Blog Archives

SA 9

21/4/2018

I didn't get a chance to post a blog yesterday and today's will be relatively short due to the most of yesterday being spent in transit. We left our accommodation yesterday morning at 5:30am and made our way to the airport. There we got our flight to Santiago, Chile and arrived at our accommodation at 5:30ish Chile time.
Our numbers have swollen from 2 to 8. The group met up with Luke and Pene for a meal. Luke is originally from Cavan and Pene is from Chile, but worked in Northern Ireland for over a year. She knows Strabane as she was part of a mission team which came to the town from Queen's University in 2013. They are both doing well and have a wonderful baby girl.
Today will involve visiting with a Bishop and Mission partner, so please keep praying for:

Health and Safety
Luke and Pene
Those we will meet today
Me, as I prepare to preach again tomorrow

Sa (8)

19/4/2018

This our last day in Peru for this part of the trip as tomorrow morning we have an early start as we make our way to the airport to catch a flight to Santiago, Chile. There we will be meeting up with Bishop Fanta and the team which left Northern Ireland on Wednesday. It will be good to see them and be part of that team. On Sunday Morning I am preaching in Cristobal Ceron's Church. Cristobal preached in Strabane a few weeks ago at a Sunday evening Service.
   Yesterday morning Anderson picked us up after 10:30am and we went to Holy Trinity Schools. Here the children had learnt songs and bible verses to recite for us. We got a tour of the school, met all the staff and then had lunch with Norma and Julio. We also went into Holy Trinity Church and saw the repair work which had been carried out on the roof of the church.
   After this, Anderson took us on a tour to San Pablo Church. This was the little church where he began his ministry. It is literally just a few sheets of tongue and groove with a tin roof, weighed down with old tyres. There is currently no Pastor for this little church.
   With the travelling to Chile tomorrow I will not be able to post a blog, but please keep praying for:

continued health and safety
Safe travels tomorrow
Holy Trinity School and the plans for its future
San Pablo Church and their desire to have a Pastor

Sa 7

18/4/2018

Yesterday was a tough day, probably the toughest yet on this visit. I had a wonderful time with the children in Cristo Redentor. The pre school kids are so full of energy, and a couple of them kept coming up to me an poking me in the leg or arm while saying 'blanco hombre' which means white man. Another little boy said 'leche piel' which means Milk Skin.
   After the school ended and we had a small lunch we went to San Pedro, where one of the congregation, America, took us to visit some families. This was the tough part of the day. It was really warm, about 26 degrees Celsius and the in those little houses under the tin roofs it felt like being in a oven. One of the homes we visited was Sullie's. She was really upset and scared, not because of our visit, but because she had been broken into on Monday. Now, Sullie does not have much to steal, but they did ransack her little home and destroy some things on her.
   On a lighter note, Anderson has being doing a lot of the translating for me in these homes. I seem to manage to get so far and then I take mental blocks, but yesterday was funny. I was getting my Spanish and English words mixed up. It is hard to explain, but yesterday evening over dinner at Anderson's house, the most of the conversation was in English. At one stage I couldn't bring to mind an English word I was looking for and had to ask Anderson, in Spanish, what the English translation was. Everyone laughed so much.
   Prayer is so important all the time, but especially when we are on the front line. Please keep us covered by praying for:

Our continual health and safety
The kids at Cristo Redentor
All the homes we visited yesterday
Especially for Sullie and her children
Anderson and Isabel, thanking God for their servant hearts

SA Day 5

17/4/2018

We had a lovely day yesterday chilling out. We met with a guy who is originally from Strabane for lunch and had a good chat with him about what life in Lima is really like for a foreign national living here. Last night we met with two Missionaries who are serving in Lima for one year - Chris and Hannah Agnew. It was lovely to see them again and spend some time listening to their stories of what has been happening as opposed to just reading them on prayer updates. They have asked us to keep praying for the Alpha Course which they are running and that when the time comes to return home at the end of July, they will finish well here in Lima. They also would like us to pray for the rising up of new young leaders in the group they are leading so that when they return home the work will continue.
Today it is back to work. Anderson is lifting us this morning after breakfast and taking us to the Juvenile Detention Centre where he does a weekly class. I will be teaching a little of the class from the Scriptures. Then we are going to visit Holy Trinity School and spending a little time with Julio and Norma Montoya. After lunch we are going to Cristo Redentor to visit the pre school children which go to school there, followed by visiting some of the church families. Or at least that was the plan last time I spoke with Anderson, but as we know, plans can change at the drop of a hat.
I really do appreciate your continued prayers for us. Prayer is where the work is done. Please pray for:

Our continued Health and Safety
The staff and young people in the Juvenile Detention Centre, that they will respond to the message I bring
Holy Trinity and Cristo Redentor School
The families we will visit today
Chris and Hannah, thanking God for what He is doing through them

South america day 5

16/4/2018

I didn't get posting a blog yesterday because there was no wifi connection at the place we where at. I said in a previous blog that a new adventure was ahead of us - and it didn't disappoint. A new adventure it certainly was and took us well out of our comfort zones. As part of this trip I had been asked by Anderson to lead a retreat for married men from the Church. Well it turned out that only half the men were married which meant that my talk had to be adapted considerably. However, there appeared to be a real outpouring of the Holy Spirit among us, with some of the men seeking a more deeper walk with the Lord.
   With previous teams it has often been commented that a real test for us would be to stay in the middle of the community where the churches are. I think we got a taste of what that would be like at the retreat centre. To say it is basic would be an understatement. I am not even sure how to begin to describe it. The centre was about 2 hours east of Lima, high up in the Andes. The scenery and natural surroundings where breath taking, and I found myself getting up really early just to watch the sunrise - and it didn't disappoint. The facilities were...hmmmm....really basic! I think enough said! Those who have been out here before will know exactly what I mean when I say basic. We really don't have anything at home to compare it to.
   Last night (Sunday) I was preaching in Cristo Redentor on Luke 24 and what it means to hear the words of Jesus "Peace be with you" in our hearts. It was a fantastic service full of enthusiasm and charisma and the little church was filled to capacity with a few people standing outside. Two people where baptised at the service and one baby dedicated. It was so lovely to see all those familiar faces again and to experience again the warmth of their welcome and love. After I had finished preaching, Anderson invited anyone who would like to receive prayer to come forward to the front where He and I would minister to them. I think half the church came forward. Then at the end of the service they prayed for me and for my move to Killyman in May.
   Today is a rest day for us, after what has been a hectic few days of preaching and visiting. Thank you for your prayers and please do keep praying for:

Health and safety
A good rest today
The men who attended the retreat
Those who responded at the service last night

SA Day 3

14/4/2018

Today is Saturday, and there is no view from the convent this morning. There is a very heavy sea mist in and it is a little cooler. However it is 7:10am and it is still 19 degrees Celsius. The locals think Gerry and I are crazy because we are wearing shorts. Yesterday was a lovely day, the sun shone all day and it was quite hot...about 24 degrees Celsius. At both San Pedro and Cristo Redentor we received really warm welcomes. The children in both churches had made banners and we got lots of hugs. For me, it felt like I was the long lost Son returning home. In both Churches the Compassion Projects were running. In San Pedro I spoke to the children and teenagers on Proverbs 3:5+6 and explained the importance of trusting in God and keeping our love for Him fired up.
   We also visited in several homes, which I really enjoyed. Some of which I had visited before, and others for the first time. One particular home is very small (they are all small) and there are 7 people living in it, spanning 3 generations. We also visited the home of Suzanna and her family. This is a family which has become very special for me. Their Son Carlitos is my Godson. Last year, just before we arrived Suzanna had surgery for Breast Cancer and has been undergoing treatment for that. Now she is waiting for 2 more operations on her legs. She has blocked arteries. However, as medical treatment is really expensive, she has had to take on a job which is over an hour's commute away. We really are not thankful enough for our NHS, and coming here and hearing the stories makes me realise that. In stead of complaining about it, we really should be praying for it and pushing our government to do more to improve it.
   After the Kids Clubs had finished, all the children from both churches congregated at Cristo Redentor for their weekly game of football. San Pedro verses Cristo Redentor, and yesterday San Pedro won. During the match, I had a wonderful opportunity to speak with Sullie, who we met last year. She is doing ok, and sends her love to everyone in Christ Church. Also I had a good chat with Delia who was one of the founding members of Cristo Redentor. She remembers Ray Mills (who passed away in March) coming to the area and telling them about Jesus. I hope to visit her again next week and have a longer chat. She is such a Godly Lady.
   Today is going to bring a new adventure. We are going to a church camp which Anderson has organised specifically for men. I am preaching at this tonight and the theme for the camp is "How to be a Godly Husband". I really value your prayers for this! I am not sure whether there will be Wifi at the camp, if there is not I won't be able to post an update tomorrow morning, so don't worry if nothing appears.
   I won't write anymore for now, but I do want to tell you about Brandy, however, I will leave that for another day.
Please pray for:

Safe travels to and from the camp
Gerry and I will keep well and not get sick from strange foods
The men who will come to the camp
For me as I preach tonight at the camp and tomorrow evening in Cristo Redentor
Suzanna and her medical problems
All the people we visited yesterday.

Sa day 2

13/4/2018

Yesterday was a typical Peruvian Day. What we started out to do, we didn't get doing, and what we did do was not originally planned! However, in saying that, Anderson's time keeping has improved a lot. He said that he is trying to work to Irish time and not Peru time. After Breakfast, Gerry and I went for a short walk to buy some water for ourselves. Anderson came and picked us up in his 15 year old car, which is just about holding together by dust and rust. Though he did say he had it washed specially for us coming. He has been having a lot of car trouble, and so as we set of he looked at me said "Marcos, please pray for my car before we go" - and being a man of faith, I did, but not only for car, also for our safety.
We went Miraflores to visit the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd. When we parked the car, I looked up the street and walking towards us was Pastor Jorge. I first met Jorge in 2015 at the Ordination of Bishops and then subsequently at the Provincial Synod in Santiago in 2016. He is a gracious and humble man and is now the Dean of the Cathedral. He showed us around the Cathedral and all the buildings attached to the Cathedral. We sat in his office and chatted for a while, and then I read some scripture and prayed with him. After this we went to visit the Bible Society offices and shop in the centre of Lima. Here we met a couple of interesting people. One young lady who works for 'One Hope' the Billy Graham program and another Gentleman who is lead Pastor of the Fellowship of Evangelical Churches in Lima.
Anderson had to attend a short conference to do with an ecumenical movement in Lima with his father in law, so Gerry and I had a lovely couple of hours walking around the Aqua Park.
The plan for today (though it is still early enough for them to change) is that we are going to San Pedro and Cristo Redentor to visit some families and to meet the children and leaders of the Compassion International Project which runs in both churches. Please continue to pray for:

Our safety and health
Anderson and his car
Pastor Jorge and his work at the Cathedral
The Compassion Projects and the people we will meet today

SA 2018

12/4/2018

It is hard to believe that I am blogging again from the other side of the World. It doesn't seem nine months since I last sat in the same spot. I haven't much to report on this morning as it is our first morning. Other than to say, we have arrived safely and all luggage with us. So for that we are truly thankful. I am not quite sure what Anderson has planned for us, in the car on the way to our accommodation from the airport he said so many things. However, I guess Gerry and I will just go with the flow and quickly try to adapt the South American way of doing things.
Please keep praying for us, for our safety, and also for a real encounter with Jesus, not only for ourselves but also for those we come in contact with.
Haste Mañana