Celebrating 20 years in Latin America

On June 6, 1996 I landed in Lima, Peru headed toward Arequipa to serve 6 months with SIM and prayerfully discern if God was calling me to full-time missions.  I am glad God did not let me know then what saying yes to Him would include later!  His grace has provided what I needed in each transition  and His grace also provided a precious life and ministry partner!

Twenty years later I am now in Lima, Peru not as a single, inexperienced missionary but as a married missionary with 20 years of memories and lessons learned.  As Nelson and I settle into Lima we are amazed at how God is connecting the past with our present.

In February, 1998 I began teaching in a rural Bible Institute in Chiguata, Arequipa.  I had the privilege of introducing my students to new-to-them tools such as inductive Bible study methods and creative teaching methods.  Many of them continued their studies and are now leading churches and ministries.  

Natán y Patricia both studied in Chiguata where we enjoyed the teacher/student relationship but also a deeper friendship.  Natán was one of the first to call us when we arrived in Lima.  During their first visit to our home we were invited to teach and preach at their church about 2 hours away by bus.

Wednesday afternoon we walked several blocks to catch the first bus, which is actually a large mini-van.  With over 30 people packed in the bus we left the southwest part of Lima and headed toward the northeast.  An hour late we got off the bus and  boarded another small, overly crowded bus.  The second part of our journey transported us out of the big, bustling city into a smaller area that reminded us more of Arequipa.  

The church has suffered the pain and grief caused by a church division.   I will be honest, when I walked into the church and only saw four women my first reaction was... disappointment.  We came this far to share God´s Word with four women, including two  partially blind and deaf older women? 

As we began the time God transformed our gathering into a holy place.  The theme of the lesson was Jesus is Praying for You.  We looked at the passage in Hebrews and began discussing the truth that Jesus continually prays for us.  We even sang the phrase, Jesus prays for me, set to a children´s Sunday school song.

I was still feeling a bit discouraged as I felt that this was such an ¨insignificant¨ ministry task, when once again God  transformed the moment.  The older, partially blind lady exclaimed, ¨I love this!  I did not know that Jesus is praying for me!  I cannot see the words in my Bible but today He told me that He is praying for me!  Thank you Jesus!¨  

No ministry moment should be considered ¨insignificant¨ when there is space for Jesus to speak!  Forgive me for believing that lie, Lord.

The next Sunday we returned to Manylsa where Nelson would preach that night.  His message reminded those present that Jesus looked at us with eyes of mercy and compassion and asked the question, how are we looking at others.

The evening included a time of reconciliation during the communion service.  Five hours later we returned home thankful for the opportunities He is giving us to provide space for others to hear God´s voice and amazed at how past ministries and friendships are building present ministry experiences during these first weeks in Lima.  

Pray with us as we return the Manylsa this Sunday, June 26.  The church is meeting all day with teaching on the family, relationships and reconciliation.  We have been asked to be available as pastors to meet and pray with those who need some personal, one-on-one time.

Thank you for your continued prayers!  This transition has not been easy.  There have been many struggles and moments of confusion but we know your prayers are helping us lift up our heads to focus on the One who sent us to Peru!

Your missionaries in Peru,

Nelson and Vikki

For Some Reason...

Once in awhile we have a deep longing to be in the USA-this last week has been one of those moments.  However for SOME REASON God reordered our longings and desires.

It all started as Nelson was working on one of his Spiritual Formation reflection exercises.  Through the time God firmly reminded him that he needed to sign up for national Peruvian medical insurance.  

He made several calls and visits to insurance agencies  Thus began a journey we will never, ever forget.

In an agency called Maphre a young woman, Russiben answered his questions, helped him fill out the forms...and asked numerous questions about God and the Bible.  

       Russiben:  I really would like to know more.  I have lots of questions and           confusion.

        Nelson: My wife enjoys talking with women about God, helping them                  understand more about who He is.  I´ll  ask her if she can meet with you.

        Russiben:  I would really like that. 

I called her and we set up a time to meet here at our apartment.  Saturday came and she arrived exactly at the hour we agreed upon.  I sensed there was sincere interest. What followed was two hours of  conversation with sincere and deep questions, pouring over Scripture passages and connecting the truths with life and a hunger for more. Nelson joined us later and we marveled at how God had orchestrated our meeting.

• Russiben does not work in the area of customer service.  She often isn´t even in an office.  For SOME REASON she happened to walk through the waiting room and the security guard asked her to help Nelson.
• Nelson was going to sign up with another agency but for SOME REASON he decided he needed to check out Maphre. 
• For SOME REASON the first time he went they were closed.  For SOME REASON he returned hours later when they reopened
• Russiben assumed Nelson´s comment about talking to his wife was a way of telling her to stop asking so many questions.  But for SOME REASON I called a few hours later.

Monday I had lunch with Russiben  and we enjoyed another 2 hours of deep conversation about God, Jesus, the Virgin Mary, the Bible, God´s purpose for our life and how to have a transformed life.  For SOME REASON God connected our unconnected paths and a friendship has  begun.

This Sunday our friendship will take us to a church near where she lives where we can celebrate Christmas Sunday together.  

After the new year our friendship will allow us to study Scripture together.

For SOME REASON we are spending Christmas in Arequipa not Modesto this  year.  

• Russiben and her hunger to know Emanuel, God with us.
• A group of leaders who desire to introduce those in Rosales and  Huaxapata  to Emmanuel,
• A group of leaders who long to reach families of the children in a Kids Club in the needy community- Embajada de Japón  (Japanese Embassy)
• A group of children´s ministry leaders in Israel who are preparing a VBS  in February where they will be sharing the gospel using the Wordless book curriculum...for the first time!

For SOME REASON we still miss being in the USA during this season, but for SOME REASON we long to be here even more than we desire to be there!

At home in Arequipa

October could be called many things here in Peru.

1. Purple Month
2. Lord of the Miracles (Señor de los Milagros) Month
3. Day of the Dead/All Saints Day Preparation Month

During the month of October many people dress in purple clothing and place their hope in a purple painted image of Christ. Hundreds of years ago, during an earthquake the wall where this purple painted image was hanging was the only part that was undamaged. As a result a cult was formed with a focus on worshipping this purple painted image.  Over the years the tradition was incorporated into  cultural Catholicism.  Throughout October there are numerous processions where a copy of the purple painted image is carried through neighborhoods. Businesses, schools and residences gather to show adoration for the painted image of Christ, hoping to receive a miracle.

October 31st is the beginning of the All Saints Day celebrations.  Since November 1st was on a Sunday the year the country had a three-day weekend.  All Saints Day is a national holiday! The cemeteries are filled with living people placing their hope in dead family members.

I will let Nelson share his experience with  you from his visit to the cemetery on Sunday, November 1st-All Saints Day.

¨I accompanied one of my students during the weekly visits in two areas where the missions team from the church in Israel is building relationships and sharing the gospel.

In Huajsapata we walked around the community greeting people on our way to our host home. The cemetery was filled with people, drinking, dancing, playing music and eating as children ran over and around the graves.

While in the host home I heard a fuller explanation of the celebrations going on.  They are asking for guidance, protection and provision from the spirits of dead family members. They consider their spirits like small gods.¨

Only four people attended the meeting since many were in the cemetery.  During the time together one couple played music on their harp and sang in Quechua.  I was asked to teach the lesson.  I opened the Bible to Psalm 40 and shared truths that God has been using  in our lives during this year.¨ 

In Rosales we visited with  Ruth and Carlos who asked us to pray for their infant son, Esteven.  He has a tumor on the left side of his neck and the doctors say they cannot operate until he is 16 months old.  Next Sunday we will begin the evangelistic Bible study with the entire family in their home.  We are asking the True Lord of the Miracles to do a special work among this family.¨ 

Each Sunday afternoon Nelson will continue to accompany Mario as well as other members of the missions team.  Pray that people will place their hope in the One True God and Lord of the miracles!

Wednesday night Vikki was finally able to talk with one of her former students, Ines.  Over 15 years ago Vikki taught a missions course at the Bible Institute. Ines was one of her students who recalls, with joy the time spent together and the passion for missions that  God gave her during that course. She is now involved with Llamados (Called) a Peruvian group committed to serving in missions through sending, supporting and becoming global workers.  Ines is actively mobilizing people in her denomination to be involved in local and global outreach.   She is also asking God to send her to India or Africa.  

Pray for Vikki next Wednesday as she will be leading this group talking about the importance of discipleship in global ministry.  

Yes, we are back home in Arequipa and so thankful that God is allowing us to remain here!  He continues to show us tremendous needs.  Pray with us as we take the next two months to define our long-term focus and make decisions on how and where we will invest our resources.

Pray also for God´s continued provision.  Our support needs have increased during this year and we are asking the true Lord of the miracles to provide through new partners who will join our support team.

Thank you for praying with and for us!  We pray for you often and would enjoy praying for specific requests.

We want to share with you.

August has been a full month!  It is hard to express the work God has done and continues to do in just 5 minutes and 11 photos. But we will try!  Come along with us and see the people you have heard about and have  been praying for!  The people who are being blessed by your ministry!  

Visiting the church plant in Rosales with leaders from the church in Israel.  Using the evangelistic Bible study- Christianity Explained.  Singing in Quechua!

One-Week Intensive Courses at Bible Institute-

Renewing their commitment to evangelism and church planting.  What is the purpose of the church?  Are we making disciples?  What changes need to be made?

Students included; evangelism director, youth leaders, small group leaders and those with a heart for missions.

Bible study methods that help us know, love and obey God.  Inductive Bible study; Devotional Bible Study, Biographical study.

Students are children´s ministry leaders, youth leaders and leaders of evangelistic Bible studies. 

Sexual Purity Young Adult Retreat in Chiguata-

Several conversations with young women that included the comment:  ¨I have never been able to tell anyone this...¨

A time for listening, sharing and praying. Bringing the secret into the light is the first step.

A time with the young men to prayerfully consider God´s good plan for marriage and sexual purity.

             Youth Retreat-                 John Wesley School

At first it was surprising to the youth that we were talking about ¨that¨ subject.  They continually hear messages through music, movies and their peers.   During the 4 sessions we considered what God has to say about- S-E-X.

The puzzle was part of an activity to help the youth think about decisions they can make as they live out God´s good plan for marriage and sexual purity.

  

Asking for God´s help and wisdom after talking about the decisions they need to make.  

Photos Children in Peru

Missions Sunday in Israel, Arequipa

We were reminded of God´s call on our lives to serve as missionaries.

We renewed our commitment to serve here in Peru.

We were encouraged to see the Peruvian church focus on local and cross-cultural missions.

We want to share the morning with you.  

Children helped begin the morning, reminding us of some of the countries where the gospel is greatly needed.

                                   The Missions group from the church dressed in typical clothing from different countries, reminding us that one day people from every tribe, tongue and people group will gather around the throne to worship God.                                           

                         

         Nelson was blessed to pray for the church planting group that he is training. 

Due to a family emergency Pastor Santos Valero asked Nelson to preach.  We were amazed at the message God gave Nelson in the 40 minutes he was given to prepare.  Matthew 9:36-10:9- The Compassion of Jesus 

For the last three months children, youth and adults have been saving money to present an offering to support missions.  This church has a young man in Brazil preparing to serve in India and they are church planting in Rosales, Arequipa as well as investigating another area of Arequipa.

Because of you we can serve alongside these brothers and sisters who desire to LIVE like Jesus, LOVE like Jesus and RESCUE like Jesus.  Thank you!