Today I got up and hiked to the top of a hill that looks over the soccerfield, and got (i hope) some really good photos of the mountains. It was amazing.
We helped Gloria make Aji de Gallina today for lunch, and it was delicious.
I was able to share the Gospel with Percy. He didn´t say a lot afterwards about it, but I´ll be praying for him and talking to him more these last couple of days.
I was planning on talking to and studying the Bible with Alfredo Chatte for 2 hours today, but I was 20 minutes late and he had already left his office. I admit it was a let down.
We had a Bible study with Gloria 2 nights ago about Luke 18 the story of the "boastful" pharasee and the humble tax collector´s prayers, and also reviewed sharing the gospel with the story of Creation, the fall, and the life of Christ. She was busy yesterday and tonight, so next time we study we will be finishing up review on sharing the gospel with the story of Nichodemus.
Tonight in about 30 minutes we will go to the doctor´s to teach english, and continue studying the gospel story with the 10 commandments, and the life of Christ.
I am excited that it is almost time to go home, but also know that God still has more in store for the last 3 or 4 days.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Barnabas Team
The Barnabas Team arrived here the evening of the 13th, and just left this morning the 15th. It was a short but encouraging stay from them. Thanks Ryan, Cresten, Mandy, and Ellen for encouragement, the card game "garbage", and dancing to "one way ticket" and "Larude".
Including today, we have 14 more days left in Vilcas Huaman.
We haven´t been able to study the Bible with Virginia for about 3 days. She has been really busy and been going to a field to work during the day. Her sister from Ayacucho is staying at her house and helping her out.
Pray specifically that we will be able to share the gospel more with Gloria, Dr. Filencio Chavez, Percy, and Emma.
Including today, we have 14 more days left in Vilcas Huaman.
We haven´t been able to study the Bible with Virginia for about 3 days. She has been really busy and been going to a field to work during the day. Her sister from Ayacucho is staying at her house and helping her out.
Pray specifically that we will be able to share the gospel more with Gloria, Dr. Filencio Chavez, Percy, and Emma.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
17 Days Left.
I feel like our time here in Vilcas Huaman is going too fast. We only have 17 days left here, and we want to make the most of them.
Yesterday we watched the end of two weddings which were held in the Catholic church. We were invited by Gloria, and got to spend a lot of time with her yesterday. Today she invited us to eat with her (she only runs the restaurant during the week), and go to her house about a mile away. It was a great time getting to know Gloria even better. We saw some of the drawings that her son made on the white walls of their house. (I´d upload the pictures, but I do not have a cable to my camera.) After looking at her house we sat down in her field by the mountain, and she asked us to teach her about the Bible (she had been asking for the past couple of days). We told her the stories of Zaccheus and the temptation of Jesus, but she knew the Bible surprisingly well. She said her dad is a Christian, and she had gone to church until she was 15. She told us about some of the problems with the Catholic church such as praising and worshiping the saints, because only God is to be praised. The conversation was mostly between Miriam and Gloria since Gerica and I cannot convey things as well in spanish. I am excited about the future conversations we will have with Gloria about the Bible and the Gospel.
Pray for Reynaldo as he got in trouble for something and wound up in the policestation one night. He hasn´t been coming to the Bible studies for a long time. Pray also for his relationship with his mother. We´ve been able to study with Virginia every night that she is not busy.
I went to look for Alfredo Chate, but someone said he is on vacation for a month. Pray that we will be able to find his house.
We have been teaching English to Dr. Fidencio chavez we he is at his out every 3-4 days. We talked with him a little about the church, because he asked us why we don´t have a building. He told us about a church or house in Ayacucho that is really big and has lots of activities. He said he is catholic, but likes how the church teaches good things. Pray for our future studies that we will have the opportunity to share with him what the Gospel is, and what the church is about.
We usually aren´t able to find emma to help her out. Pray that we will have opportunities to share the gospel with her.
This last week I have been able to sit and teach english to Percy outside his store. He told Gerica that he is catholic. Pray that we will be able to share the Bible with him also.
I can´t wait to get home, but I know God still has work for us here.
Yesterday we watched the end of two weddings which were held in the Catholic church. We were invited by Gloria, and got to spend a lot of time with her yesterday. Today she invited us to eat with her (she only runs the restaurant during the week), and go to her house about a mile away. It was a great time getting to know Gloria even better. We saw some of the drawings that her son made on the white walls of their house. (I´d upload the pictures, but I do not have a cable to my camera.) After looking at her house we sat down in her field by the mountain, and she asked us to teach her about the Bible (she had been asking for the past couple of days). We told her the stories of Zaccheus and the temptation of Jesus, but she knew the Bible surprisingly well. She said her dad is a Christian, and she had gone to church until she was 15. She told us about some of the problems with the Catholic church such as praising and worshiping the saints, because only God is to be praised. The conversation was mostly between Miriam and Gloria since Gerica and I cannot convey things as well in spanish. I am excited about the future conversations we will have with Gloria about the Bible and the Gospel.
Pray for Reynaldo as he got in trouble for something and wound up in the policestation one night. He hasn´t been coming to the Bible studies for a long time. Pray also for his relationship with his mother. We´ve been able to study with Virginia every night that she is not busy.
I went to look for Alfredo Chate, but someone said he is on vacation for a month. Pray that we will be able to find his house.
We have been teaching English to Dr. Fidencio chavez we he is at his out every 3-4 days. We talked with him a little about the church, because he asked us why we don´t have a building. He told us about a church or house in Ayacucho that is really big and has lots of activities. He said he is catholic, but likes how the church teaches good things. Pray for our future studies that we will have the opportunity to share with him what the Gospel is, and what the church is about.
We usually aren´t able to find emma to help her out. Pray that we will have opportunities to share the gospel with her.
This last week I have been able to sit and teach english to Percy outside his store. He told Gerica that he is catholic. Pray that we will be able to share the Bible with him also.
I can´t wait to get home, but I know God still has work for us here.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Back in Vilcas Huaman
I had a great time during our break at Nazca. I got feeling better the day after I posted my last blog. It was a great time of rest and hearing the testimonies of all the other summer missionaries.
One thing our team had been lacking was a time to study the Bible together. We have begun to implement this every morning after breakfast. We began reading through 1 peter. Pray that we will continue to read the Bible daily as a group and be encouraged by each other daily.
We studied English with Dr. Chavez for the second time, and we were excited to hear that Gloria wants to come also and has been inviting many other people to study english with us. We talked about the study this morning, and decided that we will be telling them the "creation to Christ" story a few sentences at a time in English over the next few weeks so that anyone who wants to learn english will be able to hear the gospel.
Gerica went to Lima after Nazca to meet up with her Tennessee Baptist Convention person Stacey, and they arrived here in Vilcas yesterday.
Last night we went to study with Virginia but she was at a meeting. We went to Emma´s house today to help her out but she wasn´t there. This happens a lot so we just have to be patient.
Today Gerica and Miriam helped out at Gloria´s and Gloria probably invited more people to our english class tonight with Dr. Chavez. Today at 3, Miriam will teach the girls a Bible story in the Plaza, and today at 3:30, I will be talking with Alfredo Chatte in his office and hopefully will have a chance to practice english and study the creation story.
Lord please give me the words to say because I am inadequate. I pray for good conversation with Alfredo, and hope to hear more about what he believes (I saw a Bible verse on his wall), but he hasn´t been extremely outspoken about Christianity except wanting a Bible in English to read.
Tonight at Virginia´s if Reynaldo shows up, we will review the Bible verses on the relationship between parents and children. Otherwise we will go over the passage in Romans 10 about how can people believe in what they have not heard, and how can they hear unless someone preaches, and how can someone preach unless they are sent. So it will be about them sharing the gospel with other people.
Lord we lift all of these things up to you. Bless them, and may we bring glory to you through them.
One thing our team had been lacking was a time to study the Bible together. We have begun to implement this every morning after breakfast. We began reading through 1 peter. Pray that we will continue to read the Bible daily as a group and be encouraged by each other daily.
We studied English with Dr. Chavez for the second time, and we were excited to hear that Gloria wants to come also and has been inviting many other people to study english with us. We talked about the study this morning, and decided that we will be telling them the "creation to Christ" story a few sentences at a time in English over the next few weeks so that anyone who wants to learn english will be able to hear the gospel.
Gerica went to Lima after Nazca to meet up with her Tennessee Baptist Convention person Stacey, and they arrived here in Vilcas yesterday.
Last night we went to study with Virginia but she was at a meeting. We went to Emma´s house today to help her out but she wasn´t there. This happens a lot so we just have to be patient.
Today Gerica and Miriam helped out at Gloria´s and Gloria probably invited more people to our english class tonight with Dr. Chavez. Today at 3, Miriam will teach the girls a Bible story in the Plaza, and today at 3:30, I will be talking with Alfredo Chatte in his office and hopefully will have a chance to practice english and study the creation story.
Lord please give me the words to say because I am inadequate. I pray for good conversation with Alfredo, and hope to hear more about what he believes (I saw a Bible verse on his wall), but he hasn´t been extremely outspoken about Christianity except wanting a Bible in English to read.
Tonight at Virginia´s if Reynaldo shows up, we will review the Bible verses on the relationship between parents and children. Otherwise we will go over the passage in Romans 10 about how can people believe in what they have not heard, and how can they hear unless someone preaches, and how can someone preach unless they are sent. So it will be about them sharing the gospel with other people.
Lord we lift all of these things up to you. Bless them, and may we bring glory to you through them.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Summer retreat Day 1
We arrived in Nazca this morning around 8:15, and I am feeling sick. Got the runs again. I hope that I feel better soon so that I can enjoy the few days we have in this really nice hotel. Today is just the chill day while we wait for all of the summer missionaries to get here.
Pray for me and our team that we will be refreshed and ready to go back to ministering in Vilcas Huaman.
Pray for me and our team that we will be refreshed and ready to go back to ministering in Vilcas Huaman.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Going to Nazca
This morning we left at 7:30 for Ayacucho to get to Nazca for the summer reunion. On the way to Ayacucho before I had no problems with motion sickness. I had a bit on the way to Vischongo last week, but this morning was the worst. I threw up out the window of the combi (toyota van). Good thing I had not eaten breakfast.
We bought our bus tickets to Ica, and the bus leaves at 9:45 pm, and should arrive in Ica around 5:00 am. We will then buy tickets to Nazca and hopefully get there safely.
I am glad to have a little break from the usual grind, although things have been going good in Vilcas.
Last night we had our first time teaching English with one of the doctor´s from the hospital. (We probably would have never met him unless Gerica had been quarantined.) He was glad to have us help him with English. He is also interested in Studying the Bible with us.
I also met up with Alfredo Chatte. I thought his name was Albert. He wants a Bible in English and wants to study the Bible at 4:00 in his office.
Pray that we are refreshed this week at Nazca and are able to continue working with the contacts we have made.
To God be the glory.
We bought our bus tickets to Ica, and the bus leaves at 9:45 pm, and should arrive in Ica around 5:00 am. We will then buy tickets to Nazca and hopefully get there safely.
I am glad to have a little break from the usual grind, although things have been going good in Vilcas.
Last night we had our first time teaching English with one of the doctor´s from the hospital. (We probably would have never met him unless Gerica had been quarantined.) He was glad to have us help him with English. He is also interested in Studying the Bible with us.
I also met up with Alfredo Chatte. I thought his name was Albert. He wants a Bible in English and wants to study the Bible at 4:00 in his office.
Pray that we are refreshed this week at Nazca and are able to continue working with the contacts we have made.
To God be the glory.
Monday, June 22, 2009
At the cornfield and the lake
On Saturday I went with Emma to the cornfield about 45 minutes away to help her and her dad pick corn. We started walking there around 8:30 and we got back around 3:30. First Emma´s dad cut down the corn stalks, put them in a piles, and Emma and I picked the corn and shucked it. It was really fun because you don´t really know what color you are going to get until you open it up. And the kernels of corn are huge.
Yesterday was Gerica´s Birthday. Miriam and I got her this really cool cake with fruit on top that she says is "ballin". She also got a cake from the Gloria, the chef at Las Delicias. We also took a combi ride to Vischongo (1 hour) and climbed up to Lake Int-something and took photos of the Incan Ruins there.
I also called home to wish my Dad a Happy Father´s Day.
We´ve invited Hector to come over to our hotel at night and wake us up if he wants to study the Bible. He hasn´t come over yet and he works usually at least until 10 pm. Pray that we will be able to study the Bible with him.
I haven´t seen Albert yet, so pray that I will be able to meet him sometime soon, practice english and share the Gospel with him.
Also be in prayer for Reynaldo (Virginia´s son). I´m not sure about all the facts, but his mom took him to the hospital because he tried to overdose on his sister´s medicine. Miriam said he tried to or did cut himself, but I am not sure of this. Since then he seems to have high spirits, and has been coming to the Bible Study.
Pray that we will have an opportunity to study the Bible with Emma during the time that we help her out.
Also (Cesaer) one of the doctor´s that had Gerica quarantined said that he wanted to practice english with us. We pray that we will pursue this and it will be fruitful.
We will be traveling to Nazca this thursday for the summer retreat with all of the other summer missionaries. Pray that we will be encouraged, refreshed, and ready to go back to the field and work for the father.
Additionally, we will be encouraging Virginia this week to begin leading the Bible study so that while we are gone for 4-5 days, she will not get out of the habit of studying the Bible. We also want her to be able to lead the Bible study after we are gone for the summer.
The Bible study is pretty simple: prayer, review of the previous lesson, review of all the memory verses learned (romans 3:23, 6:23, john 3:16, Acts 2:42, and 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Challenge for yall to hide these verses in your heart before the end of the summer. I´ll be adding more....
Read the Bible story or verses, read them again for clarity, and then ask the 5 questions:
What did you like?
What did you not like?
What questions do you have?
What does this teach us about the character of God?
What can we do specifically to apply this scripture to our lives. (I.E. How can we obey)
We then follow up by having everyone praying around in a circle (sometimes difficult because they are shy to pray). Afterwards we sing praises to God (this is the part where her younger kids actually pay attention and each have their favorite song).
Pray that we will do everything we can during this last partial week for the kingdom.
May the nations praise Jesus for salvation.
Yesterday was Gerica´s Birthday. Miriam and I got her this really cool cake with fruit on top that she says is "ballin". She also got a cake from the Gloria, the chef at Las Delicias. We also took a combi ride to Vischongo (1 hour) and climbed up to Lake Int-something and took photos of the Incan Ruins there.
I also called home to wish my Dad a Happy Father´s Day.
We´ve invited Hector to come over to our hotel at night and wake us up if he wants to study the Bible. He hasn´t come over yet and he works usually at least until 10 pm. Pray that we will be able to study the Bible with him.
I haven´t seen Albert yet, so pray that I will be able to meet him sometime soon, practice english and share the Gospel with him.
Also be in prayer for Reynaldo (Virginia´s son). I´m not sure about all the facts, but his mom took him to the hospital because he tried to overdose on his sister´s medicine. Miriam said he tried to or did cut himself, but I am not sure of this. Since then he seems to have high spirits, and has been coming to the Bible Study.
Pray that we will have an opportunity to study the Bible with Emma during the time that we help her out.
Also (Cesaer) one of the doctor´s that had Gerica quarantined said that he wanted to practice english with us. We pray that we will pursue this and it will be fruitful.
We will be traveling to Nazca this thursday for the summer retreat with all of the other summer missionaries. Pray that we will be encouraged, refreshed, and ready to go back to the field and work for the father.
Additionally, we will be encouraging Virginia this week to begin leading the Bible study so that while we are gone for 4-5 days, she will not get out of the habit of studying the Bible. We also want her to be able to lead the Bible study after we are gone for the summer.
The Bible study is pretty simple: prayer, review of the previous lesson, review of all the memory verses learned (romans 3:23, 6:23, john 3:16, Acts 2:42, and 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Challenge for yall to hide these verses in your heart before the end of the summer. I´ll be adding more....
Read the Bible story or verses, read them again for clarity, and then ask the 5 questions:
What did you like?
What did you not like?
What questions do you have?
What does this teach us about the character of God?
What can we do specifically to apply this scripture to our lives. (I.E. How can we obey)
We then follow up by having everyone praying around in a circle (sometimes difficult because they are shy to pray). Afterwards we sing praises to God (this is the part where her younger kids actually pay attention and each have their favorite song).
Pray that we will do everything we can during this last partial week for the kingdom.
May the nations praise Jesus for salvation.
Friday, June 19, 2009
New People
The day before yesterday, Miriam met a Lady named Emma in the plaza who said she had a sick kid. She asked us to come and pray for her child Hans. Yesterday we went to her house and met her son who is 10, has epilepsy, cannot talk, and cannot walk. We prayed for him, and asked Emma if we could help her out in any way.
We will be helping her out with whatever she needs about 2 days a week. That might include cleaning up her yard (moving rocks), looking after Hans while she is doing things in the city, and tomorrow I will be going with her to the fields on horse to pick corn and whatever other vegetables she has. Her husband is working somewhere else and they are now separated, so she can use all the help she can get. Miriam suggested that we try to have a Bible study with her during the times that we help her out which is a great idea that we are going to pursue.
Virginia is still having the Bible study with us every night at 6 now. She is overwhelmed with 5 kids and her husband working far away. We will be taking her kids to school twice a week to give her some more time to do the things she needs to do. Also every Bible study, she talks about how she is worried about her son Reynaldo who is 13, but looks 16 or 17 and hangs out with older kids who she thinks are being a bad influence on him. He has only been living in Vilcas Huaman just under a year and was previously living with his aunt in Lima. He is a Christian, but please pray for him to have a strong grounding in the Bible and not take after bad things. Pray for me that I will be able to talk with him more. I try to seek him out every day, but usually he just say much when I try to talk to him.
About 45 minutes ago, I met a man named Alfred (has two kids) who works in the Municipal Government building of Vilcas Huaman. He has two kids and CAN SPEAK ENGLISH fairly well. He was excited to find me as he wants to practice his english. While I was reading Genesis in the Plaza, he asked me if I was teaching the Bible and if I spoke Castellano (Spanish) decently. Yes, and sort of. I walked with him to Virginia´s house to show him where the Bible study was and he said he will be coming (I´m about 75 to 80 percent sure which is good for people here). I am excited to see how God will work through Alfred.
I talked in the past about Gloria who is a chef that runs the restaurant Las Delicias (which is delicious) and her son Jefferson. Gloria has been looking for 2 helpers in the kitchen and yesterday Gerica went and talked with her for an hour or so, and will be helping her in the kitchen. As Gloria is not a Christian, this will be a great opportunity to grow closer to Gloria, and share with her the love of Christ.
Please continue to pray for all of the "old contacts", and for the new ones that we have made that we may strengthen these relationships that they may be able to hear the gospel from someone that they trust.
May we keep studying the apostles teaching, having fellowship, breaking bread, and praying together as a body of Christ.
On an unrelated note:
Cool thing yesterday was two australians came into town on Bicycles. The lady was 55 and the guy was about the same. They were doing a year long bike ride from Columbia down through the Andes. That just amazing.
We will be helping her out with whatever she needs about 2 days a week. That might include cleaning up her yard (moving rocks), looking after Hans while she is doing things in the city, and tomorrow I will be going with her to the fields on horse to pick corn and whatever other vegetables she has. Her husband is working somewhere else and they are now separated, so she can use all the help she can get. Miriam suggested that we try to have a Bible study with her during the times that we help her out which is a great idea that we are going to pursue.
Virginia is still having the Bible study with us every night at 6 now. She is overwhelmed with 5 kids and her husband working far away. We will be taking her kids to school twice a week to give her some more time to do the things she needs to do. Also every Bible study, she talks about how she is worried about her son Reynaldo who is 13, but looks 16 or 17 and hangs out with older kids who she thinks are being a bad influence on him. He has only been living in Vilcas Huaman just under a year and was previously living with his aunt in Lima. He is a Christian, but please pray for him to have a strong grounding in the Bible and not take after bad things. Pray for me that I will be able to talk with him more. I try to seek him out every day, but usually he just say much when I try to talk to him.
About 45 minutes ago, I met a man named Alfred (has two kids) who works in the Municipal Government building of Vilcas Huaman. He has two kids and CAN SPEAK ENGLISH fairly well. He was excited to find me as he wants to practice his english. While I was reading Genesis in the Plaza, he asked me if I was teaching the Bible and if I spoke Castellano (Spanish) decently. Yes, and sort of. I walked with him to Virginia´s house to show him where the Bible study was and he said he will be coming (I´m about 75 to 80 percent sure which is good for people here). I am excited to see how God will work through Alfred.
I talked in the past about Gloria who is a chef that runs the restaurant Las Delicias (which is delicious) and her son Jefferson. Gloria has been looking for 2 helpers in the kitchen and yesterday Gerica went and talked with her for an hour or so, and will be helping her in the kitchen. As Gloria is not a Christian, this will be a great opportunity to grow closer to Gloria, and share with her the love of Christ.
Please continue to pray for all of the "old contacts", and for the new ones that we have made that we may strengthen these relationships that they may be able to hear the gospel from someone that they trust.
May we keep studying the apostles teaching, having fellowship, breaking bread, and praying together as a body of Christ.
On an unrelated note:
Cool thing yesterday was two australians came into town on Bicycles. The lady was 55 and the guy was about the same. They were doing a year long bike ride from Columbia down through the Andes. That just amazing.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Freedom
They just let Gerica out today because today was the last day of her tamiflu medication, even though they still don´t have the results. (She just threw away the rest because it was making her sick. After the doctors receive the results, they will be announcing over the radio that none of us have the swine flu so that the people in Vilcas Huaman won´t be afraid of us.
She is very happy to be out to say the least.
SHOUT OUT TO THE BARNABA TEAM: Ryan, Greg, and Janell! Sadly tomorrow will be the last day that the barnabas team is here in Vilcas Huaman. They have been great encouragement during Gerica´s boring stay at the hospital without running water or a shower, which she was able to get back at the hotel this morning.
It has been 5 days since we´ve been able to do a Bible study with Virginia´s family, so pray that we will be able to continue daily Bible studies again.
Also pray that we might be able to study the Bible with Hector. He is the really cool special force police officer who is a believer. We want to be able to have a Bible study with him, but he is always busy guarding the bank, or doing police work. He has to work from 7 am to sometimes 2 in the morning.
Pray for Gloria, one of the nicest ladies and an amazing chef. She is not a believer and had bad experiences in her youth with hypocritical church people. Pray that we get to know her and her son Jefferson (22) even better and that the Holy Spirit will soften her heart.
Again I haven´t gotten any responce from Michael Savage about the other village near Vilcas. Give him a call and have him email me ASAP.
To Him be the glory forever and ever.
She is very happy to be out to say the least.
SHOUT OUT TO THE BARNABA TEAM: Ryan, Greg, and Janell! Sadly tomorrow will be the last day that the barnabas team is here in Vilcas Huaman. They have been great encouragement during Gerica´s boring stay at the hospital without running water or a shower, which she was able to get back at the hotel this morning.
It has been 5 days since we´ve been able to do a Bible study with Virginia´s family, so pray that we will be able to continue daily Bible studies again.
Also pray that we might be able to study the Bible with Hector. He is the really cool special force police officer who is a believer. We want to be able to have a Bible study with him, but he is always busy guarding the bank, or doing police work. He has to work from 7 am to sometimes 2 in the morning.
Pray for Gloria, one of the nicest ladies and an amazing chef. She is not a believer and had bad experiences in her youth with hypocritical church people. Pray that we get to know her and her son Jefferson (22) even better and that the Holy Spirit will soften her heart.
Again I haven´t gotten any responce from Michael Savage about the other village near Vilcas. Give him a call and have him email me ASAP.
To Him be the glory forever and ever.
Monday, June 15, 2009
We´ll be out tomorrow.
Tomorrow Gerica should get her swine flu results back from Lima, and they will be positive and we will be able to go back to the hotel La Fortaleza and take hot showers, and not get woken up at 5:30 am by the medic who bleaches the floors.
News about Gerica has spread throughout the town. They announced over the loudspeaker in the plaza that the Gringos are sick possibly with swine flu. We know that this can create a barrier between us and the people.
Thankfully the ¨Barnabas" or encouragement team arrived yesterday and have done an excellent job of keeping our spirits up, and helping us focus on the task at hand: forming relationships to share the gospel to let the holy spirt save.
Ryan the journeyman leader of the Barnabas team is a great guy who loves the lord and has already began changing my perspective of life in Vilcas Huaman.
Ryan and Greg said they felt some spiritual evil in the town last night when Greg was praying he felt choked, the negative comments over the loudspeaker that we have swine flu, and the reaction of the doctors to us leaving to go eat.
Be praying that God will use us to overcome Satan in Vilcas Huaman, and that we will be even more intentional when we buy water or food to take extra time and talk with the people, so that they may see the love of Christ in us and that we may have an opportunity to study the Bible with them and share the Gospel.
Pray for me that I will not rely on my own strengths (what little I have), but that I will trust in God and the moving of his holy spirit.
Also please email/call David Wolfe to let him and my sunday school class know of this blog: www.markperu.blogspot.com
Also call Michael savage ASAP and tell him to shoot me an email to let me know what other villages he wants us to visit, when, and also any contacts in those villages.
To God be the glory.
News about Gerica has spread throughout the town. They announced over the loudspeaker in the plaza that the Gringos are sick possibly with swine flu. We know that this can create a barrier between us and the people.
Thankfully the ¨Barnabas" or encouragement team arrived yesterday and have done an excellent job of keeping our spirits up, and helping us focus on the task at hand: forming relationships to share the gospel to let the holy spirt save.
Ryan the journeyman leader of the Barnabas team is a great guy who loves the lord and has already began changing my perspective of life in Vilcas Huaman.
Ryan and Greg said they felt some spiritual evil in the town last night when Greg was praying he felt choked, the negative comments over the loudspeaker that we have swine flu, and the reaction of the doctors to us leaving to go eat.
Be praying that God will use us to overcome Satan in Vilcas Huaman, and that we will be even more intentional when we buy water or food to take extra time and talk with the people, so that they may see the love of Christ in us and that we may have an opportunity to study the Bible with them and share the Gospel.
Pray for me that I will not rely on my own strengths (what little I have), but that I will trust in God and the moving of his holy spirit.
Also please email/call David Wolfe to let him and my sunday school class know of this blog: www.markperu.blogspot.com
Also call Michael savage ASAP and tell him to shoot me an email to let me know what other villages he wants us to visit, when, and also any contacts in those villages.
To God be the glory.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
stuck in the hospital.
Gerica is semi being quarantined in the hospital until she gets her swine flu test results back. We have to stay in a room in the hospital. She is better fine today. Miriam and I only get to leave occasionally to get the stuff from our hotel. Gerica doesn´t really like staying there and is getting somewhat impatient. Pray for us that we will be patient, even though we know that Gerica doesn´t have the swine flu.
Friday, June 12, 2009
short
I am feeling better.
Gerica is sick with sinus congestion, fever, and motezuma´s revenge.
Tonight the doctors are coming to do tests and make sure she doesn´t have the swine flu or something really bad.
In better news, I cut a pineapple for the first time, and ate a guinea pig. (It was really good =).
We are still studying the Bible with Virginia at 5, and with the girls in the park around 3.
Pray that God will open up new doors to establish relationships and spread the Gospel.
Also pray that Virginia and Reynaldo will be willing to share the gospel with others.
Gerica is sick with sinus congestion, fever, and motezuma´s revenge.
Tonight the doctors are coming to do tests and make sure she doesn´t have the swine flu or something really bad.
In better news, I cut a pineapple for the first time, and ate a guinea pig. (It was really good =).
We are still studying the Bible with Virginia at 5, and with the girls in the park around 3.
Pray that God will open up new doors to establish relationships and spread the Gospel.
Also pray that Virginia and Reynaldo will be willing to share the gospel with others.
Friday, June 5, 2009
The CABC team week.
I went to the clinic, got some blood tests, and they gave me some more antibiotics. The next morning I felt good enough so we took the 5 hour bus to Vilcas Huaman. The seats were small and had little leg room, but we survived, and the moutain scenary was beautiful.
We met up with Michael and the gang in Vilcas, played volleyball and basketball with kids at the highschool, and had a Bible Study at 5 in Virginia´s House. (The kids can play volleyball really well.)
Virginia is one of the few believers in Vilcas Huaman. She graciously opens her house every night at 5 for Bible study. She is a somewhat shy woman, but is hungry for the word of God. She has 2 sons: Ronaldo 13, and Luis 6, and 3 daughters: Maria 6, and 2 more that are 2-3 years old.
We are not certain if Ronaldo is a believer, but he is sometimes able to come to the Bible Study.
A friend of Ronaldo is Henry. Henry is about 15 years old and has come to all 3 of the Bible studies so far. He seems very interested in learning the Bible, and always has many questions. (I just hope that he won´t have questions that will stump me).
The first Bible study Michael basically gave a gospel presentation and there were about 8 people their besides us, which was a big crowd. Michael didn´t feel that there weren´t any people there who were really convicted of their need for Christ and so he didn´t want to lead the people in a false prayer of salvation. Michael explained to me that in the past they have had "80 professions" of faith but very few have produced any fruit. We hope to find people who really understand what the Gospel is and are willing to surrender their lives to God. These people are the church.
I had a great time hanging out with the CABC team. They were really great hanging out with the kids. Crowds gathered around Ian as he drew a pictures, and the chicas flocked to our girls to play games. Through the translators they were also able to take opportunities to share the gospel through the evangecube. I am sad to see them leave. (especially the leadership of Michael).
I realized yesterday sometimes how little faith I have. In the morning I was sitting in the sunny plaza reading from the book of Acts, and some men sat on the bench with me. They wanted me to read some to them. So I began reading from Acts 2 about Pentecost. We read for a while and then another man came and I began sharing the gospel with him. After they left, I thought to myself, why didn´t I read the story of Nicodemus or something with more of the gospel in it?
Later Ronaldo showed us some ruins and took us to a soccer game. We came back early to teach some girls in the plaza, but they never showed up. But apparently one of the men who had been listening to me read and share the gospel with the other man had been waiting in the plaza for us. Ephraim said that he had accepted Christ. I am a big skeptic and so we began talking about the gospel. He understood his sin and his need for Jesus to forgive it. I asked him if he had repented of his sins and believed that only through Jesus´s death that we could be saved, and he said yes. He asked for a Bible because he said that there is not a Bible in his house. I wrote some passages about salvation in the front of a new testament and underlined them in the text. He lives in a nearby village and comes to Vilcas Huaman on Thursday and Sunday. He said he will be coming to the Bible Study at Virginia´s, and wants to learn more so that he might be able to preach.
Pray for Ephraim that he truly understands the Gospel and will be hungry and read the Bible that we gave him.
I no longer have stomach and intestinal problems, but I have a sinus infection. (I think this is what showed up on the tests at the doctor). I am still draining fluid and am starting the coughing phase. Pray that this does not hinder our ministry.
We´ve only been in Peru 4 days, and God is already doing great things. Pray that we will not limit God to what He can do.
We met up with Michael and the gang in Vilcas, played volleyball and basketball with kids at the highschool, and had a Bible Study at 5 in Virginia´s House. (The kids can play volleyball really well.)
Virginia is one of the few believers in Vilcas Huaman. She graciously opens her house every night at 5 for Bible study. She is a somewhat shy woman, but is hungry for the word of God. She has 2 sons: Ronaldo 13, and Luis 6, and 3 daughters: Maria 6, and 2 more that are 2-3 years old.
We are not certain if Ronaldo is a believer, but he is sometimes able to come to the Bible Study.
A friend of Ronaldo is Henry. Henry is about 15 years old and has come to all 3 of the Bible studies so far. He seems very interested in learning the Bible, and always has many questions. (I just hope that he won´t have questions that will stump me).
The first Bible study Michael basically gave a gospel presentation and there were about 8 people their besides us, which was a big crowd. Michael didn´t feel that there weren´t any people there who were really convicted of their need for Christ and so he didn´t want to lead the people in a false prayer of salvation. Michael explained to me that in the past they have had "80 professions" of faith but very few have produced any fruit. We hope to find people who really understand what the Gospel is and are willing to surrender their lives to God. These people are the church.
I had a great time hanging out with the CABC team. They were really great hanging out with the kids. Crowds gathered around Ian as he drew a pictures, and the chicas flocked to our girls to play games. Through the translators they were also able to take opportunities to share the gospel through the evangecube. I am sad to see them leave. (especially the leadership of Michael).
I realized yesterday sometimes how little faith I have. In the morning I was sitting in the sunny plaza reading from the book of Acts, and some men sat on the bench with me. They wanted me to read some to them. So I began reading from Acts 2 about Pentecost. We read for a while and then another man came and I began sharing the gospel with him. After they left, I thought to myself, why didn´t I read the story of Nicodemus or something with more of the gospel in it?
Later Ronaldo showed us some ruins and took us to a soccer game. We came back early to teach some girls in the plaza, but they never showed up. But apparently one of the men who had been listening to me read and share the gospel with the other man had been waiting in the plaza for us. Ephraim said that he had accepted Christ. I am a big skeptic and so we began talking about the gospel. He understood his sin and his need for Jesus to forgive it. I asked him if he had repented of his sins and believed that only through Jesus´s death that we could be saved, and he said yes. He asked for a Bible because he said that there is not a Bible in his house. I wrote some passages about salvation in the front of a new testament and underlined them in the text. He lives in a nearby village and comes to Vilcas Huaman on Thursday and Sunday. He said he will be coming to the Bible Study at Virginia´s, and wants to learn more so that he might be able to preach.
Pray for Ephraim that he truly understands the Gospel and will be hungry and read the Bible that we gave him.
I no longer have stomach and intestinal problems, but I have a sinus infection. (I think this is what showed up on the tests at the doctor). I am still draining fluid and am starting the coughing phase. Pray that this does not hinder our ministry.
We´ve only been in Peru 4 days, and God is already doing great things. Pray that we will not limit God to what He can do.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Almost There
If you read the last comment that my mom wrote, then you already know that I am sick with montezuma´s revenge. I had a fever yesterday but it is gone (praise the Lord). Michael and the rest of the team are now in Vilcas Huaman. I pray that I will get better soon so that I will be able to spend some time in Vilcas Huaman and put faces with the names of the people they have already been in contact with.
The week of training was a great time of worship, studying the Bible, preparing for life in the village, and preparing to share the gospel to an oral culture. Because most of the people cannot read, we are going to share the gospel (from creation to Christ) in stories that the people can learn. Because they are an oral culture, they are able to memorize the stories much easier than we can. Another important aspect of sharing the gospel in these stories is that it is reproducible. I think we heard the word reproducibility at least 5 times a day, but I now realize its importance.
If we use certain special tools to share the gospel it is good, but if that person becomes a Christian, they will not have the same tool to share the gospel with. You don´t need any tools to share the gospel if you are telling it in the form of a story, and it is easy to understand. Our goal is the share the gospel in story form, let the holy spirit convict them of their need for salvation, and then disciple them. We will be asking the people to obey the Bible story (what are you going to do about what you have just heard), and also for them to share the story with others.
Another thing is that we are not trying to create an American style church. We are sharing with them what a Biblical Christian is, no more and no less. After a person accepts Christ we will tell them the story of the ethiopean Eunich, and encourage them to be baptized publicly. This is often a huge step of faith for the people because they are associating themselves with Christianity in front of the village.
Pray for the Work that Michael and the rest of the bunch are doing right now in Vilcas, and that I will get better soon.
The week of training was a great time of worship, studying the Bible, preparing for life in the village, and preparing to share the gospel to an oral culture. Because most of the people cannot read, we are going to share the gospel (from creation to Christ) in stories that the people can learn. Because they are an oral culture, they are able to memorize the stories much easier than we can. Another important aspect of sharing the gospel in these stories is that it is reproducible. I think we heard the word reproducibility at least 5 times a day, but I now realize its importance.
If we use certain special tools to share the gospel it is good, but if that person becomes a Christian, they will not have the same tool to share the gospel with. You don´t need any tools to share the gospel if you are telling it in the form of a story, and it is easy to understand. Our goal is the share the gospel in story form, let the holy spirit convict them of their need for salvation, and then disciple them. We will be asking the people to obey the Bible story (what are you going to do about what you have just heard), and also for them to share the story with others.
Another thing is that we are not trying to create an American style church. We are sharing with them what a Biblical Christian is, no more and no less. After a person accepts Christ we will tell them the story of the ethiopean Eunich, and encourage them to be baptized publicly. This is often a huge step of faith for the people because they are associating themselves with Christianity in front of the village.
Pray for the Work that Michael and the rest of the bunch are doing right now in Vilcas, and that I will get better soon.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Getting Ready to Leave
I would like to thank everyone who has committed to praying for me over the summer while I am ministering in Vilcas Huaman Peru.
I will be leaving for Peru on May 25th, and will be returning on August 2nd (68 days).
There are about 40-50 other college aged students who will be working in small teams sharing the gospel in the different Regions of Peru.
The first 5 days in Peru, we will be going through training outside of Lima the Capital city. After training, I will be meeting up with my teammates, and members of Country Acres Baptist Church to take a long bus ride to Vilcas Huaman. I will have the privelege to prayer walk, share the gospel, and fellowship along side Pastor Michael Savage, Jordan, and many youth from Country Acres Baptist for a week. Hopefully they will help "show me the ropes".
All of the summer missionaries will be traveling back to Lima halfway through the summer for a break to share our experiences and encourage each other.
First I'd like to ask that you pray that God would continue working in the hearts of the people in the Vilcas Huaman region. Pray that we would be able to continue ministering to those who have already heard the gospel and are open to the Word of God.
Pray for the health and safety of all the summer missionaries serving across Peru, that we will be well and able to share the Gospel.
Pray that we will not be putting on our own show, but that we will rely on the Holy Spirit who can convict people of sin and turn them to saving faith in Jesus Christ.
Pray that we will not be ashamed of sharing our faith in Christ. Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes..."
Pray for unity so that all of us will work together well and keep our focus on the faith we have in Jesus.
Pray for us, that the way we live and act will be a good representation of the Christian life so that there is not a contradiction between the message of the gospel and our actions.
Pray for me that I will be spending time with God in prayer and the Bible study daily.
I know many times that I have read blogs and not commented on them. I urge you to post something so that I can be encouraged by your words. Also feel free to post anything that God is doing in your life so that I can rejoice with you.
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