On the 2nd, Ana and I met my first witch. Is it a witch when it’s a man? Or is it a warlock? I only ask because I think that in Bewitched her dad is a warlock….but that’s beside the story. This man’s name is Jose Luis and he says that he was born to serve the devil. He says that he has made a pact with Satan. Quite an interesting individual, but potentially harmful. He tells us that his mom was a Christian. He believes it would take 7 pastors to be with him day and night for 7 months, praying constantly to break his pact with the devil.
A couple days later, Ana and I were discipling a girl who lives across the street from him, and an older woman rode up on a motorcycle taxi. the lady hobbled up to the house and the taxi driver waited as she went in. About 10 minutes later, we heard a blood curdling scream. I was worried and thought we should go in to help, but the girl explained to us that he is a witch doctor. Soon after, the woman walked out, and they took off. CREEPER! Please pray for him.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
February
Baptism
VBS
2 converts in CHURCH
Thieves and deception
It’s been a couple of busy weeks.
We had our first baptisee from Circunvilacion on February 13th. 10 year old Manuel has been an enthusiastic disciple and has grown leaps and bounds since his conversion at the beginning of January. His mom and grandmother are huge a support to him as well as Ana and I. Christians who have been worshipping privately from their home (due to the cost of travel to and from church); they are quite excited to have a Place of Worship close by. Manuel’s grandfather, Faustino, is a riot! He is not yet a Christian, but is not object to it. He has a lot of questions and is eager to learn. Faustino is so funny, and absolutely dedicated to establishing the Church of Nazarene in Nueva Esperanza.
Any way, back to the baptism. INSERT BAPTISM MATERIAL
We had an incredible turn out for VBS. 47 kids the first day, 49 on the second. With only Ana and me teaching, it was the perfect amount to show up. We did not have the 2010 VBS lessons, so we made up our own material. Our theme was obedience. We talked about Abraham the first day, and Sodom and Gomorra the second. We had songs, work sheets, and a special craft for each day. We had snacks and gave out little rewards to encourage good behavior. We decorated the walls. We did the same thing for all 3 of our locations, and on a budget of about $75. It was a BLAST!
Ana and I like to involve as many people as possible— it gives everyone a sense of purpose, as well as relieves a bit of our work load. There are 5 kids that are a part of our janitorial staff. They arrive early and sweep, get the chairs/benches in order, and settle the dust. (It’s so cute!) I would like you all to be praying for their safety whenever they are there. They use the space to play on a daily basis, and, like I said, arrive early to clean. This zone is not exactly the safest, and the caretaker’s house was broken into and stolen from in the middle of the day not too long ago. (Ana and I talked with the thief before it happened. (A manly woman if I ever saw one)
Our services are being held on Tuesday and Friday evenings. Tuesday is dedicated to prayer which is normal in ALL of Peru. We have had a steady attendance of 4 adults as well as two others that come off and on. Ana and I are really enjoying the encouragement of the people. There are about 10 kids who are coming to our prayer services as well. They do a good job during our devotional message, but have we have yet to figure out how to teach them to sit quiet during the prayer time. It does run a little while (about 20 minutes of solid verbal prayer)…But, it’s a process. And they’re kids…so…what do you do?
VBS
2 converts in CHURCH
Thieves and deception
It’s been a couple of busy weeks.
We had our first baptisee from Circunvilacion on February 13th. 10 year old Manuel has been an enthusiastic disciple and has grown leaps and bounds since his conversion at the beginning of January. His mom and grandmother are huge a support to him as well as Ana and I. Christians who have been worshipping privately from their home (due to the cost of travel to and from church); they are quite excited to have a Place of Worship close by. Manuel’s grandfather, Faustino, is a riot! He is not yet a Christian, but is not object to it. He has a lot of questions and is eager to learn. Faustino is so funny, and absolutely dedicated to establishing the Church of Nazarene in Nueva Esperanza.
Any way, back to the baptism. INSERT BAPTISM MATERIAL
We had an incredible turn out for VBS. 47 kids the first day, 49 on the second. With only Ana and me teaching, it was the perfect amount to show up. We did not have the 2010 VBS lessons, so we made up our own material. Our theme was obedience. We talked about Abraham the first day, and Sodom and Gomorra the second. We had songs, work sheets, and a special craft for each day. We had snacks and gave out little rewards to encourage good behavior. We decorated the walls. We did the same thing for all 3 of our locations, and on a budget of about $75. It was a BLAST!
Ana and I like to involve as many people as possible— it gives everyone a sense of purpose, as well as relieves a bit of our work load. There are 5 kids that are a part of our janitorial staff. They arrive early and sweep, get the chairs/benches in order, and settle the dust. (It’s so cute!) I would like you all to be praying for their safety whenever they are there. They use the space to play on a daily basis, and, like I said, arrive early to clean. This zone is not exactly the safest, and the caretaker’s house was broken into and stolen from in the middle of the day not too long ago. (Ana and I talked with the thief before it happened. (A manly woman if I ever saw one)
Our services are being held on Tuesday and Friday evenings. Tuesday is dedicated to prayer which is normal in ALL of Peru. We have had a steady attendance of 4 adults as well as two others that come off and on. Ana and I are really enjoying the encouragement of the people. There are about 10 kids who are coming to our prayer services as well. They do a good job during our devotional message, but have we have yet to figure out how to teach them to sit quiet during the prayer time. It does run a little while (about 20 minutes of solid verbal prayer)…But, it’s a process. And they’re kids…so…what do you do?
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Always an oppurtunity!
CIRC. THERE ARE 2 POSTS. THIS IS THE FIRST ONE
You need to know that we were made aware of some interesting information concerning this particular part of town. While we knew that there is a large red light district nearby, we did not know that there is a serious drug and alcohol problem in this area. Serious in the fact that this particular stomping grounds is the location of drug lord wars, shootings, murders, etc. We ask your prayers to also be directed in the way of divine protection for Ana and I as we walk around Circunvilacion; specifically, Nueva Esperanza. Nueva Esperanza means New Hope, which is exactly what we are bringing to these people. New Hope.
2 weeks ago, Ana and I showed the Magdalena film (it’s the Jesus film through the eyes of Mary Magdalene; if you have not seen it yet, I highly recommend watching it. It is very well done.). We had programmed to show the film before Christmas, but there was a huge storm that night (in which the equipment was almost destroyed by the torrential downpour that came without warning). We passed out fliers and invited the whole community. At 7 pm we showed the film to about 35 kids, and 25 adults. We had a great response in which everyone either accepted Christ, or wanted us to come visit them in their homes.
We have continued to hold services in Huerto Nueva Esperanza since I last wrote on Fridays from 5:30-6:30. Friday January 22, we had planned to move services over to Hermana Lucia’s home. At 9am, Ana and I began inviting in earnest, children and adults alike, to come to our service that evening. We went by Hermana Lucia’s house at 10:30 or so, to ask how many chairs we should bring, and was there anything else she wanted us to do before the service. She refused to come out of her house to speak to us; instead sending out her 12 year old daughter as messenger to let us know that we could not have service in their house. During the day, from 11-2:30, people do not want visitors. This is when they are preparing lunch, eating it, and then taking a quick rest. Ana and I had 20 minutes left when we left Lucia’s home to figure out what to do before the shops closed their doors so to speak.
As we were walking and praying for a miracle we stumbled across a building with four wooden walls and a roof. It was to be rented out as 4 apartments but was not yet finished. There was a young guy painting 2 of the rooms and he said the place belonged to his uncle who would be coming around later that day. To make a long story short (perhaps I’m boring you) the man allowed us to use the apartment closest to the street that night for our services. We had 11 kids and 3 adults; all different faces from the week before. It was a good service but we were left in a bit of a rut for the following week.
CIRC. POST 2Brian Tibbs (director of Extreme Nazarene Ministries) arrived Saturday morning and spent the week taking turns going out to do ministry with each pair. It as a lovely time; but somehow caused Friday to arrive much quicker than we were anticipating. Before we knew it, it was Thursday night, and all we had managed to do in Circunvilacion was invite more people to the service, and make new contacts. Next to the field where we showed the Magdalena film there is a home made of cement bricks. As with many buildings here in Peru, it is not yet finished, but has the walls and roof on. We have been attempting to track down the owner (to no avail) for a few weeks because it looked like a good place to hold services when we outgrew Lucia’s home. Thursday night we decided that we would get up early and go to his home before he had a chance to even wake up to go to work…if indeed he had come home the night before.
Yay! The man was home! We politely explained our need, and the value of what he had. He graciously gave us permission to use this section of his building for our services. There was some wood scraps and junk in the front, which he volunteered to clean up before he left, if we wouldn’t mind providing the broom. No problemJ
We made more fliers and once again invited the whole neighborhood to join us for our service that evening. Order of service: prayer, intro of Ana and I, a few choruses, a children’s song, the Bible story, separate the kids from the adults and proceed with age appropriate lessons. We had about 35 people show up all together (vast majority being children) and had a wonderful Spirit filled service. Afterwards, 2 of the gentlemen came up to Ana, Pastor Freddy, and me and told us that they are willing to aid in whatever way necessary to help us plant a church in their neighborhood. They are so excited to have a church near to their homes, a place where young people can learn about Christ, and live Holy lives separate from the lawless mischief and danger that so many have become so entangled in.
Tuesday, February 2nd we will do a deep clean of the property that we have been permitted to use. The 2 men, Pastor, Ana and myself will be getting started at 6 am in order to avoid the most intense of the sun’s rays as we use machetes, brooms, rakes, and whatever else necessary to put down roots for the Church of the Nazarene in Circunvilacion.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
First Service!!!!!
Mark this one down in the history books! Ladies and Gentlemen, Ana and I have officially began adult services in Circunvilacion!
Last night, we had 4 adults (a lovely family) join us in reading the Word, prayer, and some joyous singing. It was exciting!
Ana began the service with a call to prayer.
I followed with a short message (more of a devotional really) derived from Matt 6:17-19.
We sang 'Open the Eyes of My Heart', and several others that do not have english counterparts.
We opened the floor for prayer requests, and then each of us went down on our knees in prayer for each other and for the city.
The entire service was about 1 hour. It was a special time.
Our services for adults will be Fridays at 5:30. Children's services are still up in the air, but we're aiming for Fridays at 4.
Last night, we had 4 adults (a lovely family) join us in reading the Word, prayer, and some joyous singing. It was exciting!
Ana began the service with a call to prayer.
I followed with a short message (more of a devotional really) derived from Matt 6:17-19.
We sang 'Open the Eyes of My Heart', and several others that do not have english counterparts.
We opened the floor for prayer requests, and then each of us went down on our knees in prayer for each other and for the city.
The entire service was about 1 hour. It was a special time.
Our services for adults will be Fridays at 5:30. Children's services are still up in the air, but we're aiming for Fridays at 4.
Friday, December 18, 2009
what´s happening in december?
One of our contacts in another of Ana and my communities has closed her store in the other community and is moving to her new home. When asked where she was going to live, she told us that her home is in Circunvilacion! Each group is searching for locations that we can use to hold our services...so Lucia is going to ask her husband (who is not yet a believer and is doesn’t know what to think of us) if we can use their home once or twice a week.
Lucia is our very first convert and we are seeing a lot of promise in her growth. She has promised to come to church on Sunday and to bring her 3 children.
Lucia is our very first convert and we are seeing a lot of promise in her growth. She has promised to come to church on Sunday and to bring her 3 children.
the first month
Circunvilacion
Where the cement meets its end, and vegetation crouches in close, ready to spill into each home, are warm, gentle, and inviting people that desire to converse about…anything you’ll let them. In November we began discipling 7 people and have hopes to begin discipling 4 others in the next week or two. Ana and I are meeting with a precious family (Froilan, Aniceta, and Rafael) that moments after accepting Christ (the first day that we shared with them the opportunity) told us of their family in Mavila (about 80 km North of here) that need to hear about Christ too. If we can get up there, they have a house that we can live in and an area where we could hold church services. We’re not sure what God has in mind for Mavila, but please be in prayer that we will be aware of God’s guidance.
As we were exploring more of this zone, we came upon a home with a cute little boy playing outside. We knocked at the door and a young slender woman in a towel came to the door. Rather than immediately going to get dressed she was ready to talk to us right then. She brought us chairs and asked us to sit down. At this time, I told her we’d wait if she wanted to get dressed. She laughed and dipped inside the door, joining us seconds later all dressed. It was too funny to me how she was willing to talk to about Jesus at that very moment. In the States, you’d never answer your door to strangers in a towel. Let alone get them seated before you went to get dressed.
Where the cement meets its end, and vegetation crouches in close, ready to spill into each home, are warm, gentle, and inviting people that desire to converse about…anything you’ll let them. In November we began discipling 7 people and have hopes to begin discipling 4 others in the next week or two. Ana and I are meeting with a precious family (Froilan, Aniceta, and Rafael) that moments after accepting Christ (the first day that we shared with them the opportunity) told us of their family in Mavila (about 80 km North of here) that need to hear about Christ too. If we can get up there, they have a house that we can live in and an area where we could hold church services. We’re not sure what God has in mind for Mavila, but please be in prayer that we will be aware of God’s guidance.
As we were exploring more of this zone, we came upon a home with a cute little boy playing outside. We knocked at the door and a young slender woman in a towel came to the door. Rather than immediately going to get dressed she was ready to talk to us right then. She brought us chairs and asked us to sit down. At this time, I told her we’d wait if she wanted to get dressed. She laughed and dipped inside the door, joining us seconds later all dressed. It was too funny to me how she was willing to talk to about Jesus at that very moment. In the States, you’d never answer your door to strangers in a towel. Let alone get them seated before you went to get dressed.
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