Our Initial Goodbyes

Tonight was our last bible study with our little group so we did something a bit special for them. Unfortunately a few people were not able to join us due to their work and sick children but one of the ladies brought a friend. Her name is Esperanza and she really liked the study, she was planning to come every Wednesday not realizing that this was our last meeting. The study was especially long with many questions. We carried them over into our time of fellowship and carried on until well after 10 PM. We made bocaditos (mini sandwiches) and ordered a nice cake from Torta's Gaby (our favorite postre shop) to enjoy with the group. We are very reluctant to leave this little flock as we see their hearts so eager to receive the word and with so many questions. We have been meeting with them one on one to disciple them and try to ensure they have a place or person to fellowship with after we leave. It truly is our desire to stay here and minister to them but it seems that the Lord is not leading us to do this at this time, maybe in the future?

Marisol, Blanca (behind Marisol), Esperanza, Silvana, Jesusa and Eddy.

Josiah playing with one of the few toys left in his room. We've begun sorting, selling and giving away stuff in preparation for the big pack. This time next week we will be headed for Miami were we will visit with family for a few days before heading on to Rochester. Until then, please continue to pray for us here and the sheep we are ministering to.

Visitors, visitors, visitors!

We had our fourth visitor leave this past week, Grampie. My father (Lisa) came just in time for Hadassah's third birthday, what a nice present it was for her to reunite with her Grandpa.

The first morning he was here he was able to join Hadassah and her classmates as they sang Happy Birthday to her. It was her last day of school as they were entering into vacation for a few weeks and we will be returning home now in another week and a half. Hadassah did not want to leave Grandpa's side for the first day or so.

Another blessing for Grampie was that he was able to see Hadassah dance in her school the second day he was here. She was such a doll, as were all of the little girls dressed as mermaids.

The first three days of Grampie's trip were busy, the third one was the actual day of her birthday and we had a party here in the house for her.

We asked a girl from church to help us make a cake, it was so cute. We had a lot of the family and our friends help us out with the preparations for the party, it turn out so nice.

Hadassah with her gifts and the "two Lucianas."

When I asked Hadassah the next day what her favorite part of the party was she replied "Luciana."

A visit from "Barnabas."

Who when he came and had seen the grace of God, was glad and exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

This past week we said good-bye to our pastor as he returned home to the States. Although he spent just a handful of days with us here in Peru, we were extremely blessed and encouraged by the time we were able to spend with him. He challenged and exhorted us and left us to remember that we should cleave all the more unto the Lord our God.

Pastor Mark & Eddy in a very dense fog at Larco Mar.

It was great for us to be able to introduce him to the people whom we have been ministering with and to. He was able to share a few times with the people here and they were deeply touched by his testimony and passion for the Lord. He and Eddy told me that there did not seem to be a dry eye in the church at Santa Rosa the Sunday he shared with the people there. Pastor Mark was also able to join Eddy and Americo as they ministered to the inmates in the prison this past Tuesday as well.

Pastor Mark and Brian, Sunday morning service at Iglesia Cristiana Koinonia - SURCO.

I was especially blessed by Pastor Mark's opportunity to teach Sunday morning. After eight months of messages in only Spanish it was nice to be able to just relax and listen freely without my brain working extra hard to understand every detail. The body in Surco was equally blessed by the profound message he gave on prayer.

The church at Santa Rosa.

Santa Rosa is a village about an hour and a half from Surco. Eddy has been preaching there every Sunday afternoon now for about four months. The congregation seems to be growing every week and Eddy has become quite attached to this little flock. Almost every family there is affected by drugs and alcohol and often times share their struggles with him. After Eddy taught on Sunday afternoon he let Mark share what was on his heart. Mark sensed the leading of the Holy Spirit to share his own personal testimony and the hearts of the people were extremely touched. One young man who is addicted to drugs had been invited week after week to join the service but he never made it. Eddy gave him a special personal invitation this week and he not only came but after the service shared with Eddy that he needs to have the Lord in his life, please keep him in your prayers.

We ended the week with our home bible study. We were very excited that Pastor Mark was able to join us for this ministry. In the short time that our Pastor visited with us he touched the lives of the people here, as did his daughter and another friend, who visited us in the prior weeks. We thank them for taking the time out of their busy lives to come and minister to the flocks here and to reinforce what we have shared with the people here.

We are grateful to the Lord to allow us this opportunity to come and know His heart for the people of Peru. We continue to pray and seek Him for vision as to our future here in this country. We are very reluctant to go but at this time it seems like we should return home to continue in prayer with regard to this matter. Pray for the disciples that have been made here and for others to come in and take our place to continue in the work.