The Lord has been so gracious to us in providing for our yearly women's conference. This year we focused on Luke 10:25-27: "Love God with all your heart and soul". This year. sister Lidia taught on "Loving your neighbor as yourself" alongside sister Marina and myself. We had several visitors to the church and were ministered to greatly by the teaching. It is always so refreshing for the ladies to get together and learn from one another. It was also a time to bless the mother's for Mother's Day through gift giving.

For the first time we had live worship with Suri (Lidia's daughter) and Rocio along with her husband, Gerardo, on piano and Jesus on guitar. It was a joy to see their gifts being used in worship to the Lord.

Marco graduated after three years. His degree is in tourism. He earned a bachelors degree and hopes to continue his work leading groups of international and Peruvian tourists to historical and archeological sites in this beautiful country. The program was tough but God was with him while he juggled family and ministry. The weekly trips to the institute have finally ended. He is happy to have completed what God put before him and finished with great scores. Congratulations Marco. 

We welcomed Pastor Carlos Casco to our church. He attended Calvary Chapel of Albuquerque before becoming a missionary. He now serves throughout South America teaching and providing Inductive Bible Study workshops. Our church had 20 attendees and another 7 churches participated with well over 50 in attendance. 

We were all refreshed by a visit from Joset, Tabea and their son Joshua. They have been serving the Lord for almost two years in Tabea's native country of Germany. While they were here, Joset assisted us in outreach and worship music. While here in Pisco they met a family from Venezuela. They heard of thier plight to flee the financial crisis and were touched by their story. They are wonderful saints who are now fellowship at our church since meeting Joset and Tabea. We hope to share more about this family in our next update.

We had a great time at our community outreach. Many tracks were distributed and preaching the good news to many in attendance. 

Last Sunday our church was invited to participate in a community event. A Christian political candidate heard about our church and invited us to play worship and spread the gospel message through tracts and kid's ministry. It was a wonderful time to bring the good news to this nearby community. We are so grateful to be able to share the gospel publicly without hinderance.

Some long time friends came to visit us here in Pisco. They brought along their inspiration to minister to women by hosting a ladies conference and a community outreach. We felt like we were just resting from the last flurry of activities but I guess the Lord didn't want us "taking it easy". Although we had just about two weeks to plan these events, they were a great blessing. 

Pastor Roberto Vargas serves in Escondido, Ca along with his wife Ruth and son Lucas. We have know them for years and were so refreshed by their visit. They were used greatly to refresh the body of Christ here, provide biblical counseling and encourage a family that were particularly afflicted due to severe trials. We could clearly see God's perfect plan to bring Roberto and Ruth here. Pastor Roberto shared how the Lord saved him from dealing drugs in the cartels of Mexico and transformed him into a child of God. One never tires of hearing how the power of God can change and transform any soul that is lost. 

Ruth was used mightily in the ministry to women as we hosted a dinner. She shared how God's healing touch can cure our hearts and liberate us to love those who have hurt us the most. Many of the ladies, as well as the youth, shared how they were touched by the Lord through Ruth's testimony. 

We were blessed to receive their comments about the church here. It was shared by them that they could see warm and loving believers who are servants with heart. They felt warmly received and have a desire to return next year with an outreach team. 

Our church has been invited by other city leader to do a community outreach in August. Please pray for our worship team, kid's outreach team and the hearts of those who will attend. We will keep you posted as the event gets closer. Once again, thank you for lifting us up in your thoughts and prayers.

The guys were refreshed and encouraged at the annual pastors and leaders conference at the new, beautiful, bible college conference and retreat center in Cajamarca. You can learn more about the campus here: www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=8&v=e4hoLO1-xpQ

This was a first time flight for them in an airplane and visiting a beautiful part of their country. They returned refreshed and rejuvenated to serve in their areas of ministry. They enjoyed teachings by Pastors John Bonner and Fausto Pflucker (first left in photo). Pastor Fausto is a native Peruvian but pastors his church, Calvary Chapel of Pamona gardens. Many Peruvians are encouraged through his sermons and teachings in Spanish and he has faithfully come to build up the body of Christ over the years in Peru. William (second left in photo) was especially blessed to know Pastor Fausto through his sermons and now was able to meet him in person. 

This retreat was a welcomed first experience for our leaders where new friendships were formed and a time of fellowship enjoyed. 
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We held our annual Mother's Day dinner near our church in San Andres. Again, we stepped out in faith. We are few women at our church but we wanted to take the opportunity to reach out to the women in our community. Although it was a celebration for mothers, all were invited. If you were a mother or had a mother you were invited to join us for a special dinner.

The women who is seen with me is Elizabeth. She is my hair dresser. The morning of the event I went to get my hair styled by her. As I was sitting in the chair she began to ask me questions about our church. I sensed she was searching for something. I mentioned our event we were having that evening. Through our conversation it was revealed she had no children and her mother had died years before. I still sensed more than ever to reach out to her. She had moved away from her family in Lima to work in our area. 

I didn't want to make her feel pressured to come so before I left the salon I wrote her a note of invitation to our Mother's Day dinner. I believed if the Lord wanted her there he would but a desire in her to come even though under the circumstances she would have every reason not to attend. As the event was nearing it's end I saw her enter the dining room. I was so elated. The Lord did draw her there. I went to greet her and couldn't hold back my joy that she went out of her way, at night, to attend an event where she knew no one. She tearfully thanked me for inviting her. In the end the Lord blessed her with a flower arrangement that was part of our raffle.

I have a special place in my heart for hairstylists. It was my stylist who invited me to my first bible study over 20 years ago. Pray for Elizabeth.

We planned for 50 ladies and we had over 70 in attendance. God ministered to these women in special ways through testimonies, the gospel and a music video "Mary did you know". We all remembered the sufferings of Mary and the price her Son paid for us all so that we could inherit eternal life for those who call upon Him.

This year's outreach for Resurrection Day was a challenge. We had a skeleton crew but a crew none the less. It was a step of faith for the church leaders but we committed to trust God for what He wanted accomplished for this outreach. The story of Gideon came to mind as we were praying for God's strength and direction. Finding comfort with a multitude of soldiers, God asked him to cut his army down to just 300 soldiers. It was a lesson for us that God is enough when He calls you to the front lines. 

The outreach was executed beautifully. As each did their part God was mighty on our behalf. Some stepped out in faith for the first time to share their testimony before the multitude. We we able to provide lunch for those in attendance and give away school supplies since the children have returned after summer vacation. There were new relationships formed and old ones rekindled. We were delighted to welcome a family of three at our Sunday school on Sunday who attended the outreach. Their names are Jacob (9), Israel (6), Jerusalem (5). 

Our Mother's Day Outreach was shared with a few ladies at the outreach and they were excited to hear about the invitation and plan to bring others. Pray for this upcoming event and for the saving of souls. 

Some of you expressed your desire to be able to make a financial gift. We have a PayPal account available for this purpose if you desire to give. Just click the "Donate" tab on our website and you will find instructions on that page.

Once again, we thank you for your care and prayers as we serve and let our light shine for Christ in Peru.

Every year that passes we are amazed at God's faithfulness to enable us to serve him here on the mission field. We persevere through the hardships of ministry and savor the victories. We have seen a decade of change in the lives of the believers here. Some who came to us as young children are now our worship leaders. Others came as young and single and are now assisting pastors in other countries with families of their own. Some are the humble homemakers who are stepping out in faith to pursue Christ-centered home education for their children. We can't forget the joys of seeing those new in the faith with their journeys before them. In all this, we give thanks. 

We annually celebrate our church's anniversary at the beach. It's a great time to laugh, play and enjoy God's goodness toward our church. He has been so good and it's important to take time and remember.

Keep us in your prayers as we prepare for our Resurrection celebration and Sonrise service approaching quickly at the end of this month.

Until next time.

It was a nice time coming to the end of 2017. It was a time of looking back, thanking God for the many opportunities to serve and grow. We thought about what worked, what didn't. How would God inspire us this year to perhaps make changes, adjustments, make room for what is important. We don't want to simply be busy; filling every moment with being "on the go". We have decided to really slow down to listen to the Lord. In a word "meditate". That takes time, time to slow down. Something that the modern world has trouble doing including myself. 

Since we have slowed down to meditate on where we are and what we are doing or not doing; some refreshing thoughts have come to us. This year we did our own version of a Shoebox outreach. It was the first time for our church and something we plan on doing again. The women's conferences have proven fruitful also providing opportunities for the sisters to teach the Word in front of an audience. We continue to see that this fellowship comes alive when reaching out to their community through concerts. The youth minister to kids, the worship team use their gifts through music and the gospel is presented to everyone. This will be continued in 2018. The photo reminds us what it's all about...one soul at a time for Jesus Christ.

As we all enter 2018, I encourage you to really slow down. Take time...that's right "take" time from one thing and use it to meditate and reflect on what God has for you this year. None of us want to look back wishing we had done so. Before you know it...it will all be over. Let's TAKE 2018 for the Lord. Until next time.