Ryan and April Beck minister among the Turu people of Asia Pacific. “While in town, Ryan continued working full time on the Turu Bible translation. We were even able to have a Turu friend, Oterus, fly out from the village and help him. Both Ryan and Oterus thought working in a bug free, air-conditioned office was amazing. Ryan also got to take Oterus to experience a bit of life and food on the coast. One of the greatest shocks for our Turu friend who has lived his life interior was just how salty the ocean water is. He kept telling me, ‘Don’t drink the water; it is full of salt.’ I simply smiled and said, ‘Thanks for the heads up.’ Overall, much was accomplished on the Turu translation while at the same time making some great memories.

“Our second seven-month-long literacy class is coming to an end. Agus and Fodius, the two Turu teachers we have trained, have been faithfully teaching the 10 students that keep coming. This last of five literacy books is tough for them, to say the least. The students are a bit weary but doing so well. To encourage them to keep pressing on, Ryan recently took some verses from Genesis that he had translated and had a 55-year-old woman in class read it. Afterward, he was able to tell her that she was the first Turu woman to ever read God’s Word in her language. That reality has really boosted morale for these last lessons. When they finish the class, we will be able to give them printed portions of God’s Word. What an awesome reward for so much hard work! We are humbled at how often we take what we have for granted.” Pray for continuing progress on the translation and on teaching literacy.