Heading into "Summer"

It seems pretty weird to say that we are heading into "summer".  What is the summer season in Cajamarca?  It's more accurate to say we are heading into the wet season.  The wet season in Cajamarca runs from November thru April with most of the rain traditionally coming in January and February.  We have already had some rainy afternoons with thunder showers.  And like the U.S., Peru is expecting a strong El Niño pattern this year.  In fact, the national government has declared a state of emergency in 14 regions to prepare for possible damage.  We have been told by several locals that it would be wise to prepare. During the El Niño of '97-98, there was flooding,  food shortages and water and power outages.  So taking all that advice, we have stocked up on basic food items and water.  We will be praying for all of you in the states and would appreciate prayer for our community here in Cajamarca.  


On Saturday, September 12, Refugio participated in Sábados en Familia, a local event for Cajamarca families that is also published on local TV.  We did a short presentation of the story of Jonah.  It was a great outreach and we hope to be a part of this program more often! 

Click on the link below for a fun video of Sabados en Familia!

https://www.facebook.com/cajamarcaenfamilia/videos/1705838116313224/


Our mid-week service at Refugio is on Thursday night.  We have a time of prayer from 6:30-7:00 with service starting at 7:30pm.  We encourage our church to write their prayer requests on Sundays and on Thursday nights we pray for each one.  What a blessing to pray and lift up our requests to the Lord!  Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving-Colossians 4:2 
 Stan continues to be on the teaching rotation for Thursday nights as we go through the book of 1 Samuel. 


English Class has resumed and once again we are blessed with a full house!  We are having fun with our students and hopefully they are learning English!  

Adults

Children

As Refugio grows, the vision is to bring locals into ministry and that Refugio becomes their church.  Below are pictures of two local men who are serving the body of believers faithfully

Alvaro giving announcements

Adolfo teaching on a Sunday morning

And lastly, our ministry continues at Aldea Infantil Orphanage. This precious little girl named Sefa was new last Friday. Sefa is 5 years old and was brought in Thursday night with her 3 year old sister and 7 year old brother. It was obvious that these children are malnourished and traumatized. Sefa wouldn't speak but after a while we had her laughing and playing. She was hungry and we fed her what we had with us. Please pray for Sefa and her siblings - that we can give them the love of the Father and show them Jesus.

BACK HOME IN PERU!

It's been just a little over a month that we've been back home in Peru!  And a busy time it has been!
We want to thank you all for your hospitality and love during our visit to the States.

When we were in the states, we learned that our living arrangements were changing and we would be moving when we returned.  So on July 1, we were packed and moving.  We moved over to the other side of town to a property owned by a church friend.  Our living area is being completed, so for the time being we are living in the Brower Family's house.  Please pray that our area will be done soon so that we can get in as the Browers are returning from their time in the States in about a week.

Patio Dining Area

Patio Area

Brower's House

As many of you know, we have been praying about our ministry at the Aldea Infantil Orphanage because of a change in administration.  We are praising God because last week when we visited, we were welcomed warmly.  There are many new children and they are eager to hear the Word of God and to be loved.  Please pray that we continue to find favor with this new leadership and that the children will receive the love of Christ and be excited to learn what His Word has to say.

Stan jumping rope!

 We have been on a break from our English Class and are excited to be starting back up in August.  We will be changing the focus of our class from a curriculum based class to a conversation based class.  We have had quite a bit of interest and hope that the response is positive.  We have found that this is a great way to build relationships in our community and introduce people to Refugio.

JUST AROUND THE CORNER!

In just about 2 weeks, we will be heading out to the airport to travel back to the States for about 7 weeks.  As excited as we are to see our church family and friends, it is also bittersweet.  As sweet as it is to look forward to the reunion in the States, it is equally as hard to say goodbye to our church family and friends here in Cajamarca.  

Here's a brief update on what's been happening here the last few months.

We are so very thankful for this time in our lives.  To be able to minister and serve the Lord alongside our children and grandchildren is a gift from the Lord. 

Eva's 6th birthday

Resurrection Sunday

Hannah's 15th birthday

Stan has had several opportunities to share the Word recently.

English Class

Thursday Service

Below are the children at Aldea Infantil San Antonio where we continue to visit twice a month.

In February we were invited to the town of San Marcos, which is about 2 hours out of Baños, to share the Word with a small group of brothers and sisters.  It was a beautiful time of fellowship!

 Refugio has been blessed these past months to have Pastor Bill Holdridge teach  a series on prayer.  

It's been fun running into Bill and Sheri around town.  We'll miss them when they return to the states!

SEE YOU SOON!!

"GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS"

I love the words of this beautiful hymn!  Our Heavenly Father is indeed faithful day in and day out; in the largest and the smallest of all circumstances.  His mercies are new every morning!  

I can't believe it is already the middle of January!  A new year and new opportunities to  experience the unfailing faithfulness of God.  "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will hope in Him".

The last several months were full of blessings and at the same time we turned to the Lord so often for His provision and strength.  They say the a picture says 1000 words, so here are some photos that we hope you will enjoy and will show what has been going on!

Our first Chocolatada at the preschool/kindergarten here in Baños del Inca!

Our second Chocolatada at the Aldea Infantil Orphanage. We crocheted each child a Christmas Stocking!

And our Chocolatada at Refugio!  Many children and their parents heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Our First Annual Women's Ministry Christmas Fellowship!

Friday morning Pastor Bill Holdridge and his wife Sheri arrive in Cajamarca to be the Interim Director of the Calvary Chapel Bible College in Cajamarca.  We are very excited to welcome them here and look forward to their time in Peru!  Please pray for them as they begin this new challenge.

As we look forward to seeing what the Lord will do here this year in Baños del Inca, we pray for each of you.  That we will all be looking to Jesus the founder and perfecter of our faith.

Just think, with each new day, God gives us the chance to prove His faithfulness.  And throughout history, He’s never once been proven wrong, for His mercies are new every morning, no matter what.