Blog Archives

WEdnesday 26th july 2017

26/7/2017

Then there were 7. Last night Bishop Fanta and Mikey left Lima to begin their journey to Paraguay. So we are back to our original team. This is our last day in Lima and that makes me feel kinda sad. We have had a great time and made loads more memories. God has been moving and working in not only other people's lives but also in ours. Everyone of us are coming home changed.
   So what did we do yesterday? Yesterday morning was the first morning of this trip that Anderson arrived for us early. We went to the Juvenile Detention Centre and firstly met with the Captain who is in charge of the Jail. She was lovely and explained to us her vision for the place. She has only been in post for about 3 months but wants to pull the staff together and create a more family atmosphere amongst them. Then we went to one of the classrooms and I had a chance to tell both staff and inmates about Jesus and present them with the Gospel. On our way out they took us to one of the cells - words can't describe what we saw.
   We made one final trip to Cristo Redentor Church to help the Nursery School celebrate their term closing events. They are now on a 2 week break for their mid winter holidays. This is the equivalent to our Christmas Holidays. After Lunch we visited the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd and prayed for the whole congregation and staff team who meet and worship there. Then Bishop Ken prayed specifically for Anderson. This was a very moving moment. Anderson told me after that Fanta is the only Bishop who has ever prayed for him like that and he can sense the true love of the Lord radiating from us all.
   Last night we had a treat. We took Anderson and his family out for a meal. It was buffet style, so gives a chance to try new foods. An interesting experience.
   Today the plans are fairly light. This morning we are packing up and getting ready to move on. After Lunch Anderson will pick us up and take us on one final tour of Miraflores and give us a few minutes in the Inka Markets. Then this evening, about 10pm we will be taken to the airport.
   Please continue to pray for us, for all the God has shown us that we have shared over the past 10 days, for those we have met and for the Churches we are linked with. Also please pray specifically for our journey this evening and for us as we get our heads around all that we have seen and been involved with.
   Muchas Gracias. Dios te Bendiga. (Thank you very much. God Bless you).

1 Comment

Tuesday 25/7/17

25/7/2017

0 Comments

It is hard to believe that our adventure is nearly over. This is our second last day and this has been an amazing experience. Yesterday morning after breakfast and devotions, Anderson took us back to San Pedro and showed Bishop Fanta the work that we had done on San Pedro Church. We then went to visit Jorge and his family in their home. Jorge had helped us paint the church. We received such a warm welcome. Their children had made little gifts for us, and they had some photographs from Sunday's service printed out and hanging on their wall.
   Sully, who we told you about last week, only lives next door to Jorge, so she came out and invited us back into her house. We had another good chat with her and she told us that her partner's attitude had changed for the better since we prayed with her about him. He asked her if he could read her bible, and when he saw our photograph he asked who we were and what we had been saying. She was able to tell him the good news about Jesus. So let's pray that he responds to the Gospel.
   In the afternoon we went back to Holy Trinity School to have lunch with Norma and Julio and to hear a little bit more about the Church and the School. The kids had all gathered outside and welcomed us, they also had a banner for Bishop Fanta. He is like a celebrity here.
   Last night the team had an evening off. Bishop Fanta and myself went to the Church of St. John the Evangelist and to lead a meeting for Pastor's and their wives. The Bishop spoke on the importance of watching yourself and your doctrine and I spoke on the importance of staying close to God and continuing to be a disciple as well as being a leader in the church.
   This morning we are going back to the Juvenile Detention Centre where I am speaking on Romans 8:11-28. Then we have been invited the Cristo Redentor to celebrate the closing of the school term with the Nursery School for their holiday's. After this we are going to the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd to partake in a prayer walk.
   Again we want to thank you for your continued prayers and messages of support. They mean so much to us and we ask that you continue to uplift us before the Lord and pray for all the points we have mentioned previously.

0 Comments

Monday 24th july 2017

24/7/2017

1 Comment

What a day yesterday was. It was an early start for the whole team as we had been told that the bus would pick us up about 8-8:30am. It didn't arrive until 9:30am. Church was to start at 9:30ish but it didn't start until well after 10. Anderson told me that he decided to hold the service back a little due to celebrations in district for the Peru Independence Day. Anyhow once the service got underway it was amazing. The little Church of Cristo Redentor was packed and people had to stand outside on the steps and watch in. I preached on Romans 8:11-28 and I sensed such a real presence of the Holy Spirit. There was so much liberty. Anderson translated for me and there was such a sense of God's presence and a connection between us that at one stage he was finishing my sentences for me. At the end of the sermon I gave an opportunity for people to commit their lives to Jesus. I lead them in a prayer of committee not and asked that if anyone had said this prayer for the first time and really meant it then to please stand up. When I looked around the church there was about 12 locals standing. It was such an emotional moment. I pray, that this is the beginning of something truly remarkable here in Peru.
   The service was extra special for Mum and I. Carlitos was Baptised and made his own declaration of Faith. I had the joy of presenting him to Anderson for Baptism, with mum and myself promising to pray for him for the rest of our lives.
   After Church we went to Anderson and Isabel's house for lunch. Isabel had provided us with a huge feast, and it was delicious. Anderson and I went for a short walk and then sat in his garden having a personal chat. Isabel came out at one stage with some pudding for me and I told her she was a real Martha from the story of Mary and Martha. I also said to her that as I sat in her house, I felt like I was sitting at home. She told me - Marcos, mi casa, es tu casa! My house is your house. She went on to say that I should feel like that because I am at home, I am in my brother's house. This really touched me. So, their children are now my Peru Nephew and Niece.
   Yesterday evening we went to a different church - The Church of Jesus the Nazarene. The Pastor of this Church is Rev. Juan Carlos. Juan Carlos is also the co-ordinator for Alpha in Peru. Bishop Fanta preached at the service and I was asked to give a short account of our work in Lima.
   Today we are going back to San Pedro to visit a few more people, then we are going to Holy Trinity School. This evening I have been asked to lead a meeting along with Bishop Fanta for the Clergy of Diocese - so that should be interesting.
In your prayers for us today please pray for:

Safety in our travelling
Health of the whole team (a couple are feeling sniffles of colds and tiredness)
Carlitos after his baptism and for his parents who support him
Those who came to faith yesterday in Cristo Redentor
For the Clergy meeting this evening and Bishop Fanta and I as we lead it
That I will continue to learn some Spanish and be able to communicate the gospel with people in their homes.
For everything else that we have asked in the past few days

1 Comment

Sunday 23rd july 2017

23/7/2017

0 Comments

It is 7am and all is well. Yesterday was a lovely day in many ways. The weather was beautiful, sunny and warm. As I said yesterday, we had a tourist day. After our morning devotions we went into the centre of Lima. At the 'Casa de el Presidente' we saw the changing of the guard and heard the Navy Band. It was lovely to see and something different for us. At home we would have to go to London to see the like. After this we walked around a bit of the city and went into the Inka Markets. Then yesterday evening we visited the Water Park. This is a large park with lots of water fountains, and at 7:15pm they play music and the water dances to the music. It was really good to see. On our way back to the convent we had a lovely meal in Larcomar.    Today it is back to work. I am preaching this morning in Cristo Redentor Church. On the 4th Sunday of the Month the two Churches come together for one service. This morning is also a Service of Baptism. You will remember me mentioning earlier in the week about Carlitos, well today he is being baptised and he has asked me to be his Godfather and my Mum his Godmother. Both the last time we visited here, and this time, Carlitos has been like my shadow. So this is extra special today.
   Bishop Ken is preaching this morning in a church we visited at the start of our trip with Pastor Rueben. The Church he is in is called Jesus the Saviour (Jesus Salvador). Then this evening we are both taking part in an evening service in a Church called Christ the Saviour.
   Please keep praying for us and thank you for your messages of support

0 Comments

Saturday 22nd july 2017

22/7/2017

0 Comments

The purpose of the Gospel message is to increase the Kingdom of God with souls ready for Heaven. Yesterday saw an increase in numbers in different ways. Firstly - Our team has increased from 7 to 9. Bishop Ken (Fanta) and his grandson Mikey flew in yesterday evening and are staying with us until Tuesday. We thank God that they have arrived safely with their cases. Also as you will read further down - some people became Christians!
   Yesterday morning we went to visit Holy Trinity School. This is the School that Strabane Rotary Club did their Christmas Appeal for in 2015. As a result of the generosity of people in Strabane and in Lurgan Rotary the school has been able to install a Computer Suite into one of the classrooms. While at the school the pupils put on a display for us to help explain the purpose of the Independence Day. We also had a chat with Rev. Julio and Norma who established the school. Anderson's wife Isabel is Head Teacher in the School and it was Julio and Norma who established it in their home over 20 years ago.
   After this we went back to San Pedro and finished painting the church. Also lots of Children turned up for the Kids Club. I again was asked to share Bible Teaching on the Parable of the Sower from Matthew 13. The Children then went to their classrooms to do some activities and have a good meal which is prepared by members of the congregation in the kitchen of the Church. When they had finished eating the hard work really began for the team. We started to distribute the gifts that we had brought from Strabane. There was a suitcase full of stuff from O'Neills, and Sammy took on board kitting out the boys with football shirts. The rest of the team distributed the knitted clothes and gift bags around the children. At one stage it was pure mayhem because once the Children, and their parents, discovered what was happening they crowded around the little room where we had kept all the stuff.
   Once things had settled down and the Children started to leave, Ladies began to arrive for a new Bible Study Isabel was starting in the Church. Mum spoke to the ladies about the importance of reading the bible and how she has a Ladies Bible Study in her own home. Both Santa and Sully, who I mentioned previously, spoke about how much it has meant to them that we came to San Pedro. The team sang the 'I will trust in Him' version of Psalm 23 and one verse of 'In Christ Alone'. I then presented them with the Gospel message and gave an appeal for people to come to faith in Jesus. Three ladies raised their hands in response - Praise God!
   Today is going to be a relaxing day - Anderson is becoming a tour guide for the day and showing us around parts of the city. As for me, it is sermon preparation for tomorrow.
   Please continue to pray for:

All the travelling that we will do because it is by the Grace of God that we haven't had an accident
For the ladies who responded to the Gospel Message yesterday
For the children who received the gifts yesterday and the note telling them that Jesus loves them
You may remember me asking you to Pray for Paul on Thursday - well his bowels have moved!
Franco's knee is much better
For me as I prepare to preach tomorrow
For our health that none of us will get sick from the change in food or water
For our safety in both work and free time
For our spiritual protection
For Anderson, Isabel and the congregations we will be working amongst
For our families and friends back home who are supporting us
For opportunities to share the Gospel and that people will come to a living faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
That we will remember enough of the Spanish that we have been learning - we need the gift of tongues.
Most importantly that the name of Jesus will be glorified in all that we do and say

0 Comments

Friday 21st july 2017

21/7/2017

1 Comment

It is hard to believe that we are here a week already. Time flies when your having fun - or maybe it is just a sign of my age! Anyhow, yesterday was another interesting day for us as a team. One thing that keeps coming to the fore in our conversations as a team is how sociable the people here are. They love to talk and spend time with each other and with us. Everyday the amount of people calling at the Church we are painting is increasing. Maybe curiosity is bringing them to see what these foreigners are doing, or they genuinely want to be friendly and chat with us... no matter which it is, it is good that they are coming because it gives us an opportunity to give out some gifts from home and tell them about Jesus. They are so open to receiving the Gospel message.
   Yesterday morning as we were working a lady with a small child dropped in. She was carrying a bag and in it was lots of fruit. She wanted to give it to us as a way of saying thank you for all the work we are doing to the Church. This really touched our hearts and again confirms that we are in the right place at the right time. After lunch we packed up our things and walked down the mountain to Cristo Redentor Church. There was a children's club taking place. The church had about 25 children and teenagers in it and we sang a few worship songs, but as we sang, a lot of the normal Adult congregation gathered into the small building as well. I shared a few thoughts on Matthew 13 - the Parable of the Sower. I didn't know before hand that I would have to do this. Anderson just said 'you are preaching on the gospel reading'.
   These clubs are good because it brings the kids of the streets and gives them somewhere to go after school. Also it provides them with a good meal a couple of times a week. It is just unfortunate that the Church can't afford to do this more than twice a week. After the club was finished we climbed a very steep hill and visited in two more homes.
   Today - well, plans keep changing, but so far we are meant to be going to visit Holy Trinity School this morning, then back to San Pedro to finish painting and help at another kids club in the afternoon. No doubt there will be lots of speaking, hugging and general meeting people. Rachel and Mum are giving out lots of blankets and jumpers which we brought with us, and are saying in Spanish 'These are made with the Love of Jesus'.
   As you pray for us today please continue to pray for all the points we have mentioned before and also pray for:
   - Bishop Ken (Fanta) and his grandson Mikey are joining us this evening for a few days. Please pray for their safe travels
   - For our visit to Holy Trinity School and the children we will meet. Also for Rev. Julio and Norma who live there
   - For the Children we have met and will meet, also for the gifts we are giving out and the little message on them telling the children that Jesus loves us
   - The driving here is like being on the bumping cars in Barry's and it is a case of he who dares wins. Please continue to pray for travelling mercies.

1 Comment

Thursday 20th july 2017

20/7/2017

0 Comments

There was no hanging around yesterday, no delay's, no detours... it was straight to work. When we arrived at San Pedro Church, Jorge who is one of the church members was waiting for us, as he had been all week. Sully came back to help with the painting and Susanna and her army of helpers came for the cleaning up. We got a second coat of paint on the inside of the courtyard, got the black railings painted (with sponges) and managed to get most of the outside covered with it's first coat - until rain stopped play! As I write this it is almost 7am and thankfully the rain seems to stopped, lets hope that it is same on the hill where San Pedro is located.
   In the afternoon Anderson took us to visit a couple of homes, where the families had asked us to visit. The first home was where Paul lives. Paul is a young boy who attends some of the activities at the Church. We met his Mother and Brother. Paul has problems with his bowels and his brother Franco has a knee problem. We prayed with this family. On our way to the next home we had to pass the church where there was a gentleman waiting for us. He was not a member of the Church community but had heard that we are here and came to speak with us. He asked specifically to speak with Pastor Marcos. He wanted us to pray with him because he has a sore head and a sore neck.
   We finally made it to the home of Santa who was patiently waiting for us to visit along with her daughters and parents. They all recently moved to the city from the mountains to try and get a better education for the children. The education system in Peru is strange. State education is free and every child is entitled to it, but there are not enough Schools nor School places, so not every child can go to school nor can afford to attend a private school. So Teachers are needed in the Church - The Church has the facilities but not the man power nor the financial resources needed to sustain it - anyone feel called to a challenge??
   Today will be an interesting day at the Church. Our task this morning is to try and get as much of the painting finished as possible. This afternoon an army of Children will descend on the church for the compassion projects. At this the Children receive a bit of an education, have some bible teaching, and are given a good meal. Today we hope to give away many of the packs brought from Christ Church, Strabane. Anderson, like myself has been overwhelmed by the generosity of the People back home. Also there is a list of people who want us to visit their homes.
   I do want to add that all the visiting we are doing is not people asking us for money. They are simply asking us to love them and pray for them.
   In your prayers today, do please keep remembering us before the Lord and pray for:

All the travelling that we will do because it is like the wacky races here
For Susanna and her family. Especially thanking God for the witness she is to others in bringing them to the Church. She is telling a lot of people about Pastor Marcos!
Pray for Sully and for the situation that she finds herself in. We gave her the bible yesterday and some other things. She seemed so moved by what we gave her and wanted us to know that she didn't tell us her story so that we would give her stuff. She wanted to take our shirts and wash them for us as a way of saying thank you.
Pray for Paul that his bowels will move (this reminded me of someone at home, and that will no doubt giggle when the read this!!)
Pray for Franco and his knee
For Santa and her family - especially her husband as he violent towards her
For the Children's programme today in the Church
For our health that none of us will get sick from the change in food or water
For our safety in both work and free time
For our spiritual protection
For Anderson, Isabel and the congregations we will be working amongst
For our families and friends back home who are supporting us
For opportunities to share the Gospel and that people will come to a living faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
That we will remember enough of the Spanish that we have been learning - we need the gift of tongues.
Most importantly that the name of Jesus will be glorified in all that we do and say

0 Comments

Wednesday 18th july 2017

19/7/2017

0 Comments

One of things that most amuses me about South America is how plans can change so much in such a short space of time. Yesterday morning after breakfast and devotions we ended up in a jail! Yes, a Jail - I had to bail one of the team out for rioting!!! Only joking.
   As part of Anderson's ministry he teaches one morning a week in the youth detention centre. The class usually takes place on a Wednesday morning but the Major phoned him late on Monday evening and asked him to come yesterday instead. The Major has found that Anderson's visits are so beneficial that he now insists that the staff also sit in on the classes. Yesterday Anderson got permission for me to talk to those there about Jesus and then to answer any questions they had on faith. It was remarkable the depth of questions - all to do with faith. Questions like 'do you need to go to church to be Christian?, Should we pray for those who have died?'
   We finally started painting at San Pedro just before noon. Then in the afternoon Ruth, Emma, Rachel and myself went visiting with Anderson. We called in at 3 homes. Each home is an eye opener in it's own way, and each one with it's own sad stories. Let me tell you about the last home we visited. It was the home of a lady called Saloo. She has 4 children and has lived in Lima for 2 years. She came into contact with the Church through Susanna who I mentioned yesterday. The reason she came to the city was to escape from her abusive husband who tried to kill her. Her home was smaller than the committee room in the Parish Hall, and there was just one room. In one half of the room was a double bed which had just been given to her and a cot for her infant child. Before this she said that she just slept on cardboard on the floor. In the other half of the house was a 'kitchen' - a little two ring gas cooker and few pots and pans. Below her cooker was about a dozen loose potatoes and a carrot. Thankfully she had been at the church helping us to paint and we had shared with her some of our lunch. There was no toilet, no indoor sink, no running water in the small shack and it was made of recycled timber. Saloo only has a tattered copy of the New Testament, so I have promised to give her a bible today.
   Sights like this really make us feel thankful for what we do have at home. I know that her story, and others like it which we have heard, are the same as some at home in Strabane, but somehow the surroundings make them seem all the more worse.
   Today we are going back to the church to do some more painting, Emma and Joanne are painting a Mural on the wall inside the Sunday School area, and the rest of us will be doing some work on the outside.
   Please continue to pray for us:

All the travelling that we will do because it is like the wacky races here
For Susanna and her family. Especially thanking God for the witness she is to others in bringing them to the Church
Pray for Saloo and for the situation that she finds herself in. Today I have promised to give her a bible, so please pray that she will find strength in the risen Jesus.
Pray for those who we spoke to at the detention Centre that the message I brought will take root in their hearts.
For Carlitos that he will stay close to the Lord and grow up to be a mighty warrior for Jesus
For our health that none of us will get sick from the change in food or water
For our safety in both work and free time
For our spiritual protection
For Anderson, Isabel and the congregations we will be working amongst
For our families and friends back home who are supporting us
For opportunities to share the Gospel and that people will come to a living faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
That we will remember enough of the Spanish that we have been learning - we need the gift of tongues.
Most importantly that the name of Jesus will be glorified in all that we do and say

0 Comments

Tuesday 18th July 2017

18/7/2017

0 Comments

Before we came out to South America Bishop Ken (Fanta) told us to 'expect things to be different than you expect'. Yesterday was a real eye opener for the team in what we saw and heard. Certainly what we expected to be doing was not what we ended up doing. However, it is good for us to be here - of that I am most certainly convinced. God keeps reassuring us that we are doing what he wants us to do.
   Pastor Anderson was to collect us from our last accommodation at 7am, so that we could move home and start work early. Well in true South America style he arrived at 9:45am. Sister Picketta met us as we got of the bus with a warm welcome. After we had breakfast we went to Cristo Redentor Church and meet a bunch of lively children. This was great fun. A nursery school meets here every day and Anderson leads an Assembly on Monday Mornings.
   We then went on the rocky bus journey to San Pedro Church. Once we had lunch, then we went to visit a couple of families. Firstly to the home of Carmela. There we met her sister and Mother. This is a home which is in mourning because just last week Carmela's Grandmother passed away. We sang a hymn with them, I attempted to read Psalm 23 and Ruth prayed for them. Then we went to the home of Susanna and her family. This was a house we visited on our last occasion. Susanna and her children Carlitos, Elizabeth and Ciara where there. Her husband Orando was out at work. Susanna is a lovely Godly lady who is just full of Grace of Truth, however she has had a hard life. Since we last saw her she has had to have an operation for Cancer, also her husband Orando is an alcoholic and whenever he gets paid from work, he goes and drinks heavily. In the home I read to her from Philippians 4:19 and 20 and prayed with them. As I was praying I could feel the Lord leading me to 1st Timothy 4:11-14 and sensed the Lord saying this to Carlitos. So I read it to him and Susanna and explained that the Lord loved him so much and that if he stayed close to the Lord, then God would do mighty things in his life and he would lead many to Jesus. It was an emotional moment for all in the room.
   So what will today bring? We will just have to wait and find out, but one thing I am sure of - The Lord God is with us wherever we go (Joshua 1:9).
   Oh and of course, yesterday was Emma's birthday so Happy Birthday was sang a few times and in a few places!
   Thank you for praying for us and we ask you to keep doing so:

All the travelling that we will do because it is like the wacky races here
For Carmela and her family in their time of bereavement
For Susanna and her family. Especially her husband that he will be able to use the help offered through the church to stop drinking
For Carlitos that he will stay close to the Lord and grow up to be a mighty warrior for Jesus
For our health that none of us will get sick from the change in food or water
For our safety in both work and free time
For our spiritual protection
For Anderson, Isabel and the congregations we will be working amongst
For our families and friends back home who are supporting us
For opportunities to share the Gospel and that people will come to a living faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
That we will remember enough of the Spanish that we have been learning - we need the gift of tongues.
Most importantly that the name of Jesus will be glorified in all that we do and say

0 Comments

Monday 17th july

17/7/2017

0 Comments

Buenos Dias
Yesterday was an interesting day. I left our accommodation expecting to preach at one service in San Pedro Church, but in true South American Style plans changed. When we left San Pedro we went to Cristo Redentor Church to visit the congregation. When I walked in with Anderson he asked me to come to the front with him. The worship band was leading a hymn. Once it was finished Anderson welcomed everyone to the Church and told them who we were. Then he handed me the mic and said 'Preach'.
In both Churches I preached on Romans 8:1-11 focusing specifically on verses 1 and 5. The people in the congregations are so warm and friendly and those who we met 2 years seemed so excited to see us back again. It is amazing to see how the Children have grown and also to see those who came to faith during our last trip still growing in the Lord. Also it was good to see the roof that our Sunday School paid for by collecting 20p's.
When we came back to the convent we heard that there had been an accident yesterday morning. The oldest Nun who is 98 had fallen and the process of helping her another fell also and has broken a rib. Please pray for them both.
Today we are moving house and are going to the convent that we stayed in the last time. After we move we are going back to Cristo Redentor to take part in the Ladies Bible Study, then we are going to San Pedro to prepare the site for the painting we have to do.
Please keep praying for:

All the travelling that we will do over the next 2 weeks
For the Bible Studies we will lead today
For our health that none of us will get sick from the change in food or water
For our safety in both work and free time
For our spiritual protection
For Anderson, Isabel and the congregations we will be working amongst
For our families and friends back home who are supporting us
For opportunities to share the Gospel and that people will come to a living faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
That we will remember enough of the Spanish that we have been learning - we need the gift of tongues!
For the two Sister's who fell yesterday
Most importantly that the name of Jesus will be glorified in all that we do and say

0 Comments

<<Previous

Archives

Categories