Thursday, February 19

A FULL DAY OF MINISTRY

Ministry comes in different ways at different times for different people. Today we spent five hours in pastoral counsel with our host and hostess, Pastor Agustin and Jessica Ciccia. They are great people with a true heart to see God change the lives of those He has entrusted to them. We are able to share experiences in sheep ministry.

You know about sheep, do you not? They are strange animals. They have no natural defense features such as physical strength, sharp big teeth, great speed, and they cannot even swim. So all they do is make a distressing sound. And well there are other characteristics, of which I shall not speak, because of the odor created by them. And when you walk among them be careful because they leave a mess everywhere. But they are our Master’s sheep and we pastors must shepherd them.

So we spent the time sharing advice on how to be a good shepherd and lead the flock even though at times they do not want to be led but somehow wander away without giving thought to where they are going but still headed somewhere toward danger that lies ahead of them.

Enough of my sermon on sheep and back to the happenings of today.

There isn’t anyway to have fellowship and share than sitting around a table of good food and so we journeyed to Pardo’s to have some broiled chicken, salad, fries, Inca Cola (it sells more than any Coke product here in Peru –- so guess what Coke did? They bought them out and added it to their line.) This also provided as time without their three children, Clemente, Chiara, Philepo (I just goofed on the spelling, but no one is awake at this hour to get the correct spelling, so wait until the next blog for a correction) who were able to play on the inside playground and give us time alone with their parents.

We returned to their home to wait for our next appointment, Gustavo Rodriquez, who was my first interpreter on my first trip to Peru. He is the pastor of Iglesia Centro Christiano De Avivamiento and a good friend of the Ciccias (our hosts). He was coming to spend a couple of hours with us before he joined us at our evening engagement at Communidad Cristiana La Vina, pastored by Edgard and Lisset Guillermo. The travel time is between one - one and one-half hours.

We have served them on two previous occasions, one with the LTI team in May of 08. They have one of the easiest people to minster to because they are so responsive. You can see their faces light up, frown or whatever the comments call for so vividly. They are a joy to serve. We will return there this coming Sunday evening for our first official Church service – all previous visits have focused on marriage seminar material.

By the time I got home, after a quick stop at the only fast food open, which is operated by your friendly clown, Brother McDonald it was close to midnight. Marilyn did not join me on this occasion because of a stomach irritation. I did not her to go and to have it develop into something more so she stayed back. She was no worse and thing had maintained status quo, so I believe she will be okay for Friday’s adventures.

Thanks for reading and praying,

Dr. D. & Marilyn