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 2

Brian 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 2^nd 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.