Final Comments And Thoughts On Arequipa Ministry and Now Jicarmarca

I am sitting at the table in Jicamarca. It was a full day to get here. We were up and “at-em” at 7:00 AM. And then we departed for the Airport at 8:45 AM. As we made our way I began to reminisce about our time in Arequipa, Iglesia Comminuted de la Vin

Our hosts, Pastor Rolando Romero and wife were the finest. The atmosphere of their home and the conduct of their children were exemplary. I am not indicating in any way that the homes, children and hosts of any other homes were lacking. But I am only commenting on our experience in their home because it made the time there enjoyable and allowed us to speak to that issue when addressing their people in the Marriage Seminar on Tuesday Evening. We were able to place their pastors as an example of the type of home and family relationships that set forth the best Christian example.

Speaking of Tuesday evening. It was a casual evening of teaching. BUT the temperature was Zero Centigrade – that is 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Just call it “COLD!” We both taught with our coats or insulated vests on and then when I sat down, I got cold. The room – that is the Church is not heated. People brought wool blankets to wrap around themselves. And they sat there for two hours of teaching with questions and answers. That is dedication! Then when the service was dismissed they stood around and fellowshipped for over 45 minutes – until the pastor indicated by pulling down the steel door it was time to go home.

One of the struggles faced in that of your interpreter. We have had many “first-time” interpreters. But our experience on Tuesday evening was a delight. I have never had a “first-timer” do so good – and I am probably one of the hardest to interpret. Vanessa was excellent and I have already informed her that she will be interpreting for me when I return to Arequipa – that is “if” her schedule as a Doctor will permit. She and her husband are doctors.

The ministry at both Comminuted Carismatica Arequipa, Pastor William Arteaga and Iglesia Buenas Nuevas Asambleas de Dios, Pastor Armando Castillo was a pleasure and there invitation and along with that of our host Church, Iglesia Comminuted Christian La Vina will be a pleasure to accept when our schedule will allow. And therein lies a problem – rather a burden! The growth of relationships is growing so fast it will become necessary to spend more time here in Peru. That is good and yet it is.............(I am not sure what to say.) Anyway, God is opening more and more doors and the hunger for spiritual relationships, training, counsel and fellowship is expanding very fast. If we were to spend three days with each contact who has requested, we’d be here for over six months.

Our ministry has been good for the first two nights. The subject of the ministry is the Baptism in the Holy Spirit with the Initial Physical Evidence of Speaking in Tongues. The attendance has been about 30 and the interest has been very good. David Hodges is translating for me and Rosita, Ceci’s niece is reading the scriptures from the projection on the wall. This help to keep their attention and the different voices helps to keep them awake.

The weather has been cold! You keep moving while teaching to stay warm, but because we are videoing the teaching my movement is limited. When I say cold, maybe it is because the home is not heated, the weather is damp from the mist, and the sun does not shine. Yesterday, the clouds settled in and you could not see the mountain right behind the house. All you could see is about one-fourth of the way up the mountain and the distance from the house to the base of the mountain behind is only about the length of a football field.

Remember: When you want to go upstairs from the bedroom, you go outside then up one flight of stairs to the kitchen and living room. If you need to go to the laundry area, then you go up another flight to the roof and the open room where the washing machine / dryer is found. And then of course you must conserve the water so you wet down, turn the water off, soap up, then turn the water on and rise off. Then you step out into the cold to complete the process. But because you know you are where you belong, you rejoice in the dedication and work of those who labor here all year.
Today we are in Lima, with Doctor Roger and his wife, Magaly, and their five month old daughter, Abigail. Roger came to Jicamarca last night and brought us to their home to spend the day with them. He will translating for me this evening and Marilyn will go back to the Hodges for a birthday celebration for Ceci.

So we are alive and well and enjoying fellowship with special people and following through on what God has called us to do here.

Next week the transportation will be a mess. Those who labor with the transportation – buses, taxi’s and such vehicles will be on strike. The new laws governing them is very, very hard to comply with and will more than double the number of buses and taxis needed to carry the same people. And if you have a family of more than 5 – then you cannot take them in your own personal car if there are only 5 seats in that car. Then the fine for even accidently running a red light will be 1,000 soles – that is about $350 – which is equivalent to more than half of their monthly income. Imagine that! The strike will be on Wednesday and Thursday!
Thank God Marilyn departs from Lima at 7:00 AM which means we will take her to the airport and be there before 4:00 AM and will be able to avoid the problem – which will include the burning of tires in the streets. But it means that my activities will be limited during those two days – my schedule must be adjusted.

Remember to pray for us and the potential problems arising from this difficulty.

God bless,

Dr D and Marilyn