Life Missions Blog

2012-01-26T10:51:00.001-05:00

Life Missions 2012 Begins in Brussels Thursday, January 26:“On the road again” or should it be: “In the air again...” Anyway we are currently in Kortrijk, Belgium at the home of Susan Phagan and her three children. Marilyn has been coming here for a couple of years each January and this time she requested for me to join her, so here I am.What started out as a more casual trip to visit with some ministry has followed the usual twist with its turns. Ministry opportunity has more than doubled. We arrived here on January 13 about 8:45 a.m. and were met by Susan with Sophie, her youngest and along with Bert Phagan, who graciously took us to Starbucks before we departed the airport. (Not bad, huh?) And with our bags firmly located in the car we took off for Kortrijk, which is west and south of Brussels about one and one-half hours by car. It is located about 5 miles from the border of France. O, let I forget, that meeting also was the first confirmation request for an additional service.Wouldn’t you just know it! That night the body did not want to sleep, even after not sleeping on the flight and taking two sleeping pills. It was after 5:30 AM before it decided to “nap.” But so is life when going from country to country (time zone to time zone.) That meant Saturday began too fast and preparation time for the up coming service on Sunday was not crucial, but not critical. I did not have to get my scriptures ready for an interpreter.My first service on Sunday was at the Praise Center Filipino Church and English is their language. But of course we had to leave at 9:00 to be there for the 10:30 service. And of course, no service with the Filipino congregation is complete without having the treat of eating their typical food after the service. No problem man, I can handle that!Then we were off to another Filipino Church, Lighthouse, for whom I had promised to speak when returning to Brussels. Their service was scheduled for 4:30 so after a short drive and finding an open place for the vehicle we found our way to their meeting place. Man can this Church worship! In English as it is their international service. Their Tagalog service is in the morning. I enjoyed myself and from the response, they enjoyed the Word.Then what do you do after Church at 6:30 in the evening on Sunday? You eat! What? Chicken! Where? At Pardos? No that is in Peru - at Hectors. That is “if” you are clear with instructions about “which Hectors” you are going. We were not and so it took a little longer to get our “wires” straight and make connections. After which Marilyn and I went home with Bill and Gretchen Schwartz so we could spend some quality time of Fellowship with them on Monday. They are in language school in the morning, so we had the time to relax and catch up on some “shut-eye” – well some anyway.From Tuesday until Friday we spent our time with Susan, Lillie, Kelvin and Sophie, that is while I moved my fingers up and down the keyboard working on some documents for Logos Bible College, our Belgium Covenant Life University Extension. And as well preparing the necessary scriptures in French for my interpreters in the coming speaking engagements. I am trying a new concept. Instead of having to print my sermons, scriptures and scriptures in the necessary language, I purchased a Kindle Fire, put the scriptures in French and then converted it to PDF and placed them on the Kindle. Now I will not have to reprint, just switch from the previous language to the language for that location on previously prepared PDF documents. Not bad! Right? Well at least for now, I did not have to bring my printer and the special paper. Did it work? YES!...for sermons and for college class instruction.Since Saturday, January 21 was Logos teaching day, followed by Sunday at Logos Church with Mauricio and Lulu Salazar wit their two children: Betsy and Obed. Bill Schwartz met us at the local Pizza Hut for Supper and I went home with them to avoid the early, early morning trip to Anderlecht Brussels. What was supposed to be two sessions quickly turned into four sessions and concluding at 3:00 PM instead of 1:00 PM. Sunday morning, Marilyn and Susan joined me for the service at Logos Church. We had a great time of ministry in their new location and then headed downtown Brussels to eat at Palaks. If you ever make it to Brussels, you MUST eat at Palak, at least one time. Their Greek food is delicious!Well that about ends the time, except that I did return to Kortrijk with the ladies to “huddle at the table” with my computer and the necessary college work and attempt to just “be there” for the ladies to chide because I did not want to go shopping with them, even to France. If you have seen one store, you have seen them all (male shopping translation). Well, except for today because I did break down after completing the necessary work, and join them in a trip across the border into France and the Arab Flea Market (street version), a look at one of the huge but cold churches and the new mall – the salvation here was the meal. I did survive due to the food. Well, okay, the ladies were also kind to me and I to them! So relax, you with feminine blood.That is the up-to-date synopsis. More to come after-the-fact, a Portugese service and one with Praise Centre.Thanks for your prayers,Dr D and Marilyn

REFLECTIONS OF THE 55 DAYS IN PERU

2011-09-21T23:03:00.001-04:00

I have had many thoughts in the past 36 hours of my experiences in Peru for this trip which began July 28 and ends tomorrow, September 22. Please indulge me as I share them with you.

The first and probably the most important is the fact that I have had the privilege of ministering to (at the best calculation, yet conservatively) 400 Pastors plus many leaders; speaking in 15 churches; a minimum of 30 hours of direct counseling or sharing appointments with pastors; plus untold hours of just “being with” pastors, their spouses and families to encourage them and 49 different sermons or teaching sessions.

I did a quick calculations to see if I could determine the potential impact from the speaking sessions, seminars and graduations. If each Church had an average of 40 – one Church had 400 in attendance, one 200, another 125, and one 90 – so in reality 40 is low, but to avoid blowing up the numbers permit me to use the average of 40. When I multiply an average of 40 times 400 pastors I easily reach a number of 16,000 potential believers who could be impacted by what I shared. That is an awesome responsibility. Then when I recognize the potential of that impact from only 50% of that number on others, we end up approximately 24,000 people who could have an impact from my time here in Peru. If we went with any figure larger than 40, it tends to become staggering.

I am humbled by the potential God placed before me. And I want those of you who contribute to missions to recognize the impact you are having on the nation of Peru!

One of the burdens challenges God has placed on me is to challenge the Peruvian people to cross denominational lines in their cities and unite to send missionaries to pueblos and into the jungle to reach those who are unreached.

While in Piura (pronounced Pure-a) I meet withe ministerial association. Because of the influence of one US missionary, they are uniting to support missionaries across denominational lines. For example: If an individual from the Nazarene church is called to be a missionary, then all the churches, regardless of their affiliation are going to contribute to support him as he reaches out to a specific area. When another person arises and is qualified, then they will once again do the same thing. You know, it almost sounds like it is “Christian” and not marred by the barriers of doctrinal differences, of methodology, or tradition. WOW! It is possible that God may just bless that city and bring a revival.

I have shared and preached that message every time I have had an open door either to congregations, pastors in groups or on a one to one basis.

I cannot even begin to think how many Peruvians, trained and sent out could be supported sufficiently on the monthly cost of one North American Missionary’s monthly support. Now, I know we need some missionaries, but the best way to reach a county is to stand beside and train the nationals to do the work.

I am reminded of the economic downturn in the US, the potential of political uprisings in the countries of this world that have the potential of closing the doors to US citizens to spread the gospel. What we do, we must do now and sufficiently to prepare for the future. There are presently many open doors and we do not know how long the will remain open.

I cannot even begin to tell you how many people have reported being healed in the services. I mentioned in one blog about how I questioned the raising of hands indicating they knew they were healed and ask them to put their hands down and then stated the request again, only to have more hands raised the second time than the first.

Just yesterday, Pastor Jorge Watanabe, the superintendent of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church here in Peru, told me he has had several share with him that they were healed in the service. The look on the face of one lady in San Francisco and the method of demonstrating her healing was almost embarrassing as she testified to power of God who removed the pain from and around her breasts. There are so many more and I deliberately did not count or try to keep any count. I just wanted the people to recognize they serve a Healing God and He can heal without anyone even laying hands on them, if they just exercise their faith. He does and HE DID!

I am so full, so burdened and even though I have to return now to the US, I almost wish I could stay and respond to the new requests to come and minister to the church and to their cities.

God bless you for your prayers and your support,

Dr D

LEARNING TO ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES - CHANGES

2011-09-19T20:23:00.003-04:00

Thursday - Friday, September 15th - 16th:

If anything can happen on the mission field it WILL! And it did. First, the city for the Pastor's Meeting is to be San Francisco which is across the river from Kimbiri where we were last year.

A pastor from Honduras had flight delayed, causing him to miss a connection, thus causing him to miss the bus to Ayacucho, this causing us to wait 10 hours for his arrival, causing us to drive over the high Andes at night on dirt and gravel road which often would narrow to one lane and complicated by construction, causing us to arrive in San Francisco at 12:30 AM Friday instead of 2:00 PM Thursday, causing us to not be there for scheduled services at various Churches, causing disappointment for many.

Man! That is a lot of "causes!". But one more! It is important to the story. I had to change my return flight to Lima because I was to ride with Larry Cochran back from San Francisco to Ayacucho on Sunday and fly on Monday. But at the last moment he could not come, and I was forced to wait one more day before returning. Gratefully the air lines did not charge for the changes and I got the same flight, only one day later.

But we made it. The drive took 5 ½ hours and there was no sleeping to be had. I was in the back set, half of which was stacked to the ceiling with luggage because the trunk was full of boxes of Bibles. This was complicated by the constant turning, braking, bouncing, tossing left, then right, the forward, then back, then again and again.

Plus, the driver kept his window rolled down at least halfway and the cold air swirling around my head. Thank God I had packed my special emergency towel set and for the realization that my bag was on top of the stack. So I took out the small towel and wrapped it around my head, tucking the ends into the neck of my leather jacket. I then wrapped my arms around my chest and did some "self-cuddling."

I had thought ahead and purchased an "altitude pill" and 30 minutes before departure I downed that baby! Therefore I was not affected by the altitude, nor the roller-coaster over the mountains expedition but my interpreter, Desi Escalante from Chincha was causing us to stop two times for "relief."

In all honesty --what else would you expect but honesty -- excluding the roughness of the trip, I am glad it was night because I could not see scenes of thousands of feet straight down with to guardrail, one lane and a huge truck looming in front of us. Right-of-way belongs to the vehicle going up. So one vehicle has to find room enough for both to pass and stop until the other passes.

OUCH! The only way back is over the same road and it will be daylight!

Up and rolling by 7:00 waiting for the rest to go to breakfast but I was not ready to "break fast" - no I was not fasting but I cannot speak on a full stomach. So I skipped it! And honestly I was not ready to eat breakfast Peruvian style, like a pulled chicken sandwich loaded with lettuce, tomato and those tiny potato fries you buy in a can.

Then we headed to Church for the morning sessions. They were already lined up waiting for us to arrive. I am going to jump to the end of the morning and tell you the crowd was so many they - PASTORS - sitting in the back isle and on a bench outside the door because there was no more room inside. And it was hot out there in the direct sun .

Pastor Ivan Galindo Paz from Trijullo Honduras was the other speaker foe the morning sessions replacing Larry Cochran from Go International who had to cancel because of the discovery of prostate cancer. Pastor Ivan had the first session and I had the second but this was after one hour of preliminaries.

Imagine the scene: the Church auditorium was packed - all seats taken with some sitting on the steps entering the auditorium and some sitting or standing outside in the direct sun. No air conditioning. It is stuffy with almost no ventilation. I look around as Pastor Ivan is midway and see many asleep and I wonder what is going to happen when it is my turn. At least he speaks Spanish! You guessed it! Many could not stay awake during my session but youngest press on.

Dinner followed with fresh fish, fried with head and eyeballs staring at you and hidden beneath the large piece was yuca - covering the plate and I think uncooked and all of this topped with fresh sliced onions and thin slices of tomato. This was decorated with crisp fried plantain. I found myself becoming very generous and shared my yuca with the other pastors. That was nice of me, don't you think?

I did not return to the afternoon sessions until it was meantime. Stop thinking bad about me! My interpreter did not want to go and translate so I would know what Pastor Ivan was saying. And no, he was not being lazy but only wanting to save his voice to translate me. Well, anyway I made it through and returned to my room and moved to the room next door so I would have air -- not conditioning but a fan. Boy was it a life saver.

Oh, lest I forget - the shower includes the commode - minus the seat, sink - all in one but with no hot water and is it ever cold. I had, had it with the heat and my lack of courage to get completely wet under the shower and so I called up enough courage to inch my way until I was completely under the spout and it was not glory that came out on me! But I did take a shower, not my first but almost the first one since arriving here in San Francisco -- PERU -- not California.

The evening consisted of a Town Square service. No one told me the schedule for starting and my interpreter did not come for me until 8:00 and so by the time we walked to the square the worship was over. There were around 50 who responded for first time salvation and re-dedication. Anyway that rounds out my day and sets me up for my 9-10 session in the morning and then to be the speaker at the service tomorrow evening (Saturday).

Now for some, "SOME" sleep. But the hotel and my room face a very busy corner with ALL kinds of night life sounds, so it is time to push the ear plugs in, take some PM's and check out the back of my eyelids. Good night all!

Saturday, September 17th:

AW! Sleep did come and it was good, but the morning brought more schedule changes. It changed twice yesterday and again this morning. Instead of being the 9 o'clock speaker I was the 10 o'clock. No matter you just learn to go with the flow.

After speaking and while walking back to the hotel, Pastor Wilkinson, the Peru coordinator for Go International, told me I hit the pastors right on the head where they have a major problem. They frequently elevate custom and culture above the Word. I knew that from watching their culture show up in Church. He was very happy for the confrontation and the way I shared the teaching. Thank you Holy Spirit for your direction. That was Saturday morning.

I thought I had the afternoon free but once again I was wrong! I was asked to assist with the distribution of the 150 Study Bibles to those pastors who registered first. The look on there faces was worth missing a rest. We then handed out two paperback Bibles to all th rest. Then it was time to pass out the certificates of attendance. I watched as the pastors would once again run to the front just to get a certificate saying they attended this year's Pastors Conference with their face glowing with excitement and pride.

While departing from the morning session I told the conference director I had recorded each of my sessions and wondered if they wanted a copy to make available to the pastors. I had hardly made it to my seat for the distribution of the Bibles and certificates when a pastor approached me with his USB drive in his hand, and he was just the first of many. Someone overheard and spread the word. They are very anxious to learn.

Saturday evening I was selected to be the speaker. The service was to be held at the Pentecostal Church of Peru. I was dreading it because the morning sessions were packed and it was very hot. Boy was I surprised when we arrived and I discovered we were having an open air service in the courtyard adjacent to the Church.

We arrived to the sound of singing and 90% of the seats filled. But it did not stop there. By the time I was introduced the crowd had grown from about 200-225 to an estimated 400 -- 26 seats per row, 13 rows, plus those seated on the steps down into the courtyard, those on a bench along the entire length of the building and those standing along the walk along the length of the church on the upper level. You count them I could only guess with an honest guess (not evangelisticaly speaking.)

When I finished speaking, praying for the sick standing at their seats and laying hands on the pastors, fatigue had set in and so I excused myself from the after service meal and rain through the cold shower and fell into bed.

Sunday, September 18th:

This morning, Sunday, we were requested to join a pastor for a picnic at the Angelina Water Falls. I tried to come up with a legitimate reason for bowing out but I did not succeed. Finally, two hours later than scheduled pastor and our transportation arrived - a 4x4 extended seat Pickup. Now there are five of us, plus the pastor and his wife and two children a driver. Do?

No problem! Three climbed into the truck bed and we were off -- to get more people and the food. Finally, after another hour we headed out into the jungle. Forty-five minutes later after passing newly planted fields of cocaine, fields of all sized plants, and leaves laid out to dry on black plastic - one as large as a basketball court we arrived.

Now for the hike! No I will not describe it but only say had to walk up - climb - whatever - over 850 meters - 2,788 feet from where we parked. I do not know what the altitude is here, but I do know it isn't sea level, I made it and stood at the base of the falls enjoying the cool mist from the cascading water not caring that my shirt was beginning to really absorb the water.

The food part I was able to avoid due to having eaten a chunk of pineapple given to me by the Pastor's wife. How did that on it? It was not ripe, nor tasty and honestly produced a welcome upset stomach. I have almost come to the end of my ability to eat chicken and rice! Plus, I was scheduled to minister again at night.

And I have come to the end of my public ministry. The final service is over.

Tonight I ministered in the Evangelical Pentecostal Church of Peru to about 125. The are stuck in cultural and Church traditions, However there is a deep hunger for God. The pastor wants to break out of some of the traditions but is struggling, lacking the boldness or the "know how" to do it. I would would his name but I do not have it with me at this time.

For example: "Does anyone have a special?". Then three get up and sing. Now I am not a musician and as you know I cannot carry a tune -- even in their "mountain music" -- but I was embarrassed for them. HOWEVER, GOD WASN'T! it was evident to see the love for God coming through them. so who am I to say "I was embarrassed for them?" I was just embarrassed! I must look at things like this as though I were God, not man!

Anyway it was a good service and the people we're ministered to by the Holy Spirit and that is what is important. So now it is time to go forward by getting up and being ready at 5:00 even though those with me will probably not meet their own schedule. I would rather wait on them than have them waiting on me.

So Mr. Dirt-Rock Muddy Road, here we come. God grant traveling protection as we traverse Your creation on our way back to Ayacucho.

Monday, September 19:

Surprised to read about Monday? So am I. We rented out the "Cumby" - van - entirely so we would have sufficient space and so we could depart from San Francisco without waiting for more riders. That was a good thing because we had to remove a package from under one seat one potential rider placed there. Guess what was in it? Cocaine!

That placed us back in Ayacucho at 12:30 PM. The director rented a room for me and all of the team went to my room to rest while the director went to buy bus tickets for all the others. He came back too soon to have accomplished that, but with a surprise saying to me, "It may be possible for you to fly back to Lima on the 5:00 flight, if the pilot says the weather is warm enough to take more than 15 passengers."

Well here I am sitting and waiting for my flight. if the weather is too cold the airplane will not ascend from this airport due to the altitude.

The return trip over the mountains went without any problems, Although several times I had to tell myself not to get nervous. I was sitting in the passenger side in the front and therefore I could see the edge of the road and sometimes I could not. The "could nots" are what gave me a momentary nervous sensation, particularly when we were in one of those 90 degree one lane turns.

The altitude pill on an empty stomach helped. However. When we stopped for a fried fish breakfast, I had to eat, but only the fish and some rice. No problems - I did fine. The Honduran pastor had some minor difficulty but it was a successful trip.

Now to get back to civilization - Lima, and the Internet and post this manuscript.

God bless and thank you for your prayers.

Dr D

PS: Since this is now posted, you know I made it back without any problems.

UPDATE PRIOR TO DEPARTURE FOR KIMBIRI

2011-09-14T22:26:00.000-04:00

Here I sit - all packed and ready to go to bed and it is only 9:00 PM. But I have to arise at 3:00 AM to meet the taxi to make my 5:20 AM flight to Ayacucho so I can spend the day waiting on Ivan Galindo Paz who is coming from Honduras. His flight has been delayed and so instead of leaving about 6:30 AM from Ayacucho for Kimbiri we will not depart until about 6:30 PM.

That means I will be traveling for 5-6 hours over the high Andes Mountains – I take an altitude pill it because of the heighth – at night on a one lane mostly gravel road. Just what I wanted to do!

But that is missionary life. So I smile and proceed to do what I am committed to do – fulfill the call of God for this time in my life.

While I am here, permit me to catch you up on the time since I arrived here in my IPHC flat. I spent Monday just getting things in order and catch a couple of extra hours of sleep during the day. On Tuesday, I spent the day counseling with a pastor and his wife. Did my laundry and then went shopping in the “speciality stores” of Lima with David Hodges.

When I say, “speciality stores” I am talking about what you know as Flea Markets, but hundreds of kiosks jammed together over three floors with each floor about the size of two football fields and isles so narrow sometimes it is hard for two to walk together – in fact impossible. There is anything you want in that place and even things you do not want.

But anyway, we got what we needed – yes NEEDED! I had to have a travel bag for my flight – a small one because I can only take 7kg (15 lbs) as luggage, plus a “small back pack”. However, since I will only be gone for four days, I was able to get everything I would NEED into my 35 Sole bag ($12.86).

This morning while placing some documents on my iPad to use for the teachings in Kimbiri, I got all inspired and developed a new teaching for the Pastors: “Empowering The People.” Sorry, but I cannot teach it to you now, but who knows if you will or if you will not hear it – it is good anyway. So after tooting my own horn here about this I will finish with the events of the day. They are: Marco came and we went to eat and exchange some dollars into soles and then returned to complete preparations for tomorrow. I return back here on Monday morning at 7:00 AM.

So that’s it! God bless,

Dr D

JAEN AND BAGUA GRANDE MINISTRY OVER - NOW BACK TO LIMA

2011-09-12T00:48:00.001-04:00

Jaen Graduation: Pentecostes Del Nazareno - Antonio & Marina Quintana

It was celebration time in Jaen for the Pentecostal Nazarenes! It was the first graduation of any kind to be held in the Church and they did it up BiG! The service was already rocking when we walked in. The auditorium was about one fourth occupied but by the time we started, at 9:50 PM, there were over 400 Pentecostal “Rockers.”

Each of the seven graduates marched in accompanied by a “sponsor” - their spouse to a loud and boisterous heralding of the trumpets to the tune of “When The Saints Come Marching In” and the booming voice of the music pastor. The next in line did not start until the previous was standing in front. Immediately I was called on to present them with their Certificate of Theology for completing the first year.

Each was then once again “heralded” as they moved to their seats, followed by the graduation message. I kept it short – 35 minutes with the interpretation. The message was followed by two prayers for the graduates – both by me, and then once more we heard the trumpets, the trombone, drums begin as the students departed the auditorium.

That was not all! Then we (Marco, Javier and I), the graduates – which included the pastor – left for a celebration meal at a restaurant. The remainder of the people stayed for an all night prayer meeting – on Saturday night!

I was informed they had two more classes already in the process of studying, one in the third cycle and another in the fourth and would be looking forward to starting the second year. AND – they would also be starting other classes in some of their “daughter churches.”

Pastor Quintana is requesting I return for their next class graduation and stay for three days to minister to the people.

To say the least, I “flopped” into bed in the “wee hours” of the morning knowing it would be a short night because we had to be ready for the regional coordinator to arrive at 7:30 for preparation to take a “car” (hired car) for a one hour trip to Bagua Grande.

Bagua Grande: Asambleas de Dios del Peru Bagua Grande - Amado & Caruajulca

The Church at Bagua Grande is one of the early extensions of Pacto De Vida. They were slowed down due to the “uprising massacre” in 2009. But they are up and continuing study.

They normally have their Sunday service in the evening, but due to our schedule which required us to depart Jaen at 3:30 PM, they rearranged and we arrived at 9:00 as the doors were being opened. The congregation was slow to arrive due to the change but we had a full house – meaning all the chairs were full – not the building.

Then Pastor Caruajulca announced to me we were going to his house for “Rooster.” It seems every time I am there they kill the pet rooster. This one was not “tough” and must have been a young one. Two years ago the rooster was still crowing inside at noon when I tackled “Cuy” (cooie) (Guinea Pig). Pastors wife promised to fix me “Cuy” the next time I came. Honestly, I look forward to it. She fixes a “mean Cuy.” And NO! I do not eat their pets! They raise them for food!

Once again, the power of God was manifested as was attested to by testimonies.

Then it was back to our hotel in Jaen. Let me tell you! We had the same drive both ways. It was a fast trip. By driving standards in Florida, he should have been arrested at least 30 times each way for speeding, passing on curves and various other fractions. YES! I prayed both ways – though not all the time. I just trusted it to the Lord and relaxed – except for holding on to the handle above my head to keep from being thrown into Javier who was seated next to me with Marco on the other side.
As you can see, we made it safely to the hotel, finished our packing then rode the “Moto-Kar” to the bus terminal. A “Moto-Kar” is a combo of a motorcycle and a “ric-shaw”. And we made record time on the bus portion. It took six and one-half hours to get there, but we made it back in 5 hours and 23 minutes. Do not has me how! But we did!

Now to fly to Lima in the morning and prepare for the final phase – ministry in Kimbiri with Go International. I fly to Ayacucho then take a van over the mountains on a one lane dirt road for about 5 hours.

God bless and thanks for your prayers,

Dr D

PIURA: MISSION COMPLETED - STARTING NOW IN JAEN

2011-09-11T15:26:00.001-04:00

Where was I? Oh yeah, I had to leave for the evening service. That took place on Wednesday. This was more of a Cell Group in a area known as Casario Miraflores and is directed by the Luis Pena, the worship leader/small group pastor of Casa De Dios. To be honest (I mean what else can I be?) It was the hardest of all my assignments. I was not geared for a small group as such and had a sermon instead of a teaching. But as far as I can tell, it was received well – it is just that the “sender” did not have good feelings about the evening.

Then that leads us to Thursday, the final day in Piura. It all began with a meeting of all the Casa De Dios pastors and leaders and lasted from 9:30 until 1:00. My part was about two and one-half hours. BUT! I did feel good about the session. In fact, I was inspired by my own teaching as the Holy Spirit broke open new truths inside an old leadership lesson.

We then headed to the pastor’s house for dinner and about one hour of rest before piling into his 4x4 and heading to Paita. This is the city where the Spaniards first landed in Peru. The first and still standing Catholic Church is just a few miles north of the present city, just a short distance from the Pacific.

My first task was to teach on the radio for one hour. So now I am a Peruvian Radio Preacher also, “Also” because I am a Ukrainian Radio Preacher as well and have been known to show up on TV in Ukraine. (You can get me autograph later, “IF” you will send me $30 and I will send you some “hot air” to keep your hands warm in Alaska.)

We had just over an hour, and that provided the time for me to see the landing site of the Spaniards and the Church. I did also spend some time taking some sunset pictures at a retreat center on the shore of the Pacific. Is that okay with you? (Tough! I did it anyway! And with that attitude I will not let you see them!)

Then we went to Church for the 8:00 service. It is the largest facility of Casa De Dios and the largest congregation. The pastor, Jose Leon Campos, came to Pastor Gene Gayle and requested to be under his leadership. The Church is solid. However I discovered that the men sit on the right and the women on the left, facing the platform. Gene is waiting until the right time to gently suggest that family worship together. I noticed they had the “mountain” sound to their music. You will have to hear it to understand what I mean.

They have been working very hard on updating their building. They have poured a cement floor, except for the first few feet at the entrance. They held off with that until they can get the bathrooms in and the sewer line placed before pouring cement there. The pastor’s room is right behind the platform and to enter you go up on the platform then down into his room. He took me in there. It is a very simple room. Dirt floor, a bed, a light, a bookcase, a curtain to separate the bathroom from the bedroom. The bathroom consists of a bucket and no sink. THAT IS SIMPLE! He is unmarried, in his 40's and believes God is going to give him a wife in 2012. Somehow, after watching him, I believe it!

We returned home about 11:00 and I jumped into the packing mode but did not complete it until about 12:30 AM, then piled into bed to unwind, shift gears and begin thinking about the schedule for Friday, which began all to early. We had to be on the bus by 8:30 for a 4 hour ride to Chiclayo and an overnight in a hotel. Then back up, eat breakfast and on the bus by 9:00 for a 6 hour ride to Jaen over the mountains – meaning around turns, turns, turns, and more turns as we climbed up until 12:15 and then down again until our arrival in Jaen at 3:15 PM. No food, no drinks, just ride, ride, ride....ride.

Now I am sitting in my air-conditioned hotel room, with wifi, a full stomach awaiting our 7:30 departure for the Graduation of the first year students at the Pentecostal Nazareno Church.

So until, I ramble so more, God bless,

Dr D

JUNGLE NO! MOUNTAINS YES!

2011-09-07T18:46:00.001-04:00

I know! The last thing I said on my last blog was: “Tomorrow we head to the jungle for a 12 hour experience.” Well, I was not thinking. (And that DOES NOT happen all the time – regardless of what you think!) Anyway, we were supposed to leave at noon for a two hour trip into the mountains to a Pueblo named Piscan.

However, because Pastor Gene had to sign the documents to purchase the property the Church just bought we were delayed four and one-half hours (4 ½ hours). You cannot believe the way they do such things here. For us it may a one hour situation but here it can go on for hours. For instance: They worked with an official who completed the papers. They were then told to see the person at the very next desk, who could have been completing the financial papers while they were at the first desk. But not here. The second does not start until the first is done. Then they do not understand what they are supposed to do and cannot figure out the fees...........and on and on it goes.

But finally at 4:45 PM we walked down the steps onto the street and began a 10 minute walk to the parking garage to the car. You DO NOT leave your vehicle parked on the street – that is IF you would like to keep it. After traveling a few blocks, going down several different streets and being detoured due to the sewer construction we stopped at the gas station to get some air in the tires and some cold drinks, candy and the likes and then headed out of town.

After one hour the pavement ended. We began the next one hour on unbelieveable rock and dirt roads, up and down the hills, around corners to find that part of the road was washed out, down through six or seven creek beds – four of which required us to drive through the water – the others were dry this time of year. O, did I mention that several times we had to stop to allow the bovines (resembling cattle for the unsophisticated) and the long-horn cattle and the huge bulls to make their way around us. Then there were the cowboys on their horses, the motorcycles, dogs, pigs with triangles (made of sticks around their necks) to keep them out of fenced off gardens and fields and about anything else you can think of.

The journey took us through the middle of several Pueblos with their houses of various kinds lining the sides of our road. To my amazement, one Pueblo had the cement sewer lids protruding upward – they had a “city sewer” in their Pueblo! But, we still had to slow down for the “speed-bumps” made of dirt!

We did arrive at our destination about 7 PM, parked the 4x4 (that is not a piece of lumber - but a vehicle) and began our walk to the home where the Church is located. It sits about 5 feet lower than the street in front of it with about 12-15 feet of space between it and the street. About 100 feet beyond and across the street is the property the Church owns. It is being prepared for construction of their new Church facility.

I cannot remember the number of people who showed up, but it was approximately 16. Sweet people who were actively involved in working to help the Church to grow. One lady had walked 30-40 minutes in the dirt and dust with her three sons – all above the teen-age years. They are tithers and because they do not have enough money to adequately compensate their pastor, one lady proposed that each family take responsibility to feed the pastor each day.

I will summarize my experience to simply say, “I really enjoyed the time of ministry and fellowship with them. Simple people who love Jesus!

Then it REALLY BEGINS! Do not be in so much of a hurry to find out why — relax — and I will tell you.

To complete the evening it was expected that we would go to the home of one family and eat. So what do you do? You do it! You walk in the dimly lit room - very large at that - 20x30 at least. In one corner there is a stack of sacks of rice maybe 4x5 about 40 inches high. To the left is a door that leads to what you discover is the home of one of the siblings. You turn to your right and step up about 10 inches onto a dirt floor – their kitchen – with two tables. The room has only one light bulb. I turn and two dogs walk in behind me. In one corner lies several ears of corn. I look around for the pig, but discover a dog goes over to them and lies down. It makes me feel better.

We are served some pastry - 4 of them. A bowl is handed to me and I discover it has tuna fish in it. I watch as those with me put some on one of the pastries. I follow suit. I tasted it and I am still not sure it was tuna – but what I do not know. I quickly ask for the keys and go to the car to get MY water to avoid being handed the “drink.” It works and they pass me by. I wonder to myself, “What do I do with the other three?”

I watch as Pastor Gene places some sugar on his second piece. I follow his lead and it does taste good – and so I eat two more, then pass the other to the Peruvian across the table. Because he is a BIG man, I insist in my English, using my hands that I am full to the neck and he needs to eat more to keep him going. Success! Meal over!

The ride home seems to be much smoother though it is dark. You watch for the lights of an approaching vehicle. You watch for the darker spots on the road ahead. They indicate a deeper hole or low spot that will cause the vehicle to BoUnCe! Anyway, we get home safely and I flop into bed about 1:00 AM.

Today, Wednesday, I fall out about 8:15, drag into the bathroom and wash the sleep and whatever was left from the night before into the drain, dress and get ready for a 9:30 departure to the local ministerial meeting.

It is a 30 minute walk to the host Church for this week. We get started about 15 minutes late – which is almost starting on time. They take care of some business and then I am introduced as the speaker for the day. I share for 40 minutes and quit. I wonder: “Did I connect? Did I communicate?” They complete their meeting after a session of prayer and then I do not have to wonder any longer.

The pastors of this city have dropped the barriers of Church names and denominations to join together as the Kingdom of God to reach their city for God. My sharing on the power of connections, relationships hit the target. I spend the next 30-40 minutes in sharing with groups of 3-4 or just one – answer their questions and expounding more on the topic. I look over and Marco is sharing about Universidad Pacto de Vida and has his cell phone in hand and then hands it to the pastor next to him. I find this out later: The pastor beside him was the spiritual father to one of the pastors who has the university program. To explain how it works Marco just called the pastor from another region, Bagua Grande, and handed the phone to the local pastor.

I could go on and on, but once again it is time to close and get ready to go to the evening service.

God bless and thanks for your prayers

Dr D

PIURA: Arrival And Prison

2011-09-05T20:59:00.000-04:00

But before I arrived, I had to depart from Talara. To do that, I had to minister in Mision Cristian Pan de Vida in Negritos with Pastor Victor and his wife Vicki. That was no task, only a pleasure.

At the conclusion of the message I asked for those who had any pain to place their hands on the area. I prayed and requested for those who knew the pain was now gone to raise their hands. Once again I saw so many hands I – doubted? – and so I said it again trying to be more exact so the translation perhaps would be easier and more clear. But the second time, more hands were raised. Once again the power of God was displayed in the testimonies of the people of God’s healing power to their healing. I cannot begin to tell you their stories, but to God be the glory. – Permit me to add here: The same thing happend Sunday evening here in Piura.

Arrangements were made with the pastor to condense their worship time to about 30 minutes so we would be able to complete the message. We were on a very tight schedule and had to eat, travel back to Talara, get our luggage ready, await the arrival of Pastor Giorgio and Jessica who were coming to assist our host in taking us to the bus terminal. All of this so we would arrive in Piura about 5:30 PM after a two hour ride. We did not make the 5:30 time, but did make it by 5:45.

Then we were transported by Pastor Gene Gayle to his home to get ready and go to the evening service. He said he arrived at Church at least one hour early – that would be 7:00, meaning we had to leave by 6:45. We did! Then we had to wait for the start of the service at 8:00. Meaning, service would not be over until at least 10:00. We did not make that time, but somewhere about 11:00 we arrived back to our abode while here in Piura. (Pronounced: Pure-A)

The Gayles, Gene and Kim have four children, Lily - 12, Caroline - 10/11, Levi -7 and then there is the “boss” of the family, Ella - 4. She is a “talker” - cute as a button possessing all the “why’s” – too many to answer.

Today, Monday – it was up and get going to pick up the sound system at the church by 9:00 and then make our way to Prison. Relax! I know some of you think it would help me, but believe me it wouldn’t! Anyway, we arrived at the Prison about 10:00. Then the delays began. We had to sit and wait until 11:30 before they would let us in. All this was due to a change in the position of the man who authorized who could go in and who could not. But the Catholics had no problem. So can you figure out what the “block” was?

Then we went through a three ring circus. Really! It was one ministry act after the other and when the men were tired, I had to deliver the word. But it is only the result of Pastor Gene working diligently to get the Evangelical Churches to cooperate and work together to reach the prisoners as well as begin a city wide missions effort to support missionaries from Piura who had a call to go to other areas of Peru where there is not gospel message. Just think! All Evangelical pastors working together and supporting a missionary regardless of which Church they had a their home Church. Somehow it almost sounds “SPIRITUAL! – WELL – AT LEAST BIBLICAL!” So as they learn to work together, one can put up with the 3-ring circus.

The end of the story is that we returned at 4:00 PM - hungry and without any food since Sunday evening. But pleased to have had the opportunity to see about 125-150 prisoners worship God – fall on their knees – raise their hands – shout ------ and much more, including swarming around to talk to us in their Spanish and trying to get it all translated for me. That was complicated because one prisoner was deaf, so his words were read by another to my interpreter and then put into English for me. He was one swell guy – a believer who’s life had been turned around because someone cared to visit him in prison.

Tomorrow we head to the jungle for a 12 hour experience. Therefore, it is bed time!

God bless,
Dr D

STAGE ONE OF TRIP TO NORTH PERU ENDS

2011-09-04T09:18:00.000-04:00

Today is the last day for our ministry in Talara, Peru. In fact, we complete it about mid-afternoon and then catch a bus for a two hour ride to Pirua, Peru. It has been a busy – busy time since we arrived here Tuesday afternoon.

My last dissertation, I mean blog, completed our activities for Wednesday. So if I can remember correctly, the next day was Thursday. And Thursday put us in Talara. Dinner was at the home of Dr. Jose Chiapee V, an “oftamologo” (Spanish) for dinner. We were served lasagna. Not just any lasagna, but Sword Fish Spinach Lasagna. The dish was developed by Dr. Chiapee’s wife, Mercedes. I was surprised at the taste. I would not want it often, but it was tasty.

The highlight of the time there was watching Dr. Chiapee make cappuccinos. Why? Because he took a machine Pastor Agustin Ciccia , from Lima, thought was destroyed and made it live again. So I had to have my picture taken watching the Dr. make me a cappuccino and then post a series of 12 on Facebook. You find ways to have fun in the midst of a busy day.

But! I did do something serious Thursday! The evening was spent in ministry at Mision Cristiana Pan de Vida (Christian Mission - Bread of Life) here in Talara, pastored by Pastor Giorgio and Jessica Schiantiarelli. (Try pronouncing that last name!)

Friday we ventured back to Negritos and Saturday began with a leadership meeting. Eight pastors and some of their leaders joined with Pan de Vida for two sessions that ended up starting at 9:00 (well that was the announced starting time, but it was actually 9:18) and ending at 2:00. So I had a little over 4 fours of teaching and answering questions.

The long term outcome of these sessions is yet to be realized but the immediate was a commitment to return next year and be the speaker for a Church - Pastor Conference to be hosted by the Church of God of Peru.

We were allowed time out for a meal a short rest and then back at 6:00 - 9:00 PM for a family emphasis.

Anyway, it was a profitable time and so here I am completing this blog and contemplating m direction for the final service which will be in Negritos with Pastor Victor at Mision Cristiana Pan de Vida. Then we return here to Talara, gather our luggage, meet with Pastor Giorgio and then head to the bus terminal for our two hour ride to Piura and an evening service at 7:00 PM.

Beyond that – the next four days will be as busy, if not more so than they have been here in the Talara - Negritos area.

God bless and thanks for your prayers,

Dr D

REPORTING FROM TALARA AND NEGRITOS, PERU

2011-09-01T15:01:00.000-04:00

I made it! Of course you know that because I am writing this!

No problems with the flight, no the connections in Pirua, where we were met by Gene Gayle, who pastors there. He took us to meet our bus for a 2 hour ride to Talara. And here Pastor Girogio Schiantiarelli of Mision Cristiana Pan de Vida met us and took us to our abode.

We are staying in the compound of Petro-Peru, a petroleum plant. The plant was originally built by a US company but now is under Peruvian ownership. The compound was built in the US style, so we have large rooms, hot water and better than that – it is running water 24 hours a day. That is not the case in the city. They only have water a few hours a day, and not every day at that. So we are blessed.

Our host and hostess is Jesus and Lily Torres. He is in the management end of the company having worked here for 30 years. He has worked in almost every department of the company and thus has knowledge of almost the entire process. That makes him a very valuable employee who is often asked to go to the US and assist petroleum plants there. Lily is an excellent cook and again we are blessed.

Pastor Girogio has gift of organization and so every detail of our time is was planned and every person responsible for anything to do with our stay is on top of it!

And then there is the weather! It is like December in Florida. 73 degrees this morning when I awoke. There is a sea breeze constantly and it makes for excellent sleeping. Sometime I will take a walk down to the Pacific. You cannot swim here because of the currents. But the beach is famous world-wide for surfing. Surfers come here from many places to compete. There isn’t any competition going on at this time however.

We arrived on Tuesday, a holiday for Peru 9 – Rose of Lima Day – which is for one of the saints of the Catholic Church. It was also the birthday of Pastor Giorgio’s wife Jessica. Then on top of that it was a marriage celebration – the Church service for Carlos and Karla for whom I was requested to give the wedding sermon. The time allotted was one hour. I did it in forty minutes. Then the Church ceremony began with the ring ceremony, the blessing, the signing of the Church certificate and a lot more including setting while all relatives from both sides came up in specified groups according to their relationship to the bride or groom. Finally it was over!

But that was just the beginning! Then we journeyed to the reception and waiting and waited for the bride and groom to arrive. We were served appetizers of various varieties with many different tastes along with grape juice and of course – Chicha Morada – the purple drink made from purple corn. It is delicious and good for you – they tell me. But the tell me it is good for you about almost everything they serve me.

Around one hour into the celebration, the pastor indicated we could depart if we would walk out one at a time. So our hostess started the process and I followed, then Marco and Javier. Boy was I glad to get back to my room.

Wednesday began rather slowly but I did the bones moving, even though it was just 9:00 when I walked downstairs to meet Lily and Marco for coffee in the kitchen. Added to the men was sliced meat – deli – with cheese and compressed and heated in a waffle type machine. For juice I was served papaya, freshly cut and juiced. And of course, “it is good for you!”

Pastor came for us about 1:00 and took us across the city for lunch – skewers of beef, hot dogs, onion and tomato with some vegetables – I can’t remember the rest BUT that was just the appetizer! The main course consisted of chicken, rice, Peruvian corn on the cob, potatoes with their “yellow sauce” and broccoli, cucumbers and ??? – cold – with special lemon sauce (their lemons are our limes). Then came desert - peaches and a typical cookie/brownie (but not so) – do not ask me to describe it – I took a picture of it to remind me but words do not describe it! It was delicious! And upon departing, I was handed more of it – new all wrapped up about the size of a half-sheet of paper and two inches thick.

We walked from our lunch to the square of Talara to get our phones re-charged (add money to our account via a kiosk, bou)ght some bottled water and caught a motorcyle cab to take us to our home here in Talara.

The evening found us in Negritos, about 30 minutes drive along the coast (north or south – I do not know because it was dark but I think it was south). We arrived at 7:00 – the time for the service to start. I had to set up my projector. Completing that project I made a DISCOVERY! Because our host, Jesus, came into my room and said it was time to leave – 15 minutes prior to the time we were instructed by the pastor – I failed to get my iPad with my message on it. So I had to improvise! Fortunately I had my computer with me, so I put the message on a USB drive and Marco found a printing business and had it printed out. He returned about 10 minutes before the worship service was over. WHEW!!!!!! We made it!

Pastor Victor then requested that I do the section I skipped on Friday evening. We had handed out outlines to go along with the teaching, but time prevented me from doing it all – however we will finish it on Friday evening.

The evening did NOT END with the final prayer. It was now time for a typical Peruvian meal. Chicken, green rice, with huancaina sauce (yellow sauce with taste of a hot spice), cold broccoli with Peruvian corn sprinkled in and with the “lemon dressing.” And the drink of the evening, fresh pineapple juice.

Then 30 minutes back home and flopping onto my bed about 11:30 PM but enjoying the cool breeze as it swept across me. It took a while to get over the pressure of the late meal – but I made it and finally drifted off to sleep.

Thanks for your prayers.
Dr D

45 YEAR RECORD BROKEN

2011-08-29T10:43:00.001-04:00

Before I get to the headline, allow me to bring you up-to-date.

I arose from my position of rest, just like I do other days. But — skip it! You do too!

Anyway, Pastor Carlos and Jessica Mozon of Iglesia El Camino Rimac, with whom we had become acquainted at the El Camino Convention the first week of August, had contacted Marco Aroni, our Field Representative (I used that term to make you think we are big time. Why? Because we are not and but it sounded professional!) Fortunately we had a Friday open and so we headed to the Rimac area of Lima.

Rimac is not the best – to say the least – area of Lima. And taxi drivers from Elio, my home here, are not quick to accept fares to the area not only because of the crime, but because of the distance. We did secure a taxi and arrived. As I got out of the taxi, Javier (my interpreter) stepped behind me and Marco in front. Moving slowly across the street, Marco said, “The guy standing there is a thief, watch him closely.”

So, I did. I watched him. He got very nervous. You would too, if a tough looking preacher from the US looked at you! We continued our progress about half a block to a garage style steel door with a walk through door and above it a sign indicating we were there. But! No one else was there. So we took our position on the sidewalk awaiting the arrival of Pastor Carlos, cautiously watching all movements of those who were passing by. And then it happened! What? Nothing! I just wanted to create some suspense.

The building was packed. It was standing room only! Of course there were only about 50 seats! But again, it sure sounds big when you say it that way. But there were some passers-by who stood and watched.

I had the privilege of officially opening their extension of Universidad Pacto de Vida (CLU) and delivering the Word to God’s chosen in Rimac. The people impressed me with their attention and spirit. It was easy to determine the solid quality of the work accomplished in their lives. I am confident, if they had a larger facility, their attendance would easily grow. Thirteen (13) of those present are registered students, ready to start on Tuesday, August 30th. From no extension here three weeks ago and now 13 students!

The pastor of the church where we had schedule a first year graduation on Saturday, called Marco on Friday evening, just prior to our departure for Rimac and informed him there would be no service, no graduation on Saturday. Church problems! We were aware of some struggles within the congregation but our information received from the Pastor two days before seemed to indicate everything was settled. Anyway, it provided me with a day to work on developing a teaching on the subject of “Integrity.” I spoke on the subject at the El Camino Convention and became personally intrigued and stirred by the Holy Spirit.

While considering the subject, I had discovered a book on that subject was on my iPad and began to read it Friday upon returning from Rimac and before closing my eyes while lying upon my bed. The day was productive and I am already on page 21. Ten hours of that did create a tired mind and body.

Yesterday, Sunday, August 28th, I returned to Iglesia Centro Christiano De Avivamiento, with Pastor Gustavo & Jenny Rodriquez. This was my third service with them, but it was necessary to fulfill a previous commitment. It was not a burden because the Church is a growing, vibrant body and ministering the Word to them is an honor.

Sunday evening, Independicia, Lima found us awaiting the arrival of the pastor of Principe de Paz (Prince of Peace), Gilberto and Doris Varillas. We had taken a taxi to the shopping plaza in their area and were waiting on them outside a coffee shop. NO! It wasn’t Starbucks! NO! I did not buy a cup of coffee or any other coffee speciality. I stood in the cold mist and wind waiting Peruvian Time to pass and the arrival of Pastor Gilberto.

Here it is! What? The breaking of my 45 year record. What record? Well, wait a minute and I will tell you. It requires some background. Not really, background, but a description of my well disciplined habit of recording the Name of the Church, the Sermon Title, and the Date for every sermon preached.

I “looked at my overseas record” about one hour before our departure and only saw one record for any message at Independicia - Principe de Paz - Gilberto/Doris Varillas. So, the message which had come to my mind, was not one that I previously considered at all. But recognizing this may be the Spirit directing me, I told Javier, my interpreter he had better look over my notes for that message.

We arrived, about five minutes late to the service, but the assistant was already reading the scripture for the evening. We had a good worship time, even though Marco took time to shoot a picture of the large rat just below our feet – it was under the steel grate and could not get to us. I did not notice it nor Marco taking its picture. According to him it was about 12 inches long and fat. I am glad I was oblivious to it!

I ministered the Word. I prophesied over the pastor and his wife and turned the service to him. He called the people to the altar and 99% crowded to the front, forcing us to move from our seats of plastic – the standard pew here in Peru. At the pastor’s request I began to lay hands on the people. The Holy Spirit had been moving with power and so it was an easy task.

Led by the Spirit, I took the mic and requested those with any pain or sickness to place their hand on the affected area. I prayed. I asked for those who knew they had been healed to raise their hands. So many raised their hands, I requested them put their hands down. I repeated the request, but this time more hands were raised than previously. So I asked for some testimonies from those who knew their pain was gone. I wish I could remember all the testimonies. Suffice it to say, the healing power of God was there.

Now for the climatic revelation! As the pastor drove us back to a location where we could catch a taxi he stated, “I have been telling the people that we need to be broken. And then you came and ministered on the subject of being broken and used by God.”

Such a statement always is good to the ears of a visiting preacher. And I thought nothing more about it. When I arose this morning, I did what is normal. I opened my computer, moved through the documents, found the file: Nations - Sermon Records - Peru and then went to the title of the message from Sunday evening.

What did I find? Yes! Independicia: Principe de Paz - Gilberto/Doris Varillas - 4/10/10!

THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER ACCIDENTLY RE-PREACHED THE SAME SERMON AT ANY CHURCH IN 45 YEARS!

But my accident was not God’s accident, it was God’s direction on purpose! If I had seen the record I never would have considered that message, but God knew and by-passed my mind.

Now today, Monday, it is time to do laundry, pack and prepare for a two week trip north to Talara, Piura on the western side where there is plenty of warmth and fish, then to the eastern side adjacent to the jungle to Jaen and Bagua Grande, then back to Lima for three days before the final trip to Ayacucho and over the one lane road, the most of the time, to San Franciso - Kimbiri.

God bless,

Dr D

YOUR REPORTER FROM LIMA, PERU

2011-08-26T12:29:00.000-04:00

This has been another of the weeks that fly by like a jet airplane. I am not sure where the time went, but I do know it has been a busy week.

Since I left you, last Sunday evening, David Hodges and I have traveled south to Chincha, about two and one-half by vehicle where weI spent four hours with Pastor Honorato Martinez and his family. He pastors, Templo Apostolico Asambleas de Dios. It is there we established our first extension of Universidad Pacto de Vida. We also assisted in the reconstruction of the Church and his home as a result of the destruction caused by an earthquake. I had the privilege of ordaining his daughter, Maria Ysabel Martinez five years ago. She was our first Life Church pastor in Peru. And I got to see my “God-Child,” the oldest of Martine’s children – Pastor Honorato’s oldest son. So you can see we have some very close relationships with the pastors here in Peru.

While we were there, I asked Pastor Honorato to assist me with some Spanish material in preparation for adding it to our curriculum. He will be listening to teaching, then preparing a “teacher’s outline, and from that prepare the student outline and tests. Also he will be putting together some of his teachings on “Family Groups,” his style cell groups, for use as another course for Pacto de Vida.

I want to be begin placing Peruvian Pastors before the Peruvian people so there can be a “local identification” and cultural thought process to the local culture. I will edit, review and approve all the material then the Peruvian Pastor will teach “our” material as part of the curriculum.

Even though we accumulated five hours of travel, the time spent was invaluable for the Kingdom.

Tuesday and Wednesday, during the day, was a one-to-one teaching time with David Hodges to guide and assist him with techniques, study material, sharing biblical concepts and answering questions.

Tuesday evening was filled with meeting Pastor Jorge (Giorgio) Schiantiarelli, from Mision Cristiana Pan de Vida in Talara. He was in Lima and since I will be ministering in his Church in Talara and also in Negritos next week, he came to begin the relationship and to share with me the plans for our time with him.

Wednesday evening I ministered in Ancon, Comunidad Carismatica Cristiana Cristo Sanador, pastored by Everth Ipanaque. Pastor Everth is legally blind, has an artificial leg, leads worship, pastors two vibrant Churches and is full of joy, bringing excitement to every meeting. He also has Pacto de Vida and will begin the second year this September as well as start a new first year class. (And we feel sorry for ourselves for no reason, trying to find excuses why we cannot become part of the ministry of our local church — WHY?)

Last night, I returned to Iglesia Centro Cristiano De Avivamiento, pastored by Gustavo and Jenny Rodriquez and I will be with them again on Sunday morning. Pastor Gustavo will also become one of the Peruvian Pastors to teach in Pacto de Vida. Because he is fluent in English, he will be taking curriculum I have written and teaching it in Spanish, thus being able to add the Peruvian Cultural flavor.

O yes! On Wednesday, Pastor Gustavo came to share coffee and fellowship. And then on Thursday, Pastor Walter Villajuan from Iglesia Cristiana El Camino in Ancon traveled almost two hours by bus to share personally appreciation from the El Camino churches for our ministry in their convention the first week of August. It was then that a “mystery” was solved. When we arrived at the site of the convention, it was shared with me that this group of churches we Baptist. That was a puzzle to me, because I knew that Pastor Walter was Pentecostal. The truth is out! They are “Baptiscostal!” So, at least I can relax.

And lest I forget, Pastor Walter also has an extension of Pacto de Vida and will be assisting with producing the teacher, student and exams for courses.

The bottom line is this: God is opening doors! The Kingdom is growing! The “Shingles” over the door are not a barrier – to those who love God and His Children!

So thanks for your prayers!

God bless,

Dr D

AND NOW THE NEWS FROM PERU

2011-08-21T22:22:00.001-04:00

Reporting now from Elio, Lima, Peru is your Biblical Reporter Dr D.

The last time I reported, I was telling you about the upcoming visit to Nuevas Fuerzas where Agustin and Jessia Ciccia pastor. At that time Marilyn was still here. The purpose of returning there was to spend the evening assisting in launching the new Church leadership team. If you remember, we had laid hands on Daniel Vargas ordaining him to the ministry to assist the Ciccias and also on his brother, Miguel and his wife Paola, setting them apart as Deacons.

So we took time to impart to the team biblical concepts of Church leadership speaking to them on such subjects as integrity, loyalty, team communication, levels of authority and other tid-bits of information from our experience leading churches. It was a joyful experience and the receptivity was fabulous.

From there we arrived back at the Falcons and Marilyn completed the last minute packing. I did what I could to assist – actually – I stayed out of the way, except to go online and check her in for the very early morning flight. The requirements of that flight pulled us out of bed at 3:00 AM, just over two and one-half hours after laying our heads on the bed. But it was worth it!

We arrived at the Lima airport and were 5th in line and since we had pre-checked online we had an open check-in and were completed by 4:45 – just 5 minutes after they opened for business at Copa. That gave us time to eat some donuts from Dunkin and drink some coffee together before she headed through security and to her gate.

Marco and I were back to the Falcon residence and had crawled back into bed by 6:00 AM. But “IF” you understand the potential impact of coffee then you know, there was little sleep ahead. Right On! But I survived and after getting my laundry done – again – actually I did not do it, but the girl who takes care of Abigail, the Faclon’s daughter did it for me while I packed.

It was a special treat to stay with Dr Roger and Magaly Falcon for the week. They are just “special” people and Marilyn and I love them dearly. God has His hand and call upon their lives. “I” believe the mission field of Peru will one day be their home and field of ministy.

I moved to the home of Dan and Brenda Clowers, the Overseas Missions Director for the Latin America-Carribean region of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church which is on the second floor of the IPHC headquarters and Church, Iglesia Pentecostal de Santidad.

And let me tell you I AM BLESSED to be able to stay here! The apartment is great! Quiet! Private! Has WiFi! A Hot Shower! And right now all mine. Dan and Brenda are in the states itinerating. Thanks Dan and Brenda!

Saturday evening I was once again back to Nuevas Fuerzas for their “youth” meeting. When referring to “youth” here in Peru, you may be talking about youth from 16/18 to 35. This meeting had 33 of the older age group only. But these have a history with Agustin and Jessica spanning back to the time he worked under his mother. They have matured and are building stones for the Church now.

Sunday, that is today, I ministered here this morning at Iglesia Pentecostal de Santidad, pastored by Jorge and Janine Watanabe. He is the leader of the IPHC here in Peru. Then we traveled across Lima to the area knows as Independencia to preach for Rolando Martinez and the congregation at Commnidad Biblica Vision Celestial. The Life Training Institute (LTI) students did ministry here in May. We also have an extension of Covenant Life University (Universidad Pacto de Vida) there. So their “President” came to share the word. (That’s me!)

And now I am back in the safety of my Peruvian Retreat Center! I got back here at 7:30 and I have fixed myself a gourmet meal: Starbucks Coffee filled with “medicine” [fiber] and French Vanilla Coffee Mate; a Peruvian bread (Pan) covered with Crunchy Peanut Butter and strawberry jelly; and a main course of Strawberry Yogurt poured over Granola Cereal. Sounds good, doesn’t it? It fills the stomach!

I must rise early tomorrow and begin a full day of travel with David Hodges. We are driving up to Chincha to visit Pastor Honorato Martinez and daughter. Maria Ysabel Martinez is licensed and ordained by Life Church, so I need to visit here and take her the tithe from the income of Pacto de Vida. Even though we really do not get enough to underwrite all the expenses here, we tithe on the portion we do receive from each extension. Maria has a Church there in Chincha, separate from that of her father and several years ago requested to be under our spiritual authority. She is one of us “Life-Churchers!”

So it is time to stop, do some book work and then hit the sack earlier that I did this morning – yes I said, “this morning.”

God bless and continue to pray,

Dr D

NO I HAVE NOT BEEN KIDNAPED OR RAPTURED – YET! – JUST VERY BUSY

2011-08-17T11:36:00.000-04:00

Let me see, where did I leave off – it has been so long ago that my “blogging mind” has become rusty. Oh yes! Now I remember! We are ready for Saturday, August 6th. My how time flies when you are having fun.

Saturday, August 6th – Friday August 12th:
We are back with David and Cecci. And had I known the work that my wife had planned for the Davids, I am not sure I would have willingly returned to Jicamarca. (Just joking – ALMOST!)

Let me see if I can list the work first: Yup! I can! Many of you are acquainted with “Sparky.” But in case you are not I had better inform you. “Sparky” – that’s me – has a famous reputation as an electrician that “sticks” to his work – literally – with the help of 110 volts of electricity pulsating through his hand, while flopping on the floor and watching two adult men laugh!

Anyway one of the projects was to install a new ballast in a florescent light in the Church auditorium. Now they use 220 volts. So I had to do some real thinking (it is hard for me to do). We accomplished that and re-hung it over the platform with the help of some “monkey” tricks to reach the proper roof support from which to hang it. You use your mind about the method. In reality, the electrical work was a teaching project so David would be able to accomplish it by himself when no one was around to help.

Then we began the process of installing lights in his office and the study room, as well as adding a receptacle in the kitchen for their new location for the refrigerator. And I can say, I did not “stick” to my work on this one, for which I am thankful.

At the same time, “Mama D” (my wife as she is affectionately known here in Peru) cracked the whip and so David and I had to install some shelves in the kitchen on which to place the Microwave and to form a top for their dishwasher. This also required the installment of a new receptacle and the extension of one so we could add the other.

I will say, in her defense, Mama D did work too. She was responsible for putting Marine Varnish on the shelves. And she did a good job. Of course, with the assistance of the two “Great Davids” to do it when she did not want to – (I had better be nice or I’ll get it – whatever that is). Anyway between all of us doing what we could, the task was accomplished.

During this time, we also had ministry in Puente Piedra – Communidad Cristiana La Vina with Pastor Guillermo & Lisset Sifuentes and at Iglesia Vida, Jicamarca on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday as well as preparing many documents and videos to assist David with his ministry. And of course this always involved sharing information at all times on anything that popped into David’s head. “IF” you know him, that means “ANYTHING!” And of course it also involved fellowship with the people of the Church and often many hours of travel into Lima to Sodimac (hardware/lumberyard) to spy out, buy and plan the many projects that David is facing after our departure. (Did I mention: Starbucks also?)

Friday, August 12th - Wednesday, August 17th:
Friday we moved into Lima, to the home of Roger and Magaly Falcon to spend the time until Marilyn departs early Thursday morning, August 18th. Dr. Roger (MD) and Magaly are a special couple who insist that we spend time with them every time we are here. We met them on Marilyn’s first trip to Peru and they interpreted for us on that occasion.

Saturday, the 13th, I had a Universidad Pacto de Vida first year Graduation at Marquez Callao, La Viña Del Señor, Pastor Fabián Santillán. They had 25 graduates and if I remember correctly, more than 5 are pastors of other churches.

Sunday we were at Monterrico, Lima, Nuevas Fuerzas pastored by Agustin & Jessica Ciccia. We had the privilege of installing their second deacon Miguel Vargas and then ordaining his twin, Daniel Vargas to the ministry. He will be assisting the Ciccias. We return there tonight to spend time with the leadership to assist them as they begin their walk together as a team.

Monday, David and Cecci arrived to spend the day with us and to relax. I am not sure we accomplished the “relax” part but we had a good day. Tuesday, Marco Aroni, our Peru coordinator, representative came by so we could make some plans for the upcoming days of travel and to update the college information – it took all day.

So we are now up-to-date in a “fast-forward” style, which some of you appreciate and others enjoy the wanderings of my mind and fingers as they fly over the keyboard in realms unknown before by the operator.

Anyway, tonight we are back at Nuevas Fuerzas (New Strength) and then we rise about 3:00 to take Marilyn to the airport for her return to the US and the “Six-Pack” (Grandkids not drink! Though sometimes when they are having their fun, I think I have been drinking!)

God bless, and thanks for your prayers.

Dr D & Marilyn

PERU: THE FIRST WEEK

2011-08-05T13:15:00.000-04:00

I now can update you regarding our First Week! I finally have WiFi and the time to Blog – so hang on because here we goooooooooooooooooo..............

Our flight to Peru went without a hitch! In fact, because I had checked in on-line Wednesday evening - just in chance it would be viable – it was – and it allowed us to get through check-in without having our carry-on bags weighed. That was super! Why? Because they were over-weight!

We did draw the red light in Peru and had to take all our bags and run them through the scanner. No problems except for my carry-on and my projector. I had to argue to keep from listing it with customs. I had a problem the last time but the “judge” said it was to old to require being listed. But every inspector has different ideas. She allowed me to go on and told me to be sure and list it the next time. OK!

Friday, July 29th:
Sleep In! We did not get to bed until after 4 AM due to unpacking, talking, eating and other things - whatever that is! Therefore Friday was a day of rest to some degree.

Saturday, July 30th:
It was time to get busy - so I swung into action! Well, after once again sleeping until 10 – but only because we tend to stay up late and talk with David and Ceci. But since there was to be a service Saturday evening I did get busy, prepare and preach. Probably the highlight of the evening was setting up the wireless microphone system I brought to give to David. You should have seen his face when he was able to talk without hold a mic!

Sunday, July 31st:
Well, what can I say about Sunday? Everyone with any sense knows what to do on Sunday. You go to Church and worship! So we did! Even though I had to preach I went happily.

The Sunday service is generally at 5:00 PM, but because of the large amount of work that has had to be done on the wall, they are hold their service at 10:30 AM. It really worked out good because it allowed us to take David and Ceci downtown to Lima proper. They have been under a lot of pressure and they were able to relax and eat some Pizza with great fellowship. (Everyone knows that when you are in my presence, there is great fellowship! Well, there is fellowship anyway, regardless of what you are thinking! I’ll get even with you later!).

We finally found our way home about 9:30 PM, ate some popcorn, used our jaws to jabber for a while and then crashed for the night.

Monday, August 1st:
It was a day of victory for me! I finally drove a vehicle in Peru! If you have never been here you would not understand. But IF you have, then you know about such a victory. Well, honestly, I did not drive that far, but it was a victory anyway. I ran a couple of errands for David so he could complete his project without being delayed.

We packed for our next excursion - the 7th National Convention of Ministerios Cristianos El Camino and prepared to leave at 7:45 AM to meet Marco Aroni at his house. No I was not driving, David was.

Tuesday, August 2nd - Friday, August 5th:
These days began with an early departure from Jicamarca; meeting Marco at his house; meeting Agustin Ciccia - who was my interpreter for the 7th National Convention of El Camino and then driving two hours north west of Lima into the mountains - a climb to about 5,000 feet. And even though that isn’t high, you would notice the altitude when walking up from the dinning hall to our room.

I will not say much about the speaker, because if I do, you will think I am biased (and I would be) but – well I will go on to other things. So all I can say is, if the words shared upon departure were any indication, we – Marilyn and I – were well accepted (our ministry to the people). Pastor Walter who had extended the invitation indicated this morning that all the pastors in attendance rated this annual meeting as the best they have had – Word wise.

Our accommodation were specifically planned. They had our beds – bottom bunks – made with new sheets and pillow cases and a heavy warm wool blanket. They also installed a “widow-maker” hot water unit in the shower so we would not have to take COLD showers. For those of you who have traveled abroad, particularly in Central and South America you know the type of shower I am talking about.

This one had bare wires stuck into the receptacle just below the light switch on the door jam as you entered the rest room. But it was certainly “warm” and prevented the shock and screams created by the cascading of very, very cold water upon the frame of one’s body.

Our quarters was a separate building with two bedrooms, each with three bunks, a large entry room with a conference size table and of course the shower/toilet. On a small table we found containers of water, a flash light and some Styrofoam cups. And having taken my supply of Starbucks with me, I was all set.

One thing I do know and that is: We will be receiving invitations to take Pacto de Vida (Covenant Life University) to Ecuador and Chile and with that opportunities for ministry.

One pastor, just before giving his report, began to share an prophetic word which in summary stated that in the next five years, Pacto de Vida would have extensive growth and impact many more nations and with that would come an outside source of finances which would extend our personal ministry to many more pastors and churches. I was not prepared to record the word, but I hope to contact that pastor and see if he can recall the word he shared .

Three of the pastors present were from Van Nuys, CA. They are officers in the organization. Pastor Walter Villajuan, the Peruvian leader, told Marco the US leaders checked me out via goggle and FBI. Marco chucked when he said this. But who knows? It may be wisdom to do it! There are many charlatans around today. Anyway, we enjoyed the connections and the opportunity to share God’s Word with all present.

Anyway! Here we are back in Lima at Pastor Agustin Ciccia’s home, awaiting his special spaghetti and if I am not mistaken, they went to the market to purchase Ceviche (a Peruvian raw fish dish) for me to eat. My mouth is watering in anticipation. Do you want to join me?

O yes! The food was good at the convention.

Now it is time to complete our business here in Lima and then meet David and Ceci at Metro. They came into town to get some food items not available where they live.

So until I can get back on-line – just re-read this. You may be surprised what you find the second time that you missed the first time!

God bless, and thanks for your prayers.

Dr D and Marilyn

LAODECIA, TURKEY

2011-06-07T14:36:00.000-04:00

Tuesday, June 7th

Another busy and exciting day visiting the Churches of Asia Minor – better Turkey. Today our journey took us first to the sites around Sardis. The excavations here reveal the Temple of Artemis but next to it within almost touch range of a golf club, stands the remains of a Church. It is interesting to see the signs of Christians, believers, carved into the marble of even the pagan temple ruins. But to see the Church in the shadows of the pagan temple was exhilarating. Here we took time again to read the scriptural passage and hear comments from one of our team.

And here I began the filming of a promotional video to encourage churches and pastors to help Ismail Serinken establish churches in the Seven Cities of the Book of Revelation. It was all I could do to hold the camera as Ismail began to share his conversion story and how God is leading him to plant Churches here in Turkey.

From Sardis we journeyed to Philadelphia. There isn’t much excavation here because the current city is built upon the ancient site. But the four pillars that stand in the ancient site depict a large building used by the Church here. Sadly, here as elsewhere we see somewhere adjacent a Mosque to almost every Christian site.

Another hour and one-half journey took us to Laodecia. There is a mammoth area here of the remains of ancient Laodecia adjacent to the current city, Denizli. Here we spent almost three hours walking and viewing the city’s ruins. And here is the first site chosen to purchase a building for the new work Ismail has begun here. He was born here. His parents live here. Thank God they have received Jesus as their Savior.

A quick drive through part Denizli to get a “feel” for the city and then finally to our hotel and supper. And speaking of supper, I am getting used to the Turkish food. Not bad at all! And the deserts are fabulous.

Well, I will get a good sleep tonight since it is now only 9:30 here and I will soon be finished with the work I need to do.

I can’t wait to see how many are willing to go through all the pictures and videos I have. Anyway, I am “PUMPED!”

God bless and see you when I see you,

Dr D

SARDIS, TURKEY

2011-06-06T15:36:00.001-04:00

Monday, June 6th

I made it! I MADE IT!

We started out in Izmir, Smyrna, this morning at 8:30 and wound up the hill to the Smyrna Citadel which overlooks the city of Izmir. The Citadel, fort, looks like a Crown from a distance. In Revelation 2:10, Jesus said, “...be thou faithful until death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” It is said that Pollycarp was martyred here.

It was stirring to one’s spirit man to stand there and hear the Word of Jesus to the Church of Smyrna read. It was as though you could hear the sounds of the martyrs crying out to God for the people of Turkey. In my spirit I could hear the call of Jesus for assistance for the people of Turkey – all 4-5,000 believers of the 72 million – saying come over and help us! They do not need bodies, put prayers, finances to assist them to do the work of reaching their own Jerusalem.

Our journey then took us to Pergamum. It was a journey of about 3 hours. Then a ride up the cable car to the Acropolis. There are a lot of ruins on top of the mountain. If we were back in the days of John we would see three idols from over 3,000 feet below the Acropolis. Everything up there would look like gods to those below. There the “major” buildings were built of white marble. There are still huge stones with the names of notable people inscribed on them because of their positions. Do you remember that Jesus said, “To him that overcometh, I will give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written....”

Below the floor of the major temple, are huge arches and walls to support the temple. But through these one can walk today and descend to the next level and look out and see the steepest amphitheater of any in existence or known. The place is uncanny with sights and the imagination can run in every direction.

After almost three hours we then headed to Thyatira. It was again about a three hour or more journey. Here, it was my turn to read the passage about the Church from Revelation 2:18-29.....

Let me interrupt! Do you hear the sounds? The sounds of the evening call to prayer for the Moslems?

Back to where I was ..... and to share some thoughts. It does something to you to do this and remember the believers who were allowing their political connections, their cultural connections, to weaken their walk with Jesus by compromise. Even to the point that because they belonged to a “guild” they slowly began to indulge in the ways to their culture, their political position, until Jesus said (as stated in the Message Bible) “I’m about to lay her low, along with her partners, as they play their sex-and-religion games.” (Rev. 2:22) That is how low the step-by-step alignment with the ways of the world took them.

I wonder: Is there a message for the Church today in regard to how our relationships with society and its clubs, societies, our political persuasion, and the enticement of “compromise” can produce in our lives?

Well, enough preaching – particularly since I am to be simply writing a “blog” – which is a record of the day’s activities. But what else can I do, when I hear the cry of the martyrs and the warning of the Spirit as it rings loudly the message of Jesus to His Church?

God bless you,

Dr D

FROM IZMIR, TURKEY

2011-06-05T16:01:00.001-04:00

Sunday, June 5th

Sunday is the day to worship our Lord and Savior, and I had a great worship experience this morning! I could not understand the words, but my spirit was moved by the Holy Spirit as I listened to the believers, Turkish believers, along with some Koreans who live here, pour their heart out in worship.

The Church is pastored by Ismail Serinken and wife, Angelea. And of course their three children, from ages 12 - 2. (Two boys and a girl – I’ll give you their names later. Why, later? Do I have to really answer that question? That is what I thought!) Ismail is Turkish and his wife is from Romania. She came here as a missionary from her Romanian Church, met and married Ismail.

Counting the 15 of us, there were about 50-60 in attendance. They own their own building (a room on the third floor of a nice building as well as a coffee house about three doors to the left of their Church. There is so much to tell, but it would be so much more meaningful with pictures, and I am very tired, so it will have to wait.

Quickly now, we had a delicious Turkish meal and then visited the site of an ancient fortress on a high hill in Ankara. It dates back to the time of the Hittites, which takes you back before the entrance of the Israelites into Palestine. It has been rebuilt several times but the foundation is Hittite.

A quick one hour flight then put us in Ismir, the ancient city of Smyrna and that is where I am presently.

Ismail has joined us for the rest of our journey through the Seven Churches of Revelation, which begins tomorrow.

So, I am stopping to get the rest – the walking was tough today up the hill and upon the walls of the fortress.

God bless,

Dr D

Peru 2011 - Marilyn & LTI students - Blog #5

2011-06-05T15:45:00.006-04:00

Debie Phillips
soo...right now we are taking pastor cesi, marco and jovana to vote. Today is presidential voting day in Peru and the lines are ridiculously long! They go all the way outside and around the voting buildings. So we are just in the van waiting.

I’m feeling better! Thank you to everyone who was praying for me!! I started feeling better on thurs, praise God because we were in Chincha which is about 3 hours from where we had been staying. We ministered in two services there, one on weds night and one on thurs night. And we also went door to door inviting people to an evangelistic outreach that we did nearby.

After the outreach, we went to the pastors house, which is upstairs on top of the church, and they gave us some “hamburgers” that were very...interesting. I don’t think any of us really liked them at all but we all kept smiling and ate them without making a reaction...except jason lol that was funny, you definitely had to be there for that one to understand. After we ate, we ministered in their Thurs night service. Emily, Dillon and Emily did their skit, I sang in Spanish and then I gave a message. I really enjoyed the service. The worship was very loud and energetic and the people were very responsive.

I really went off my notes and gave most of my testimony which wasn’t planned at all. After I finished, Dillon came and gave an alter call and they prayed for people while I sang. It was a great service for me personally because I really just became vulnerable and went off my notes, it was kind of hard because I felt like I wasn’t going to make sense and I wasn’t going to be capable of connecting all my thoughts to flow together into a message unless I stuck to my notes but I just prayed and asked the holy spirit to completely take over and it was a very neat experience for me.

Service got out late and we made the 3 hour trip back to Jica Marca in a very crowed van...4 full grown men(Jason, Dillon, Pastor David and Marco) 5 women(Myself, Pastor Ceci, Emily, Jovana, and Mrs. Marylin) andddd 3 children, one of which is a baby whose favorite hobby is crying and im not even exaggerating.lol. But it was a fun ride on the way back, we played games and Emily laughed so much that she lost her voice the next day.

Friday, we returned to the school that we visited last week and we spoke to one group of 60 kids who were in 5th grade I believe. We did a skit, drumline and a salvation message. They absolutely loved the drumline, one of the kids got up and started break dancing kinda lol they loved it.
Friday night, we did street ministry near a busy little market in a not so great part of town. We went with a church which was a blessing because they had a sound system for use to use which was a huge help. Emily gave her testimony, we did the drumline and a skit and then Jason stood up on a bucket and preached the Gospel. He did reallyy good! Of course lol. People were really paying attention and seemed to connect with them. The pastor closed out, we prayed for a few people and then left to go eat. Nothing was open, so we drove to the airport since they have a 24 hour Mcdonalds and ate there.

Yesterday,(Saturday) we woke up and worked until around 3pm. Emily, Jovana and I washed all the dusty windows of the church and the side of the building. Then we helped the guys pick out all the rocks out of some soil that their hoping to plant grass on. After that, we ate, showered and got ready to go minister at another service at a church in Lima. Before church, we were rushing in the downtown Lima traffic to pick up Angeline; she was our translator for the night. So we sent jovana out into the downtown “town square” to try and find Angeline, only for Angeline to find us first. So then we were just looking for Jovana. This was not a good idea....to say the least lol there were sooooo many people. Almost like NY city or somthing. So we keep driving around stalling for them to get in the van butttttt...jovana was nowhere to be found and hadnt returned to the van. So we sent Jason out into the crowd to look for her....bad idea number 2! Lol. So we keep driving around the square hoping to spot them but we didnt. After a few minutes, we spotted Jason and he got back into the van and then Marco got out to start looking, while our translator drove the van. Thennn we found jovana!! Lol so now we were just looking for Marco. Keep in mind we had already driven around this square like 50 times! Lol. Once we spotted him, the translator pulled over for him to catch up and get into the van, and she just so happened to pull over right in front of the presidents house...bad idea number 3! So all of the guards with big machine guns started blowing their whistles at us telling us to move. It was a very interesting expirience! But praise God, everyone was finally safe in the van.

Service that night was awesome. The church we went to was predominantly young people and it was a packed house. I sang my song in spanish, dillon spoke a short message and Emily gave the word. After that, there was an alter call and we prayed and ministered to people. It seems that everywhere we go, the people are just so hungry for the word of God and so ready to experience him. It truly is very touching.

Sooo yeah, I think thats all for now, Emily is going to blog next and I don’t wanna keep her waiting any more :-) I cant wait to be home!
I miss you mom and Michael!! Give Eli hugs and treats for me!
Cedric!! I miss you so much!! I love your emails!! Cant wait to talk to you, I love you!

Anna!! Cant wait to see you girllllll!!!!! lol.

Thanks to everyone who has been reading and praying for us!

To God be all the glory!!
Thanks!
God bless!

Jason
The past few days have been great. This week we have been traveling a lot. We have ministered with 4 different pastors in the past four days. During our prayer time in preparation for this trip our greatest prayer was that we would operate in the power of the Spirit. We asked God that He would go before us and prepare the hearts of the people. We asked God that we would not operate in our own power but that we operate only in His, and everywhere that we go we take His presence with us. He definitely answered that prayer for us. At the churches the people have been very receptive to the word of God. Last night we went to a church and they were the most on fire church that we’ve been with. My favorite ministry in the past four days though was on Friday. We did an evangelistic service in a busy part of Lima. I didn’t think that we’d be doing street ministry while here in Peru but the Lord made it happen. The pastor had his own team that did worship then us LTI students did the rest of the ministry. Emily shared her testimony, then we did our drum line, next performed a skit then I had the opportunity to share the gospel. This was a dream come true for me because the Lord has given me a desire to preach the gospel in the open air but I never put any feet to it. (Psa 37:4)Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. The Lord put a desire in my heart to preach in the streets, and on this missions trip he gave me that desire. A year ago if you would have told me that I’d would be in the streets of Peru preaching to the people while standing on a bucket I would have called you nuts. Praise be to God for giving us desires that are pleasing to Him, and then bringing it to pass as we delight ourselves in Him. Yesterday was our last day of ministry, and we have two free days. We were supposed to have ministry today but due to presidential elections all activities have been cancelled. Thank you for your prayers and for keeping up with the blog. Beth I cant wait to see you in a few days! And I cant wait until we can travel and do ministry together. God bless you all, see you soon.

Dylon
It’s ridiculous that God allows us to be apart of His ministry. The move of the Holy Spirit has been with us everywhere we’ve gone. We speak with boldness when we tell the people that God is here to affect them because we know it will be confirmed. This trip has been everything I could have hoped for.

Thursday night we spent time at a church in Chincha. Jason brought encouragement, Debi shared the Word, and I closed with a Scripture regarding what the Holy Spirit was speaking to me for their church at that time. Many people responded to the altar call and the experience was evident in all that responded. We have not been using translators when praying for and laying hands on people, but just allowing our words and prayer language to minister to their spirits.

We got back from Chincha to Jicamarca about 1am and I went straight to bed. Friday morning we returned to the school we ministered to the week before. The target was the older age group, but I don’t believe they quite remembered that we were coming. Upon arrival, we waited 30 minutes before someone invited us to come in. We went through our 45 minute program smoothly and effectively. Then we began to wait for our next group to arrive for an additional 45 minutes. Finally we realized that it was time for school to end and another group wouldn’t be coming… yes, we were forgotten about. But all is well, the director of the school clearly stated that the door was open to him whenever they needed. Having that achieved is a far greater accomplishment toward kingdom advancement in the region then just getting through 45 minutes of our program. There was a great weight that rode on our time in this particular school because it was the first opportunity Pastor David or anyone has had in being able to speak to the kids. The fact that Pastor David is now able to be a voice here will be great towards the growth of his church, the discipleship of believers, counsel for many young people, and ensuring that young men find Jesus rather than the community of local gangs.
Friday night we traveled to Marcus for street ministry. The pastor accompanying us was the blind pastor whose church I spoke at last year. It was great to see him again. I really enjoy his company and way of thinking. The only possible “negative” to the loss of his sight is that his ear has become very fine-tuned. Sound check took about an hour total. We walked around and attempted to invite people at the market to come and enjoy the music or as Jason said “there will be cute boys,” but this was very difficult when we had no idea how this ministry would continue to be delayed.

However, that is the nature and beauty of ministering overseas. In some ways you must completely depend on those you are ministering with. It can be frustrating at times, but its important to keep in mind that it all will happen in God’s timing and the people will be there who are ready to receive what God has given us. The greatest enjoyment of taking part in this two-part trip every year is being completely open to the will of God. You know that every opportunity you have here is according to His will and I love to make the most of those opportunities. Although we may be forgot about or be delayed for hours at a time, it’s easy to say, “It’s supposed to happen this way.”

Our ministry was well received even on the street. We did not see an immediate fruit of souls being saved, but the pastor does similar ministry often and many people do come to his church at a later time to be discipled.

Saturday we continued work in the garden and assembled a wooden beam for the front of the church which Pastor will grow vines over as a decorative piece. Work concluded with lunch and we began to prepare for travel to our next church. This was definitely the youngest church we have visited so far. The worship was loud and guitar driven and very exciting. Jason and I were limited by the pole in front of us to display our usual expressions of worship and I became very familiar with an orange wall in front of me during the message. We all flowed very prophetically speaking very specific messages to the congregation and pastor. This would be close competition for one of my favorite Peru experiences just because of the nature of what was happening.

I’ll say it again because I truly can’t get over it-- what God enables and empowers us to do is amazing. He lets us be apart of what He can already do on His own. Wow.

Emily R.
Well fellow readers at the moment we have been sitting in the car for about 45 minutes waiting for Jovana to vote. The traffic today is insane! Here you have to option to vote and not vote and pay a fee of about $100 or more. Fun. The last couple of days we have had the opportunity to go to Chincha to minister to the word. Jovana has been helping me to break my many fears of ministering the word in Spanish. I’ve had fun overcoming them and even went door to door inviting people to come to an evangelistic service that we had prepared.

While in Chincha, we ate at a really good restaurant call El Baton and stayed in the Christopher Columbus Hotel where the water pressure in the shower almost drowned me. It was amazing! We were able to visit with Pastor Maria Isabel and her father Pastor Honorado and his family. He had hours of stories to tell us while we ate burgers. It was truly an experience.

Friday morning we went back to Emprendedores which is the school that Eliel goes to a few days a week. There we had an amazing time with the kids from age 11 to 15. There we were able to share our drumline, testimony, skits and salvation message. The kids responded well to the things that we shared. They even got involved in playing on the buckets and others danced. By the time we were done kids were asking where Iglesia Vida were and when would they be able to go and speak with the Pastor. Praise God for the lives that we are able to impact.

Yesterday I inspired Jovana to clean to front of the church. It was amazing to see the difference in color once she added a little soap and water. Deb and I were on window duty cleaning them up and making them shine. The boys on the other hand had another day of working in the garden which by the way looks amazing. Pastor David started building a canopy like thing to plant some kind of flowers around it that will hold on to it. Sorry for the vague description but I will post pictures of it on Facebook so that you all can see what I am talking about. :)

Last night we went to a church that full of young people who were hungry for the word! We could all sense it from the moment that we walked in. Deb sang, Dylon shared an encouraging word, I shared a message and Jason closed. Marco then made an altar call which almost everyone responded to and the Holy Spirit showed up to minister to each and every one of them. Chains were braking off, burdens lifted, fresh anointing was coming over them. I’ve never been apart of something like that. It reminds me of how blessed we all are to have a God that is willing to use us to bring His Kingdom to Earth!

Thank you for all of the prayer and support that you have all provided. It encourages us all the keep on doing what God has called us to do! Declaring His will in the earth at all cost. Love you can’t wait to see everyone back home!

Marilyn (known here in Peru as Mama D)
This has been a very full two weeks. I think all of the students are tired from the busy schedule AND the hard work. I know they would like to be able to sleep in – so after we arrive in Ft. Myers around four on Wednesday morning, expect them to be comatose most of the day. LOL!!

They have enjoyed the ministry most of all. I asked each of them what their favorite was – and for the most part, something different impacted each of them and for different reason. Truly - all of them have been thrilled at their ability to move beyond their notes while speaking. Frankly, it is impossible to anticipate where God might take them and lead them. What great times for them to have at such a young age.

They have also worked - HARD!! It is such a blessing for David and Ceci because the help they are given is engergizing to them to complete tasks they have. The work is NEVER ENDING. David and I were looking at things that are still to be done and we had to laugh because every time we think if just these few things could be done – and there are always more. Nearly impossible to believe that it all began just three years ago to see what is here today. Especially when you understand the monumental task it is to complete something and the fact there is no Home Depot nearby if you need something to complete your job.

We are out all day due to the elections. We are at a nice Mall right across from the Pacific Ocean. The kids are going to be going out in a bit to walk “down” to the beach area and to some parks. The rest of us are going to wait in or around Starbucks. Nice having Internet AND some American coffee.

Tomorrow night, Iglesia Vida in Jicamarca has planned a farewell party for us. The students truly have enjoyed the opportunity to get better acquainted with these faithful people.

Probably, we won’t write another Blog. Love to all of you and thanks for your prayers. With the exception of Debie - all of us have remained healthy - a real answer to prayer. The anointing has been evident in ALL we’ve done.

FROM TURKEY – ISTANBUL AND ANAKARA

2011-06-04T13:38:00.001-04:00

Saturday, June 4th:

I ended yesterday with: “Saturday begins early, 8:00 AM with more sites to see here in Istanbul then a 3:00 flight to Izmir – old Smyrna of the Book of Revelation where we will attend Church on Sunday and tour the old city on Monday.” Guess what? Incorrect!

Here is the correct information: “Saturday begins early, 8:00 AM with more sites to see here in Istanbul then a 3:00 flight to Ankara.”

But we did get started early and the morning was filled with a visit to the Mosque: Hagia Sophia. Hagia Sophia means “Holy Wisdom”. It was first a Church and then was converted to a Mosque and is now a museum. It is amazing the amount of space it contains, the type of construction used with the pillars inside, and the gold in the murals and some of the fixtures in the front. And to think that it was burned two times by riots caused by believers because of suggested usage of non-Christian concepts, purposes, etc.

From there we went to the Grand Bazar. If you wanted it! “IT” was there! Jewelry, leather, trinkets, clothing, and on and on. I stood with three others for about 15 minutes talking just inside and decided to walk out and find a place to rest and eat dinner. It was the best decision. O, don’t worry! I will buy something, but it is too soon to do it now and then have to carry it around on the next two in-country air flights and from hotel to hotel. Besides, I do have at least one weakness: Leather!

From here we headed to the airport to take our flight to Ankara, the capital city. And would you know it! Matt Bennett signaled me and said lets go to Starbucks and get on-line with our iPads. WHAT? NO ONE TOLD ME STARBUCKS WAS IN THE AIRPORT. So we headed that way only to hear the announcement: “Flight to Ankara is now ready for boarding.” What a sad sound it was! I did not have time to get my “fix” and get back to join the others for boarding, so I walked away with only an “eyesight satisfaction.”

Now do not get excited. This trip isn’t all historical, non-biblical sightseeing! We will be touring the seven cities of Asia Minor and we will go to Church. So “un-lax” my friends, the history of the country is all entwined with the Biblical, secular and “religious.” One cannot be fully understood without the other. And I am getting a lot of pictures, film and recordings of the guide’s sharing about each place, as well as purchasing some written information.

Anyway we are now in Ankara which is named after the Angora goats. Supper is finished and we have the rest of the evening to relax. Tomorrow we attend the IPHC Church here in Ankara and have lunch with the pastor and his family. Then we head to the Ankara Castle and finally board a flight to Ismir – ancient Smyrna.

Just think: There are only about 3-4,000 believers in the whole country of 71 million Muslims. And this was at one time the “hot-bed” of Christianity.

So that ends the information for today. Thanks for reading. Thanks for your prayers.

Dr D

Peru 2011 - Marilyn & LTI students - Blog #3

2011-06-03T18:44:00.001-04:00

(This Blog was written before Blog #4 but we didn’t have a way to send it – so obviously, this precedes yesterday’s Blog.)

This is Marilyn and it is Tuesday and we have no idea when we will post but we will keep writing until the time we can get on the Internet.

We spent the day in Lima yesterday. Our first stop was at Pastor Augustin and Jessica’s. Augustin is famous for his coffee drinks and is affectionately known as “Auggiebucks”. He made us all coffee.

The kids were able to see the “other side” of Lima as they are in a more affluent area. Their Church is just under four years old and David and I were walking with them during the process of starting and they look to us for counsel. Yesterday Augustin wanted to spend some time asking some advice on how to proceed with instituting new and higher level leadership within the Church. It was decided that when David and I are here in August we will lay hands on one of the young men who graduated from David Wilkerson’s Institute (in the States) so that he will be recognized by the body for this new position.

We then went to the Inca Market so the kids could do some shopping. From there we proceeded to the Mall so we could eat a late lunch/early dinner at Chilli’s. This is a very modern and affluent Mall. On a Monday night it was crowded with people and the kids walked around a bit and then went to Starbucks. That is where we were able to post our Blogs and pick up e-mails from home.

Peru’s economy is growing at a rate that is second to only one other Country in South America. It is evident and reflected in ALL the prices whether it be at McDonalds where a Happy Meal is $4.36 or the grocery store where prices are 1 ½ to 2 times what they were a year or so ago. Prices have skyrocketed. David and Ceci have stopped shopping at the grocery store as they CANNOT afford it and Ceci’s sister goes to a market in a very dangerous area to buy all the groceries, not just for our team, but for David and Ceci’s every day consumption. Without her help in this area - David and Ceci could not survive.

Ceci, Debie and I stayed at the house today while the team went to minister at a Christian School in Lima. David and Ceci had a work team here just one week before we came. Because of all that was involved - she is behind on their own needs, laundry and Homeschooling. I am helping her with laundry today and Debie is here getting some rest and trying to get over whatever “bug” has attacked her. We leave tomorrow for an overnight trip to Chincha so we want her healthy and rested so we can make that trip. It was very difficult for her to make the decision to stay - but both Saturday and Sunday she worked very hard (when she probably should have been in bed) because she did not want to let the team down.

I cannot begin to describe the hard work that the student, David and Ceci and I did for our three “work days.” An incredible amount of work was accomplished and it was a huge help for David and Ceci. Thankfully, it was all done for the Glory of God!!!!
Missions blog
-Debie Phillips

There is nothing worse than being sick in a foreign country. For the past four days I have been fighting some kind of stomach bug. At first it seemed almost like a flu, nausea, chills, fever (I think....thermometer was dead) headache and aches all over my body. But as the days progressed, it was mostly just stomach pain and intestinal issues. Even though I felt very bad, I tried to fight through and participate with the rest of the team. Sunday we worked from like 9am to 3pm digging holes, spreading gravel and sorting through junk to be thrown out then got cleaned up for Sunday service at 5:30 pm. The service was awesome! We had a great time of worship led by Julie and Carlos. Julie-master of the tambourine, and Carlos- the great guitarist. Lol. Then I sang the song “healer” in Spanish and Jason and I both spoke on suffering for the cause of Christ. After we spoke, Pastor David gave an alter call and many, if not all, responded.
I wish I could’ve participated in the ministry more but I felt horrible :-( the work from the day, singing and preaching was all my body could handle so I sat and worshiped on the front row.
Yesterday, (Monday) was very eventful! We drove I think around 2 or 3 hours into the city. Im not sure how long it took exactly because time really seemed to fly when we were on the road. I was enjoying looking out the window and seeing everything. I’ve been to many different countries, in fact I was even born in a foreign country(Costa Rica) but I was too young to really see things the way I see them now. I just looked out the window and couldn’t help but say “thank you God!!”. I sat there trying to imagine what kind of lives these people have and I wondered what kind of dreams and aspirations these people could possible have in such a poor place. They definitely don’t have the same opportunities that we have and that is something I think works to their advantage at least here at David’s church. The people have such a clear revelation of their need for God. They truly know that without God they have nothing...literally. I believe we, as Americans, have lost sight of that. So many times our “stuff” whether we realize it or not, fills some of the void that only Christ can fill. But anyways, I wasn’t planning on writing all of that, it just came lol.
Soo we stopped at the “Inca Market” I believe is the name and shopped for about 2 hours I think. Its been very strange not to be able to really keep track of time, I should’ve brought a watch. We never know what time it is! Lol. After the Inca Market which sells traditional Peruvian souvenirs and such, we went to a reallyyyy nice mall. Our first stop in the mall was “chillies”.......HALLELUJAH!!!! It was so nice to have some American food!! But what was even better, was having a drink....with ICE!!! I guess for some reason Americans are the only ones who put ice in their drinks. Sooo all of our drinks have been like room temperature and I have been cravinggg an ice cold refreshing drink! So that was nice ;-). After lunch, we walked around the mall and got Starbucks. At this point my stomach was killing me and all I wanted to do was go home :-( Mrs. Marylin let me read my email from Cedric and that made me smile despite how I was feeling.
Once we got home Mrs. Marylin said that if I still wasn’t feeling good, I could stay home the next day. She said that she was proud of me for pushing through with my sickness the past couple days and that the decision to stay home tomorrow was mine. I really wanted to go to the school with the rest of the team but I knew it would probably be wise to stay home and fully recover so that I could continue strong through the rest of the week. Soo I stayed home today. It was nice to be able to sleep in and in fact, I slept on and off most of the day which just goes to show how sick I was because at home, I can never take naps or sleep during the day unless im about to die or something. So apparently I needed the rest. Im feeling much better today than I have for the past few days praise God.
I hope I am fully recovered by tomorrow(Wednesday) because we are traveling to “Chincha” (not sure if thats how it’s spelled) and staying there overnight to minister at 2 different churches. Apparently, its very conservative. So I can only have one earing in each ear. Also, Pastor David said we should probably wear skirts but none of us knew to bring any soo this should be interesting. Lol.
Well, I think thats all...I miss everyone back home. I’m enjoying it here very much (except for being sick) but I’m looking forward to being home with my family and friends.
Thanks to everyone who has been praying for us and reading our blogs. Pray for my stomach :-( please. I just want this pain to go away.

God bless!!!
-Debie

FROM ISTANBUL TURKEY

2011-06-03T15:53:00.000-04:00

Friday, June 3rd

This was a FULL DAY! From 8:30 am - 10:00 PM we moved through historic Istanbul. So much of history was impacted by this area and the peoples who controlled it, fought to take it and who lived or now live here. Much of the world’s religious philosophy had it roots in this city as well as the surrounding country.

Today we visited Sultan Ahmed Mosque, the Blue Mosque; the site of the Hippodrome adjacent to the Blue Mosque; Topkapi Palace, the imperial residence of the Sultan, his court and Harem and also the center of the state administration. On the grounds of the Sultan’s residence is found the Byzantine Church of Hagia Eirene (Holy Peace) where the second major Church Council was held in the early part of the fourth century.

There are four major courtyards involved in this Palace and so it takes time to see it all and we tired but still missed some of it. But while there we had dinner overlooking the Marmara Sea and could view both continents from there – Europe on our left and Asia to the right. This was a major political site during the Ottoman Period.

We visited the Spice Market and saw unbelievable mounds and mounds of spices beautifully displayed along with some of the most delicious Turkish candies. NO! I only had a taste of ONE! My resistance level was high today, but pray for it to remain high the rest of the time here.

The evening found us on the Marmara Sea on a boat for one and one-half hours gazing at the sights along both the European side and the Asian side. The extreme amount of wealth in the homes along the Bosporus Straits is staggering.

And my night concluded with a very tasty meal at a Turkish restaurant with a sampling of their appetizers and their first course concluding with a sampling of all their meats but topped off with a great Turkish desert of your choice.

Saturday begins early, 8:00 AM with more sites to see here in Istanbul then a 3:00 flight to Izmir – old Smyrna of the Book of Revelation where we will attend Church of Sunday and tour the old city on Monday.

God bless – thanks for your support,

Dr D

Peru 2011 - Marilyn & LTI students - Blog #4

2011-06-03T13:04:00.003-04:00

There is a blog that precedes this, but the computer that it was written on was left in Jicamarca and we are now in Chincha.

Jason
Monday
Hi, I found my deodorant. Thanks for praying for me if you did, if not, oh well. Monday was a free day. We first went to Pastor Augustines house, they were very hospitable to us. They served us cappuccino and clementines. Very delicious. Afterward we went to the inca market. I looked around with Dylon and Marco as the girls went their own way. We found some very…interesting items there. I helped Dylon get a 20 soles item for only 14 soles using my master negotiating techniques. Dylon and Marco were making fun of my negotiating techniques, I told em don’t hate the player, hate the game. After the market we went to Chili’s. It tasted just like the Chili’s at home in Fort Myyyyyers. After Chili’s we hung out at the mall. The mall was very nice. Then we got home at night and Dylon Pastor and I were in the kitchen and its almost pitch black on his property. Pastor was telling us a story about demonic activity that he’s encountered while in Peru. In the middle of a sentence his face turns to stone, he looks behind where Dylon and I were standing and he says “what was that?” my heart almost stopped because I thought he saw a demon or something. I turn around to see what he was looking at…IT WAS A MOUSE. Good grief. It turns out that I am more afraid of mice than I would be of a dumb demon. I actually already knew that but this wat evaaa. So Pastor comes up with this master plan of how we were going to catch this mouse. His master plan consisted of Dylon moving the bucket that he suspected the mouse was behind, then I would step on it with my shoe. I said absolutely not. I was not going to step on an ugly mouse with my shoe. Na son. Long story short, Dylon moved the bucket and there was no mouse. The end.

Tuesday
Today was marvelous!!! We went to minister at a school that is 9 miles away from Pastor David’s house, but it took us 1.5 hours to arrive there. Going through the mountains took up a nice portion of the time. We were supposed to have 3 sessions, but the principal only had us do two, im not complaining. I was going to do my story about Jesus feeding 5,000 people acting as the apostle Andrew. The group that was taken out was a group of 25 kids from age 3-5. While the story is fun to do, it is very exhausting because you have to be very animated and energetic with the kids or else they will find you very boring. And after having done the story 5 times in one day on Friday I don’t have much desire to do the story for a long time. So the 1st session we had was about 120 kids age 6-11. This session was good, but before the 2nd session I felt something in my spirit that made me want to explode. I was so excited to share the gospel message with these teens. The 2nd session was about 90 kids ages 12-15. We started with a drum line that they enjoyed very much. Debie stayed home to recover from sickness, and Jovanna (Pastor David’s niece and one of our translators) was willing to learn Debie’s part in the drum line. It worked out fantastic. After Drum line Emily shared her testimony with the group. After the testimony Dylon and I did a skit. The teens enjoyed this very much as well. It starts out being funny then has a dramatic twist as the skit goes from the natural to the spiritual. After the skit Dylon presented the gospel message to the teens, and taught about growing in relationship with Christ and being filled with the Holy Spirit. After Dylon taught, I shared a few words with them and invited people to receive Christ as their savior. Very many people responded to the invitation to Christ. Afterwards Dylon invited the ones who are already believers and wanted to grow in relationship or receive the Holy Spirit. After this invitation almost every student was at the front. We prayed with those who received forgiveness of sins and salvation, then we began to pray with people to receive the Holy Spirit of God. What happened next rocked my world. First we made sure that we laid hands on every person at least once. The Holy Spirit at this time was ministering to a few people. Dylon, Emily, Jovanna Pastor David and I then began to really press into the Spirit of God. I began to make a demand on the Spirit of God to fall upon all those who desired Him. When we were calling upon the Spirit of God He answered. It became more and more evident that the Spirit was ministering to more people as we began to make a demand for Him. At first I was nervous. I thought how could I minister to someone if we don’t even speak the same language? At Iglesia Vida, when we went to minister to someone we had a translator that could speak to the person with us because there would be about 20-30 people who we would be ministering to with 3 translators. There were almost 90 kids and no translators because our two translators were doing Gods work and ministering to the teens as well. I knew that if I was going to minister to any of these students it was only me, the student and the Holy Spirit. I went up to one boy who was about 15 years old. I laid hands on Him and immediately as I did so he began shaking from the power of the Holy Spirit. I went close to his ear as though I were going to speak him and I began to speak in the spirit to him. The more I spoke in the spirit, the more the spirit ministered to Him. When I realized this, I began to speak to the student even more strongly in the Spirit. I have ministered to people many times with words before but never have I ministered to someone’s spirit by the Holy Spirit. While I was speaking to this student in the Spirit language it was as though he understood what I was saying to him. I honestly was so shocked by what I was privileged to be a part of. You read things in the word of God but it goes to a totally different level when you can actually be a part of it. So I continue to speak to this boy in the Spirit and my spirit is ministering directly to his spirit, then suddenly like wildfire he breaks out speaking in tongues. Glory to God in the highest! I mean the boy wouldn’t stop, you could see the joy of the Lord written all over his face. I moved on to pray with another boy. I could tell that the Spirit was already ministering to him. I went and laid hands on him. I got very close to his ear and said one word in the Spirit and the boys reaction was as though he understood what I said. I began to speak to Him more in the Spirit and he began to weep. I then begin to speak to the boy even more strongly in the Spirit and he is still weeping as though he is understanding what I was saying. We were communicating spirit to spirit. Insane! I took both my hands off and continued to speak to him very strongly in the spirit. Then I touched the boy and he fell out in the power of the spirit. He actually fell onto the concrete, he fell right on his butt bone. Ouch :X we should have had a Life Church usher there, he wouldn’t have had such a fun time falling on his backside lol. When he was on the floor the joy of the Lord too entered his heart and he had the brightest smile on his face. Praise be to God for an outpouring of His Spirit. You know the portion of scripture in Acts that says that all the people in various villages and cities brought people to be healed and receive ministry from Peter? Well that’s what happened here. We were ministering to so many students and the Holy Spirit fell upon so many of them that the teachers started to bring each student to us to be ministered to. There was one boy that one of the teachers brought up from the back to ministered to, I could tell he did not want to receive ministry but I began to pray for him anyways. I began to pray in the spirit for this young boy and the spirit told me to say “leave him alone” I ignore what the spirit told me to do to see if it was just my mind or if it was the Spirit. I was praying for the boy in the Spirit and it was not having the same effect on this boy as it did the others. The thought arose again, the Spirit told me to say “leave him alone” this time I knew it was the Spirit. So I said what the Spirit told me to say and as soon as I did the boy dropped his head lower. The Spirit revealed to me that this boy had a demon. I began to declare to the demon that the boy belongs to the Lord and He does not share. Declaring freedom in the name of Jesus and the more I spoke to this demon this boy began to cry stronger and drop his body down lower. This is when I knew for sure he had a demon because while I was praying in the Spirit the boy had no reaction at all, but when I began to speak to the demon he began to respond. Pastor David came over and declared freedom from the demon in the name of Jesus as well. The demon left the boy. I have never experienced anything like this. Before the sessions started we were jokingly saying that revival would be nice. Little did we know what the Lord was planning to do. Today greatly increased my faith. Now I have absolutely no doubt in the power of the Spirit. Not that I had doubt before, I guess I just say that because I have never operated in the power of the Spirit in such a fashion as today. pray that those who responded for salvation don’t fall back into the things of this world and pray for those who desired more of God and those who received the Spirit to continue to grow in Him. Keep us in your prayers for safe travels to be used by God in the way He wants to use us and for us to have patience with one another. Some of us need more patience than others :P haha. Bethany, I love you J If your fam is not reading this tell them I say hello. Family if you are reading this, hello lol. Thank you all for keeping up with the blog and for your prayers.

Dylon

It’s Thursday afternoon and I am on a bed in a hotel in Chincha. I’m not really sure where to begin and quite frankly I don’t feel like writing very much right now. I want to thank everyone for your prayers so far and encourage you to finish out strong as we do the same. I can assure you that your prayers are working and are helping to minister to all of us as well as those we touch. So a big THANK YOU. I can feel your support more than ever.

Tuesday we went to a school on the opposite side of the mountain that Pastor David lives on. The journey was interesting literally traveling through a level of clouds. We had no idea what else was around us. We arrived and they weren’t expecting us for another two days, but they were flexible in fitting us into their schedule. This was a place where the administration was very willing to allow us to flow and truly minister and the result was definitely a product of this. The older kids came into their prayer room where we were preparing. We immediately all felt something in the atmosphere change. At first we were sensing a spirit of rebellion as they entered, but then the Spirit began to stir in us and we felt the opportunity for us to speak strongly and specifically. Our program went better than ever and the time following at the altar was phenomenal. I have a feeling Jason went into great detail about this experience, but many received salvation in a very real way showing signs of true repentance. This included many potential gang members who Pastor David has been trying to reach through his previous ministry at the school.

Then the Holy Spirit came as those who were willing stood to experience His power. I was very firm in announcing to all of them that if they were not serious about receiving the power of the Holy Spirit that they needed to sit down because they were about to experience something very real in tears, laughter, peace and joy. My words were strong, but the Holy Spirit was there in a very strong way and I knew it would come. Many began to “break” as we laid hands on them and spoke to them. No, we didn’t speak in English, but we spoke spiritually and somehow, in God’s awesome way, it was received. We all were more satisfied in the end with the ministry of the outreach than ever before because it wasn’t just what we could do, but what God lead us to do helped to prepare the school’s heart for what HE could do. He proved His word with signs and wonders!

Yesterday was mostly travel to Chincha. We had a great lunch at a local restaurant and then prepared for ministry at a small church here. This was the same church we traveled to last year, but it was unrecognizable. Marco, our guide, even got confused about what street it was on because of how different everything looked. Jason and I taught on discipleship, in a slightly different way of course, to impart growth to a young congregation in Christ.

We had breakfast this morning and went to the local basket market and bought gifts for people at home. Jason exercised his terrible negotiation skills and it didn’t work out for him… again. But he’s trying. I’m more accepting of the prices here and I usually pay what they ask. (It’s cheap, either way.) I’m ready to go home, not in a sad way because I truly do love to be here, but I miss the people that surround me. I appreciate and love all of you. See you soon.

PRESENCE IN UKRAINE ENDS, BUT MINISTRY CONTINUES

2011-05-30T15:39:00.003-04:00

Saturday, May 28th:
Key Leadership in Word of Life and I met for over four hours to discuss their present situation and pressing problems. But as is their “tradition” it had to begin with something to eat. So we had ice-cream smothered in fresh strawberries, with fresh banana slices and ground chocolate to sprinkle on the top. Maybe it is their way of getting everyone into a “sweet” frame of mind. I am not sure but it was worth the try – at least we had no difficulties.

It was evident from the conversation of those who attended the Crimea Pastors/Leaders Retreat an impact had been made that was working deeply into their spirits. So I picked up the subject and spent the first hour sharing about the need for leaders to be physicians to bring not only physical health to the spirit of the people, but the great need to by physicians of the soul. And of course physicians of the body to bring health by praying for the sick.

The Church has developed to the place where it is time to clarify the structure, establish some key ministries and present their vision to the people. That was the topic of conversation for the greater part of the meeting and I believe we were able to set the stage for them to move forward in this area.

The meeting finally concluded about 7:30 PM but then it was supper time and I had the opportunity to spend the rest of the evening speaking directly to the pastor and his wife about their role as shepherds of the body.

Sunday, May 29th:

Off to the worship service at 9:40 on foot for about one mile. Summer is here, school ended on Friday and for the Ukrainians it also means it is time to go to the villages and see relatives and begin vacation. The vacation for many may only be weekend trips to the villages where they were raised or where key relatives live. And therefore the crowd is down. And that was the case today. Even the presence of the preacher from Southwest Florida does not guarantee they will all be here as was the case today, but we still had a decent gathering and were able to minister the Word to an appreciative audience.

Then it was time to hike back home, eat a light lunch, take a nap and then rise again to take a journey with my hosts – Tolik and Oksana Smertina; and another couple from the Church, Slavic and Alena. The journey took us by car to a picnic in my honor where the pastor and another family were waiting. Ukrainian picnics are always an event in more ways than one for those from the United States. You always head into a wooded area, find some trees to sit under on blankets, though in this case someone had gathered three boards about six feet long and 4 chunks of wood and made a “u-shaped” bench with a table in the middle. The height of this picnic table was about twelve inches.

Then some of the guys always build a fire and we wait for the wood to become coals. They coals are then scraped back and potatoes are placed in the coals (without foil). After the coals are placed back on top, then the meat is carefully placed on the shiskabob rods. While this is taking place the ladies cut fresh vegetables, in this case, cabbage, cucumbers and tomatoes. Then everyone watches to see what and how the “American” eats. The spotlight is on! So you eat what they eat! You laugh and have fun with them and all the while ignore what we “US picnicers” would frown at – the potential unsanitary table, cleaning of the vegetables, etc.

I just quote my favorite Bible verse for traveling: “And if you eat any deadly thing it will not harm you.” Then I dig in and enjoy the time.

Monday, May 30th:

It all began at 12:30! Would you believe? A second picnic! YES! That is right! But this one was with the children from the orphanage the ladies of the Church have been ministering to over the past 3-4 years or longer. I am the guest of the youth who will be there. They wanted the privilege of asking me questions. And they did! About America; about Christians in America; about my family; about the Church; about politics in America; and on and on. But I did get the answers to roll over to Jesus! I challenged them to think of David, whom many scholars say he was an unwanted sibling because he had a Moabite mother and of Jesus and the possibility of what other kids said about him because of the pregnancy of his mother before she married Joseph – you know all the cruel things that some kids will say because they did not understand the facts – some He understood some of their struggles.

I will wrapped up the day and the public ministry in the evening at the Cell Group which meets here at the flat (apartment for you Americans). It is an event that always happens and I am honored and consider it a privilege to share with God’s people anywhere, at anytime.

Tuesday, May 31st - Thursday, June 2nd:

I depart Chernivtsi at noon on Tuesday by car to meet my train to Kiev in Khmelnitsky. It departs about 4:30 and arrives in Kiev about 9:30 PM. I have two appointments in Kiev on Wednesday, then on Thursday I fly from Kiev to Istanbul to meet a team of missionaries and pastors. We will tour the Seven Cities of Asia Minor as listed in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. Our purpose is to work with a Pastor in Turkey to establish a Church in five of these cities. He has already started two.

So this will probably be my last Blog until I return to the United States because of the intense schedule I face. But I will do a blog on that trip upon my return.

God bless and thanks for your prayers.

Dr D

PS: You can read the blog here from Peru about the LTI students, Marilyn and their ministry developments.

Peru 2011 - Marilyn & LTI students - Blog #2

2011-05-30T13:57:00.002-04:00

Debie Phillips!
soo...where to begin...well Tuesday was spent traveling, I think we spent like close to 10 hours traveling! Everything went smoothly overall, other than on the flight from Panama to Peru...there were like 6 guys standing in the middle of the isles on the plane, talking and laughing quite loudly. So Emily asked them politely to move in Spanish and they didn’t, so I asked the flight attendant if she could ask them to move because I didn’t like the man’s behind in my face....but apparently I used an improper word in Spanish for “behind” lol the lady laughed at me and proceeded to tell the men to sit down.
We arrived late and just went to bed, we were all so exhausted!
Wednesday, we woke up early and pretty much worked all day long. Emily and I spent most of the day painting several rooms in the church.
Then on Thursday, we cleaned out the entire church. The boys moved stuff into storage while us girls....dusted...lol it may seem strange that we would spend almost an entire day dusting but this place is like one huge giant dust ball lol we are surrounded by little mountains of dirt and rocks, there isn’t any grass really and plants are few and far in between. So EVERYTHING gets soo dusty so fast and even more so in the church since they just finished doing a lot of work with dry wall. We wiped down all the chairs in the church that were covered by layers of dust. Then we spent the afternoon cleaning the floors.....it seemed like a never ending job to be honest. They don’t really have traditional American mops here and even if they did, I think an American mop would cry at the thought of cleaning these floors. So we poured water and soap on the floor and scrubbed it with old brooms...then collected all of the excess muddy water with a small dustpan.
Thursday night was our first service at Iglesia Vida Peru. The children of the church led us in a few songs then jason and dillon spoke about being a true disciple of Christ. It was an awesome service. The people here are so hungry and ready to receive. I was supposed to share my testimony but somehow there was a mis-communication and I didn’t get to.
Friday we woke up early and walked down the hill to a nearby public school. This school was huge and very nice for this area of Peru. We spoke to about five groups of elementary kids, each group having like 30 kids in it. We performed our drumline, which they absolutely loved and we gave out salvation braclets along with a salvation message. I really enjoyed being there! Next Friday we will be going there again to speak to the older kids, Im looking forward to that, David Hodges told us that many of them are involved in gangs so im excited to bring the light of God’s word to them!
After we returned from the school, we had a couple hours of preparation for the kids retreat that evening. We started out having about 60 kids there, but as it got later, many of them left because they had to walk all the way up the mountain to get home. We had a campfire and smores with the kids after dark, it was such a great time. Most of them had never had smores before and we just sat, laughed and sang worship songs. After the campfire, we had a time of prayer and worship with the children. This was sooo awesome! Just to see these kids crying and worshiping the Lord, was so touching. We laid hands on them and washed their feet as they cried out for the salvation of their parents and friends. It was such a sweet time in the presence of God!
Today(Friday) , we got to sleep in! Yayy!! We woke up just in time to take the kids to Mcdonalds in the city. I must say, it was very interesting traveling in the dirty city, on public transportation, with 15 kids! But This was a huge treat as only a couple of them had ever been to mcdonalds. As soon as we walked in, every single one of them RAN to the playground and went crazy. They absolutely loved it! They all had happy meals and ice cream cones thanks to the kids from Life Church Ft. Myers for raising the money for them to have this experience!
Anyways....I’m really enjoying it here a lot, although yesterday I started missing home a bit. It brings such fulfilment to know that youre sharing the love of God with people who need it badly. I’m so glad to be a blessing here and to be apart of what the Lord is doing here. We are told that this area is growing fast and I know the Lord has huge plans for this church. Its awesome to even be a small part of that process!
Well I think thats all thats going on here....I miss everybody at home!
I love you mom and dad! Give Eli a hug for me!....and email me!
ANNA- I read your email today, i’m so glad youre having a good time in Louisiana! Miss you!!
CEDRIC!! I also read your email, so glad your doing well! I miss you soo much :-( love youuuuu!!! <3
thanks for reading!!! God bless!! :-)

Emily

OK Sooo I don’t remember where I left and I have Jason and Dylon rapping behind me which does not help. Lol at the moment the question as been raised about what rhymes with McDonalds... suggestions are welcome.
Starting with Friday we had a day that was packed from morning to night. We were able to go down to the school that is at the bottom of the mountain and speak to over 4 groups of kids, different age groups about what the living Word of God says...Amazing opportunity. Iglesia Vida Peru is taking territory just like Life Church Ft. Myers! That’s exciting. We were supposed to get back in time to have a couple hours to rest but as we were all well aware of...plans change. Our first part of the kids outreach at David and Ceci’s was supposed to start at 3 and we arrived back to the house at 2:45. FUN! We quickly had a campfire meeting and started to get things ready for the Kids.
After the first part of the program we had a dinner break and which then led into a campfire where we were all able to sit and have SMORES! The kids here have never had it and they couldn’t get over how good they were. It’s the little things like that I will remember most! We were able to sit and talk and worship god with a bunch of great kids who understand the meaning of worship and are not afraid to express that. We were also able to get some free classes from Pastor David Hodges on How To Roast A Marshmallow 101 &102. It was truly life changing and Dylon and Jason have now mastered both!
Once we were done with the campfire we headed back inside where we were able to shared some stories from the bible of who and how certain people knew Jesus. We then we went right into a worship and praying and we did foot washing with the kids. WOW... How exciting. The things that we were able to see. God was truly being glorified. These kids know all about crying out to God. Really crying out. They could teach most adult back home how to really pray and cry out to Lord! Just to be able and available for God to use each one of us to be able to speak life into the lives of these kids has truly been a blessing!
Yesterday Dylon and I were able to share a message with the youth out Romans 12:1 & 2. It was great to be able to both share on something that God had placed on both of our hearts. I actually had something totally different planned to share but the Holy Spirit had different plans. To be completely honest I freaked out a little about having to come up with another sermon in less than 24 hours but God help me get through it. Praise God! Today was great day full of the hardest physical labor I have probably ever done. Ever. It felt great to get so much accomplished. The boys finished up in the enclosed garden as Debie and I cleaned up the court yard and make a new pathway leading up to the latrine (outside bathroom) hopefully I spelled it correctly. Dinner was amazing and full of carbs!
Well I’m done for now. I’ll be back soon. I love all of you and appreciate all the prayers. Mom, Jose, Sherelyn love you guys. Cant wait to see you and tell you all the details. Give my girls a kiss for me and tell them Titi loves them!!!

Jason

Saturday we took the kids to McDonalds. The children enjoyed it very much. There was a homeless girl that was outside, Marco gave her an ice cream cone. We took a very crowded bus to McDonalds, it made me feel like I was in New York again, but on a much smaller bus. That night we had a youth service. The youth span from age 3-45, yes you read that correctly, age 3-45. Service was great, we did our cool drum line, I shared my testimony of how I came to know the Lord and Dylon and Emily tag team preached about giving yourself fully to God. Afterward an altar call was given and most people responded. The Holy Spirit was moving heavily. One girl even said that she felt as though she was being lifted up by her hands into the sky. Praise God. Today was a great day.

Sunday started off great, because it started off with pancakes. After pancakes, Pastor David put Dylon and I to some hard slave labor. I liked it, I was smashing rocks and throwing dirt all over the place. So much fun. We got a lot accomplished, the courtyard looks great. We laid some gravel down and finished some work we started a couple days ago. Lunch was tasty. Tonight we had service at 5:30. Debie and I tag team preached about suffering. It was great. I went long, but that probably was because I used almost every verse in the bible that talks about suffering -_-. Afterward people were invited to the altar by Pastor David, many responded. These people really know how to press into the presence of God. I prayed with a man who had been heavy laden with life, work, etc. I hugged him for about 20 minutes while he wept as the Lord ministered to him. Glory to God. Keep us in your prayers. Debie is feeling sick and I am feeling sick as well. I cant find my deodorant, pray that I can find it. Im not even kidding by the way. I really cant find my deodorant and I really want you to pray that I will find it. I really miss my beautiful fiancee Bethany Wolff (soon to be Bethany Edouard). P Nasty, wat up homie! Hi Wolffpac I hope your air condition is back in order again, shocking... If you are reading this, thank you for keeping up with the blog, and thank you for your prayers. Asta lavista baby

Dylon

I was supposed to write this blog last night but I fell asleep as Jason was typing. It is Monday morning and it is our off day. Breakfast is being prepared before we head into the city to visit with Pastor Augustine (know to Dr.D as AuggieBucks,) have lunch and do some exploring at a location unbeknownst to me.

I didn’t tell you about day 3 in my last journal which I consider to be the most impact time of ministry thus far. I shared the morning devotion on the importance of our satisfaction in Christ from Phillipians 4. Verse 13 is continually used in the church as a means that anything accomplished, but in context this verse really has nothing to do with our achirevement, but everything to do with having Christ as our portion who will do things according to His will through us. I guess that was a side note. We headed to a secular school that is just down the mountain from Pastor David and Ceci’s. I don’t think anyone could have dreamed this school would be built so quickly. Eliel attends two days a week. Our goal here was to share the story of Jesus and the salvation story in an applicable way to younger kids. We thought we would be doing this through 4 programs with kids from the grades of 1st through 10th. Did you catch that? We THOUGHT wrong.

When we first arrived they attempted to have us go from classroom to classroom. Thanks to David this got changed to putting us in our own classroom and having about two classes at a time come to us. At the end of it, we went through our plan about 5 different times with Jason dressed up as an apostle to share the story of feeding 5k and wrapping it up with the gift of a salvation bracelet after all the “colors” of salvation were explained. One more time isn’t that big of a deal, but the excitement of the message lead to Jason and David temporarily losing their voices. Also, we will be returning on Friday to do grades 7-10! We are working on adapting a program more suitable to them.

We returned much later than anticipated from the school and, after lunch, had to immediately begin preparing for the arrival of many kids for an all night program. This was supposed to begin at 3, but to our advantage the culture runs about an hour behind schedule. We had games, bible stories, smores around a campfire and a great time of prayer and with everyone. These kids know how to cry out to God. They are taught that to be on their face before God is the best place to be in public prayer-- I’d have to say I agree.

Our program went well, just had to continually be adapted because of the schedule we were up against. The kids, all being well under the age of 12, needed to be in bed by midnight. We began to conclude about an hour before this by leading them in worship. I explained a few of the teaching of Christ and that as the greatest person to walk this earth He taught us to love and serve one another. I began to select some of the boys and wash their feet. I don’t really know how to explain it, but if you have never experienced a foot washing, it is a very emotional and intimate time. It was a lot of tears and a very bonding experience. By the time we were done everything, we all were exhausted and ready for bed.

Now for a fast forward... Saturday night was their youth service and Emily and I taught on commitment. During my times of ministering, I have been flowing more than I ever have before. My notes have not been a very good guide, as the Holy Spirit has spoken numerous things to me even during worship with instructions to take my teaching a different route. I am so glad He has given me the ability to flexible and operate with the word He is speaking to me. It is more important to me that I speak something specific and direct to the needs of the people than indulge in my own comfort. I finished with an altar call for the youth who wanted to display a greater commitment to Christ and as Paul said, “spend themselves.” The time of ministry at this time was very impactful and the Holy Spirit definitely ministered in the way He diesred. I have been told this reaction was not always the norm and I am glad that God used me as a means to accomplish His work.

Sunday was not a typical one for us. Jason and I were acutally reflecting about when service was taking place back home since our service here wasn’t until 5:30 PM. In the morning, Jason and I finished the tilling and irigation of the garden as well as prepared large holes with the proper soil and fertilizer for trees to be planted. (That explanation doesn’t give the work justice.) Jason and Debie taught on suffering for the Gospel and together they had a great synergy with their approach to what the Word says. I fell asleep very early after the conclusion of service and am feeling fantastic today.

The food has been awesome, the service excellent, the ministry powerful and life change permanent. I miss everyone at home. Love you Mom, Dad and Gma. I miss my pastors and time spent at the church. All is more than well here and I look forward to all the time we still have left.

PS- Pastor Jeremiah make sure the you know whats are ready for Wednesday night when I get back. :)

Pastor Marilyn

Thanks everyone for your continued prayers. Debie has been fighting a stomach issue - flu like. She has kept going but hasn’t felt well.

The kids have been working hard and ministering effectively. All of them have had an opportunity to speak and they have done a good job. They have labored hard. Yesterday, I helped with some of the work for the walkway to the dry latrine and did laundry - a necessary job for the team.
The team has spent three days of very hard labor and I am proud to be able to say that each one worked hard. Although we didn’t know there would be such intensive work to be done - it has been a huge blessing to the Church and to David and Ceci.

This morning Jason said he felt the hardest part was behind us and I would have to agree. They have all had experience working with an interpreter, they have worked together as a team and they have completed the hard labor. Although we have a busy week ahead there is more confidence on the part of the team as to how it will all play out.

I am not sure when we will be able to update the Blog. Things haven’t been like I thought they might but we will do our best although it could be several days before we post anything.

Love to all our family and friends.

Peru 2011 - Marilyn & LTI Students - Blog #1

2011-05-29T17:34:00.000-04:00

It is Friday morning and the students are preparing for Ministry at a local school. This has been the FIRST opportunity we have had to write a blog and no one has been on the Internet as the only way we can do that is to have David or Ceci help us on their computer. So I am hoping that we can get this out today.

We arrived without big problems. David’s dad had made him Beef Jerky - and because the student that was carrying it got a “red light” going through customs and her bag was x-rayed, they investigated her bag and especially the jerky. By rights, she could have confiscated it as it was not labeled. After questioning, she allowed it to go through but next time we will have to re-think how it can be sent.

We arrived at the Hogdes just after mid-night, unloaded all the bags and made preparations for bed. There are four dogs and they were barking and they were the “alarm” that woke Jason and Dylon up at 7:00am although they could have slept later. We ate breakfast at nine and started working.

Elevation Church from Ft. Myers was here two weeks ago to complete some work in the Chruch Building. They built the platform area, two offices/study rooms and a nursery with dry wall, dry wall mud and sanding. The people of the Church had sanded and painted last week BUT the clean-up had not taken place so that was our job to accomplish. This was not a simple task as things had NOT been covered and not a lot of care was taken to keep things clean. It was obvious that the task to complete everything and get it done in a short amount of time was the primary concern.

With the three rooms that were built also came much needed attic/storage space. It had been decided what would go in each area and the we moved things to the right areas and the boys put everything in the attics. It seemed a monumental amount of “stuff” to be stored. It is hard to believe that just three years ago - only a shell of a house was here and David and Ceci didn’t even have furniture - to now, where there are three attic rooms of things that have to be stored and a fully equipped and furnished house, Church kitchen, class rooms and Church. God’s blessing is evident not only in the physical buildings that have been established but in the growth of the Church and the people as well (more about that later). To God be the glory!!

All of this has happened through relationships and teams that have come to help. In addition to Elevation Church, Honoring the Father Ministries from Ocala brought the Church building in a shipping container and erected it as well as bring school furnishing, tables and chairs and a multitude of other things. Teams from Life Church and others have also been a part of the process.

We didn’t finish working until 9:00pm (and the work wasn’t completed) and we were all ready for our beds and a good night’s rest. Up and at breakfast at 8:30 and started another long day. The gals working on the cleaning and the guys using pick axes to turn the dirt and dig trenches for an irrigation system in the courtyard which still has to be completed.

The gals mopped and remopped - washed chairs and rewashed chairs and arranged everything for service last night. Although I had decided everyone would quit working at 5:00 to have a little time before service - there was much to do and it just didn’t happen so they used what little time they to get cleaned up and ready for service.

Service - what an awesome time. First to see the Children of the Church leading in worship, praying and welcoming us as well as sharing what they have learned from God’s Word. One big change I saw was the majority of the people were here on time. What a change from the beginning when NO ONE would be here at starting time but the Hodges and their extended family. The people entered in, were receptive engaged. It was beautiful!

Emily shared in worship and prayer and Jason and Dylon did a “tag-team preaching” on being a Disciple. They all did a great job. Debie was on the schedule to share her testimony but somehow in the shuffle of things - it didn’t happen.

After service we shared with the people, had a snack and made preparations for today. I think all of us fell into bed well after 11:00. Maybe you have an idea why we haven’t had time to write and let me add - David and Ceci have worked right along with us and they haven’t been on the Internet either.

Saturday Morning -

As you can see - we did not have an opportunity to get on the Internet yesterday. There is no way to adequately explain the busyness of our days. We left for ministry in a school yesterday morning at 9:00 and were gone until after one. That gave the students just enough time to prepare for the Children’s Retreat that started yesterday afternoon. They boys didn’t get into bed until midnight and it was later for the girls. We have been busy and I am going to let the students tell you about their experiences.

Hi, my name is Jason Edouard. Fort Myers... um where do I start? I embarrassed myself at the airport, several times. Dylon almost left behind a carry on bag in Miami airport, the lady working there pretty much insulted his intelligence for doing so. Copa airlines is much better than spirit. I guess I abused my privileges because one flight attendant told another not to serve us anymore :( Can you blame me for being hungry? And thirsty? We reached Peru finally and encountered international resistance...not really, I guess the lady just had never seen beef jerky before because she searched the bag because of that. We arrived at David and Cecis and met the biggest dog in the history of doghood. His name is Big John. He eats stray dogs for lunch and dinner. He prefers a vegetarian breakfast though. Good thing Katie Galante did not travel with us this year lol. Ministry has been great. The children appreciate us they, they even sang a song to us in English. “Thank you brother for giving to the Lord” it was tight. The church looks great, the food is amazing. Im going to eat breakfast now. Hi Bethany Wolff, I miss you :)

Dylon here reporting from Peru. It has been a fantastic first four days and I hope all that has happened already is a sign of things to come on the rest of the trip. Obviously, and I’m sure as others have told you, we arrived safely, on time and went through customs smoothly. The bus ride from the airport to Jicamarca was just as exciting as last year with a tint of cold in the air.

Day one began with much work to be done in the church. A team was here just before us adding offices and a nursery to the already existing church. There were many finishing touches to be added including sanding, painting, organizing and eliminating the thick layer of dust that had accumulated from plaster and the beast of the air in Jicamarca- dust. Day two continued with labor as we served Pastor David and Sessi in the garden and la iglesia. I got to use a pickaxe for the very first time, outside of a video game, and it was an exciting job at first. Putting your back into it has a whole new level of meaning for me. The dirt in Jicamarca is... dry to say the least. Tilling the top layer and working through the tough rocks was a job in itself. Pastor David takes great pride in the health and color of his plants that requires much hard work. Jason and I were glad to offer ourselves in assistance to him.

We worked until about 5 on day two and then began to prepare for dinner and a mid-week service to be held on that evening at 7:30. Well, that’s the time we thought it would start. It was at this point we realized that every clock around the house and on our mobile devices was completely incorrect. I’ve read about experiments that have been done involving people living in a completely closed off area with no sunlight or clocks for them to use as a guide and observing their habits. Let me just say this- even with the sun shining brightly I have no idea what time it is. I’m always ready to eat though it may be hours before an appropriate time and I’m exhausted for bed by 9:30, which I could swear is really 1 in the morning.

Jason and I preached that evening on the topic of discipleship. I told Jason before the service that I felt like this trip would really be a time for me to flow and the service was a reflection of that. While I had notes, I really only used these for my scriptures and I spoke more from heart than I ever have before. Thank God he put many thoughts for me to address. While I do not want to use a congregation’s agreement with me as a measure of my success, this was the case and Pastor David said it was a very in-season word for the church as they continued to grow and finally had an “official” church building. I was glad for the confirmation of the Word that God had given to me.

Currently, I am sitting in a McDonald’s hogging the computer from both Debie and Emily who need to add to this, so I will have to write about Day 3 tomorrow. We took about 16 of the kids from Iglesia Vida on a special trip into the city for a treat. They got here and immediately jumped straight to the playground. They are currently enjoying the toys and hamburgers that came in their happy meals and this has been a great win for just loving on them and letting them know that we care and there is a church where we come from who also cares. I should also note, that the money to pay for this trip was donated by God’s Army who has been raising money for several months (they gave us over $300!) So a great thanks to them, Marcy Shaw, and the parents at home who teach their kids the importance of giving and the necessity of hard work through the means of allowance.

I am learning the love of Christ more and more every day and that is only increased by my time spent in Peru. Pastor David is a great example to me and the people here are so accepting of what we have to offer them. I love you all back home and am praying for you as you pray for me. Hey Mom, WHERE’S MY EMAIL?!

Emily

Hi everyone... WE’RE IN PERU! I just had to get that out. I guess it’s time to recap on everything that has happened and I apologize in advance if I leave anything out. Heading out of Ft. Myers I had a great idea of arriving early to make sure everything was done with enough time and of course I was the last one to arrive. (No bueno!) Heading to Miami I began to setting to mood with a little singing which quickly stop when the question was brought up by Jason if I was going to do that the whole way. HA LOL. I love that kid. Once we arrived to Miami we checked in and had lunch. Thanks Kelle (mom) for lunch it was good. D got a little upset though because I got Doritos and he didn’t. We won’t tell him it’s because you love me more :). Before we went through security we were given about 7 packs a travel size pringles because “they weren’t allowed through” we had no problem and we had snacks the whole ride to Peru. In between Florida and Peru, Jason made a friend who was 14 if I’m not mistaken who he spoke with most of the time. When we arrived to Peru, Jason Deb and I all got pulled aside and our bags checked because of the beef Jerky that David Hodges mom I guess packed for him.( It only took about 30 mins of our time away from getting to the house... but it’s OK) :) It was great to be back here. I didn’t think I would miss it as much as I did. God is good! There are so many things that have changed since the last time I was here. There are more buildings, more lights, Iglesia Vida is beautiful!!!! God has truly opened the windows of heaven and poured out his blessing over Jicamarca.

The our first two days here we were able to serve in the church by cleaning up and finishing up the things that needed to be done so that we would be able to hold service in the church with it actually picked up and put together. The room where the courses for CLU are taken if complete with tables, chairs, tv and a computer. David’s office is also done. The food has been amazing and we have been blessed with having our meals prepared by sister Maria which is Ceci’s sister.

Jason and Dylon shared an amazing message that seemed to be the perfect word for where the people of Iglesia Vida are. They spoke on being disciples of God and what all of that entails.

At the moment we are at Mcdonalds. I’m not done so this will be continued but we really just wanted to be able to post something to keep you guys updated. Debie and I will be adding more details about everything that has happened on the blog that will be posted on Monday. We love and miss everyone one back home. Thank you for all the prayers!!!

THURSDAY 26TH & FRIDAY 27TH OF MAY

2011-05-29T17:29:00.001-04:00

There are some days of almost no activity – ministry time – and then there are those who are full. So on the slow days provide the opportunity to catch up on some reading some books and putting together some more courses for the university. And so that was Thursday all day – except for a trip to get some relief from the cramp in my right calf muscle, which had not completely released itself. So with the help of some electro-stimulation therapy and a massage of my legs I was able to finally get some relief.

Friday, due to a an early rising – the sun sets about 9:30 PM and rises at 4:30 AM – I read one book and started the second, then met with Pastor Dmitry Nemchenko and discussed the recent developments in Word of Life since my last visit and prepared for the evening Communion Service.

They have communion one Friday each month in order to bring all the people of the congregation together. Here as it was in Khmelnitsky, the BIG day for those who work in the market is Sunday until 3:00 PM. Therefore those who have to work at the market are not able to attend the Sunday morning service. These attend a cell group but to facilitate and maintain the vital relationships between the people as well with the Church, they celebrate the Lord’s Supper together in this fashion.

The day culminated with a trip to the local Turkish operated pizza parlor. For you who have never been to Ukraine and had there pizza, there is no way to describe the difference. But “Ephesus” (the name of the pizza parlor) has the closest thing to US pizza. So we always get there at least once. Their lentel soup is delicious and the salads are always fresh – they cut them up just before they bring it to you. And to make you htink you are in the US, add a Coke to the menu. AND, “IF” you stomach makes it through the night without a “civil war” you consider it a worthy investment. I did not have a “civil war” and so it was a good investment, although, it was 11:30 pm by the time we got back to the apartment.

Then, leave it up to a bad thought from me, I suggested I show my hosts my “mini-projector”. And since I have not seen any of the Miami - Chicago games, Tolik (Oksana’s husband, she is my Ukraine secretary - interpreter) suggested we watch the latest, which he promptly downloaded and we watched it in Russian on the ‘BIG SCREEN” – wall style. But at half-time I “crashed” – it was enough!

That sounds like a “word in due season” - this is enough for now.

Thanks for your prayers,

Dr D

CHERNIVTSI MINISTRY: Wednesday: May 25th

2011-05-26T07:16:00.001-04:00

Up at and “at-em”— not quite! It did take some time to get to sleep after getting in so early in the morning, so I did what any good man would do – I slept in! But I did have a 12:00 appointment with Vika Kosovan – some of you will know her, but for the sake of others – she is the wife of a pastor with whom we once had a close relationship but has been cast aside. We keep in fellowship to encourage and support her in this hour of her life. She is a precious lady and we love her much.

Then it was back home – to the home of Oksana and Tolik Smertina. Oksana is the interpreter/secretary that works for us here in Ukraine. And of course they are my hosts when I return to Chernivtsi.

Tonight we served in the Cell Group Meeting of Vitaliy Pavelenko. Vitaliy is the assistant pastor of Word of Life. It was a good meeting and nothing is better than the fellowship with God’s people, after breaking the Word. It was interesting. I was led by the Lord to share a teaching on “The Broken Vessel” which shares how a potter repairs a vessel that cracked during the heating process. Why? That was the question.

It wasn’t until we were about half way through the worship time when a friend of Vitaliy’s, one he had invited many times but did not come, entered the apartment. He is unsaved. When I saw him the Lord quickened my heart and let me know he was the reason for the message, although it had a strong connection for all believers, it was a very non-threatening message for the only unsaved person in the room.

Right now I am enjoying a late night cup of Ukrainian Decaf Coffee with my favorite addition: When I finish this and get it delivered to you, I will crash and prepare for another day. I never know what schedule a new day will hold. Sometimes the schedule changes daily and sometimes two or three times in one day.

Good night – I mean have a good afternoon and evening. It is 11:00PM here so whatever time it is for you, have a blessed day.

Thanks,

Dr D

A NEW WEEK AND CONTINUED MINISTRY

2011-05-25T11:34:00.001-04:00

Tuesday, May 24th:

I was already to pack and head to Chernivtsi this morning, but I received news yesterday they were not coming for me until after 6:00 PM today. What happened? Glad you asked!

The pastor of Dawn of Life requested for me to attend their top leadership session and again share more of the teaching I have been preparing for this trip. Did! Done! I have a full stomach! And my spirit is jumping in side of me because of the timing of the Lord. Everything God laid on my heart to teach to leadership at all locations of this visit have had a dynamic impact on the leadership of the Church here in Khmelnitsky. In fact, they are asking for more. So we have talked about the possibility of using Skype and doing some from my USA home. They would project me from Skype, point a camera toward the audience (of any size) and Rostic, the Assistant Pastor would interpret for me.

WOW! Praise God for this technological society!

Now lets go back to Monday, May 23rd:

It was a rest day! I needed it! But it was spent about 50 kilometers from Khmelnitsky in a village where a family in the Church has purchased a “cabin” (US size cabin) – a home here. Their goal is to make a Prophet’s Quarters.” And I had the privilege of being the “first” guest to go there. It is far from finished and in our standards – well, it can better depicted by calling it a “Hunting Cabin” – because it is that rustic.

But we had a great time fellowshiping with Eugene and his wife Veta, Pastor Valentyna and her husband, Franz; and Rostic and Sveta Kudin along with the two sons of Pastor and the son of the Kudins. Boy, was the chicken great. I almost overate. How many thighs did I eat? That is for me to know and you to guess.

I returned to my apartment here about 5:30 and worked to prepare for today. And of course to get all my personal things packed for departure on Tuesday.

I did and I am ready to move my home for a week.

God bless and thank you for your prayers.

Dr D

A NEW WEEK AND CONTINUED MINISTRY

2011-05-24T08:50:00.001-04:00

KHEMELNITSKY MINISTRY COMES TO AN END

2011-05-23T17:45:00.000-04:00

It is always a good feeling and yet sad and sometimes hard to be able to leave a place where you have poured out your heart and your heart has been warmed by God’s people. At least I have a day and one-half before I leave the city. This gives me time to reflect on what God has done while I am here.

Two great services. The morning service is really the vast portion of the people. The government threw them out of the building they had been using for years. The new Ukraine government is not favorable to Churches using government buildings. As a result they have had to find another facility while they do the necessary re-construction of the interrior of the build they purchased in the last year.

They are now meeting in the House of Culture. It is a three layered drama production facility. The main floor and two balconies that go completely around three sides. It is not large enough for their needs. But they are making the best of it for now. In fact, one week ago the landlord of their office complex doubled their rent and they were forced to move out of a large complex into a small three room flat.

Anyway, back to the events of Sunday. They also have a second service at 2:30 for those who work in the public market. Sunday is the best day for business in the market and those who make their living selling in the market find it necessary to be there to be able to have business enough to sustain them. So the Church provides a service for those people. Approximately 75-80 were in this service.

So after the 10:00 service, which ended about 12:30, I had time to enjoy a Ukrainian Pizza. I must say it was the best tasting Ukrainian Pizza I have had in a restaurant. Rostic Kudin, the associate pastor, was my host and I could tell from his suggestions to eat sushi, what his choice was. I am not real fond of eating sushi in Ukraine but I said, lets go. We did and I was rewarded with the pizza – and “WiFi”! So I got to Skype Marilyn and catch up on the news from home and to pick up my office emails. Fabulous!

I am now home – my room here – and getting over the scare of having lost my cell phone – my travel cell phone. It is the means by which I get my emails from AOL. I was able to “get over it” because Rostic found it. It had slipped out of my pocket in Rostics car prior to my getting back here. WHEW!

Well you will have at least one day to rest from reading these epistles, maybe (do not get too happy) since I will be moving to Chernivtsi on Tuesday.

God bless and THANKS for the support via prayer,

Dr D

THE CONCLUSION OF THE LEADERSHIP SEMINAR

2011-05-23T17:44:00.000-04:00

Starbucks Makes Its Mark!

How do I explain what happened this evening? Better yet: How do explain today? The only thing easy for me to explain is that I forgot to close the lid on my Starbucks Coffee Mug and turned to do something on the desk and knocked it over. Not just on my Bible, my notebooks with all my teachings in them, but it splashed on the wall.

So I grabbed everything in sight and began to wipe. When I thought I had it all I moved the desk and to my greatest disappointment – more had escaped than I thought since there was a backstop to the desk. It had run down the wall in several directions from the initial splash. I am glad it was only a splash and not a “dump.” I did not discover what was behind the desk immediately and by the time I did, it had already soaked into the paint and stain Starbucks Coffee with Vanila had desecrated the wall.

Now I had to tell my hostess. When she returned I called her into the room, told her and pulled out my money to pay for the damages. She refused time and time again. She explained that she is going to paint the entire apartment in the next two years and what was on the wall was behind the desk and no one was going to see it. She did however, with a smile, comment on the new fragrance that filled the room – vanilla!

God Made His Mark!

I had a two hour counseling session with one of the leaders of the church in which my hostess served as my interpreter. The lady leader with whom I was counseling had trust in her and therefore it was made easy by the help of Luda, my hostess. I will only say, God showed up and made His Mark!

I enjoyed a, a, a, – I am not sure what it was. I think I had breakfast at 11:00, but it was fish, salad, and (my words since I cannot think of the correct Ukrainian word) little dough balls with meat inside oh now I know - varenyky --and sliced tomatoes. Then at 4:30, I had a pork steak (pounded pork, some solanka (my special soup) a salad made of cut up cheese, meat, with peas and other items and a cup of Americano (coffee) with a pancake filled with sesame seeds smothered in sour cream. And then the third meal when I got back to my apartment, home fries, two meat patties (of what I am not sure) a plate of sliced tomatoes and some Ukrainian DeCafe Coffee with my powdered vanilla to replace cream.

So you can understand, I am not sure which meal to call what. They make sure I am not hungry even though I am continually telling them I cannot eat that much. Somehow their graciousness gets the best of me and I try to eat it all, but I do not always succeed.

The evening and final service for the seminar was tonight. I was the speaker. But God was the ministering agent through the Holy Spirit. The entire plan I had was set aside this afternoon and I was led in a different direction, keying on what the pastor said last night and some of the areas I had shared. But all of this was directed by the Holy Spirit to wrap around the prophetic insight given to me about the Church, the leadership and their need at this time.

I cannot say more about the content of the message, but I say there was a powerful 60 minute ministry time that began with and was fed by the ministry of leader to leader in prayer and learning to bear one-another’s burdens – which meant opening up and letting others know what was going on in your life, what the pain is you are bearing.

The greatest need that seems to always surface in the former Soviet regime countries is that of rejection, verbal abuse, sexual abuse – male and female. There is such a strong feeling of loneliness among the people they are afraid to be open with one-another. But God began a work tonight I believe will continue. I was able to challenge the leaders, including the pastoral team to demonstrate this to all as they ministered to one-another in leadership meetings.

Now I await the services tomorrow! I am anxious to see what God is going to do!

I close with this statement: I am here, as was Marilyn, to fulfill a moment of destiny in the lives of pastors and their staffs. This was demonstrated in Dnipropetrovsk, in Crimea and now here in Khmelnitsky. Whatever the reason used, family seminar, pastors’ retreat, leadership seminar – these were only tools so we could meet a divine appointment with some desperately hurting pastors and wives and their ministry. I have never been more sure of this on any trip than I am now – regarding this trip.

God bless and thank you for investing in these lovely people,

Dr D

FRIDAY - FIRST FULL DAY OF LEADERSHIP CONVENTION

2011-05-21T09:10:00.001-04:00

It is good to be back in my room with the warm feelings of a successful day. I had two session of teaching today. The first was from 11-2 with a quick meal with those who are called “Pastors, or elders” – the are key leaders in Dawn of Life.

Then we changed locations and went to the Youth Club – a facility across the street from their new Church building – where they are remodeling a former sewing factory to establish a youth center for drawing youth from the area and presenting the Gospel to them. Right now it is still under construction and because it is really on the basement level, it is very cool and damp. But when the room is filled with leaders from all ministries it warms up quite nice. Here we spent two hours.

The over-all theme I am presenting deals with “Leaders - Eat What You Serve” and each session deals with a different aspect of leadership. Today the specific topics were: Pastors, Patterns, Priests.

The evening session speaker was the pastor, Valentyna Melnyk. She started the Church 20 years ago and it has grown to about 600 and possess a solid foundation with excellent teaching and a great spirit.

They, the leaders, did not expect me to attend the evening service, but I wanted to do more than just speak and disappear, so I went. The message was great. She challenged them to return to their original fire and zeal as in the early years of the church. The concluding worship–prayer time was rich. I am glad I went.

However, because of the length of time for the session tomorrow afternoon and having to have someone interpret it for me, I will remain in my room and be prepared to minister the Word and comply with their request to pray for all the leaders. Now that is a challenge. I expect more than 100 people to be there. If I only spend one minute per person, it will be a long evening and require the strengthen of the Lord.

So while you enjoy you day, remember me in prayer.

Love,
Dr D

W0RDS 0F APPRECIATION SAY IT BEST!

2011-05-16T15:47:00.000-04:00

THE MEANING OF THE CRIMEA RETREAT FOR PASTORS IS SAID BEST IN THESE WORDS:

Dear Pastor David-
I want to convey my warmest thanks for your service to pastors here in Ukraine. At the conference in Crimea, God strongly stirred within me through your sermons and prophetical service.

I have arrived home very inspired and have received a word from the Lord.

I wish to invite you to preach and serve in our church in Yenakievo, in the Donetsk region. You've already been in my native city some years back where you served at a conference.
We would be most happy to have you come in the knowledge that your service will bring many blessings.

With love in Christ-
Alexandr Gorbachyov
Senior Pastor
Good News Church, Yenakievo, Ukraine

Dair Devid and Marlin.

Thank you for fine conference in "Equator" on Tarhankut. There was many dialogue and revelation from God. You - a gift from God for us. I to want to tell Merlin: "you very beautiful woman and an example for all of us." I hope our acquaintance to become friendship. We to pray for you. I will trust that our meeting still.

Zina, Sasha. Yenakievo.Ukraina.

MONDAY, MAY 16:

Today was spent in getting everything ready for the next two weeks and spending four hours in ministry and assistance with two pastors. It is through these occasions – the one-on-one – when you hear and see the impact of the relationships here in Ukraine.

Now to get to bed and rise early to take the five hour train ride – it is called the “fast train” – to Khmelnitsky and my next Church and Leadership Conference.

Thanks for your prayers,

Dr D

UKRAINE: FROM THURSDAY TO SUNDAY - May 12-15

2011-05-15T15:27:00.000-04:00

Preface:

Time can go by so fast when you are busy and trying to catch up with everything. Here it is Sunday evening and I promised myself to have the blog updated by Saturday evening. As you can see – I DID NOT MAKE IT! So lets get started...........

Thursday - The Final Night Of The Pastor’s Retreat:

What a great conclusion to an already splendid time! The day was filled with a session for Senior Pastors and wives as well as those who were pastoring daughter churches under their Senior Pastor. The challenge was to build “generationally” and to never forget that you, as a Senior Pastor now, once sat where your leaders and the congregation now sits (the pew). This session was prefaced with a challenging devotional by Dmitry Nemchenko of Word of Life in Chernivtsi.

Of course, even though we are spiritual we did take time to eat our dinner and then returned for a session for the church staff members who present. In this session we spoke about faithfulness, stewardship and leadership as the Levels of Leadership and the attitudes of true sons and daughters of the Father of the House (Their pastor).

But nothing compares with the presence of the Lord as the Holy Spirit brought Him into our midst during the final evening service. I cannot even begin to put into words the victories we saw transpire as our worship time led us into a time of personal ministry to people you do not know and cannot speak their language, yet God had a word for them that spoke directly to their present situation and brought direction, healing and freedom.

Have you lately, tasted and seen that our Lord is Good?

The evening and morning that followed displayed a great time of fellowship and expression from their hearts for their time and the meaning of that time at the retreat. You could visibly see new relationships developing as they were preparing to depart.

Some expressed they had never been to anything like the fellowship and bonding they experienced. Others said they were looking forward to next year.

And it is all because a partnership of three God-fearing, believing families bonded together to invest into the lives of the pastors of their nation! And would you believe it, they are so tightly bonded, they do not have a contract but operate by their word and their dependence upon God. Isn’t that a novel idea? It is even Godly! Their word is their covenant!

Thank you, the owners of “Equator” of Olenivka, at Cape Tarkhankout in Crimea. We love and appreciate you for your investment in your Pastors!

Friday - The Move To Kiev:

Did I say “move?” Well it is “moving” but.... Anyway we were blessed again by the owners. They did not want us to go to Simferopol and sit in the train station and have to try to find the right train track, the right car and also carry our luggage by ourselves. So instead of going with the earlier group, they took us personally the two and one-half hours to the station, waited for our train and then helped us get in our “room” and presented us with a sack lunch for the 17 hour ride to Kiev rocking and rolling train – even though it was the smoothest of our rides this year. Which we made without incident and were met by our hosts, the Prudky Pilots (Father and Son: dad flies for Aero Svit and son is completing his training to also fly for Aero Svit). I better stop and start again, because it is now 7:34 AM, Saturday morning.

Saturday in Kiev:

Wow! A great room! A hot meal! Two hours to rest – for me and the rest of the day for Marilyn. But my day just started!

I had a service to attend and minister the Word. Then to speak to the leadership immediately after the service. Then I got to go home – my Kiev home – eat, fellowship, help Marilyn complete her packing – well by that I mean, wait and weigh her luggage and give final instructions regarding her flights. As though she really needed it. But first we were visited by Ira Ivanov – really she came to spend time with Marilyn.

Sunday - Up Early, Back To Bed And Up Again:

It was late to bed and early to rise for this day! We had to get up at 3:20 AM and join Vova Prudky in his Pontiac Aerosport Van for the ride to Borispol Airport and Marilyn’s departure for the United States. Her flight departed at 6:20 AM - Kiev time - and she is scheduled back in Fort Myers at 6:13 PM Ft. Myers’ time.

For me it was out and back to bed and then up to attend Abundant Life Church pastored by a special couple, Andrey and Ira Ivanov. Ira was the first interpreter to travel with us as an interpreter on our first solo ministry trip in Ukraine and is still very close to us both, calling Marilyn her “second mother.” When she first introduced me to Andrey, she told him I was her “father” and so he said, “Well, then, you have to be my father also.” So you can understand our relationship.

Andrey delivered a great message after one of the best sounding worship services I have had the privilege of participating in – and the presence of the Lord just made it special. Oh, yes – thank you Luda Sirenko for interpreting the message, it was great to see you.

Home again for great food, fellowship and fun and the visit of Pastor Andrey Ivanov, who just wanted to come and spend some time with me. What an honor it was to fellowship with this pastor, his wife and daughter for three hours.

Now to complete this epistle, take the required help for sleep and health and hit the sack.

I just got word Marilyn is in Atlanta. So she is back in the US again.

With love and appreciation for your prayers,
Dr D and Marilyn

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11 - PASTOR’S RETREAT

2011-05-13T23:12:00.000-04:00

We are back to our room - exhausted, but feeling good. It once again seems to that all things went well today.

This morning we had devotions, presented by Vladimir Kartayev, a Bible Teacher who is leaving Ukraine the first of June to move to Egypt and teach in a Bible School there. Then we had a split! You heard it here first! The women split from the men! Whew! Oh, so that is okay? It was!

Marilyn took the ladies, 24 are here, and went to a special room to have a “party” - lady style! You know, gifts, snacks, games, talk, sharing and of course a lecture from “Mamma D.” And as always, they ladies came away smiling, having enjoyed their time.

That left me with the men. So we decided we should remain “spiritual.” And we did! We opened the floor for questions regarding “how to do....,” or “how do you handle.....” This allowed the older pastors and leaders to have personal input and to share with the younger as well as with each other. I only interjected necessary thoughts to keep them on the right path. Then I concluded with a short teaching about our manhood in relationship to the ministry - how we must allow those we lead to see our manhood - humanity, but at the same time keep them pointed to Christ. The focus of the morning was learning how to be real and open up and share our problems and needs with each other.

Lunch was of course a highlight for all! Unless you are having “stomach-quakes” with potential tsunamis’s following.

From 2-4 we held private counseling sessions with those in need. We were busy but not overwhelmed with those who desired to talk. This was followed by a much needed time of “laying before the Lord, face up” – for those who do not understand – a nap.

Supper again caught our attention, but it did not stop the fellowship and laughter. No one knows better how to laugh than a room full of pastors and staff.

We wound up with another time of worship and sharing of the Word. Tonight we focused on Leaders as Priests, and drew the New Testament parallel to the Old Testament Priests, their training, their service, the 12 defects that would prohibit them from serving in the Aaronic Priesthood, explaining the meaning of each as related to the five-fold ministry and our service before God and to the people.

I thought I’d better say something you considered spiritual, so I put it in and I trust your approve – do you?

Now we are trying to finish the day in our room and get ready for the final day.

Thank you for reading and praying for us.

Dr D & Marilyn

PASTORS’ RETREAT DAY ONE

2011-05-10T21:31:00.001-04:00

The day has drawn to a close. My opinion is that it has been a successful day!

Using our best guess, there were 45-50 in attendance tonight and possible more to arrive in the morning. We will await the final tally tomorrow to see how close our guess – best estimation turns out to be.

The message hit home - well that is the speaker’s position. Why? Because of the words – the expressions coming back to him from those in attendance. And not from just two or three but from many more and because we were requested to sit with a pastor and his wife for counseling because of the struggles they are currently going through from attacks of some who have left the Church with the revelation the Church is no longer needed, the pastor is not needed, all they need is to gather with some and teach one-another.

It is the same wherever you go today. Deception is running rampant. The sad thing is that it is coming from people who have been in the Church for a long period of time. Suddenly they are more intelligent than Jesus who gave the pastor, teacher, apostle, prophet and evangelist as gifts to the Body of Christ. Strange isn’t it?

We were able to get some additional rest today, but the next two days will be filled with much activity, talking, counseling and establishing relationships with the new pastors and leaders who are here for the first time. We guess that 60% of those here are new. Several of those from last year called in the last few hours to tell is they were not able to come because of economic reasons. However, we are thrilled with those who did make it. And it is great to see some we have not seen for seven years – the last time we ministered in their Church.

The invitation list for future ministry is already beginning. The challenge is still ahead so we go forward for the privilege to invest in the lives of these Kingdom workers.

Bless you for your prayers,

Dr D and Marilyn

THE JOURNEY FROM DNEPROPETROVSK TO SIMFEROPOL TO OLENIVKA

2011-05-10T21:29:00.000-04:00

What can you say about a train ride from one city to another more than you have said in past. Honestly? Okay! Not much!

Pastor Konstantin Maximov with Ruslan Andreye, his assistant pastor, and Sergey the husband of another staff member transported us and our luggage to the train. It can be a task to get your luggage up the steps of the train station and then up into the car where you are assigned to spend your time sleeping. They accomplished it with ease.

The next issue facing us, was the making of our beds. You are provided with two sheets, a pillow case, a pillow and a wool blanket along with a hand towel. I will give you credit enough for your ability to know what we did with these items. You are right! We did!

Then we waited for the train to finally leave the station and venture out into the wild so we could do the final personal preparations for a night of “rumbling - screeching brakes - whistles - shaking - tornado like sounds as your train and another pass in the night.” Two “Tylenol PM’s” are not even enough to kick you into “never-never-land of slumber.” You just toss and turn and trust the remaining six hours will fly by. They did and we arrived, disembarked from our train and hired a “cart man” to take our luggage the 3-4 blocks to the station.

This is where the fun began. He had his own idea of where we wanted to go. I could have understood his problem if I had been the one to communicate where we wanted to go. But since it was done by Oksana, in clear Russian, you would think he would get it right! Wrong! He went almost two blocks too far. So we made him take us back, now three blocks to where we wanted to go in the first place.

We had to wait almost two hours for another party of eight from Chernivtsi to meet up with us. While waiting I purchased my train tickets from Kiev to Khmelnitsky and then back to Kiev. (Not really interested in this are you? Tough!)

The next struggle was when the bus driver who was to transport all of us to Olenivka and the Equator Hotel. He had parked so that we had to walk three blocks. But when we got to the foot of a stairs that went over the entire train tracks and train yard – three stories high, I put my good “ole USA” voice into operation and emphatically told him “Nit!” – Russian for “NO!”

Thank God for Oksana. She translated for me and I instructed him we were not going to carry four large suitcases weighing an average of 50 pounds and two carry-ons plus my briefcase up those steps and to his bus. The two ladies, Marilyn and Oksana could not carry them, which meant I would have to make at least three round-trips up that mountain of steps. He was going to have to move it closer. He hesitated, but, seeing our resolve, he finally obliged.
In ten minutes he returned and we only had to pull them about two sort blocks to his bus-van, load them and wait for the rest of our party. They soon arrived, loaded their belongings and we were off for a two hour ride to Olenivka and the welcoming party – our hosts for the Pastors Retreat.

As you can tell, we made it safely, took our luggage to our fabulous two room, bath and one-half suite. A quick meal, a little unpacking and we HIT THE BED FOR A NAP! Up and wait for the bar-b-que to be finished and then indulge in a great meal, fellowship, laughter and preparation for the coming event.

Our hosts, Roma and Tanya Goudyma, partners in the Equator (the other partners were not able to be here) are super people. They, with their partners, have opened their facilities to as many pastors as come for the low cost of about $7.00 per day for three meals per person – and there is no fee for the rooms.

Why do they do this? Because they want to invest in the lives of the men and women of Ukraine who lead the Body of Christ. Think about it! How much would it cost for 50-60 people to have great rooms for three days? Thank God for these men and women of God who are investing in the Kingdom of God.

Thanks for your prayers and keep reading for further developments,

Dr D and Marilyn

UKRAINE STAGE ONE COMPLETED!

2011-05-08T14:11:00.000-04:00

I better go back to Saturday evening and bring you up-to-date!

Saturday Evening:

Marilyn was kept very busy after sharing on raising children by people who cornered here and asked personal questions. She again, did a great job! I mean, I have come to expect nothing less!

I finished the evening speaking to the youth. I discovered they had been told I was going to speak about dating, courtship and marriage. Guess what? I didn’t! God took me another direction – well figure it out from the title: Is This The Last Generation?

I cannot tell you if the speaker was good, but it sure was quiet and I had all eyes focused on me – or was it the interpreter? Anyway, I know I hit the bulls eye! How? When I got ready to print out the scriptures in Russian, I opened the computer program I use and each time it opens with a devotional thought in all scripture. The date: 5/7/11 and all the scriptures were in relationship to the end times. The date is significant: 5 is the number of grace; 7 is the number of completion; and 11 represents the 11th hour. So what do you think?

We went home and guess what! There is a lady who does nails. She requested the privilege to do Marilyn’s at the church. But then she said she wanted to come to the apartment where we are staying to do Oxsana’s nails and to also give both ladies a facial and a pedicure. But the BIG thing happened after she got there. She then said she wanted to do my nails. Well, I found enough manly control and power to allow her to do my nails, but NO POLISH! Not even a clear protector! NO WAY HOSEA! (Ops! Sorry Hosea - no slam intended – just protecting myself.)

SUNDAY:
A great service with worship team – and a very very active group – and even excellent group. It was Mother’s Day – almost a new custom for Ukraine because they have not been celebrating it as such except in the last few years – but being a guest speaker and not having been forewarned, I skirted it and let go with the Word God gave me for the Church.

They are going through some troubled waters at this time. Some leaders were caught stealing from the offering and subsequently dismissed from the Church. One man is threatening to take them to court; to tell the TV/Radio how crooked they are; and to bring in the government tax people to investigate them. It goes on from here. But they have video of the action of those who stole, however the man was not in the picture though it is known he was the one behind the theft.

So the message God had given me before I arrived was agin on target and I was able to point them through the Word to their way of deliverance from the attacks of the devil.

We ate lunch, went upstairs here at the Church to change clothes and rest from 3:00 to 11:00 PM. But just as I got into my travel clothes my cell rang. The pastor was requesting Marilyn and I to come to his office, there was a problem and they wanted our assistance with it. I cannot go into the problem, but we spent from then until 8:00 dealing with the family involved and then with the pastor on how he should handle the situation from his position.

The stress was that we were given permission to meet with the family alone, using our own interpreter and then only report to him the end result and give out advice on how to proceed. WOW! I wish I could say it was all “healed.” But there will be a separation. We were able to challenge both parties and instruct them in the Biblical way for each to go forth. Time will tell if our advice was heeded, but it was welcomed from both sides.

Now we have about three hours before we head out to the train and travel to Simferopol, Crimea, Ukraine to be met by our hosts of the Equator Resort and a two hour bus ride to the hotel on the Northwest of Crimea, right on the Black Sea.

Keep us in prayer, because I know there will be other strategic sessions while we are there.

God bless,
Marilyn and Dr D

2011-05-07T09:05:00.002-04:00

DNEPROPETROVSK MINISTRY: THE FIRST THREE DAYS

Monday Departure:
The transportation by air was a “breeze.” You just sleep, sleep, twist and squirm in your seat to keep your body comfortable – if possible. Then you get off that flight, hurry to catch the next, only to wait on the tarmac for 30-40 minutes to get clearance to take off. Well, anyway that just about covers the events of our flight to Ukraine. No problems and no complaints.

Tuesday Arrival and Travel:
Then the activity begins. You never know what to expect when entering Ukraine. They seem to always have a surprise waiting for you. This time we entered their new terminal and found a completely new system for entry. No paper work was required, just hand them your passport as in the US and proceed to get your luggage. Then walk out with no inspection as long as you have nothing to declare. Great!

Sasha Prudky, who is a pilot for Aero Svit, and his son, who is training to be a pilot, were waiting to transport us to their home for our first Ukrainian meal of this trip and a time to relax before heading for the six hour train trip to Dnepropetrovsk. Our departure time was 11:12 PM and we arrived at 7:00 AM.

The question is: What do you do on a night-time trip for 7 hours? You sleep! What else would you do? But how much sleep do you get? All you can! How much is that? Not much – maybe two hours and the rest of the time you turn over, try to get some fresh air and cool off. But we survived and were very glad to see a familiar face standing on the platform.

Wednesday In Dnepropetrovsk:
We drug our suitcases to the platform and released them into the hands of Pastor Konstantin Maximov and a staff member, Sergey. Was I ever glad to get to our apartment for the duration of our five day stay in Dnepropetrovsk. It is a large four room with bath – including HOT water and a GREAT shower. The church rented it for us. The us is Marilyn and I and our Secretary-Interpreter who met us in Kiev and accompanied us here.

We got a shower – you have to get the travel “crud” off after more than 41 hours of travel. And the next important thing is to catch some sleep on a nice bed! We did and were awakened at noon to eat the meal that was prepared for us, and then we crashed again until time to depart for the evening service.

The Wednesday Service:
The congregation was having a “Member’s Meeting” in which they share vision, receive members and celebrate what God is doing. So I was thrilled to know the message God had laid on my heart was right on subject and timing. I finally wound down after one-hour and fifteen minutes of preaching and prophesying but they had more to do and it was almost 10:00 when we left the Church and journeyed the three plus blocks to our home here.

Thursday:
I departed at 12:00 to have dinner with the pastor and then to teach for two hours to their Church Staff. Again God led me to the specific subject for the hour and opened the door for Friday’s two hour session. Marilyn and Oksana remained at the apartment, departing in time to walk the three blocks and be ready for the Marilyn’s two hour session with the Women’s Ministry Leaders. I thought I would be able to go home and relax during those two hours, but a rain storm descended just after Marilyn arrived. It poured and then pelted the area with hail stones and then rained again. So I just found a couch and relaxed until supper time.

Supper was followed by a seminar session for Men and one for Women. Again, the target was hit. There should be no surprise when you are willing to let the Holy Spirit guide your selection. But in the natural you are concerned whether or not you are headed in the right direction.

The conversation for the day about what we taught, as related to Marilyn and me, was one of appreciation and open reception. Thank God. Then we headed back to the apartment for some refreshments – Tea for the ladies, with Peanut Butter on Ukrainian Cookies. Some ham (?) – and cheese with some smoked salmon and of course Starbucks (I brought my own instant packages, with my own flavored cream -- two varieties).

Come on now! You can only “suffer for Jesus” so much! You must understand, I - we just think ahead!

And lest I forget, the “Surprise of The Day” was my opportunity to eat Salo with raw onions and Horse Meat Sausage. Yes you read it here! I had their “pig fat accompanied with onions” and I did eat horse meat. They did not tell me what it was until I had eater it. I thought it was just smoked sausage. But it wasn’t. No, I did not lose any of it! Will I do it again? Maybe, but not without some fore-thought.

Anyway, the statistics here say that their “Salo” - eating pig fat - helps to reduce the potential of getting cancer and that it will destroy cancer cells. True? I do not know! Do I want it as a preventive every day? NO!

But anyway the day ended and I did not die - as you can tell from reading this.

Friday:
Another day of two hour seminars, one for the Church Staff and another for the Leaders of their Women’s Ministry. Two Ukrainian meals for me, but Marilyn and Oksana had another day of four meals. They had eaten breakfast, then ate a lunch before coming to the Church. Less than two hours later, they had almost another meal of specialties with the Ladies in their seminar – the specialty: Caviar – two days in a row!

While Marilyn was with the ladies, I joined the pastor, and two assistants and drove to the home of a member who had a tumor growing on his spine with the purpose to lay hands on him and release healing into his body. He has been fighting this for over two years and within the last two-three months has lost the ability to move his legs naturally. Even for someone to stretch them out was very painful. Did we see a miracle right then. No! But we believe God ministered to him and that we will see the miracle as he exercises his faith.

And then the evening service was geared to husband and wives and those who wanted information that would assist them as they prepared for marriage. Marilyn presented hers, “Myth Busters” – ten of them or was it twelve, I forget. Then had to follow her with some basics in marriage preparation - The Yoke of Marriage and The Emotions of Marriage. We concluded the evening by answer questions.

Saturday:
12:00 Noon and the pastor arrived with the van, his five children and took us to lunch at the church cafeteria. Then he drove us to the home he is building. It is a four story house built around and over the original home of relatives which was given to him. He has been in the process of building now for seven years and hopes to have it completed by the end of the year. It will be very nice and will probably be valued – US evaluation of at least $500,000, although it is much less than that here. He is able to do that because of an inheritance and the money he received by selling an apartment he previously had.

A quick stop at the home he is presently living in - very simple - four bedrooms, with bath (one is where the girl who assists his wife with the children lives and no living room or dining room. Then we are now back at the church where Marilyn is presenting a two hour seminar on raising children. I have a seminar for youth after supper – at 6:00 pm.

Tomorrow, we have to vacate the apartment when we leave for the 10:00 service. We will stay in the Church until time for us to leave for Crimea on the train shortly after midnight Sunday and will arrive in Simferopol about 7:45 AM.

Thanks for reading – and I am glad you made it to the end. But it cover several days........

Thanks for your prayers,
Dr D and Marilyn

FINALLY - MY BONES AND MUSCLES ARE STARTING TO RELAX!

2010-10-26T18:37:00.001-04:00

Tuesday, October 26th

It is “all over” except for the final visit and packing procedure and two trips to the Lima Airport! I can hardly believe it!

SEVEN WEEKS OF...
...Peruvian food...even the hot sauces (GREAT!!! as Tony the Tiger would roar!)
...The Spanish language salted with English here and there...
...Great fellowship with the believers here...
...Success in doing video classes for Covenant Life University or Universidad Pacto de Vida...
...Unbelievable traffic...
...Cold weather too cold for this Floridian...

Two weeks with my Wife and two grandchildren (and you can capitalize the letters - GRAND...) because they have been great – except when thy INSISTED I wear their special designed “crown” with the title, “King of Starbucks” into the Starbucks Store in Larcomar on the beach here in Lima. You should have seen the reaction of the staff when they finally realized the words. One disappeared for a couple of seconds and returned with an iPhone and took my picture and then handed it to another employee standing just around the corner, but looking around the corner to risk a “glimpse” of the North American with the crown! Anyway, they were happy so .... AND it made Facebook! The only disappointing part was that I still had to pay for my own Frappuccino. RATS!

We departed from Jicamarca and the Hodges this morning about 10:00 so the two, Allyson and David, could complete their shopping experience. Then we succumbed to Allyson’s desire for eat chicken from Pardo’s. Why? Because she fell in love with their “hot sauce” which comes with the chicken, fries and either vegetables or salad. When I say “fell in love,”I mean she ate more hot sauce than I have ever seen her eat at any time. How much was that? Well, she almost equaled me! And that is doing something! And of course, David was not lacking in either desire for Pardo’s but was not as “hooked” on it as Allyson.

Then we headed back here to my “home away from home” here in Peru, for the final night before taking them to the airport about 6:30 AM. I have the rest of the day until about 9:00 PM before I stand in line to deposit my luggage, get my seating assignment and head upstairs for the departure lounge and lift-off at 12:26 AM Thursday with landing in Miami and a drive on to Ft. Myers.

Monday was spent doing some last minute planning, getting prices and trying to assist David in preparing for the arrival of another construction team in April. They requested the facts and figures for completing the interrior of the Church so they could determine what they would be doing and the cost for their selection of work. You know the amount of drywall, the needed lumber, wiring and accessories and all that “stuff.”

O yes! Sunday evening we did minister the Word and then “flop down” on a chair with exhaustion! It was a busy day but a good one.

Well that should about complete the information available and wrap up this ministry trip. I LOVE IT! And everything about it! Just think, I am affecting a nation for Christ!

God bless,
Dr D with Marilyn, Allyson and David

VICTORY AGAIN! JUST COMPLETED FIVE MORE HOURS OF VIDEO!

2010-10-24T22:39:00.000-04:00

Sunday, October 17th - Saturday, October 23rd

Sunday, two services, one at the home church of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, with Pastor Jorge and Janine Watanabee, here in Elio, a region of the greater Lima Metropolitan Area and the other in the evening at Jicamarca, Iglesia Vida with David and Ceci Hodges.

Allyson and David did the Children’s service while I handled the adults with David Hodges doing the interpreting for me. We both had a great day and the Word was planted in the hearts of the people.

David and Ceci had taken David’s mother to the airport at 5:30 in the morning, so they came to the apartment here in Elio. David assisted me while Ceci and the boys took an extended night’s sleep to make up for that which was lost by having to get up so early to go to the airport.

Then we went to a local mall for dinner and journeyed on to David’s home for a service as short time after arrival there.

Hey I must stop and finish this later because my taxi has arrived – you see this is Thursday and I have just finished 5 hours of video work and must get back to Jicamarca in order to speak at 7:30 this evening. I will pick up where I left off when I return, but when that is – is the question.

This is Sunday the 24th and I, Marilyn, am going to add to this to get something out to all of you.

We have not been at a place to have extended time on the Internet with our computers. All communication has been with our iPhones in public places. That is why communication has been sketchy.

David and Allyson have done very well. They, not only, have used all the material they prepared to work with children but have volunteered to do additional services. I have been very proud of them as they have stepped up to the plate to minister here in Peru.

I think they were pretty wide eyed at the conditions but kids are very adaptable and they have done fine with all the dust, dirt and inconvenience. We are sharing a very small space with just enough room to walk to our beds behind a wall of curtains. Ally commented that she wished we had more privacy but that just isn’t always a commodity we have while traveling.

I don’t believe they have ever seen so much dirt and dust except when we camp and as Ally said, she doesn’t like to camp. :-) It is a challenge to keep things clean and dust free. AND, the same kind of care we take in cooking and dish washing just isn’t a part of life overseas - unless it is in Western Europe.

The kids have never complained about being bored - which has surprised me but they have found plenty of things to keep them busy.

We came into Lima two days this week. They did shopping on the first day and then we visited the National Museum of Ancient Art and Culture. It was very interesting although David Kelley is the one who enjoys History and he found it especially interesting. The kids and the two David’s visited the 6th floor which was the History of Terrorism in Peru. Terrorism was prevalent until after the year 2000.

One ministry that is opening up to David in Jicamarca is to the gangs. These are not seasoned criminals but young people 13 and up who are getting into this lifestyle. Of course, if they do not find salvation and hope in Christ they will become seasoned criminals. They have been in every service, Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday as well as coming by from time to time to have conversation with David. Truly, the harvest is plentiful in Jicamarca.
This has been a wonderful time with our grandchildren. We feel blessed to have had this opportunity for them to share in our ministry and to spend this special time with them.

Thanks for your prayers.

It is “I” again! Dr D - the evening service is over, the second service today and I am exhausted. We had a great service this morning with Pastor Agustin and Jessica Ciccia and again God displayed His power with healing in the bodies of believers.

After a stop a McDonalds for lunch (Marilyn, Allyson and David and Rosita, Ceci’s niece who went along to interpret for Allyson’s and David’s ministry to children (I had a special Peruvian sandwich at Nuevas Fuerzas [Pastor Agustin’s church] – honestly I had two – and was full) we made it back to Jicamarcs at 3:00 - leaving enough time to catch a nap and then finish preparation of a PowerPoint illustrated sermon on the Battle To Enter The Kingdom of God.

And so we have completed all ministry for this trip and will just do some wrap up things, then pack and head for the airport and the trip back home. That journey begins Tuesday with departure on Wednesday morning early for Marilyn, Allyson and David and then I leave very early Thursday morning (12:29 AM)

However we will post at least one more to finish the account of this trip.

God bless.

Dr D, Marilyn, Allyson and David

A BUSY WEEK WITH MARILYN, ALLYSON AND DAVID

2010-10-17T00:57:00.000-04:00

Monday, October 11th - Saturday, October 16th

This is a summary from Monday - Thursday: I got everything ready. I picked them up at the airport. They made it through immigration with no hitches, but when they picked up their bags, they got the “RED LIGHT!” For those who are familiar with this term and its meaning then pardon me while I quickly explain it to the others.

After securing your bags from the carrousel, you then hand your declaration document to an attendant and then you push the button on the green post. If you get a “green light,” you proceed to meet anyone awaiting you, but if you get a “Red Light,” then you take your bags and run them through the scanner where they check to see if you are brining in anything for which they can “tax” you.

This is a big problem when you are a lady, traveling with two GRANDchildren and have six bags packed to the hilt, each one within one pound of being over-weight, and six carry-on’s loaded. You must unload your carts, put them on the conveyor then walk to the other side and reload your bags. So Marilyn had to go through the process but they passed the inspection and proceeded to meet us on the other side. A quick trip to apartment and then all hit the sack.

Wednesday after breakfast, we journeyed to Jicamarca to see the Hodges and for all to see where we would be staying the last 10 days. This was an “acclamation visit” to prepare Allyson and David and for all to see the new Hodges - only two or three weeks old (I am a man why should I know exactly?) Then back to the apartment.

Thursday we did the “tourist thing” so we would not have to do it the last day and because we had to stay in Lima at the apartment to avoid overcrowding David and Ceci – David’s mother is there helping with the new born.

But Friday afternoon we headed out to Jicarmarca to stay until Saturday evening. We had services in which to participate – Allyson and David had a children’s service Friday evening and Saturday afternoon as well as Saturday evening. Marilyn had a ladies meeting Saturday afternoon. I attended a “gang rally” at the indoor soccer field with Pastor Everth Ipanaque - the blind pastor. He had a dynamic ministry to gangs because he was once in a very powerful gang involved in drugs and much, much more. It was while hiding from the law that a one ton rock fell on him severing his optic nerves, and forcing the amputation of his right leg. A lady had been following him for days and even weeks preaching to him everywhere he went. One day she said, “I will not die until you are standing in the pulpit preaching the gospel, even if it requires you lose your sight and a leg.” It was prophetic. He lost his sight and one leg and is now found in the pulpit having started nine churches. And Saturday evening I had my opportunity to share with some of those who were formerly in gangs but who have now found Jesus and attend Life Church, Jicamarca, Peru.

So now we are back in the apartment for 16 hours. We minister tomorrow, (Sunday) here at the International Pentecostal Holiness Church – Allyson and David with the children and me in the pulpit. Then it is out to Jicarmarca until Tuesday, October 26th when we return for the night and an early departure for Marilyn, Allyson and David on the 27th, then I depart early on the 28th.

Now you are up-to-date (that is: I am!)

Thanks for your prayers,

Dr D, Marilyn, Allyson and David

GOOD BUSY SUNDAY ONLY 11½ HOURS LONG

2010-10-10T22:46:00.000-04:00

Sunday, October 10:

Two services, one at 10:30 and the other at 5:00 but from start to finish the day ended up being 11½ hours! That included dinner, a short 15 minute stretch and the travel time to and from the services.

The morning service at Iglesia Centro Christiano De Avivamiento was focused on healing. A minimum of ten people testified of being healed as other believers prayed for them. I only prayed for one lady. The goal God laid on my heart was to get the people active in believing God to use them to bring healing to people.

I reminded them Jesus did not heal as God but all the healing He did was because He saw His father do it and therefore He healed. So we as, sons and daughters of God, have the power through our relationship with Him as our Father to also do the works of God. The response was very interesting and the excitement was high as they saw the works of God accomplished before their eyes.

I also was blessed by those who stepped up and said they were willing and desired to do translation for me as their investment in the Kingdom of God in Peru through the lives of Pastors and Church leaders around their nation – a total of six. And their pastor said he would be available again the last week I am here to do more video interpreting for me. Thank God! I will hand out translation assignments and see what we can get together for the last week. I think I have three days available to do it during the day and maybe also in the evenings.

After a braised chicken dinner and a one hour trip we arrived at my evening assignment – a graduation for the first year students of Universidad Pacto de Vida (Covenant Life University) in the city of Ancon at Comunidad Carismatica Cristiana Cristo Sanador with Pastor Everth Ipanaque. We had 21 who have completed their first year and the most exciting fact is that around 8-10 of them are from 16-21 years of age – YOUTH!

Pastor Everth is blind in one eye and 80% blind in the other and has one prosthetic leg, yet he is impacting that area of Ancon and in particular the youth. Not only is he doing that but he also completed very successfully his first year of Pacto de Vida. His goal is to take the youth and start another church in a different area. AND - he also has another church in Ventanilla. There are three pastors who work with him in these churches and they also completed their first year of Bible Training.

One of the pastors told me he has 12 people who are completing their requirements of discipleship training and are anxious to begin their college work.

So the question? Does missions pay? NO IT DOES NOT PAY IT PRODUCES! There is no pay! But it sure does cause a multiplication process when the people are discipled to disciple others! No one can reach their city, their country better than the people who live there and can relate on the same level. And I count it the greatest pleasure in my life to have this opportunity to invest in the training of disciples who will disciple others!

All I have to do now is to get ready for Marilyn and the two grandkids - Allyson and David. That means do my laundry, go shopping and meet them at the airport.

God bless and thanks for your investment into the Kingdom of God!

Dr D

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! VIDEO PROJECT!

2010-10-09T21:57:00.000-04:00

Wednesday, October 6th - Saturday, October 9th:

Victory! We almost completed everything I originally desired to get on video, except two sections which I now see should not have been part of the class and will be expanded and made into two separate courses.

The time from Wednesday through Friday were hectic! They required much editing of the material and re-editing of the Spanish to get it correct for the PowerPoint which was an integral part of the video work. In fact one section does not have either the interpreter or me on screen. The only thing on screen are the maps of the Old Testament World, the land of Israel, and the New Testament World with Paul’s journeys.

It was as different approach but one I believe will add to the course called: The Development, Scope and Study of the Bible. Anyway, that is my OPINION! And since I am the author, the director and the PRESIDENT – who is going to argue with me? Can I help it if I believe I am right? Anyway we have 21 hours of video for this course. Now to write the lesson plans, the assignments and the exams.

Fortunately, several people have stepped forward to translate into Peruvian Spanish any material I will need. They need to translate 240 pages each for a college course in English, so why not translate something that will benefit the kingdom. They are “sowing” into the Kingdom of God. So, I will leave several outlines of material I want translated here for them to get ready for the future.

And today, well I have just relaxed – almost – but I sure wish I could see some college football and hear the commentators in English. I can see at least one game and I just remembered it is on right now so if you notice a pause, you will understand – Florida State vs. Miami.

WOW! Florida State is ahead 24-7 and it is only the second quarter. I wonder how Florida did today? Does anyone know? I have lost track of the won - lost of all Florida teams.

Well, I did go downtown to meet David Hodges so we could ride with him to Jicamarca, eat supper with them and return back with the van. I have two assignments tomorrow. The first is at Iglesia Centro Christiano De Avivamiento, pastored by Gustavo and Jenny Rodriquez and then at Ancon, Comunidad Carismatica Cristiana Cristo Sanador for a first year graduation with pastor Evert Ipanaque. This will be our largest graduation to date here in Peru with 21 students having completed their first year of studies.

Then two days of preparation for Marilyn, Allyson and David and their arrival Tuesday evening at 9:00. You know, food, water, and some medications for emergencies for now and future trips.

Thanks for your prayers,

Dr D

NEWS FLASH FROM PERU AND DR D

2010-10-06T10:24:00.001-04:00

Sunday, October 3 - Tuesday, October 5:

There are experiences! There are various experiences! And then there are experiences you have on foreign soil!

I have just experienced my first election weekend on foreign soil! This was the weekend for Peru to elect their “mayors.” They have local city mayors and also regional mayors. This year the battle was between two ladies for the mayor who would be over the Lima Region – a first for Peru. Sunday evening the count was too close to call a winner. Monday, the count was less than .8 (8/10 difference.) And last night I was not able to discover who the winner is – “if” they have even finished the count.

NEWS FLASH! I JUST RECEIVED WORD THAT THE COUNT IS STILL TOO CLOSE TO DETERMINE AND THEY ARE WORKING OF REVIEWING AND CHECKING THE BALLOTS!

And because it was election weekend, Sunday services were forbidden so people would be free to go vote. And “IF” you do not vote, then you are “fined!” That’s right! YOU MUST VOTE OR YOU GET A COURT FINE! So as you can imagine there is a major turn out that requires many people to travel great distances to get back to the regions and cities where they are registered. FUN! FUN!

I return you now back to the “spiritual” world for which I came to Peru. That is I “would” “IF” ---- we were able to record on Tuesday and completed four hours of teaching. That means I have one major area to cover and when that is completed, I will call it a success, even though I have one more I would like to record, but I can live without it and instead include it in another class.

I am living on “peanut butter and jelly sandwiches” for breakfast. Really! No I also have fresh mangos for breakfast with the peanut butter and jelly – including a glass of yogurt and Starbucks instant coffee with French Vanilla coffee cream – all compliments of my wife! BUT the coffee is running low and will be out by the time she arrives with a “fresh” supply on nest Tuesday evening with Allyson (Ryan’s oldest) and David (Nicole’s oldest). Their first missionary trip! They are both excited and counting the days.

God bless until I report again,

Dr D

TAKING A “BREATHER”

2010-10-02T20:50:00.000-04:00

Tuesday, September 27th - Saturday, October 2nd:

OOOPPPSSS! I did not think it had been so long since I “blogged” but it was, so here I am! And I am glad you are glad! (I said that in “faith!”)

Anyway this has been another week of ups and downs. Agustin’s wife, Jessica, was sick on Tuesday and Thursday and he had to stay home and be the nurse as well as take care of their three children - you know the routine - feed, bathe, get off to school and get them home again. So “two” days of working in my studio came to a halt.

But Pastor Gustavo Rodriquez did make it for two days and we were able to record five sessions - hours - as well as do some more proofing of the Spanish . And it was needed. We even had to go back and do some special “cuts” to insert later because of errors on the PowerPoint as well as a couple of scriptures which in the English were correct but translated differently in Spanish and so when I did my expository dissertation on the passage it was incorrect but correct (Figure that one out!).

I am currently at the home of Dr. Roger and Magaly Falcon with their daughter, Abigail who is 19 months old now and can be very entertaining. They had contacted me and insisted that I spend a couple of days at their apartment. So here I am.

We chose this weekend because it is election weekend here. On Sunday no one can have any church services and businesses are to be closed to facilitate the election process. As well, no alcoholic beverages can be sold from Friday evening till Monday. It is to keep the potential of violence down.

So, since I went to service on Friday evening with them, I, we are now on a holiday weekend. And since I only brought “part” of my work with me, I will be forced to do some relaxing.

This afternoon Roger took me to see a relative of his who raises and trains the Spanish dancing horses. Their “stable” and “bunkhouse” is fabulous and is located in a very secure area just outside the main metropolis of Lima. We were fortunate as his cousin was there and we were able to get up close with horses that are valued at $10,000 each (they had 10 there and 50 more at a different location– the “ranch”). The uncle, the father of the cousin, is famous for his riding skills and the horses he has raised and trained. It was “very” interesting and I got some great shots of some of them in action.

Well, that about brings you up to date on my activities this week. Over-all it was productive but not as productive as I wanted or needed it to be. However, I believe we will still be able to complete the desired classes before departing Peru. And several have stepped forward to volunteer to translate other material for video production later.

So, God bless and thanks for your prayers,

Dr D

PERU - WHAT’S UP DOC?

2010-09-27T11:15:00.000-04:00

Sure glad you asked that questions! You jogged my mind and now I remember I haven’t blogged since Thursday morning of last week. So, while I finish my breakfast of a “substitute steak sandwich” (better known as a peanut-butter and grape jelly) which is accompanied by a small glass of peach fruit juice and Starbucks coffee (travel packets), I will attempt to bring you up-to-date – THAT IS IF I CAN KEEP THE EXCESS PEANUT BUTTER FROM GETTING ON THE KEYS!

Thursday & Friday, September 23rd - 24th:

Both days were not filled with anything more than continuing the process of recording the classes for The Development, Scope and Study of the Bible. I would like to tell you that everything went smooth, but I would not be telling the truth. But we finally were able to make some adjustments and now have 5 sessions complete but that is only about 20% of the total. So we have a long way to go.

This week I will have two different interpreters but we are not able to start until Tuesday, so Monday becomes a lost day.

Saturday, September 25th:

Everything was geared to getting ready for the second of a two-part series on The Will of God. There are four churches who have at least one combined youth meeting each month on Saturday at 5:00 pm. I was asked to speak to them about the importance of discovering God’s will. There seems to be a basic cultural philosophy of just getting an education or training and then getting married without any real concern for what God may want out of their life. And because of the culture, their families place a lot of demands upon them beyond what is biblical.

So the first week I shared with them how easy it is to discover God’s will: receive Christ, then serve Him full-time – your “vocation” as Paul calls it then discover your “hobby” (defined by me as the job which will give you the finances you need to accomplish the task of serving God in their “church” – not “the Church.” “Their church” is describe by the place of employment where God places them. They have a “pulpit” to “make disciples” and to “train them” as they have been trained. Plus, the only difference between them and their pastor is that God has called him to earn his living by serving the Church in the capacity of one of the 5-fold ministries described by Paul in Ephesians 4.

Saturday, the challenge was to “Place Your Life Before God.” And the basis for the teaching is found in Romans 12:1-2. I simply went through the verses explaining the words in basic terms which would describe their life.

That completes Saturday!

Sunday, September 26th:

I was only supposed to have one service, but because I needed an interpreter and the ones I generally use are pastors who have services on Sunday morning, I asked David Hodges, who’s service is at 5:300 PM to accompany me as my interpreter for the morning.

My assignment was to speak for the first year graduation ceremony of six students from Ancon, Iglesia Cristiana El Camino pastored by Walter & Clarisa Villajuan. Ancon is located about one hour from my present location – the apartment I call “home” – on a Sunday (during the week it could take up to two hors to get there).

But to be able to use David, knowing we would not get to his home and church until about 5:00 PM, I volunteered to speak for him. So off we went! The day began with a 10 AM departure and ended with a 11:10 PM return. However the day was a success both for the graduation and for the time with Iglesia Vida in Jicamarca.

Now it is Monday and because we will not be recording, I will have time to complete preparation for the final recording sessions.

And “maybe” get my hair cut! Oh, get off of it! I still have some “hairS” which need to be cut!

God bless and continue to pray.

Dr D

A DAY FOR FRUSTRATION!!!!

2010-09-23T21:45:00.001-04:00

Thursday, September 23rd

The goal was to tape at least 4 sessions! But all we got done was ONE!

Put very simply – microphone problems!! I have a wireless system with two mics. They operate on different channels and different groups. Whenever we would turn Mic 1 on it would work okay, but with Mic 2 on – hey this is confusing to explain, but one mic works good with great volume but the second mic did not have enough volume to record and then it caused interference and produced a hissing sound.

We tried for almost three hours to find a way to eliminate the problem but finally gave up and set the one good mic up on a tripod below the sight of the camera and used it to record both my voice and that of the interpreter. And to be sure that we ha good sound, I also used my small Sony recorder and we also have the sound through the air into the camera. However the room produces a slight echo but it may be the best anyway because it gives it the feeling of a room with people in it.

So we did finish one and had to quit due to the time. I guess that is just part of the “game” – but I do not like to lose to a short in the mic system.

Tomorrow is another day and Pastor Agustin, the interpreter is bringing a system of his so we can get rolling and make some progress

God bless,

Dr D

THE DAYS ARE FULL OF WORK - WORK AND NO PLAY!

2010-09-22T23:23:00.000-04:00

Sunday, September 19:

I arrived back in Lima at 8:00 AM and had to rush “home” (my apartment - well honestly the Dan and Brenda Clowers apartment – but they said it is mine anytime, even if they are here) so I did rush home! Well after I found my way upstairs at the airport to Starbucks – everyone has to treat someone to something special and I was the only one there that I knew who needed to be treated “special.” Anyway my ride wasn’t there so I had to kill some time and what better way to do it than with a frappuccino.

I had only one hour from arrival at the apartment to get ready and depart for my morning assignment - preaching at Iglesia Centro Christiano De Avivamiento pastored by Gustavo and Jenny Rodriquez. He is ministering in Chile and I was the “fill-in.” His assistant and brother-in-law, Dr.(MD) Roger Falcon was my host and interpreter for the morning. He and his wife, Magaly, were interpreters for Marilyn and I the first time she came to Peru with me and that was before they were married. Oh, yes! The service ended with four or five (I am honestly not sure about one) who received Jesus. So it was a good day.

After walking about three blocks to a mall, (Marco Aroni said “3") but I counted more, we ate in an open air food court so to keep my food warm all the way to my stomach, I ate and let them talk. And the rest of the day was spent in getting the items I took on the trip to the jungle put in the correct place and into my laundry bag. Then I spent the concluding time sharing with the Clowers.

Now believe it or not, though I have been here an average of 2-3 times per year for the last 5 years, and for the last three years I have served as the Conference Missions Director for the SonShine Conference - this was the first time that Dan and I actually met in Peru. And I have stayed in their apartment at least 3 times before and preached here at the church. It “appeared” that we had something against each other and therefore avoided seen each other but the contrary is the truth. We tried, but never were able to accomplish it.

Monday and Tuesday, September 20th, 21st and whoops, this is Wednesday, the 22nd:

Well I have spent the time since Monday morning, either meeting Americans who asked to meet with me or working on the course, The Development Scope And Study of the Bible, just to get it ready both in Spanish – getting the correct translation for the student edition and the PowerPoint presentation as well ans seeing that the English (my copy) was in harmony with the Spanish. This is not an easy task for one who is not versed in Spanish. But with my limited knowledge and the help of Marco Aroni (the coordinator for Universidad Pacto de Vida (Covenant Life University) we have accomplished the task.

So today, after cancelling the recording session yesterday because we discovered there were some issues that needed to be settled and because we needed some additional equipment to set up the recording studio, we finally did begin recording today. We accomplished two full class lectures of 50-55 minutes each.

Our studio is set up in the living room of the apartment. It may look primitive to some but it worked. Agustin Ciccia, pastor of Nuevas Fuerzas (New Strength) along with Franz, who is a genius with computers and video, we made it and are looking forward to 5-6 hours of recording tomorrow.

Now for you who refer to me as “Dr. Gadget,” I want you to know the many “gadgets” I carry – many of them proved to play a key part in the establishment of studio: the wireless mics (2); the Sony MP3 recorder; a Sony 40 GB hard-drive camera; my aluminum typing table; my computer; my Proxima projector; my many cables and extension cords; and my Logitech controller for operating my PowerPoint.

So go ahead and make fun! I will get the last laugh!

Anyway, that catches you up on the details of the ministry through today as well as telling you what I will be doing for the next almost three weeks until Marilyn, Allison and David arrive. Except for Saturday and Sunday speaking engagements and meeting with pastors.

God bless and thanks for your prayers,

Dr D

The Ayacucho Adventures of Dr D

2010-09-19T17:30:00.001-04:00

Wednesday, September 15

It begins the same way! Get up and go! And that is what I did! I got up at 3:00 AM on Wednesday and journeyed to the Lima Airport, where I met Larry Cochrane and Larry Montgomery from Wilmore, Kentucky and Ismael Zubiandi from Venezuela. And that is where the event begins.

It was only a 40 minute flight from take off to touch down and we arrived in Ayacucho. It was certainly better than the 7 hour bus trip the medical team had to take from Lima. After going to the wrong bus station and then the wrong small buss transportation company, we finally met the team and piled into three 18 passenger vans loaded to the limits – including their top racks.

Now for the fun! YEAH! For the next six and one-half hours we turned left, back right, left, right – sometimes almost as soon as you got the wheels straight you turned again. That is bad enough, but then when you add the fact the road is gravel and drops for thousands of feet on one side or the other plus it is many – many times a one way road. Which means if another vehicle comes the opposite direction one of you has to pull completely over “if” there is room and if there isn’t then one has to back up so the other can pass.

And to complicate matters, you are crossing mountains 4,000 meters high (that is over 13,000 feet) and a passenger is also prone to car sickness it adds another dynamic – and we had two – one each in different vehicles.

Since we had no breakfast and there was a place about one hour out of Ayacucho – a tourist trap – we stopped to eat. Breakfast consisted of meat – “Cooie” (Guinea Pig) some lettuce and one of the 3,000 varieties of Peruvian potatoes and Inca Cola to drink. Not bad and I was hungry and YES the meat was delicious!

We departed at 8:20 AM and arrived in San Francisco - Kimbiri (twin cities across the river from each other) about 3:30 PM. Then waited on the fourth van to get there with our luggage by stretching out on my bed on the fourth floor. I wanted to take a shower but there was no water running in my room. So I got up and went downstairs and discovered the luggage had arrived and lugged it up stairs and prepared for the evening banquet.

My comments on it are this: It was a long time before we got to eat but all the officials of the city, the mayor and the educators were there and were honored. So we got things off the ground.

Thursday, September 16:

Morning arrived too early with the roosters, the neighbors and the dogs beating my alarm to the punch. I had water —COLD— water for the shower and shaving, but that’s life overseas. Breakfast was a fried egg, with a potato covered with the typical Peruvian yellow sauce. We got that only because we refused to eat chicken for breakfast.

But this was after we walked to the Christian radio station – we were told – which turned out to be a TV station where we were to be interviewed. We did and they did and in one hour we finished and headed to breakfast.

I guess I should tell you this was a medical outreach with services in the evening and teaching on Friday and Saturday. So the first thing on the agenda was to spend the majority of the day taking the Mayor’s Tour. We visited a water purification plant – it was very interesting – and it was just beginning the process. Then we went to the waste treatment operation to see how they sort the solid waste, sell the plastic and glass, and process all the other waste by converting it into fertilizer. Then to their fish farm for a fish dinner and speeches by the mayor and other leaders.

FINALLY we got back to the hotel to rest and prepare for the evening rally. It was outside on the street next to the city building with plastic chairs and a high platform with “flexing” boards that provide a thrill whenever someone walked by or decided to dance to the music. And lest I forget, THE BUGS! But the Lord protected me and even though we were warned about the mosquitoes – I never had even one attempt to bite me or fly close enough to hear it. My prayer was answered. And I was protected without getting a yellow fever shot – which I found out I should have had.

Ismael Zubiandi- was the speaker and for all I know it was good. It was in Spanish and the people enjoyed it but I somehow did not understand it. It makes it very difficult to have to minister at the altar to pray for sick and not be able to pray with knowledge about the problem, BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT KNOWS and so you just lay hands on them an pray.

Friday, September 17:
Unfortunately the day actually began with the end of the previous day. No water at night to get rid of the accumulated dust and perspiration so you crash waiting on the dawn of the new day. However, it began the same way the other ended – NO WATER! I had just enough in my water bottle to try to rinse off the shaving cream and wiped the rest off with the towel and departed for the day smelling just like I did the night before – but since I could not smell myself I figured I smelled okay!

I was the first speaker of the morning. The crowd filled about half of the college class room when we started and by the time I finished they had doubled the number of the chairs and there was “standing room only.” I had the next session free. People continued to come, so for the next session they had all those who had heard me to stay and the rest to pick up their chair and follow me to the next class room and I repeated the first teaching which was on leadership. Lunch came next and then I had the remaining part of the afternoon free and my next session was on Saturday morning.

Another open square rally with more in attendance than the first night filled the street beginning about 7:00 for an hour with some Quechuan music – the music of the mountain people. It is very distinguishable both in musical sound and in language. After some more contemporary music, Pastor Desiderio Escalante from Chincha who lived in Kimbiri from the age of two and found Christ while living there shared his testimony and the altar was filled with those coming to make a commitment to Christ. This was followed by a long prayer time for the sick.

Saturday, September 18:

I skipped breakfast as did several other pastors when we discovered “Cow-Cow Soup” was the special (only) offering of the day. If you can not figure out what “Cow-Cow” is it is “cow’s belly” and I am not against it, just against putting it in my stomach – I have one already!

While on my way to the Church for my teaching session I discovered that Larry and Larry (read paragraph one) were going to stay along with a doctor to minister to 200 who had walked for two days down river for medical attention, while the rest of us were to leave at 10:30 AM. But to our dismay, we discovered there was no more medicine available – it had all been used!

I will “NEVER” forget the sad look on the faces – no, the tears – of those who arr hospital in the arrived at the church and were told they would not be able to be seen by a doctor or receive any medical assistance. There is not even a hospital or medical clinic in the area to which we could refer them. So I stood to teach, looking back at the rear door filled with eyes filled with disappointment and did my best to teach my final session.

As we climbed into our vans for the seven hour return to Ayacucho, we were greeted by people bring their offering – huge pineapples, fresh ground home grown coffee, oranges and various other fruit. You could see the love and yet know the sacrifice they were making to bring their offering to us. With gladness of heart because of the spirit in which it was given we received their gifts and later passed them on to bless others because we knew we would not be able to get them back to Lima.

We departed, all of us, and endured the long journey, probably never getting above 40 miles per hour for over any time frame of 3-4 minutes, but turning and turning, going up the mountain in a serpentine method we finally arrived in Ayacucho and our hotel for the night and the flight back to Lima Sunday morning.

As I complete the blog for these four days, I am able to recognize this as an “encounter for the future.” I handed out all of my Spanish Business Cards for CLU – there was great interest. I met a pastor from Lima, it was another “open door”. I met Nino Martini, a captain of the National Police Department of Peru. I had watched him lay hands on the sick and believe God for their healing. As we departed, he grabbed me, kissed me on the cheek as an expression of special connection because I had shared my 20 year volunteer ministry with him as a chaplain of the Fort Myers Police Department – we were more than just acquaintance were of the same fraternity. He wants me to become the “priest” (as he said in his broken English) of the Lima National Police Department. That will not happen but I do believe I will here from him again and have an opportunity to speak to new recruits and even some of the high officers of the military.

Only God knows why the events scheduled did not materialize as I had been told, but the establishment of relationships because they were built upon the foundation of the Holy Spirit will have great dividends.

PACKED AND PREPARED FOR THE “EYEBROW OF THE JUNGLE”

2010-09-14T23:48:00.000-04:00

Tuesday, September 14:

I have just completed the task of packing for my first experience in the jungle area of Peru. Although it is not “in” it still is called the jungle by the Peruvians, better “the eyebrow of the jungle.”

We fly from Lima at 5:30 in the morning, arrive in Ayacucho at 6:40 and then meet our bus for a seven hour ride over very treacherous roads through the “cocoa leaves” – the basis for cocaine. So it can be dangerous not just from the roads but from those who use the roads to transport their drugs.

We will make our way to San Francisco and Kimbiri just across the river. Aschinca is the name of the tribe of people who live in this area. They still live by their ancient tribal customs. One of the big struggles is the marriage practices. They have no marriage laws and most girls bear children at the age of 12. Now I understand why I was asked to speak about sex. It isn’t that they do no know how, but they do not practice morality with it and therefore it becomes a major problem in the Church.

I have not figured out the schedule yet. I know where we are going and when we return from Ayacucho on the airplane and that there is at least a seven hour journey from San Francisco. And I know that my plane departs Sunday morning at 6:50 AM, arriving in Lima at 8:00 and that I have a service at 10:30 AM. Beyond that information I am lost.

I look forward to meeting the North American who will be at the airport– I have talked to him by phone – and those on the bus in Ayacucho from Peru and from North America.

So this will be challenging and exciting. Well if you call battling mosquitoes fun! Even though it is still cold here they tell me it will be “hot” in the jungle. But their hot is in the 70's. They really do not know what hot is do they!

God bless and keep me in your prayers,

Dr D

A Great Day!

2010-09-12T23:07:00.000-04:00

Sunday, September 12:

Another Lord’s Day is coming to a close and that makes for another “SPECIAL DAY!”

We had a great service, even if I was the preacher! Think about that! Now Smile! See, it has been a good day! How do I know? Because you just smiled.!

New Strength (Nuevas Fuerzas in Spanish) is growing both numerically and spiritually. You can hear, see and witness it by the Spirit during the worship and while delivering the Word. The last two times I have ministered here I have delivered messages which are far from being the basic messages of the past to a new congregation. There is a new depth in the body.

Now how do I tell you about the response and the flavor of the service without sounding egotistical? Maybe this will do. They had between 80-90 adults in the Tent of Meeting (It is literally a tent but supported by aluminum poles and trusses). Pastor Agustin Ciccia told me he had orders for 50 CD’s of the message. And one visitor requested my phone number so he could pass it on to his pastor because he believed his pastor would want me to minister in his church on a Thursday (since all my Sundays are filled.) Well, I’d better be honest – well I am but what I mean is – one visiting pastor purchased 15 to disperse to other pastors and churches.

The message conclusion is an encouragement for the people to worship and to “SHOUT” as Israel did when the had completed the seventh trip around Jericho on the seventh day. There was good response but it subsided. Then from outside the flaps of the tent was heard the “Cock-a-doodle-doo” three times of a rooster.

I guess in Peru if the people do not shout and praise the Lord the roosters will!

Or maybe my sermon was “for the birds!”

Anyway the response has been gratifying and I know God touched some who have previously been very reserved in the expression of their worship.

Now it is time to get back to the computer and do some work and preparation for the air trip to Ayacucho and then a seven (7) hour bus ride to San Francisco which is located between the last range of mountains and the jungle. They call that area the “eyebrow of the jungle.”

God bless and thanks for your prayers!

Dr D

PERU: BACK ON THE FIELD AGAIN!

2010-09-12T10:51:00.001-04:00

Saturday, September 11:

Let me being at the beginning of this trip:

Thursday, my travel day was a typical experience without anything significant, other than a $600 plus item was lost on the airplane and when the container was found by those who searched for it – the contents were gone! I guess I like to throw money away! It is fun????????

Then I discovered that I had forgotten to change the “sim card” in my travel phone. Meaning: I could not call for assistance when I discovered the item was missing and I do not have access for others to call me.

Number 3: I brought a special surge protector with me to protect all items I plugged in and failed to note it was not good for 220 volts. Therefore I had a sudden electrical explosion, a rancid odor and the end of the surge protector!

Do you want to hear another one? I forgot my regular leather sport jacket. That translates into the reality that I have only one sport coat for the entire trip – 7 weeks!

Enough of the “blues” because I do not have time to dwell there! Why? Because there is “good news” available! Anything that begins with a struggle has got to have a great ending and my expectation is soaring! So let us move on and hurry through Friday because it was just a heavy work day in preparing some courses to be sure I have the correct translation on my PowerPoint presentations.

My ministry began with a combined youth service with three churches: Nuevas Fuerzas with Pastor Agustin and Jessica; Iglesia Centro Christiano De Avivamiento with Pastor Gustavo and Jenny Rodriquez and Iglesia Vida with Pastor David and Ceci Hodges. The attendance surpassed the 100 mark.

I had been asked to speak on the subject, “The Will of God” because there is a mentality here among the younger generation that one gets saved, attends church, gets married, works at their job and not much else.

I will not re-preach the message with which I struggled in preparation, but the delivery was free, flowing and fun (even for the preacher) with the result of an altar service for over one hour. However I do want to tell you that finding the will of God is easy! I can tell you right now what the will of God for you!

Most people spend agonizing hours trying to determine the will of God. Simply stated, when you are born again you have been called into the full-time ministry. So all you have to determine is how you are going to earn your living while you serve God. Your job could be God leading you into the position of being one of the five-fold ministries (apostle, pastor, teacher, prophet or evangelist) or into any other “job” that will provide income whether it be that of a doctor, a mechanic, a salesman, a secretary or a myriad of other occupations.

Look at Ephesians 4:1 where we are told to walk worthy of the vocation to which we are called. Our vocation is the call of God to ministry and therefore the only area left is that of a “hobby.” So our vocation is ministry and our “hobby” is the job we use to keep our needs supplied.

My premise, my understanding is that once we understand what God wants from us - ministry a personal relationship with him that produces salt and light for the world, then everything else, food, shelter and clothing fall under God’s responsibility to provide for us.

Enough of the message. The altar ministry of one hour in length and the one and one-half hour of fellowship afterwards were satisfying and exciting, so Sunday here we come!

A GRUELING EXCITING DAY

2010-07-04T17:56:00.001-04:00

Sunday, July 4th

The public ministry arm of this trip is over, but ministry continues.

The public section began this morning at The Lighthouse Center, Pastor Guzman. It is an Assemblies of God Filipino congregation that is “turned on” in worship and to the Word. For a while I was rubbing my eyes to be sure I was really in Brussels, Belgium and not back home at Life Church. The worship and the flow of the Holy Spirit was definitely reminding me of home.

Pastor Guzman did not tell me how to turn the service to him after I ministered the Word, but when I motioned for the worship team to come, he stepped forward and whispered in my ear, “You go ahead and do the altar service.”

That took a load off of me. During the worship time I had heard the voice of the Lord direct me to pray for the sick. I wanted to be sure that was the direction and when the Pastor spoke to me it was a confirmation. At that moment a release came. I will not be able to write all that happened but suffice it to say there was confirmation after confirmation that this service had all be orchestrated by God’s divine plan.

I had been encouraged to contact a couple of pastors to fill in the Sunday morning, but I just did not have a release to do it but when Missionary Bill Schwartz told me he had suggested me to Pastor Guzman, I knew instantly that I was to accept the invitation. It was a divine connection and an extension of the Kingdom of God.

Well you do have to eat and so we enjoyed a “Hector Chicken” lunch and hurried home to catch the 8:30 worship of Life Church on the internet and was able to participate in the first half of the sermon before departing for the evening and final service of the Belgian International Pentecostal Holiness Convention with Pastor Mauricio Salazar and representatives from two other congregations.

And so my day ended, with a great Greek Meal and fellowship in the evening sunlight at the Brussels’ Park, a couple of blocks from the stadium where the Tour-de-France climaxed for the day.

Now all that is left is spending personal time with the missionaries, pastors and friends on Monday. Yet this is often the most important time in this ministry God has opened for me to Pastors and Church leaders in the nations of the world.

Thanks again for your prayer,

Dr D

BELGIUM: THE FIRST THREE DAYS!

2010-07-03T17:32:00.000-04:00

July 1-3, 2010

Sometimes “time” goes so fast and your schedule is so cramped with things to do in preparation and the mind just skips a beat! What beat? The “Blog Beat!” So here we are........

The flight over was uneventful except for the 9 hour layover in Atlanta, but I took advantage of the time and laid out the structure for a new message called: “Connection Power.” So at least the time wasn’t wasted.

I arrived at 8:10 AM on Thursday in Brussels. Their entry process is a breeze compared to other countries. No documents to complete and the customs people just watch as you pass them. Maurico Salazar met me and we were off and running – to the BED! I had not had but 2 hours sleep since Tuesday morning at 7:00. So a quick nap was in order – but the problem – I was so tired and sleepy I could not stop with a “nap”and spent most of the afternoon falling asleep and waking up only to do it again until supper.

Now when you are in Belgium, you MUST have a Belgium Waffle! So after the meal, Mauricio, Betsy, his daughter, and Obed, his son, and I headed downtown to wrap our lips around the best waffle in Brussels! We were sitting at the sidewalk tables indulging and heard the sound of a band. We looked up the street and saw a parade heading our way.

We later discovered that it was the annual celebration of entrance of Charles the 5th from Spain into Brussels from which he reigned while alive. It was unique! All horses, people and vehicles were typical of that period of time. They passed so close that sometimes you had to move to keep from being “sprinkled” (really I didn’t need to participate, I have been baptized) and anyway this was a “horse sprinkling”! The only camera I had with me was my new iPhone 4. Man did it take good video – you will have to see it to believe it!
On Friday morning after 12 hours of sleep (but it was 11:00 AM) Mau (as Maurico is called) told me it was breakfast time. and then we were off to meet a couple of missionaries: Bill & Gretchen Schwartz, who will be moving to Belgium in the next 6 months and Ronald & Margaret Turner from Romania for lunch at Pizza Hut. However it was just 30 minutes after completing a Mexican breakfast: A tortilla with eggs sunny-side up covered with catsup and refried beans. So I only had a Pepsi to drink and enjoyed the fellowship.

I spent the afternoon doing office work – better sermon preparation for the services on Saturday and Sunday. I wanted to get to sleep but when it is still light at 10:30 and 15 minutes later it is just turning dark – but that isn’t all of it – it gets light at 4:30 AM – full light! Added to that is the 6 hour adjustment and you now face another problem. Trying to get you body to cooperate with the newly introduced facts which say it is bedtime. I did not succeed until 3:30 AM and then it was revile at 7:00 and into the car and off to the Church at 7:45 for the graduation service at 10:30.

This was an thrilling experience. I learned that Logos Bible School (which is a two year Bible training school under Covenant Life University) has 60 students that have completed the two year program and many more who have been theire for at least one year since it began. Today, in the service were 6 pastors in attendance who had graduated from Logos and they counted at least 6 more who were not present who are pastors or in active ministry. They represent about 15 churches that have been started by these graduates.

One pastor has 5 Churches he has started or are under his ministry. One student was hired by the Church of God to be the supervisor for Europe for there inter-cultural ministries and spoke to me today and said he and his wife wanted to enroll in CLU by internet and complete their degree. An African pastor to an African congregation here in Brussels also approached me and communicated the same desire.

At the Luncheon the Regional Missions Coordinators for Eastern Europe, David and Linda Fallin were talking with me and the door for placing CLU in Hungary is swinging open as well as Romania. In addition, Logos is going to add the remaining two years of curriculum and become a full extension campus of CLU.

One important item I forgot to state: Many students from Logos are now back in their home countries in Africa and beyond in ministry. So you can see that Life Church through CLU is impacting the world!

Tomorrow morning I will be speaking to an Assembly of God Filipino congregation and then will complete the IPHC (International Pentecostal Holiness) Belgian convention tomorrow evening.

God bless and thanks for your prayers.

Dr D

UKRAINE MAY 2010 COMPLETED (Tuesday, May 25th)

2010-05-26T12:46:00.000-04:00

It is all done but the departing! We have completed our assignment for this visit to a land and people we have come to love.

Today we had our final pastoral visit, really it was a “lady visit” as Marilyn and Ira Ivanov and baby Katrina were the focus of this visit. But it was also a “pastoral ministry time for the lady’s. It is always good for pastor’s wives to have someone they can unload their burdens with and know “all is well” - nothing with be misused. This is particularly true when it has been hard to develop close relationships with other pastors and wives.

“Relationships” – I guess that has been the theme of this visit. The time the pastors had just to focus on theological issues and discuss them at the retreat and the relationships that developed from those free-time discussions is invaluable.

You must understand the background and the cultural upheavals which have plagued Ukraine. These pastors were children when their country was under the control of the communists. No one trusted anyone. You were not supposed to. You were schooled on “reporting others” for any misuse, conduct or communications. And so their households were permeated with this spirit of distrust and “isolationism.”

The single most repeated comment from pastors who attended the Idea Exchange in Crimea was focused on the fellowship and the potential of the development of new relationships.

Even now, though the power of communism is no longer visible, the new government has invoked new “rules” which are impacting the Churches. The first visible sign was the huge increase in the rent for any facilities used by Churches – 3 ½ times the previous. In addition, Churches are no longer able to use the facilities of government run schools (Church and State Separation - sound familiar?)

We have spent the last two days with Vadim Uruymagov and his sons, Peter and Mark. Much of our discussion with them has been about their progress since death of Inna, the wife and mother. I am happy to report all are doing well. They are moving on, looking to the future – to discover where God is leading them as a family and for Vadim’s ministry. I will sum this up by saying, “Praise God! They recognize they have future and a hope and are looking forward to it.

So now we look to the future. The owners of the resort, The Equator, have given a verbal invitation to return next year. Several pastors have expressed a desire for a meeting next year. We, Marilyn and I have each shared some thoughts about next year, now we must hear from God. So pray with us.

Until we see you in Ft. Myers,

God bless and thanks for your prayers.

Dr D & Marilyn

PENTECOST IN A MESSIANIC JEWISH CONGREGATION (Saturday, May 22nd)

2010-05-22T22:39:00.001-04:00

An unexpected/expected invitation took me to a Messianic Jewish Congregation this morning. It was the result of Marilyn counseling with the pastor, Inna Rekhlo from House of Joy on Friday. I had sent notice to her that I would be in Chernivtsi, but she failed to get the email. However on her calendar she had placed the notice “Special Guest Speaker on May 22nd.” At least God knew and had made notice of it in writing.

House of Joy is just that – a “House of Joy” when it comes to worship with a Jewish flavor. And since it was the time of the Feast of Pentecost I ministered on “The Feast of Pentecost,” using the Old Testament instructions from Leviticus on how Israel was to celebrate it and the prophetical aspects as they related to the New Testament Church today. If I may say so (and you are not here to tell me I can’t) it was an “excellent teaching” recalling for them their heritage and set it in perspective for them today.

AND I did it with my “kipa” (translated from the Russian word for it) – that is my special “skull cap” given to me by the pastor’s husband. But there was one problem! How do you keep it on your head when you can not use a bobby pen to fix it to your hair? I mean there isn’t any hair to pen it to! I needed a special “suction cup” fastened to the inside of it and then stuck on my head! It must have been the will of God for me to wear it because it actually stayed on my had during the entire message. “CHUDA!” (Russian for “miracle.”)

Under the direction of the Holy Spirit I was led to speak a word of knowledge to a lady who had been under great stress for several days and was weeping a night under the pressure of the situation. I noticed one lady in particular of the four that raise their hands. I knew which one God was talking about. But little did I know that she was the lady the pastor had requested for Marilyn to meet after the service at the restaurant and counsel. God had put it all together and set her up for the time with Marilyn.

We concluded our day with a dinner engagement (for you who use the term “supper” to refer to the evening meal) I will change and use the term “supper” engagement with Pastor Dima Nemchenko, his wife Natasha and Pastor Vitaliy and Ira Pavlenko. It all began about 5:00 and ended when we returned at 11:00. In reality it was an Apostolic meeting over a meal. The food was great and the opportunity to speak into their lives and give direction for the Church was precious. It seemed like I was speaking to four “sponges” (Not “Sponge Bobs” – that’s TV land) as they soaked up every word from both of us.

It is times like this which give you the realization of how your words and instructions impact lives and can impact generations. Serving God is GREAT!

Now it is time to “lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord, my soul to keep” (you prayer your prayer and I’ll pray mine!).........ZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz - See you when I wake up..........

Love and thanks for your prayers,

Dr D and Marilyn

Thursday May 20th Is Over

2010-05-20T22:35:00.000-04:00

This was a hard day for both of us. Marilyn is improving with her sore throat, cough and infection. For me it was a rough day trying to get over not sleeping last night and having to do without eating anything to allow my stomach to get back in to shape (if you know what I mean) but this was a double whammy. Something I ate kept my stomach in an uproar with indigestion plus! But with the help of some Ukrainian “Special Grass Tea” I have weathered the fight and look forward to tomorrow and being able to eat something again.

We had a service this evening at Word of Life. There is some false teaching going around here regarding the “law and grace” so I laid some scriptural foundation to combat the heresy In fact one pastor is teaching that God is bringing divorce to families so he can get the people together with the right people - He is “healing” families! All of this under the guise of “grace” plus other additions to make it palatable for the people to swallow – and many are!

To sum up this trip to this point – we have had victories through struggles, physical and spiritual. But God is good and it is a pleasure to see God at work in the lives of these people. During the worship tonight I broke with the thought, “God, why have you allowed me to have this impact on the lives of these sweet people.” I must say, it is humbling and as well carries a tremendous responsibility.

I must hit the sack – of course after checking the emails and sending those Marilyn is about to write.

Thanks for your prayers and God bless,

Dr D & Marilyn

A DAY OF STUDY PREPARATION AND LAST MINUTE ADJUSTMENTS (Wednesday May 19TH)

2010-05-19T20:55:00.001-04:00

Thanks to everyone for your prayers. I am not 100% - can’t seem to shake this cold but I am better. If laying on a bed would make me well, I would have been well several days ago.

This afternoon, Tanya, who was the main Assistant Pastor at the Church that had problems came to talk with me. I have kept in contact with her every time we have come to Chernivtsi. She really struggled after the problems and hadn’t gone to Church. I just kept encouraging her and talking about the God potential in her. At the time, she had a hard time seeing that God would use her again.

BUT, this time was different. She and her husband are attending Church and God has started giving her dreams about her future and her future ministry. Thank God, His gifts are resident in her to be used for Kingdom purposes. She thanked me over and over for speaking to her. She talked about specific times and places (that I don’t even remember) and though it seemed like she was rejecting what I was saying - the Holy Spirit was dealing with her.

Cell Group met here tonight and I’ll let Dave tell you about that but one of the lady’s who came is a massage therapist. She came in my room and massaged my hands, arms and face with a special cream (and it felt wonderful) praying all the time she was working. Here’s the kicker - when she left she gave special instructions for Oksana. She left fresh milk and told Oksana to warm it, put butter in it and some sugar. Dave didn’t want me to drink it because of the nasal situation and he thought it would make it worse but they believe it will really help. So, when in Ukraine do as the Ukrainians would do - and I drank a half a cup. It was delicious, we’ll see if it does anything to help me.

Cell group meetings are a vital part of the life of the Church in Ukraine. It is often their only other service besides either a service on Saturday or Sunday. It is a non-threatening place to invite people to whom the Church family has ministered. Tonight was no exception. When I entered the room, I noticed that those there were not the usual group. Since I stay in the home where this group meets, I have had the opportunity to speak every time I am here. I mean you are living here, so how can you say anything but “Yes.”

I had been planning on having the usual group but when I saw them I knew I had chosen the wrong teaching from the two I had wrestled with. I chose the one I had fully prepared in the afternoon instead of the one that wasn’t finished. Guess what? I had to use the “unfinished one.” And I am thankful I listened to the voice of the Holy Spirit and made the last minute switch, even though I had to use my computer to teach from.

At the conclusion of the teaching and a long discussion about the topic of God’s sanctification process with our soul the hostess said, “It is a tradition that everyone be prayed for.” So I did as was suggested. There was a young girl here and her sister requested that I pray first for her. She was to return to Italy tomorrow and was afraid of the flight and also needed prayer for a physical problem. As I prayed I began to realize that she was facing a big decision. So I stopped and began to speak to her about her decision. Tears began to flow down, both from her and the sister. You could see the visible move of God upon her. She said she had been attending a Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Italy but after attending this Church and been with these people she knew she had to find a Church like this.

Ministry to the others followed the same pattern as God spoke to each according to their situation. God knows how to speak through you to the hearts of the people even when you do not know the language of the fullness of their cultural backgrounds. It is fascinating to watch their faces as you speak directly to a situation. They know you do not know them and coming from someone with a different language through the interpreter still conveys the same anointing that came from you.

God is Great! Thanks for your prayers.
Dr D and Marilyn

DAY OF REST, RAIN; EVE OF UKRAINIAN PIZZA AND A MALL! (Monday May 17th)

2010-05-17T22:55:00.001-04:00

How is that for a “Day of Rest”?” Well, I’d better begin with the service from Sunday evening since Marilyn could not go because of her cold and therefore did not and could not tell you about it.

Worship? Great! Preacher? Maybe we ought not to comment on him, sometimes he has it and sometimes he doesn’t. But “if” the response of the people and their intense looks have any meaning, then he probably did a decent job. Let us leave that in the hands of the final “Judge of All Things.” But his message was titled: “Dare To Believe And Confess.” It was a challenge to remember believing isn’t enough. We need also to “confess our faith” and then “trust” God though the circumstances do not appear to have changed or the future doesn’t seem any brighter.

The service was at Word of Life, pastored by Dima and Natasha Nemchenko. It is the result of a merger of two Churches from the tragedy of the past into one and then the voluntary submission of one pastor to the other and taking the position of assistant. Dima as a student of the Word and an evangelist at heart. So you can expect him to challenge the Church to become involved in a ministry to their city and to reach the lost.

We had approximately 70 (conservatively speaking – that opposite of “evangelistically speaking” – that should help some of you recognize my attempt at “honesty” with numbers.) Anyway we will be involved all week with this Church including: a meeting with the pastors, the leadership, a cell group, a special midweek service, and then again on Sunday evening. And lest the ladies jump on my back – there is a special “Ladies Day” activity on Friday – meaning: “NO MEN ALLOWED!”

Now a “day of rest” simply means “no services” but it does mean a full day of study and message development. And then it also meant an evening with a former interpreter and her husband. They took us out to supper, excuse me, “dinner” which consisted of a soup, a salad, and pizza. Then we went to see the newest mall in Chernivtsi. It is “SOMETHING ELSE!” You should see it! I was surprised! It had a car dealership, many many restaurants which surrounded the ice-skating rink, a pool hall with approximately 60 billiards tables, a bowling alley – state of the art to boot, clothing stores, a household store with everything you would want, and a large grocery store and then to boot – that means “in addition” in case you are not up on the vernacular of today – a drive in theater. What else you ask? I do not know but I am sure I missed something. Oh yes! A music store full of instruments and it was operated by the husband of one of our former interpreters - Vovo (not Volvo!) The interpreter was Nadya Torubalko since you asked.

We made it home by 10:00 and now we are – well Marilyn is waiting for me to finish this so she – I can see if she has any emails from anyone. Therefore, I must stop and send this to be posted and check for incoming emails.

A SIDE NOTE: IF you send or respond to an email, please start a new email and avoid just hitting reply which will send our original back with your response. We do not have WiFI nor an email hook up and so I must use my Ukrainian phone and ISP which is slow, troublesome. But keep them “emails” coming!

Thanks for your prayers,

Dr D and Marilyn

THE “TRIP” and THE “TRAIN” (Sunday, May 16th)

2010-05-16T18:23:00.000-04:00

How can one adequately describe our 24 hour trip from Crimea to Chernivtsi??

Our trip to the Train Station was typical of a bad driver on curvy pot hole filled roads. I thought of Tammy and Peggy last year when they didn’t want to repeat one of our trips to a Village. He was going so fast around one curve, he careened into the shoulder. Thankfully, we made it with an hour and a half to spare and had to sit outside and wait on the train. We had outdoor facilities left over from the Soviet days.

There were eight of us - 3 men, 4 women and a child. We realized that we were in three different cars and 5 different “cabins” and ALL of us had upper berths. At one time, I might have been able to do the upper berth but I do have some limitations and knowing that it would be an up and down thing every time there was a need to go to the bathroom, I was a bit apprehensive.

There was a young lady and her daughter in Oksana’s and my cabin. She was not a bit friendly nor did she want to share any of the space under “her” beds. These cabins are not made for American travelers and at best, it is hard to get everything in. But when you don’t have the advantage of any under berth space it is impossible. We spent the time from when we got on until after the next stop trying to figure out what to do. The men were a little impatient with this young lady.

Finally Sveta came with news that she found a gentleman who would trade out his lower berth for my upper one in an entirely different car. We thought we had everything figured out but the women who is “stewardess” (more like a woman craving the position of authority) didn’t like it that we were changing things around although we though we had her convinced that everything was fine - when we got ready to go to bed, she insisted there had to be a child in our cabin. Everyone, shifted again and we were finally settled for bed.

They noticed the young lady who was in the cabin that I went to had a “God is Love” key chain. After a while they ask her about it. She goes to a Church that David has preached in numerous times and she had even read David’s book. She is 37 and had taken her 11 year old son, Igor, to a Sanatorium in Crimea as he has numerous health issues. (Please be praying for him.) Her son was worried about who might be in her cabin and he had prayed that there would not be a lot of men. She said, we were an answer to his prayers. Although she was quite shy, we had the opportunity to pray with her and she let all of us crowd into this cabin to eat our lunch and dinner which was a real blessing.

We arrived at eight this morning to pouring rain. I was the only one with an umbrella so the upper part of me stayed dry while all the rest were soaking wet as well as the suitcases. We had a nearly 3 hour drive to Chernivtsi with one stop for breakfast.

Although there is Church tonight and David is preaching, I am staying home as I got a cold on Friday and believe it is wise for me to rest tonight.

Continue to pray for our health and safety and for continued divine appointments - those we might have planned and those that the Holy Spirit orchestrates. This brings you up to date.

Marilyn

A DAY OF GOOD REST (Friday, May 14)

2010-05-14T17:18:00.000-04:00

Today was our last day to have a little rest and to get our laundry done. No dryer to dry our clothes so we borrowed a fold out drying rack and put it on our balcony. Started with the jeans wrong side out, turned them over, turned them right side out, turned them over – you get the picture, there is a little work involved. But all of our clothes are clean – woo hoo!! It’s the little things that count in life.

Ate typical Ukranian food today. Actually, at lunch it was something I enjoy. Veraniky - potato stuffed dumplings.

After supper our host took us up the coast and the view of the Black Sea was awesome and changing. It isn’t far but there are NO sandy beaches but cliffs. It is very beautiful. We all had jackets on and by the time we left, I was getting cold. But, brave soul that our host was, he stripped down to his underwear and jumped in. I cannot imagine how cold the water was and no sun to help warm him up and dry him off. Yesterday, with the sun out, only a couple of our friends braved the cold water. It was a delightful trip to view the beautiful Black Sea with vibrant blue and green water.

On the way back someone wanted to sing and everyone, men, women and children, joined in. It was beautiful. I only knew one of the songs but voices raised in praise to our God is a delightful way to wrap up the evening.

Tomorrow we catch the train for a 20 hour train ride and then a 2 ½ hour ride to our destination. Not looking forward to this trip as they couldn’t buy the beds for the entire compartment and we will be sharing with some unknown passenger. They do it here all the time but this is the first time I have had this “pleasure.”

You won’t be hearing anything from us until Sunday night.

Marilyn

The Day After (Thursday, May 13)

2010-05-13T18:04:00.000-04:00

This morning was a morning for “good byes.” There was so much appreciation expressed and the words, “this was just what I needed.” Truly, for many, the opportunity to sleep late and relax was very valuable to them - as well as the times we shared the Word and fellowship.

I had one Pastor’s wife ask to speak with me this morning. She is 40 years old, her oldest son is getting married next summer and while she was here and not feeling well she found out she is pregnant. Quite a surprise for them. They have four children and the youngest is eight. She is very actively involved in their ministry and preaches in their services when her husband visits one of their seven daughter churches. She realizes her life is going to make a big change. Oksana and I rejoiced with her and prayed for her.

Another couple ask to speak with us and the Pastor had told Oksana he had a “strange” request. During the time he was expressing his appreciation he told us that several times he had a “strange” request before he finally telling us what it was. He asked David to hug him as a father. It is impossible to predict what the needs of people might be and the close fellowship we shared during this time gave him the security to make this request.

Yesterday’s meeting with the ladies was a great time of sharing. I shared three things - 1. that often times God wants our obedience without us knowing what the finished “product” might look like. 2. That comparisons are deadly and keep us from realizes our “God potential.” 3. The power of our words - but more importantly our thought life because that is where the spoken word originates. Those thoughts opened up a stream of communication that took us several unrelated but valuable directions. Ladies everywhere LOVE to communicate. I had brought them each a gift and that was very meaningful to them.

Today was a day of relaxation. This morning we met with a Pastor and wife who have a large Church here in Ukraine but have also started a Church among Russian speaking people in Korea. They have affiliated with Dr. Cho’s church and he laid hands on them for this ministry. Korea is an extremely evangelized and moral nation. In the City of Seoul there is no alcohol, drugs, cigarettes or open pornography. They are very health conscious and live long lives as 100+ years. They NEVER expose themselves to the sun and eat very healthy.

Dr. Cho’s Church and daughter Churches number 300,000. From this congregation came the Korean lady astronaut who went into space with the Americans. They have 20 people who are members of parliament. The president of the Country is a Baptist and the Baptist are as strong as the Full Gospel Church. He showed us pictures from the 50th anniversary of Dr. Cho’s Church. It was ALL very interesting.

This afternoon we walked down to the Black Sea. It is so beautiful. We sat in the Sun for maybe a half hour and left our friends to come back to our room. We had seen the Black Sea in another area of Crimea and it is entirely different. This place has a sandy beach - the other place, the beach is rocky and it is in a mountainous region.

We had a little time to get the sand off of us before supper. Ah yes, supper. Ukranian food is as I remembered it although this time we have been served something we have never had before. Oatmeal as a side dish for dinner with veggies and creamy sauce over it. INTERESTING!!! Although it might be interesting to try different food - all these special dishes make us long for something, anything, from home. Oh yes, our friends from Korea gave us four packages of seaweed. And, yes, we’re going to use it (at least once).

After supper we spent several hour talking to the owners, the Pastor and his wife from Chernivtsi and Oksana and her husband. Spent time talking about the highlights of these few days and what we might have done to make the interchange of ideas come easier. We all agreed that if people return another time it would be different as they would already know some of the people and feel more comfortable.
We are spending another day here before heading to Chernivtsi. Thank you all for praying.

Marilyn

The First Idea Exchange Comes To A Close (Wednesday, May 12)

2010-05-13T18:02:00.003-04:00

It was a “new concept” to the Ukrainian Pastors. I had spoken to several over the past two years and asked them what they thought about having an “Idea Exchange.” I tried to tell them what it was all about. I told them it was not geared around sessions that would give them new programs, nor around preaching sessions, but around the pastor himself/herself.

Yet it was a struggle to get through this first Ukrainian Idea Exchange. Was it a success? Yes! Allow me to bring you up-to-date on the events. I said very little in blog #2 about what was happening.

Pastors are often closed and protective and isolationists. They have met so much opposition and struggles with their people and often from other pastors that they approach many things with fear and self-protective measures in place. They often wear “masks” to cover up what is really going on. They have had to walk before their people and present a “front” that is almost “false” because it is “expected” of them.” They must be “perfect!” They “represent” God and therefore they must be as God – without faults, and without change.

The truth of the matter is far from that perspective and it is a “killer” in the lives of pastors. Add to that pastors who are almost the front line – first generation – in a country without many “spiritual fathers.” This dynamic along with the cultural, religious and political pressures creates men who love God but walk alone, afraid to relationships.

This was the goal of this Idea Exchange – to break down the walls and introduce those who attended to the concept of relationships. We approached it by presenting the prayer of Jesus in John 17:20-26 – in which Jesus prayed for His people to walk in unity as “one” for their maturity.

The closest and most necessary relationship is of course with God. So we asked them in the first morning session this question: “What is God saying to you? To your Church? To the Church of Ukraine? And to your nation?

It was like pulling teeth to get responses and then to keep them on track. The tendency was to get onto their “work,” their “ministry” rather than to what they were hearing God speak to them personally. By the end of the session I was able to point out to them the theme of the morning – from their words to the rest – all focused around their personal relationship with God.

Tuesday evening, we gave them opportunity to share and then addressed them with a devotional: The Pastor/Preacher as Counselor who gives people a reason to live. As we walked to our room Marilyn and I wondered if anything was happening. We had also opened our afternoon for personal counseling, questions and whatever – but we had no takers. It was hard to read them, though our interpreter, Oksana tried to convince us that she knew everything was making an impact and their response was typically Ukrainian.

Them comes today! We separated the women and men so we could address issues specific to each. By the time I finished at 11:30 I could tell an impact was moving and their defenses were beginning to fall. Immediately upon finishing, the interpreter, a pastor, along with another pastor who did not speak English approached me and requested a meeting immediately in a secure place where no others would be around.

As we walked to the room, I went over what God had directed me to talk about after we spent more time requesting those who had not shared what God was saying to them. I challenged them to guard them selves against the three major pitfalls for pastors: Improper use of their time; greed (money); and women - sexual issues. So I knew I was in for a heavy session as we continued our way to his room.

He needed to someone with whom he could “confess a moral, spiritual failure” as the Word declares, “confess you faults to one-another that ye may be healed.” He had already been confronted by God and had repented but needed to share it so he could be held accountable and also by that confession be “healed” and set free. Needless to say, he did, we prayed and God did!

I’ll let Marilyn share about her experience with the ladies but we – in case you forget – we is “two” – met with a couple who had been presented with a request to pastor a Church and they needed advice on how to approach it and how to determine the will of God and also what they needed to do to come to a “unified response.”

The final session, began with prayer and then spontaneous worship, then a word of knowledge regarding a child of one who was critical at this moment. Sure enough one pastor had just received a phone all and was told his daughter had a very high temperature and the wife/mother did not know what was wrong with her. That was just the beginning and ministry flowed for the next hour.

I concluded the evening with a shortened message to challenge the pastors to be a “confronter” of sin in a generation when it isn’t popular to be a “confronter.” As the evening concluded and they began to move to other areas for fellowship, drink, etc. one pastor whom I had never met but was invited by a friend I do know said to me, “Thanks for the time here. I needed the fellowship. I have never been to a meeting where this kind of fellowship was available.”

Another pastor, a close friend, but one whom I wondered what his thoughts were came up to me. I had not been able to read him and he even missed the morning session. His words were, “This is what we Ukranian pastors need. When are you going to hold another one of these meetings?”

And so we wrapped up the evening watching fellowship take place, relationships being built, personal information being exchanged, hugs of appreciation being given to one-another. I left Marilyn sitting with a large table surrounded by ladies and passing the Sauna and the Billiards room I discovered both were being occupied by the men and relationships growing.

I sit here at the computer and without any personal “back-slapping” but with brokenness of spirit I can hardly keep from weeping. Thank you Father for Jesus and His prayer for us. It is happening! Pastors can become supporters of one-another across union/denominational barriers, even though they are miles apart.

Yes! It is worth it!

Thanks, Life Church – you invested in untold thousands of life as Jesus tarries.

Thank you owners of Equator – may God return your investment into the pastors of your country multiple times over and over!

With love and appreciation,
Dr D and Marilyn

DAY ONE OF THE IDEA EXCHANGE (Monday, May 10th)

2010-05-13T18:00:00.000-04:00

Our home for the next five days is on the western coast of Crimea as we host the Ukraine Idea Exchange. I am not sure of the total attendance as the figures have not reached me yet and some came that we didn't expect and some we expected have not been able to come and some arrived after the first session tonight. But it is safe to say we have crossed over the 30 mark and are headed for 40.

We are pleased with the attendance and I can say with the reception displayed during and after the session this evening. I just do not know what to say to express what I sense and I am not sure I know what to expect. All I know is when I was here last year the wife of one of the owners began to tell me about a dream she had of pastors in a meeting here being led by Marilyn and I. So I stopped her before she could complete her dream and completed it for her. The bottom line is: The owners wanted to sow into the lives of the pastors of Ukraine and invited us to host the Idea Exchange here at no room cost to the pastors. Their only expense was to get here and then to pay for the actual cost of purchasing the food for their meals. There was no additional cost placed on the preparation, serving or clean-up. So for 50 Hryvana -- about $6.50 per person per day for their food. That is what I call SOWING! And there are pastors from Kiev in the north, Lugansk in the east, Chernivtsi in the west and Alusta in the south.

We arrived here about 11:30 this morning from Simferopol. Sadly the wife of our host in Simferopol, Lena Barilo suddenly and without any warning had what seems to be a kidney stone attack and had to return immediately to Simferopol - a two-and-one-half hour drive to be attended to. And the interpreter I was counting on to interpret for me, Vadim Urumyagov missed his plane in Kiev. I need Oksana to interpret for Marilyn. But we have to make some minor changes and thank God another pastor arrived who can interpret for me when we have split sessions. Just some minor shifts!

That is the way it is. The unexpected seems to always show up in some way. Thank God for having it all worked out before it became a reality for us on this one!

Tomorrow our schedule begins at 8:30, the first session from 10-11, the second from 11:30-12:30, then lunch at 1:30 with the afternoon for those attending except for those who would like to have a private session with Marilyn or me. Then it is dinner at 6:00 and the evening session from 7-9 or 9:30. Wednesday it is repeated and we wrap it up Wednesday evening with those attending headed home on Thursday morning.

So now it is time to see what direction we go tomorrow. This isn't a typical seminar. It is a time for the pastors to share what God is saying to them; what He is saying to the Church and the Nation of Ukraine. We will also be open to discuss any issues confronting the pastors. The bottom line is: This is for pastors with pastors as the key people focusing on the establishment of relationships.

The prayer of Jesus for the Church found in John 17:20-26 is the focal point of the entire Idea Exchange. It is not a "do it this way" gathering.

Anyway, that should give you an Idea of the Idea Exchange!

Thanks for your prayers,

Dr D and Marilyn

WE ARE NOW IN UKRAINE - SIMFEROPOL, CRIMEA THAT IS!

2010-05-09T22:55:00.001-04:00

Saturday:

It was a long and hard trip. Maybe 10 minutes before we were going to take off the Captain came on and said they were having to reroute us because of the volcano. It would be 5 minutes to 2 hours before we left. It was an hour and a half. So, what was to be a 10 hour flight made us be on the plane for nearly 13 hours.

The flight wasn't bad although it is getting more and more difficult for me to "sleep" on the plane. We arrived 1 1/2 hours late and it took nearly an hour to get through customs. We had hoped to get a nice meal somewhere but there wasn't time. We went to McD's and I couldn't finish what I got. My stomach is still not back to normal.

We had a LOOOONG train ride. it was 17 hours. I slept - but fitfully. It was nice to be able to stretch out and not be cramped on a seat. BUT, these seats are like benches and you unroll a lumpy, old mattress to sleep on. (They do give you clean sheets.) This was the oldest and worst train I have ridden on. Probably from the 50's with the dirt accumulation to go along with it.

We were met at the train by our hosts. They have lived on this property for 3 years. They built the house with their own hands. It is five stories (including the cellar). They were city people but have learned to "farm" to be self-sustaining. They have milk cows which brought back memories of the farm. Milk with cream on it. They have pigs, geese, chickens - she makes cottage cheese, sour cream (which really is more like butter) and her own mayo. They have fruit trees and a "green" house and grow veggies. It is an interesting place and they have lots of interesting stories. We have known them for 6-7 years.

They have two children at home (late teens) who love and serve the Lord. As well - they help with ALL the household/farm chores. The daughter actually taught her mother how to milk a cow.

We slept most of the day. Unpacked and rearranged our suitcases. Slept until lunch. After lunch Dave showered and we both went to sleep and slept until dinner. Hopefully - we will sleep tonight. Have to leave for Church at 8:30 so have to be up and around.

Sunday:
We slept fitfully last night. I could not find a place to lay that I could get comfortable. Before five it was getting light so I got up, made myself some tea and oatmeal I had brought from home. The food, though not bad, just isn't appetizing and I don't think I am over whatever it is that I had in Peru. I dread meal time. :-) That isn't all bad except I need to eat what is prepared for me. We brought some nuts with us but unlike when we first came didn't bring a lot of things to snack on.

They had a big change in the government this past year similar to the change we had in ours. Four years ago they were encouraged by the change but people were disillusioned and decided their former form of government was better. The area we are in has always had a strong leaning to communism. Since the new president, the communists have connected with the "new party" and many of the old communistic practices have been reinstated. Obligatory participation by workers at parades of the old style and the such. They are re-erecting statues of Stalin. It is a time of great concern. Undoubtedly this will have some kind of effect on the Church.

The preaching was good this morning but something just isn't right in this Church. The Pastor is losing his hearing (very severe problem) and we have noticed his inability to connect in a conversation. I know he didn't hear ANY of the preaching this morning - very difficult situation. This past year they had a member of long standing leave the Church and demanded his tithe and offerings be returned to him. For whatever reason, they made the decision to return a large portion of it. They were involved with Franklin Graham's Samaritan Purse and had a strong outreach to homeless children. They no longer have that, in part because our economy hinders them receiving funds but there were other reasons as well. They are being investigated by the government for mismanagement of the funds (taking money for themselves) – all because the person in charge did not fill out some documents correctly. Nothing has been solved or resolved but it is hanging over their heads. The trial of their faith.

On a lighter note - they have incubators and presently have geese and chicken eggs in them. The chicken eggs take 20 days and the geese eggs take a month. The eggs have to be turned morning and evening. Their teenage children are very involved with helping them and it is the young man's responsibility to turn the eggs. The children do the chores at night the parents in the morning. But this week, the parents will be gone so the children will do it all. They have quite a little compound here, probably less then a 1/2 acre. They have 4 pigs and 12-14 piglets, chickens, geese, ducks, two milk cows (that pasture during the day outside their property) and two baby calves.

Marilyn

Saturday May 1 & Sunday May 2

2010-05-03T00:34:00.001-04:00

Saturday, May 1st:
Hi everyone! Well our day was very impacting to say the least. We went to the woman’s orphanage where the oldest was 18 and the youngest was 13. All these girls had a children and were getting the help of these nuns. We had some people from Marco’s church come with us so all together there was about 19 of us that went to go and share something with the girls. There were 2 icebreakers, a skit, Dylon shared his testimony, Katie shared an encouraging word and danced. Dylon finished it off with the salvation message that we all put together and we gave them all the bracelets. After all of that we presented them with a small gift for them and their children. They were a quiet group through the whole presentation but at the end the sister of the orphanage asked if anyone had something to share with us, something that God had put on their heart about our visit. One girl came up and shared with us how although what we had talked about was something that she already knew it was good to have that reminder. How there are many times when they feel lonely or as if there is no hope but having us there just gave them some kind of hope back. She was very touched by what we had all shared.

Hello blog followers, it’s Katie. I’m going to wrap up the end of the day with what Mrs. Marilyn says is my “two sense”. So the girl’s name that shared at the orphanage was Gladis, she was only 17, and had a daughter who was 2yrs old. After our program Rosita and I stayed after talking with her, tears began to roll down her face as she began to talk to us and pour her heart out. I can’t express in words all that she had to say, except that she was mature beyond her years and has experienced God yet struggles in her present circumstance( being a Christian and a 17yr old mother living in a Convent, with no family to support her and her daughter of only 2yrs old). I was so glad to be able to encourage her with the Word and love on her and tell her God still does have a purpose for her life no matter what she may be dealing with at such a young age. She expressed such appreciation to all we had to say, Rosita and I both feel as though she is our sister, and told her we will keep her in prayer. Around 6:30 we headed back to the house, Rosita, Johvanna and I took a taxi to go pick up Papa John’s pizza for everyone and around 8pm David Hodges took us to the water park. This place was amazing, definitely not your typical Floridian water park. Although it was cold outside we couldn’t help but get in the water. Beautiful dancing fountains everywhere, music and a laser show was all included for just 4 soles. David is so much fun to be around, he’s a big kid inside. Before we headed home we just had to make a stop at Starbux.

Sunday, May 2nd:

We woke up about 9am and left at about 10am. We headed to Pastor Gustavo’s church where Dr. D preached. We attended worship and after that we were dismissed to go with the youth. Once we were settled we began by singing a song with them that we have learned since we arrived to Peru which is Tu Eres Dios which was followed by our drum line and stomp. Katie then began to teach her lesson on living life poured out.
-Emily

The crowd was tough at this church. But the good thing is they really did understand what the point was that I was trying to bring home. Which was to not only soak up God’s Word but to pour it out as well.

Katie – she ran out of words! Can you believe that! Katie! Out of Words! No in reality she was so tired she could not think! So I dismissed her and sent her to bed.

Dr D’s Comments:
It is always an interesting as you watch the youth make their way through the cultural ways and yet find a way with God’s help to make an impact on the lives of the people. This trip was no different. They got to see various sizes of Churches. Minister to various economic levels. See and experience the sights and sounds as well as the food – that is always exciting – just to watch their faces as they taste the food. This team was willing to try anything – well almost anything. They stopped when I did. So they were safe.

Will their lives be changed forever because of this experience. Yes! They came to recognize that though this is a different culture and their living is different from ours, the Churches still find a way to exuberantly express their worship and devotion to God. They are not lacking. In fact, they have many things they could teach the North Americans. They have learned their mission is not to tell the people here how to do it, but to do it with them – just to come along side and say, “Let us do it together.!”

So for now we sign off from this trip and head back to our homes. Marilyn and I will be back on the airplane in less than 48 hours after arriving home – Ukraine here we come! We are going to a beachside hotel on the northwest corner of Crimea. The owners are believers and friends. When I was there last year they offered to host – free housing – as many pastors and wives as would come to a three day retreat. The focus of this event will be housed in what I am calling an Idea Exchange. We will gather to share what God is saying, what is happening in our Church, cities and countries and to allow the Spirit of God to “cross-pollinate” our lives and ministries. As of today we have 33 registered pastors and wives.

So continue to follow what is happening. I will attempt to post as often as I have the ability to get on-line.

God bless and thanks for your prayers,

Dr D, Marilyn, Katie, Emily and Dylon

Thursday, April 29th and Friday, April 30th

2010-05-01T14:41:00.001-04:00

Thursday, April 29th

Hello to all the blog followers, it’s Katie; today was mostly an off day. We have been very busy and needed the rest, we slept in till about 12 and really just hung around the house all day. We all felt like walking ZOMBIES.

Finally around 4pm we started to get ready for a youth service at Pastor Eber’s (who has a great testimony, leads worship and is blind) church in Ancon. Service was supposed to start at 8pm and didn’t start till 8:15-8:30. Dylon felt sick ( no need to worry moms, Emily, Dylon, Mrs. Marilyn and I have all experienced this icky feeling, and it started with Emily, we are all feeling great now), but still pushed through his teaching on Unity, and could hardly tell he was sick, Emily sang her beautiful song, and I danced to the Revelation song.

God has been with us through everything we have done no matter how we feel. Before we introduced ourselves and went on with our program, some of the youth there had some special dramas and dances planned for us. “Special” doesn’t even describe it all, these people are so excited to share their gifts with us, and really just love to show how much they appreciate us being with them.

It’s not too organized here and we have become experts at just going with the flow as far as the order of service goes. As Dylon closed, a few people raised their hand for salvation, praise God. They all can’t express enough appreciation towards us all. Peruvians are very warm and welcoming. After I danced a little girl came up to me, Emily and Dylon ( she told me she loved my dance, and loved Emily’s song as well as Dylon’s teaching). This little girl’s name was Hennasis and gave us each one of her beaded bracelets from her wrist.) We left the church after 10pm and after an hour drive, went home to sleep!

Friday, April 30th

Our day was full of endless surprises. We ended up going to a school in the morning which got changed to an hour after the first time so we went to Starbucks and had some coffee. Here Dylon decided to have a shot of espresso so just imagine how our day went. It just got better! When we arrived to school we waited for about 30 minutes and walked down to a block which the school had closed off so that we could share of message with them and so that the kids could share a couple things with us.

Katie taught on the armor of God while Dylon, Rosita and I blew up balloons. To our amazement the balloon part seemed harder. We popped about 5 balloons all together, the kids were talking during the message and a woman who found it necessary to check the microphone every 5 minutes. By the grace of we got through it. We had four girls dance for us to the song “Jesus You’re my Superhero.” After an 11 year old boy started beat boxing which was amazing.

Some of the kids presented us with gifts and we went to lunch at the mall where we all had something different. We hung out there for about an hour and a half and when we went to the car it didn’t start. After pushing about 6 times Marco decided to put us in a taxi so that we could make it to the the pastors church on time. When we got there I got to share my message on being obedient. We gave out a couple prizes, danced, sang and played hot potato.

After service was over we got to see a pig that was a least 4 feet tall, layed out on a table. They had cleaned it out but the experience was a memorable one, especially for Katie! Dylon and I had no problems feeling it but for Katie it was life changing. Ahahahahaha. She freaked out!

After having a brief break we made our way back to another church where Dr. D spoke and Mrs. Marilyn and us LTI students got to entertain and share a message with the kids. After we went out to eat and arrived home at about midnight. This was a very long day for us but we did it! Woooooohhhooo.
Emily here!

Wednesday, April 29th

2010-04-29T01:30:00.001-04:00

The day is over and the “children” are all headed for bed. Oh that they would be silent so that I would not be reminded of how much energy they have after arriving at our “Peruvian Home” when they were telling me how tired they were on the way here.

But that’s “girls” for you! They can talk when there seems to be nothing to talk about. But now to get on with the day’s happenings.

The day was spent in Los Olivos at Communidad Cristiana La Vina, Pastored by Guillermo and Lisset Sifuentes. This morning the LTI Team ministered to all levels of the school directly across the courtyard from the Church. The comment I heard from Dylon was, “This was the best experience and provided the best opportunities for ministry of all the places we have been so far.”

They spent the afternoon cleaning the Church facilities. That is after we returned from eating. And our eating experience was interesting. We ate at Chili’s. Now past experience has told us that when you eat at Chili’s you have a pleasant experience. We did experience good food, but the service was lacking. It started with a “bang” and ended with a “fizzle and a sputter”. But we were full!

Marilyn was the keynote person today! She took an assignment from the pastor to speak on raising children. And she met the challenge with a teaching she called, “Building With God’s Tools”. Because the pastor requested an opportunity be given for the people to ask questions, she was not able to finish the final two areas. But the questions kept her busy for another 40 minutes which those two areas would have needed.

You could tell from the questions there is a “BIG” need in this society for such teaching. After the session ended Pastor Guillermo approached me and said, “Put us on your list for requested services. I want her to finish this teaching.”

We had set up to video the sessions but I am not sure how they are going to turn out because the Church did not have adequate lighting. In fact they had only one light and that was in the center of their auditorium. This put a dark shadow Marilyn and the interpreter and the screen was not adequate to clearly see the PowerPoint presentation. But maybe I can save the audio and then give them the PowerPoint presentation for continued use.

Tomorrow, Thursday, is an easy day. Well, at least we can “sleep-in” because the activities do not begin until late afternoon for the Team.

Beyond The Peruvian News:

In the last two days I have received two invitations for ministry. The first comes from PastorDesiderio Escalante from Chincha. He wants me to go with him into the mountainous jungle area in mid-September and be one of the two speakers from the United States. There will be a four day event including a medical team of 22 doctors; a special day with emphasis on the Bible and two days of services. They are expecting 5,000 to attend.

Then I just received an email from Belgium and Mauricio Salazar has requested for me to be the speaker for a 3 day July event which includes their graduation services from Logos Bible School. Logos is one of Covenant Life Universities schools and has produced, if I remember correctly at least five pastors who have started churches after completing the two year school.

Please pray for finances so that I can walk through these open doors.

God bless,

Dr D, Marilyn, Katie, Emily, Dylon and two Peruvian team members who have been a great asset: Rosita and Jovanna – Ceci’s nieces.

Tuesday, April 27th

2010-04-27T23:56:00.001-04:00

What a long day. I can’t even believe I’m still awake to write this and its only 10 pm local time. It was an early start with everyone having to be downstairs for breakfast at 7:30 am. I took my wonderful hot shower (thank God for abnormal accommodations), finished up a blog to send out, and had pancakes prepared by our breakfast chef, David Hodges. Then it was on the road for a 2 hour and 15 minute ride to Chincha.

Chincha is a poor region that was devastated by the Peruvian earthquake of 2007. We arrived at a fenced in complex, a feeding program funded by Compassion feeds about 250 kids a day. In Peru, there is morning school, generally for elementary grades, and afternoon school for the junior and senior high. That gave us two groups of loving children to share our message and present everything we had planned. We flawlessly went through our first routine with Emily teaching on their worth in God’s eyes (Deuteronomy 7:6.)

After eating lunch and enjoying a 12 pound watermelon we picked up at a stand on the way, I finally got my first opportunity to play soccer in Peru. Normally “futbol” is not one of my favorite sports, but having played while growing up, this is something that was definitely on my Peruvian to-do list. Marco and I each made our own teams and enjoyed running around in the heat for about an hour. The outcome didn’t matter, but we were definitely able to break the ice with the boys and open a door to communicate with them.

We repeated our lesson plan for the next group, although it was about 3 or 4 times the size of the first. Leaving was probably the worst part, with the children crowding our van as we tried to navigate out of the facility. After stopping at a local restaurant for cold water, our next destination was 10 minutes away at a local church that is still in the construction phase.

We tiredly performed a new series and ended with face-painting to a group of about 25 kids. Many of them took taxis to be there and this was once again an event put together just for us to be there. What an honor.

I’m not sitting on a couch outside my bedroom, more than ready to crash in the bed I just had to reassemble. (I promise I haven’t been overeating aside from Sunday.) Its been a long but rewarding day and I’m quickly being taught on how to run on Holy Spirit fuel. The reason we are here is because of God, and the only reason we will continue to be here is because of Him. Continue to pray for opportunities for us to minister on a more personal level to the people of Peru and as always, your support is much appreciated.

Goodnight, Dylon

SIX DAYS IN PERU

2010-04-27T08:48:00.000-04:00

Wednesday, April 21st

Once again we have arrived in Lima with minimal problems! Ft. Myers to Miami and the check-in desk was almost a breeze all because “Yours Truly” insists on leaving home 45 - 60 minutes earlier than most. I know, but again I was right! We had a traffic slow-down the last 10 miles. At times we were crawling along and even dead-still on the highway. So when we did arrive, give our bags to the Sky Cap and in 10 minutes we were being served by the Copa agent. That allowed us time to get our “Last Supper” – well it may seem like it to the Life Training Institute students before going through the TSA line.

We passed through Panama on our way – 60 minute change of planes. Oh yes, I’d better confess before someone else “squeals”. We walked to gate 25 which was on our tickets and did not pay any attention to the sign above check-in when Dylon spotted the word “Habana”. We hustled over to our new gate and onto the runway, down the stairs to a bus and were transported to our plane. It was only about 30% occupied and we had seats with elbow room plus.

Lima immigration proved to be no problem – which is normally the case, but once getting our bags and going through the customs procedure is always exciting and this one was more than normal. I instructed the LTI team to not go through one behind the other and if possible not to use the same line as someone else.

The process is that you hand your customs forms to an agent and then push a button to see if you get a green or red light. As you guessed, the red light means running your bags through their scanner and potential inspection of contents. Marilyn was ahead of me and she got a red light, so because we were family that meant both of us had to go through inspection. I looked back and saw that the agent had turned her back and was being rushed by other travelers, so I told her to go on out and I turned down the inspection lane. She was instructed by a guard to get on out and not to wait. GREAT!

Now the fun began. I had five bags (two carry-ons, and three pieces of weight-limited bags). I proceeded to put them on the belt and circled around the machine and saw that all my bags except my large carry-on were ready to be reloaded on my cart. Then I heard the voice of an inspector telling me to open the carry-on. As I did, she asked what was in it. I told her I had two cameras, a printer and a projector used to teach with. And “NO” I did not register it because I have never been asked to do it any other time when I went through the inspection process since.

That did not suffice her and another agent came and escourted by to “Aduana” – their taxing department. I re-opened the bag for the new agent who met us and explained again. She said that I had to declare it. She looked at it and took the model number and went to her desk. I dug out a receipt I had for it and handed it through the window to try to speed the process. It worked! She stood and walked back out to me and said, “Thanks” and indicated that I could go.

This was a surprise because she did not give me any papers, nor require me to sign and documents. Translated: No problems! I was in “free.” The bottom line is this: The projector was not mine. It belonged to a pastor in Peru. He purchased it on-line, had it sent to my house to bring to Peru. I told him I would “if” I could use it while here – that was no problem. So only time was lost and we were “IN”
and once again an “angel” went before us.

Then a quick load into the new van – I should say BIG LOAD because with 5 of us and 11 bags plus carry-ons and now 2 more people and we were like a can of “sardenes” but the air-conditioning was great and we were in the new used van that the Hodges now owns.

Well, we landed at our home for two days, went through the normal “greetings,” discovered our beds and flopped into them. But this was after an hour of talking, and another hour of listening to our cook prepare for breakfast. No problem, you say! But we did not get there until 1:30 AM! The lights finally went out about 3:00 AM. Did we sleep? The majority did! Me – that is questionable!

So we are safe and the first ministry experience is behind the team and I will let them write about it. Here is the writer, Dylon to fill you in on today’s activities.

As you know, we arrived late in the early morning hours in Lima, Peru, but regardless of the time the city was still very alive. I honestly love the sights of Peru and made a comment that it was beautiful and received a few chuckles, but I still won’t take that comment back. Sure its down, pieced together with anything that can be found, and resembles a “post atomic bomb world,” as David put it, but there is jsut something about it. Its simplistic and bare necessity, but amidst that is color and character. Its as if each building is a puzzle pieced together with its own story.

We awoke for breakfast and got ready to go to a school further up the mountain in Jicamarca. It was unexpected, but a decent first place to open up the trip. The school was extremely small with about 20 five and six year olds. We went through our cup and “Garbage Mouth” routine with quite a few bumps, but all was well. The kids were very interactive and receptive the candy and prizes we had to bless them with.

We closed and the kids began to walk home down the mountain on their own. Sure it was not a municipal, crowded city, but it surprised me nonetheless. We wanted to walk them all home and carry their large books for them, but our desire was bigger than the possibility. We stood outside the school for about 15 minutes and talked, in English and Spanish, to our new friends in Jicamarca while overlooking the grand scenery. It was the definition of tranquil.

Emily and I split the teaching that night on the topic of “Living Higher.” It was a special youth service they held just to hear from us! They are a newly formed, but hungry group. The sacrifice they have here just to get to church is quite evident. It means not working, getting yourself ready in the dark sometimes, and taking however long of a journey it might be to get to Iglesia Vida. It shows how much they want to be there and when they do arrive, they are ready.

We closed the night laughing together as they each attempted their own interpretation of our glowstick routine. A very cool first day.

Thursday, April 22nd

Today was a total LTI day so I am going to forgo any comments and turn to Emily for the events.

It is now Monday April 26th, 11:38 pm in Peru and I am sitting in a hallway with Katie and Dylon while there are blogging about the previous days that we have had so far. It has taken us about an hour to write a small paragraph because of all the fun we have when we are in each others presence. Now for a summury on our Thursday.

We LTI students were all very happy to wake up around 10:30am to a wonderful breakfast prepared by David, which was pancakes with fresh pineapple juice which was delicious! Everyone changed to get started on the painting that need to be done in the children’s area at Iglesia Vida, but before that Dylon, Katie and Rosita decided to climb the mountain behind David and Ceci’s house. I stood behind to take pictures because I did not want to risk getting sick. After they came down and we began sanding down the walls and about 15 minutes later Mrs. Marilyn came out and released me from duties of sanding due to the fact that she didn’t want me to get asthma sooooooo, I washed the chairs in the church and went inside after I was done.

At around 6:30pm we started getting ready for church and Katie decided to straighten her hair so she plugged in her straightener and once she turned it off the lights in the room went off. Now Katie and I thought nothing of this but about 5 minutes later once the sun finished going down we noticed that there were no lights on in all of Jicamarca. (At least all that we could see.) Marco and Dylon had to rush to get gas for the generator so that we would be able to have church service. Once David got the generator working Katie was feeling so bad about blowing out allt he lights but was later told that it wasn’t her fault. (Having no lights for about 30 mins was an experience and thinking that it was Katie’s fault made that much better.)

Once service started we waited to be introduced by David and in the process I had a bug fly into my eye! Those who know have a good idea that I freaked out and apparently I was good entertainment for Dr. D and Dylon to laugh at. I completely missed my intro but made it in time to sing Dame Tu ojos which was better than I thought only because almost everyone sang with me! Katie danced and she interpreted the Revelations song(in spanish) amazingly. All in all the day was great considering minor bumps in the road.

Good night! 11:55pm

Friday, April 23rd

Up And At It:

The night was short and the day was long! 6:00 AM and I beat the alarm to it! Now the task of getting everyone up and doing the final packing for our trip over the Andes to Huanuco. Breakfast was light because of the upcoming altitude journey – over 14,000 feet – break with jelly or ham, fruit, tea or coffee but no milk or anything heavy. And of course everyone gets to take a pill to attempt to prevent altitude sickness. It can drop even the biggest to their knees.

We headed for the bus station at 7:45 and waited for Marco to return from parking the van. He returned from the excursion at 8:30. We had to wait another 15 minutes before we could hand our luggage to the workers and another 15 minutes before we could board.

I had requested a seat on the second level at the front. I wanted to see the sights this trip and also decided that I was not going to sleep any on the 9 hour journey. So with both cameras ready I plopped down into my seat to enjoy the views. I was not disappointed. It was an absolutely fantastic view from that position.

David Hodges and two of his nieces joined us on the trip. Only one person was affected with the altitutde and she was a Peruvian - Jovanna for those of you who know David’s nieces. We arrived at 6:30 PM and had to hurry to the hotel because the youth had a 7:00 meal scheduled at the Pastor’s house and then off to their first ministry event

Here I will let Dylon tell you about it.

We were very crammed for time, but did all we could to start the youth service promptly at Iglesia Peniel. They opened up with their own lively worship using wonderfully loud speakers and microphones at their highest level. Emily, thinking she had a prime seat in the front, left with a ringing in her ears due to being blasted by enormous sound waves. I joke and am serious at the same time, as it was overall enjoyable and as close to the worship at home as we will probably see during our time here.

I spoke on Unity and Change to a crowd of about 25-30 youth and I think it went over pretty well. They were talkative and Rosita did a terrific job translating for me. I threw Katie a bit of a curve-ball in having her do a call for salvation at the last minute, but I knew it was necessary after speaking on change. After all, the only true way to permanent change is through Jesus (John 4:23-24.) Much of the youth weren’t very sociable after service, but it was evident that they were at church with purpose, not just to be there. And I can easily say I understand how hard a language barrier is to overcome, although my Spanish is slowly improving.

The leaders concluded the night with their native tasks and responsibilities and we left to grab a small bite to eat. We stopped at a local Polleria, very popular to Huanuco and all of Peru, and had a version of papas fritas (french fries) and our first taste of Inca Cola, a tasty experiential drink that has a history of its own which I’ll have to share when we return.

We were exhausted from the very hot bus ride earlier that day and quickly headed to bed after preparing for tomorrow’s schedule. We were finally beginning to step into our flow as a team and it was a great start to an even better weekend. Love you all and greatly appreciate your prayers and support!

Saturday, April 24th

I had two assignments scheduled. Pastor Carlos had invited area pastors and his leadership to an 11:00 AM service. Problem! Only two people beside the Pastor and his wife showed up and they were from his church, so he canceled the meeting. I guess my name scared them away! In reality, I am not sure he did much to promote it but only a quick invitation. So David, who was my interpreter, were treated to a tour of the city which is nestled in a valley from the mountains that surround it. And then back to the house of our host and a meeting with the LTI youth for lunch.

Saturday evening was filled with drama! Literally! Each of the cell groups were to present a drama and I was injected into the middle. It forgoes saying that the evening was long! The team walked 5 blocks to a restaurant to fill their stomachs with Chinese cusine and then to our hotel to crash.

But lest I be thrown under-the-bus, I better let Emily share her experience from her ministry activities of the day.

The morning was amazing. It was my turn to give some of the children of Huanaco a message which was on being obedient to God. I was expecting about 40-50 kids and once we were about to start we had over 130, praise God! Katie did a skit that spoke about the widow that Elijah meet during the famine. It’s a great story that shows what being obedient and having faith through all circumstances in you’re life is all about. (1 Kings 17.)

Rosita has been my interpreter which has been a blessing. She has been able to get the messages across beautifully for all of us. After lunch, we went to a very small church but it was very impacting. Everyone who had attended participated in the games that Katie had which was on Armor of God. We were able to hear about healing that god had done on a woman’s legs.

It’s always good to hear people give praise to God for things that seem impossible in the natural. As Dr. D let you know we met up for lunch then in the evening we went to church. Dr. D shared an amazing message about being chosen to change the atmosphere. I think it was the right amount of encouragement that we all needed. Our Saturday night could not have ended on a better note than an empowering word and good dinner all together!

Sunday, April 25th

I forgot to tell you about our accommodations, not that you care but continue to read anyway. Six beds in the room with four inhabitants; a bathroom with only enough room to turn around – IF you were careful; a shower in there also but to get under the water you had to put your back against the plastic curtain; no air-conditioning and only one window. To assist with airflow we placed a small lamp table against the door while permitting it to stand ajar, knowing that if someone came in we would hear the table move. And I forgot to tell you about our “unwanted guests!” Mosquitoes! But they decided that only one person would be attacked - Marco so the rest of us were pleased!

Breakfast was brought to us by our hosts. It consisted of an fried egg sandwich with meat, but being hungry we downed it and headed out for the day – to a graduation for students who have completed the first year of studies in Pacto De Vida (Covenant Life University) and the LTI students and Peruvian assistants to minister to the children of the adults who came to the 11:00 AM graduation.

I figured we would be over by 12:00. WRONG! It wasn’t because of the speaker either! So back off! Okay? Thanks! My pride would be hurt if you didn’t! We did finish though about 2:00 and then quickly went to our hotel room, changed clothes and headed to the pastor’s for lunch. Lunch did I say! It was good but soooooooooo much food and not one of us could clean their plate. So instead of a clean plate saying it was great we had to EMPHASIZE it with words.

After some fellowship with Pastor Carlos and his wife, Lenora, we took off for our room and some rest before the evening service – all except Katie, Emily, Dylon, Rosita, Jovanna and Marco. They took a walk around the town and ended up at the hotel later.

The evening service began only 5 minutes late and the crowd, if I can use that word, kept arriving even through my message. The evening concluded with what turned out to be our favorite food for Huanuco – CHICKEN! Only because we had it every meal – in some form or other. But that is the life of missions!

We had to hurry after the service, eat those chicken sandwiches, change into travel clothes, seal our suitcases and backpacks and head to the bus station for the overnight trip back to Lima. I’ll let one of the students describe that bus trip!

To wrap up our first five days we can only say, “God was with us and He displayed His power.” And we heard a testimony from a lady we prayed for last year. In the middle of my sermon I stopped and said, “There is a person here with heart problems.” In a few minutes a lady raised her hand and came forward. This trip she said three doctors gave her three different reports about her heart. She said God had spoken to her and told her she would be healed. And in a vision she had seen herself enter a building without any family member with her. She met a doctor who told her to lay down on the cement table. He took a scaple and cut her open, took out an object and then told her to get dressed and go home. That night when she was prayed for, she fell onto the floor and when she tried to get up I told her to stay there because God was operating on her. She told us that from that moment on she had not had any problem and can do everything she could not do before.

Now for words from Katie.

Greetings from the wanna-be Peruvians. My stenographer, Dylon, is typing for me at this moment because I just finished painting my nails red. According to Marco, we were supposed to have around 100 kids in the morning and take them to the park for an outreach. Unfortunately, there were only 9 kids at the church so we ended up taking them to this little square room on the side of the church building. (Thinking now...) Learning to be as flexible as possible in overseas ministry, we quickly changed our order of events and adapted to our surroundings. We introduced ourselves, as always, and are finding intros to be awkward situations. (We welcome your suggestions and really need them.)

We opened up with our now internationally recognized cup routine. Followed by two stomps and a skit starring Emily Rodriguez and Dylon Dixon. I gave the “Garbage Mouth” lesson, which is becoming an all-time Peruvian fave. Having time to spare, we face painted with the kids. They loved it.

We then went to the Pastor’s house for lunch, which was a hilarious experience. One portion of food to them is like 3 meals to me. No joke! They served us thinly sliced fried chicken, a four normal-sized-human-being portion of rice, and a side of butter with a little bit of potato. To my disadvantage, after lifting my 8 inch piece of chicken I found two black pieces of hair. To make a long story short, that was the most interesting meal I’ve had in Peru so far.

We then got to do some sight seeing with “Marcoroni”. We got back to the room, packed our stuff, and got ready to attend church that evening. I was expecting a large crowd to come and see me dance, but I found out that I’m not as popular as I thought. I danced and Emily sang. Dr. D preached. We then received gifts from the pastors, which was very sweet and heart-warming. We were blessed by the thought they put into the gifts. (Pictures to come.)

Our bus was fabulous–two story and comfortable seats that turn into fully reclinable beds. I was affected more than others by “the pill” for altitude sickness so I fell asleep watching the Rock dance around in a tutu. I didn’t sleep too well going over the Andes mountains as the bus driver was taking the curves very sharply. I woke up several times terrified and thinking I was rolling down the mountain, but thank God I was sitting next to Rosita, our awesome translator, because as I looked into her eyes I knew I would make it back to Lima safely. What a trip. Fun times in Huanuco overall.

Monday, April 26th

We did return safely to Lima even though we arrived two hours late due to a flat tire about 5:30 AM. But that was nothing to the excitement Marilyn had. She had remained with Ceci and the boys in Jicamarca where she was to speak at the Church on Sunday since David went with me to be my interpreter. The report is that she did GOOD!

But on Monday as they were preparing to meet us here in Lima she called me and reported that the taxi driver – a man who had on Thursday given his heart to the Lord at the service at Iglesia Vida was bitten severely by “Tyson” without any provocation. Now Tyson belongs to David Hodges. The driver was bitten on the leg just above the ankle and in the process his pants were ruined as was his leather shoes. Fortunately the man was not angry nor vindictive and was smiling when they arrived an hour late to be with us.

The rest of the day was a “rest day”. We went down to coast to eat some American Food (I wonder why?) – and the students along with David and Ceci took the afternoon and evening to tour Lima and see the historical sites in central part of the city. During that time Marilyn and I returned to our “home” – the home given to us to use while we are here on this trip – so Marilyn could do the laundry and I could catch up on some needed work. Work can even be “sleeping” when you are overseas.

So now you are up-to-date on the events of this trip. We are now able to do this daily so continue to follow the exciting events of this trip.

I must now prepare to leave for Chincha.

God, bless,

Dr D, Marilyn, Dylon, Emily and Katie

IT IS FINISHED! THIS TRIP THAT IS!

2010-03-02T12:12:00.000-05:00

This is blog “#7" and since that is a perfect number, I will complete my task of informing you of the happenings since Friday, February 26th.

Saturday, February 27th:

We will skip talking about “sleep” since “sleep” tried its best to “skip” me and get on to the real activity which took place after departing from my abode with the Falcons – not “birds” but Dr. Roger and Magaly Faclon, the assistant pastor of Iglesia Centro Christiano De Avivamiento where I spoke on Friday evening.

I think it was about 3:00 when Marco and I headed for Principe de Paz (Prince of Peace) to meet with Pastor Gilberto Varillas and the students enrolled in Pacto De Vida. Again, no one can tell you in words the experience of deriving anywhere in Lima without using at least a video so you can visualize what takes place.

We arrived a few minutes early for the 4:30 appointment and what I thought was a time to personally meet the students and share 5-10 minutes more information about the college program. But as it turned out we did not leave there until 7:30 PM. So the event was filled with greetings from the Pastor and then it was my turn. When I finished sharing the scope of the Covenant Life University (Pacto De Vida) I started to return to my seat and was greeted with “now minister the Word!”

So being the “instant in season and out of season” leader, I obediently complied. Now, I never go anywhere for any meetings without taking something to deliver to the people, “just in case” and this was a time for the “in case.” And for the next one (1) hour I delivered what was on my heart – in fact it was a shortened version of Lecture #1 of a class on Leadership which I will be recording for the Spanish contingent of our educational program. I promptly sat down when finished

The pastor then asked each person there, students and other Church members to stand and introduce themselves and tell me how long they had been serving God and anything else they wanted to say. So I returned to the front so I could personally greet them and establish a more personal conversation with them. As the proceeded, the anointing began to stir me and I prayed and prophesied what God was speaking to me regarding their lives. S000000000000000000 – you’ve got the idea – the whole event extended our stay.

The most interesting event then took place. Ten more people approached the pastor and told him they wanted to be a student. So we went from 14 to 24 students in the process of visiting the extension.

This was followed up by a video depicting the ministry of the Church to two areas of poor youth and children in there area. These people are not even in what we would consider “middle class” area of their city (part of the metroplex of Lima) but they have a heart for those who are not as fortunate.

The children to whom they minister live in an area where the garbage and trash trucks dump their “goods” and the people who live there go through and “recycle” anything that is “recyclable”. Now that is “some job” but that is the way the majority make their living.

One hour after leaving we arrived at Nuevas Fuerzas, the Church pastored by Agustin and Jessica Ciccia and my bed for the remainder of this trip. But one thing I keep forgetting is that the Ciccias are so hospitable and tender toward others who are having a tough time, that frequently there may be as many as 8 +/- additional people staying in the house. So it was and is on this occasion. My room was “supposed to have at three more men/young men in the room with me. But God used one of my “problems” to scare two of them away for the night and every night since I have had the room to myself.

You are asking “what problem”? It isn’t a problem to me! But it is a problem to others! I SNORE! Apparently they were so taken back and afraid of sleeping that two of them went to the third floor and slept on the floor! Thank God for “snoring!” Now I do not do it all the time, but I was and they “fled.”

Sunday, February 28th

In the morning I ministered the word here at Nuevas Fuerzas (New Strength) and at 3:30 Marco arrived to take me to Iglesia Vida (Life Church) where David and Ceci Hodges live and minister.

I learned that there has been more violence. Someone “bombed” or at least “blew-up” some piece of equipment related to electricity (transformer or something) on Wednesday and there had also been occasion of brutality on some residents as well as the “squatters” who are attempting to move in and possess the mountains and the land belonging to those who are already there. Fortunately the electricity was on and no more violence had transpired since so we worshiped, prayed, preached the Word and then spent time in fellowship with a bowl of Ten Bean Soup over rice.

We concluded the evening by packing eight people into a car designed for 5 maximum and with 5 it is close in the back seat. The others were members of Ceci’s family who were there for the service and to avoid a lengthy bus ride we dropped them off about two blocks from the family home.

Monday and Tuesday - March 1st & 2nd:

I had plans to video for approximately 4-6 hours on Monday and concluding whatever was yet to be done but because the Spanish was not yet complete, it was required that I “punt” (using the football analogy when you cannot advance the football any longer).

The activity for Monday was a “breakfast” appointment with Peter and Blanca Wollensack who have been living here in Peru for about 5 years. They have been using the ISOM cuniculus (which we also use for the first one and one-half years of study). Their desire is to network with us and be able to see those who have completed their studies under them be able to continue their educational studies in the Bible and for pastors to attain their Bachelor’s degree.

Now a “breakfast” appointment does not mean a trip to a “breakfast restaurant” (whatever your favorite one may be.) My breakfast consisted of a pork sandwich with sweet potatoes, onions, lettuce between the typical Peruvian “hard bun” and a glass of juice – fresh squeezed juice – I had pineapple and guava.

The place was almost empty for the first 45 minutes, then suddenly two swarms of workers from the surrounding offices began to fill the place and eat their “breakfast” – the have a “breakfast break” about 10:00 AM. They also ate similar sandwiches.

The rest of Monday was spent taking care of records, etc. and a trip to the super market with Agustin and Jessica. I do not usually go to WalMart with Marilyn but because I was invited, and needed to spend some time with them, I accepted.

It was an experience! The store was jammed with shoppers. It is a BIG SUPER MARKET and had so many customers that it was next to impossible to find a shopping cart. We did and we filled it and proceeded to return home.

The only “known activity” today is a 5:00 meeting with Pastor Gustavo Rodriquez of Iglesia Centro Christiano De Avivamiento who returned home early Saturday morning. He seems to leave the country when I am coming to Peru and so I seem to “leave” the country when he comes to the US. Therefore this meeting is important to both of us.

Thanks for your prayers
Dr D

Catching UP!

2010-02-27T00:32:00.001-05:00

Wednesday, February 24

This was the day to “shift gears”. First we had breakfast with Jenny Rodriquez at her house then we ventured out onto the streets to take Mark and Rachel to the airport and their return to US soil. And being the “strong man that I am” I was able to enjoy fellowship at Starbucks (or should that have been “week man”) where we were joined by Magaly Falcon, Jenny’s sister who works just a couple of blocks from the terminal and is involved with shipping of zinc products around the world. She is the wife of Dr. Roger Falcon who is also the assistant Pastor of the Church where they worship – Gustavo, Jenny’s husband is the pastor.

Marco and I then returned to pick up my belongings from the Clowers’ apartment at the IPHC Church and move everything to the Falcon residence for three nights. This was so I would be in the center and closer to where everything was happening for the next four days.

We picked up David Hodges at 5:00 PM and drove to my speaking engagement at Communidad Cristiana La Vina, pastored by Guillermo Sifuentes and his wife Lissett. The journey required that we leave the Falcon residence at 3:45 to pick up David at his house and be on our way from there at 5:00 so we could be at the church for a 7:00 service. If you could see the traffic at that time of day you would understand about the travel situation that is utter “chaos”.

As is common in this part of the world, many do not have vehicles and take the bus which when traffic is bad will make the Church service begin late – just to avoid confusion. It did and that make the conclusion take place at a late hour. That was because I was to teach two approximately one hour sessions. I made it and the hour was late which made it almost midnight by the time we dropped David Hodges off and make out way to the Falcon residence.

The day ended as the new day began!

Thursday, February 25

I got to sleep a little late and found out that my scheduled appointment had been cancelled making the day an almost “free day.” It allowed Marco and me time to go van shopping – that is looking. Success was not in the picture. All vans we found were too beat up and too high to even consider. So after 3 hours we called it quits and returned to the Falcon residence to enjoy the evening and permit me to make some decisions regarding the material for Friday nights engagement.

I did a “Babel Fish” translation of the student outline of my lecture into Spanish just to assist Roger who would then be able to correct the final so I could make a PowerPoint Presentation for those attending. We made it by 11:30 PM and called it a day.

Friday, February 26

Up earlier than I wanted to but I got my day started and it went from there. For our 11:30 appointment we shoved off by 10:00 and forced our way through the traffic and arrived on the other side of Lima and climb the mountains, flew down the other side and followed our host, Gene Gayle – a missionary from southern Louisiana to the vacation house where he and his family were staying. They had to come into Lima to renew their residency in Peru and get their new documents.

Gene is interested in establishing an extensions of Pacto de Vida in his city, Peor. It was a good time of sharing experiences, discoveries and concerns for the people of Peru. And of course! I cannot forget the sirloin steak! Delicious! And so was the salad with a special tomato, garlic, vinegar, olive oil, oregano, and something else all put through a blender.
2:30PM arrived and we had to cut short our visit and return to Lima proper to be ready to depart of for the evening service – family seminar at Iglesia Centro Christiano De Avivamiento pastored by Gustavo & Jenny Rodriquez.

As seems to be the case more than not, Pastor Gustavo and I cannot seem to get our schedules together. When I am in Peru, he is gone. When he is in the United States, I am gone. There must be something wrong with both of us if both of us keep trying to avoid the other. If you can determine the problem, please — oh forget it! We really like each other, or I would not be speaking to his people.

But it was one of “those nights!” The fuse box burned up one breaker just before starting time. It seemed like an hour before they accomplished getting “some” electricity on. We had only lights in the back half. Extension cords kept my computer and the projector and video camera going. BUT!!! It as next to impossible to see my notes. That made for many confusing statements that made it very difficult for the interpreter. It is the only time I have walked away from any service of meeting on any trip outside the US and felt like I blew it! I still am not sure of what I said.

And to make matters worse, I was depending upon getting a good video of it to add to others on the subject of marriage to complete a course for the University. I had to forget including the PowerPoint in the video and after looking at what I did get – I really got almost nothing that is usable.

But ONWARD AND UPWARDS! That is the way the old ball bounces!

It is now Saturday AM and I quit!

Love,

Dr D

A SABBATH TUESDAY - IF SHOPPING IS A DAY OF REST!

2010-02-24T15:33:00.001-05:00

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

The “rush” was over but the activity did not produce a full rest only a different mode but it did provide a break from the pressure. And since this as the last full day for Mark and Rachel it was necessary for them to get a view of the city, its food and its shopping extremes.

What better place than to begin the day with lunch a “Rustica”. It is a quaint but large place where they serve buffet style with Peruvian food. Ceviche of three types; potatoes with their special sauce; fried blood - but no one with us would touch it; Lomo Saltado; “purple corn drink” and time nor space permit the listing of it all (only because I can’t remember all the different dishes).

Then over to the Inca Mall for some tourist treasures. And who could go to Lima without venturing to Polvos Azules (Blue Dust). It is one small cubical after another of all kinds of clothing, gadgets, records, tapes, videos and anything you desire (almost). And if you are not satisfied, as Rachel wasn’t then off to a typical style US Mall! And thank goodness to be able to gt a Café Vanilla Frap from Starbucks.

We finally returned to our apartment and wrapped up all financial transactions, records, etc. and then watched “Invictus” before retiring for the night. Honestly, I retired Wednesday morning after completing preparation for teaching on Wednesday evening.

So, now it is on to new adventures with Jesus for the next week.

God bless and thanks for your prayers,

Dr D with Mark and Rachel

MISSION COMPLETED!

2010-02-23T11:24:00.000-05:00

Sunday, February 21, 2010

We are back in Lima and access to the web so I will bring you up to speed on the events since Saturday.

Sunday morning were at Iglesia Pentecostal de Santidad in Lima. Rachel King, the Discipleship Director for the SonShine Conference shared the Word. O yes, lest I forget, pray for Pastor Watanabe. He had to undergo surgery to remove kidney stones.

We were privileged to hand out backpacks to the children who were in Sunday School here before we made a mad dash to our car and the highways of Peru to travel two and one-half hours south to the city of Chincha. We made it, and we checked into our hotel, changed clothes and darted off to Emanuel Pentecostal Holiness Church for their Sunday service which began at 5:00 PM.

We noticed, because we read the sign on the elevator and had to take the stairs that the electricity would be off from 5:00 AM - 5:00 PM. So even though we trudged up the stairs there was no concern because we had knowledge that it would soon be back on. But when the clock said 5:15 PM and the lights were not on at the Church concern did begin to set in. Soon Pastor Escalante spoke to his son, Desi and the message was relayed that we would go ahead with the service but in a shorter fashion since the lights would not be available until 6:30 PM.

So a prayer and three choruses later I heard my name and saw the Pastor’s hand motion me to the pulpit. Since it was darker there, we moved to a table directly in front of the first row. All this means that I must complete my message before darkness set in. But I had to be sure and adequately convey the Word because there were many visitors present because “if” they wanted a back pack for their child they had to attend and get a required identification card for Monday’s distribution. It worked! They place was full, 125-150 – as compared to an average of 80-90.

Anyway, that also meant I had to “trim” my message on the “fly”. Did! Done! Twenty hands raised for salvation culminated the meeting. So we said our “good-byes” and departed to find some food and then test out the beds. No problem, we did succeed.

Monday, February 22, 2010

10:00 AM and we were at Emanuel Church for the distribution of the last group of back packs. They used the occasion to also make special contact with their students and parents who are enrolled in Compassion International. And this was just the beginning of “organization”. The event was under the direction of the Pastor’s wife and she kept every thing in order and moving.

The activity commenced with dinner and fellowship and we returned to our hotel for a late check out preceded by a much needed time of rest prior to the evening activities which centered around the graduation of seven more Pacto de Vida at the Apostolic Temple Assemblies of God pastored by Honorato Martinez. This is the second group of students to complete the first year from this extension, which was also the first extension established here in Peru.

Their first group were waiting for these to complete their first year studies so they can all begin the second year together. The class will be approximately 20. And more news!

Maria Ysabel Martinez, the pastor’s daughter and even more a pastor herself, informed me that Life Church, Ica was growing under the leadership of her sister and husband and that she had another growing congregation right in Chincha. They have been building a 100 sq meter building and the only thing remaining is the roof. (Funds are not available for this but needed!) Maria also requested the privilege of establishing an extension in the Church she pastors. The work of God is going forward.

We were able to depart at a decent hour – 9:00 PM and returned to our home here in Peru by 11:30 PM. We all tumbled into bed with relief and joy knowing that we – you who gave to purchase the school supplies for the children – had accomplished a great task.

God bless,

Dr D with Mark and Rachel

THE DELIVERY OF 200 BACKPACKS COMPLETED

2010-02-21T00:27:00.001-05:00

Saturday, February 20, 2010

The day has been exciting but long! Nothing is more fun than watching the eyes of children as they receive gifts. It is the same everywhere around the world – I’ve witnessed it! Today was no exception!

It all began with breakfast – okay I’ll skip what I had to eat and get to the point. We joyfully toed 200 backpacks filled with school supplies from the Church out to two vehicles and headed on our way to Ventanilla where we would have two groups of eager children waiting to see what surprise was coming their way today.

Ventanilla is a large area of poor families about 45 minutes drive from Elio, Lima – our home while here. The local church has reached out to children in this area with a feeding program and also launched two Churches. The activities at the first stop included a teaching time to the children pictures to color depicting the Bible Story and then they were given a meal. The children received the Word with gladness and also the food.

Then we were privileged to see them line up to be given their personal backpack loaded with school supplies. Their faces and the noise level expressed their joy. And as we were walking to our vehicle to depart two 8-9 year old girls had pushed another girl in a wheelchair into the space between our vehicles. It was easy to see what they wanted. And we could never have ignored them. They had not been part of the those in the church but they were at the doorsteps and we happily shared love with them and filled their hands with their own pack and supplies. It was hard to keep the flood back from your eyes as you saw the love the two had for the third girl in the wheelchair.

BUT then we saw what was about to happen! In the distance more children were rushing our direction! They had heard or seen what their friends had been given and they were on their way to see if they would be given the opportunity to be a recipient. We pulled away quickly knowing what remained were designated for our next destination.

The scene was repeated at the next Church, but without the food. But the conversation we had as we drove away after three hours was, “Did you see how those children came in and walked up to greet each of us as they arrived – the boys with a handshake and the girls with the typical Peruvian greeting of a “peck on the cheek”! Their actions spoke highly of the training they were receiving from their Pastor and his wife.

A stop at Dominos for pizza and the “purple drink made from purple corn” and then home completed our activities except for a visit from David & Ceci Hodges along with their boys, Eliel, Jordan as well as Rosita, Ceci’s niece.

Thanks for caring so we could be on the receiving end of the joy from the children.

Dr D with Mark and Rachel King

THE BACKPACKS ARE READY!

2010-02-19T22:16:00.001-05:00

Friday, February 19, 2010

WOW! That is all I can say! We had 10 people filling the backpacks this morning beginning about 9:45 AM and we were finished by 11:15 AM. Then we packed 200 into big Peruvian sacks and two boxes for shipment by bus to Chincha.

Marco, Manuel and JC took them by taxi – imagine that – to the bus station and after some discussion with the manager got a tremendous price for the 320 kg of total weight (for you North Americans – better for you US Citizens that is 705 pounds!) What was the price? Okay I’ll tell you. It was .7 soles/kg - which is about $70. That was a bargain!

Marco and the boys returned about 2:30 with the mission accomplished and we breathed a sigh of relief and just sat around for a while. Then we loaded into two taxis and made our way down to the tourist center of Lima - La Marina where we gave Manuel and JC (Jon Carlos) the privilege to select the place to sit down and eat a meal. They chose Chili’s and we accepted the challenge and ate the food.

The car we had been given to use developed some potential problems with the transmission and so we had to rent a car. Agustin Ciccia, pastor of New Strength, came to our rescue and we were able to rent his for the next even days for $125. He even delivered it to us at La Marina.

Because we were so tired from the past three days, we returned to our apartment and have spent the evening just relaxing and getting our heads together for tomorrow and having the privilege of passing out the backpacks. That will be special as we watch the excitement on the faces of the children.

I’ll bet you wish you were here! Right? Well, plan now and we could do another one next year.

Since it is now 10:15 PM and I need to rest, I will stop this fabulous blog and allow you to continue your activities.

As you were!

Dr D with Mark and Rachel