Summer sun and Salvation. Glory to God!
Celebrating the end of one year and beginning another!
I don’t know about you, but the first two months this year have been an absolute blur! And what a fruitful time of ministry for our church here in Lima. Glory to God for all He is doing.
We repaired and re-installed the big shade over our outdoor church space.
We kicked off the New year, celebrating with our church. Our young troop couldn’t make the midnight celebration so they celebrated at home while I was on the grill helping cook for a small group of 100ish! It was a blast ringing in the new year as we celebrated God’s goodness to our church, and several new converts gave testimony of the Lord’s goodness in saving them.
Our boys got some summer cuts.
For us here, Jan-March is summer time. Kids head to camp, pools and beaches are full, and the sun is a scorcher. Our home here had an old shelled out pool that was out of use for around a decade. With a little money gifted to our family at Christmas and some creative thinking, we were blessed to be able to make it work again. And what a blessing it has been through these hot summer months. Glory to God for His kindness to us.
Pray for our men. There are a lot more but here are a few:)
The men gathered for retreat where we were able to enjoy fellowship. We built a very gringo thing: an axe throwing target! It was a big hit with the men! It was a blast bringing the men together and pouring into them. We had 2 sessions on humility and integrity. Jorge and I taught and did not hold back. And God worked as only God does. His word challenged our men and several have taken up the mantel of leadership as God has directed and gifted them. God has given more opportunities than we can handle in the realm of men’s discipleship. Just this week, I had several studies with a total of 8 men, and am trying to coordinate schedules to include more. The growth in our men is so humbling to see as we serve here.
We were blessed to be able to welcome Steve and Kelley back as well as help move their son Joseph’s family to their new home. We praise the Lord that the move went relatively well, even in the heat!
15 years with this lovely lady! Can you believe it?
At the beginning of February we were in Iquitos for a short field team meeting. For 3 days we were able to meet with the missionaries, encourage one another, pray and see what God is doing in this jungle region. There is a seminary there that has many challenges ahead in the next few years. Pray for the missionaries serving there, as they have some important decisions to make as there are no missionaries at present to take the baton and continue. Once completing our round of Iquitos stomach crud (pretty sure we all got a parasite), we were able to celebrate Debbie’s birthday.
Game time at VBS
The following week, VBS was in full swing. God was gracious to us this year. We put on a 3 day program. Huge thanks to Pastor Daniel who administrated the whole event with all of the details. Our kids loved being there even though they still are learning the language. There was no shortage of opportunities for the gospel as we shared with the parents that waited for their children. 3 mothers trusted Christ as their savior through these interactions, and what a joy it was!
Janet praying to trust Christ at VBS
At the end of February, 3 pastors from engage network joined us for an intense 4 days. God was good to use them to observe the ministry here, meet our people, and help us begin to dream about what God can do through multiplying the ministry outward through church planting. We know that God seems to be leading our associate pastor, Jorge, to be the next church planter here as well as seeking to build a team around the needs associated with this vision. And the Engage pastors were a huge help. Thanks so much Josh, Adam, and Dave for the visit and Godly counsel! We are so grateful!
Liam at the Market with Pastor Josh.
As many of you know, we visited the US late November and early December. Debbie’s grandfather had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and he went home to be with the Lord in February. It was wonderful and sad being able to stream the funeral. As much as we wanted to be there, we were unable to. Grieving was different from so far away. But the Lord is faithful to us and we look forward to seeing Grandpa again.Celebrations are also different from afar. My brother Brian got married just a few days ago. We would have loved to have been there, but unfortunately that was not a reality. God is sovereign and knows all things, and we celebrate with him and his bride Alison.
Enjoying a bus ride in Iquitos!
Pray for us and the work here in Peru. God is at work here. He is kind to use us here and we will continue to walk with Him as He leads us.
Pray for Debbie and the Kids: Language is still a daily struggle
Pray for our men: That God raise them up to be faithful servants
Pray for Carlos and his family, Juan Carlos, Eric, and Oscar- That God would bring them to salvation
Pray for Wisdom, that God would continue to work and bless His people here in Peru.