Saturday 24 November 2007

The work here in Ilo.

Hello everyone. This is an entry to tell you all about the work that has been going on here in Ilo with the church "Ebenezer" here.

As I said in the last entry, the first week here was focused on outreach and evangelism. We went from "casa a casa" in the mornings and held meetings in the evenings, where different Pastors came to speak each night. We saw many people show an interest when we talked to them and we saw new people coming to the church. It has been great to get to know different families from the church. For lunch here we have been going to houses of some families in the church here. We have been going in smaller groups (sometimes even on our own) so it has been a good way to speak more Spanish, get to know the families better and to get to know different team members better at the same time. We have been treated really well and felt very welcomed by the families and people that we have met.

The second week was a bit less busy but still involved working with the more normal runnings of the church here. We again went from house to house, talking to local people, and inviting them to the regular church meetings. One of the days this week, the team went down to the lower part of Ilo to perform a mime and to speak to people passing by. This was good to be involved in as it was something a bit different from what we might have done before but God's Word was proclaimed all the same. Again we went to local houses for our lunch.

On the Saturdays, we have been involved in running Bible Clubs for the kids around the area. The Team split into 2 and held 2 meetings in 2 different places. Today, we also helped out the Youth of the church as they had prepared food to sell near a small market to raise money.

Although things here in Ilo have been a bit more basic, we have enjoyed it all the same. We have had to adapt to sleeping on the floor and not always having running water but like one of the comments said:
"Sleeping on the floor is bound to be good training for something - it will make you grateful for the bunk beds back at the camp site."
This is very true and we are looking forward to getting back to Ite.

Our next "venture" is going to be in Tacna. There will be the similar set up where 10 go to Tacna and 4 will stay in Ite, where we will be working with the churches there. Freddy, Richard, Fany, Ceci, Ingrid, Aarón, Raúl, Rakel, Graham and Tom will be going to Tacna, while Javier, Sam, Karen and Merly will be staying in Ite.

Some prayer points before I finish up. Please:

-pray for all the people that we have spoken to and shared the Gospel with here in Ilo, that God will really work in their lives and challenge them.

-pray for the church here, that they would be encouraged by this time, that they will grow stronger as a church, in faith as well as in numbers.

-pray for the team Misión Rescate. As we are going to be split again that God will work through all of these things for His glory. For both the members in Ite and in Tacna. Pray for each member of the team, especially for those who are finding it hard at times, that God will really be close to them and will help them to serve Him.

-pray for the work that's going to happen in Tacna. That the hearts and minds of the people we are going to share with will be prepared for what we have to say. Also pray for our Spanish, in particular the 3 guys who will be going to Tacna who aren't going to have Karen there with them to help them along. Pray that although the understanding may not always be there, that we will serve and glorify God in all that we do.

Thanks to everyone who reads this and to those who leave comments. It's nice to know we have people back home thinking and praying for us. We really appreciate all your support.

Thanks again,
God Bless,

El Perú Cinco.

Tuesday 13 November 2007

After the Opening/The team in Ilo

Hello everyone,

This is an update to let you al know how the opening went and to let you know a little bit about the work we're doing at the moment in Ilo.

Well firstly, we can thank God for answered prayer in that the opening went very well and it was a very good day. It was good to see some of our fellow Irish friends when they came out to visit and it was especially good to see Graham again. It is great to have Graham with us now, we really did miss him before and it's good the team of 14 is together at last. The following week the team had a bit of a break after the hard work that went on. Then on the following Friday and Saturday there were the Ladies and Youth conferences happening. Both were very succesful and encouraging.

So at the moment, 10 of the team are in Ilo, working with the "La Pampa" church here. This week we are doing an outreach mission, which means we are going from house to house in the mornings talking to the local people and then running meetings in the evenings. The next week will involve follow up with some of those people and i'm sure other work with the church.
We are staying in the church in Ilo and just sleeping on matressess on the floor. A bit more basic but it's fine all the same. We are being provided with lunch from families in the church which has been really good so far. It's good to get to know some of the people in the church better.

Just a few prayer points before I go, please:

-Pray for all the work going on here, specifically in Ilo as we're here, for the outreach, that people will be saved.
-Pray for the 4 team members, Freddy, Fany, Richard and Ceci, who are back at the site for these 2 weeks.
-Pray for the team, that we would continue to develop better relationships with each other and that we would be effective in glorifying God.
-Pray for members of the team, who are having difficulties, that God will really draw close to them and give them His peace.
-Pray again for our Spanish, we are all improving but it is still hard to understand. Pray that we would have patience as we learn and communicate.
-Thank God for all His goodness to us and how He looks after us and answers prayer.

Thanks once again for all your prayers and support,
God bless,

El Perú Cinco.

Friday 2 November 2007

Before the Opening

Hello everyone,
This is just a quick update before the opening tomorrow.
For the past while we've been busy doing work on the site, cleaning, getting things ready etc for the opening. We've also still been involved with the meetings in the church in Ite, and now all of the Irish guys have spoken in the church there. Tom spoke last Sunday from James 1 v 2-18. We seem to be settling in more and more and the understanding of Spanish is slowly taking shape. The team's next venture will be to Ilo to work with the church there. The team will be split for those so as to maintain a presence in Ite. But at the moment it's all go for the opening. Nearly everything is ready for what is needed for the opening but could you all please pray for the service and the whole day tomorrow as it's going to be a busy day.

-Please pray for the team Misión Rescate, for the little issues that may arise, that the team will be united in working for God.
-Please pray fo the rest of the work that has to go on today, and that what needs to be done will get done in time, for the opening.
-Please also pray for the Irish people who are travelling out at the moment. For safety in travel and that they won't be too tired for all the activities tomorrow.
-Especially please pray for Graham as he will be finally joining, and completing the team, Misión Rescate.
-Just to give the names of our Peruvian counterparts so you can be praying for them as well......Freddy, Raul, Javier, Richard, Ingrid, Cecilia, Fany, Rakel and Merly. I apologise for the lack of surnames as I can't remember all of them.

I will post a more detailed entry after the opening to let you all now how it went, and over the next few entries to try and let you know a bit more about the Peruvians.

Thanks for all your support,

El Perú Cinco.