Toronto School of Ministry visit Part 5

Sunday was another day of ministering in friend’s churches before we had an amazing time with the Shipibo church we are involved with overseeing in the jungle. Six of the leaders came over for a day where God impacted their lives in a way which to uninformed onlookers would seem as little or not all. However having come to know the Shipibos realtively well I knew that the small shows of emotion and obvious work of the Holy Spirit were incredible, and certianly the most I have seen in my 3 years of working with this amazing tribal people.

Tuesday was chill out day and Daniel and I went to the water park, along with a few of the guys. The highlight (for us) had to be Andy, one of the team leaders, horrible sun burn. He did the traditional English thing and forgot about the hot sun that shines in the Summer in a country just south of the Equator! Factor 4 is not sun block!! Daniel loved the slide.

Wednesday we again ministered in Pacifico, as we did on Thursday and Friday, but we also received ministry ourselves, something that is a real lifeline for us here on the frontline. We also got to minister to 2 churches of friends of ours, Humberto and Esther, and my friend Carlos, which were very different from each other, but were really amazing times of God’s presence and love. One moment that has to be mentioned is when I was translating Kohki, our wonderful Japanese team member’s sermon on Thursday I didn’t understand what he said and I translated what I thought was luggage into spanish, and Andrea, the Peruvian-Canadian on the team corrected me saying 'he had said the 2 things he needed faith for were not finance and luggage, but finance and language’. Language is defineltly the biggest challenge of being in a different country, even more so than the culture difference.

After a feedback Saturday, and Starbucks (a great highlight for the team) I had an epic 4.5 hours translating due to many unforseen circumstances on Sunday morning, but God is good, and I managed to get through it, without too many problems, the grace (and language ability) seemed to grow and extend. Following the service we were treated to an amazing Barbecue meal cooked by leaders of Humberto and Esther's church. Some commented it was their best meal in Peru!! The highlight had to be how everyone wanted to take pictures with Kohki after due to him being Japanese. This was not because he is Japanese but because all Asians are called Chinese in Peru, and the family hosting are of direct descent from the Chinese, and for them this was the funniest thing in the world as they could all be from the same family. Irrelevant that there are a few miles in between the countries. Anyway I have included a few of the 15-20 pictures below to amuse you.

A picture of all of us who had lunch. Team, church and myself.

Marlene, Cesar and their new adopted Japanese, Chinese son!!

Miguel, Cesar, Baruj , and Carlos (AKA Chino (Chinese guy!!! No really)) with their new Chinese, Japenese brother!!

The final 4 days of the teams’s time ended with a retreat for missionaries in Kawai, a Scripture Union camp. A great time was had by all. People all felt really blessed by all that went on and it was great to see so much unity between missionaries from all over Lima, and a place called Paramonga, 5 hours north of Lima. I am looking forward to the next one. Pictures to follow.

Following all of this we went on a well deserved holiday, which is a different post!!!

Toronto School of Ministry visit Part 3

On the Tuesday (Day 5) we began to visit some of the members of the church and to minister to them, and in the evening the team had the opportunity to do the same to our leadership team, and also our non Christian neighbours who are becoming people who are really open to us, and what we believe.

Jose and Joana in their house

Ines being ministered to.

On Wednesday we went to do the normal tourist “thing” of visiting the centre. A fun day was had by all as we saw the central square, the traditional Peruvian arts and crafts wholesale market, and ending the day in the “world renowned” fountains park. (even in the Guiness book of records as the biggest private fountain park in the World)!

Pictures from the fountain park.

The guys waiting in the wholesale tourist markets.

Friday was the beginning of our mad weekend, which involved going out to see Alfredo in Ventanilla, as well as preaching at my friend Abner’s church. The everchanging and developing view of Ventanilla.

Alfredo as always was an amazing inspiration, and the testimonies of God’s faithfulness continue. The most recent being that he recieved a phone call from the Australian embassy and has 'won' their social outreach project ‘competition’. This means the Australian tax payers will be paying for the school to be built using proper built materials. Nice one mate, fair dinkum!!

Toronto School of Ministry Part 2

Day 3 was the team’ s first visit to Pacifico and Leah shared a great word on the love of our Father, which was well recieved by all the people who eventually got to the service at 11.30, just in time for the 10.00 start!

Leah playing with 2 rogues in our garden.

We met in Jaime and Belen's house as normal, but due to the large numbers of people Belentook the initiave and took her wall down to make more space for us, who ever said the Peruvians were not inventive.

Some of the guys outside and inside Jaime and Belen's house where we currently do Sunday meetings.

Day 4 was a prayer day as we set off early to go to the centre of Lima and go up Mount Cristobal, which on a good day gives views of most of Lima. The weather was slightly hazy, but still gave a very good perspective of Lima.

Becky and Miraim overlooking part of the centre of Lima.

Following lunch we started the second of many journeys on a small combi (small minibus) to Pacifico. I normally have a problem trying to stop these combis as they do not believe a white European (Gringo) would want to get on a bus to a shanty town, so you cacn imagine how difficult it was with 14 of us!! We climbed up to the highest point in Pacifco so we could pray. We certainly made an impression as 15 Gringos walked through a cacaphony of dogs barking, people shouting and kids saying “ello”. Chorrillos by night.

The view was spectacular and a real surprise to me as on the other sideof the hill which is Pacifico is built on is a beautiful beach cove.

This dog adopted Daniel when we were overlooking Pacifico.