. Eloisa said, “Now I realize that God’s Word in Zapotec is important, that we understand it better in Zapotec than in Spanish.” Fernando said, “So many things we think we understand (in Spanish) and sometimes we want the Bible to say what we want it to say!” Nicasio is impressed with Fernando’s abilities and hopes that he will be able to work with Beto to continue revising 1 Corinthians, when Beto finishes teaching in the Native Authors Workshop and when Fernando can take time off his job.

August 5th was our last meeting with the Quiatoni pastors where they learned to read and write in Zapotec, sing Zapotec songs, and how to evangelize others in Zapotec. We are very glad for all the pastors and others who arrived. We are also very thankful for The Cahaya Foundation (www.thecahayafoundation.org) who gave us 200 small Kulumi audio devices, already filled with our Zapotec materials! The pastors and assistant pastors were delighted to get their own devices and then additional devices to share with church members who would be interested in listening to them. We haven’t heard much from the pastors yet but Josefina, who has been using “big books” in Zapotec to teach Sunday School, said that she would like 10 more to share in her church! Those in our church (in Tlacolula) have really been enjoying listening to them and that they are so portable. God and The Cahaya Foundation are blessing us with another 500 devices in a few months! Please pray for wisdom for Nicasio as he decides what is the best method to distribute them.

Last Friday (Aug. 25), was the first day of classes for the Master’s Degree program of translation and interpretation that Nicasio will be teaching at “his” university. Then on Saturday, he went to Quiatoni with Beto and the youth music group to give an introduction to apologetics to the youth in Quiatoni’s largest church. Beto was invited to preach at the evening service. We are thankful for all the ways God is providing to encourage people to use Zapotec in church and to provide them with the tools to do that.

We would appreciate your prayers for Nicasio as he participates in the UN International Decade of Indigenous Languages event that will be held in Mitla on Sept. 19. He has been part of the organizing committee and will be one of the emcees for the event. He will also give a talk on how indigenous people’s identity has been damaged over the years since the Europeans arrived in the Americas. He has also invited Candy and Beto to give a talk about the “big books” they make and use with children. He is also arranging for a lady from Quiatoni to have a table where she will be embroidering a traditional Quiatoni blouse. People will have the opportunity to buy something and ask her questions. Our Zapotec music group will also be participating with some songs in Quiatoni Zapotec.

Then on Sept. 20, there is a similar event in Mexico City. Beto and Candy will be participating there, sharing about the effects and impact of having God’s Word in their own language. This is a major event, and something new for Candy and Beto, so we appreciate your prayers for them, too.

Please pray, too, for our relationship, especially Nicasio’s, with our local church. It has been a little rocky.

A week ago (Aug. 22), at Mike and Tara’s request, I flew up to help them with Royan (now 2.5 years old!) so they can finish up stuff to sell their house in preparation of moving to Oaxaca. Royan and I have been getting to know each other and I’m learning his language. (You might remember that his speech has been delayed. His speech is improving a lot and he uses a lot of methods to communicate.)
On September 9th, Rusty will celebrate another year of being cancer free and will celebrate his 29th birthday!

We appreciate your interest, prayers and support for our ministry of Bible translation. We are blessed to see God working in so many ways right now among those who speak Quiatoni Zapotec. Thank you for your part in making it possible!

 love, Valerie and Nicasio                                                      
www.cten.org/NicasioMartinez​

Update and Prayer Requests: May 2023
Valerie and Nicasio Martinez
Translating God's Word with and for the people who speak Quiatoni Zapotec
​
We thank you for praying for our church during this time of so many changes. Tomorrow (Saturday, May 27) there will be a service for the denomination to install Max as our pastor and Eduardo as the assistant pastor. We are thankful that all this has been settled without too many problems.

In the church meeting when the assistant pastor was voted on, Beto was also elected to be the church business secretary, Nicasio was elected to be the youth pastor, Fernando and his wife were elected to be deacons. (Four of the five people elected faithfully attend the Zapotec service!)

You may remember that Nicasio has been the youth pastor for many years; he enjoys it and has a wonderful rapport with the youth. During the pandemic, when we weren’t attending church, Nicasio continued the youth group online. Then our (then) pastor decided that there should be an in-person youth group and so the youth of families who were attending church in-person dropped the online group and started attending the in-person group. So even though Nicasio has just been elected to be the youth pastor, he has continued to be one! He would appareciate your prayers as he molds the two groups into one; their first meeting will be on June 11.

The new deacons, Fernando and Elizabet, were elected to aide the deacon couple that is responsible for unlocking and locking the church for services, setting up chairs, reminding parents to quiet their children, and waking those who have nodded off. Since Fernando plays bass for the Zapotec service, he suggested that they take care of the Wednesday night service and that the other couple cover the Thursday (Zapotec) service. We are so pleased at how this is working out: the other couple have resisted attending the Zapotec service but now that they have to, are happily participating in the Zapotec Bible study! Last night, as Nicasio was closing the service, Angel said, “We could go til dawn—and that would be ok!” Someone also heard him say that there wasn’t any need to be waking people up during the Zapotec service, since no one dozed off!

A few other people are also starting to regularly attend the Zapotec service; we are thankful for them and for the Zapotec service being announced during other services to encourage people to attend.

In our last update, we asked you to pray for the classes we’d be having with several Quiatoni pastors, to teach them to read and write in Zapotec, to learn songs and hymns in Zapotec, and to learn how to evangelize. Even though not everyone attended, the seven pastors and leaders and the two teens that attended really seemed to enjoy the day long class. For their writing assignment, Nicasio asked them to write about why they had left the Catholic church or why they had stayed in the protestant church. A couple of the older men gave verbal answers, instead. We were saddened and not very surprised that no one said it was because they’d believed in Jesus as their Savior. The lack of truly understanding the Gospel is a direct result of church always being in Spanish. They heard the Gospel clearly in Zapotec several times during the day, when Beto taught about how Jesus used parables to share the Gospel and when Candy told how she’d become involved in spreading the Gospel in Zapotec, especially teaching the children. (She told us later that her dad had asked for the day off work so he could attend the class! He videoed her reading a large, classroom sized book about creation and the need for a Savior.)

There were many highlights to that day—but it was long! The pastor had asked Nicasio to preach in the evening service and then we had supper before leaving. We had left home at 5 am to be there for breakfast and got home at midnight. I took a nap in the truck between class and church, so I could drive home since Nicasio was “on” all day long.

The second day of classes was scheduled for May 27—before that day was selected for Max’s installation service. Nicasio told them that the date would have to be changed (several of those pastors will also be at the installation service, too) and for them to let him know what date they decided on. He didn’t hear anything from them and was thinking that they were not wanting more classes. Rather depressing! But he got a call yesterday, could we come on June 3rd? Yes! We’ll be there! Once again, we ask for your prayers for the classes, for open minds and hearts for those who attend. (We’ll be leaving again at 5 am; I don’t know if there’ll be an evening service or not.)

One of the two teens who attended the first day of classes is interested in attending a Bible school. Nicasio talked with her, and because she wants to study the Bible, suggested that she attend the four week workshop on 1 Corinthians that SIL will be giving in mid-July. She agreed and will join Beto and Fernando in the workshop. Fernando, besides playing bass for the Zapotec service, also alternates with Beto doing the opening part of the service. We are going through the Gospel of Mark for that part and we have been amazed at Fernando’s abilities in teaching as well as the studying he does in preparation. So Nicasio thought it would be good to “stretch” him a bit and invited him to attend the 1 Corinthians workshop, which he agreed to.

Beto suggested to Nicasio that he have an online class with Eloisa and Fernando to prepare them for the workshop. He taught them the difference hermeneutics (interpreting the Bible, usually through one’s own point of view) and exegesis (studying the background, culture, language, etc. of a book of the Bible). Beto used the parable of the prodigal son and asked them how they imagined the prodigal was dressed when he returned home. They answered “dirty” “ragged” “stinky.” Beto said, “When I imagine him, I see him dressed in ragged pants and a ragged shirt—but that’s not how they dressed in Jesus’ time.” Fernando said, “That’s looking at it hermeneutically!” Please pray for them attening the workshop and thank God with us for Fernando and Eloisa as well as Beto, Candy and Elizabeth. Thank God also for a very generous gift that will pay the expenses for them to attend the workhop.

Thank you for your interest, prayers and support of our ministry of Bible translation. Your part in making all these things happen is a real blessing to us!
love, Valerie and Nicasio
www.cten.org/NicasioMartinez
​