Time has gone so fast and the work has been very intense. Traveling in Lima to go almost anywhere and back is like driving to Tampa – 2 hours minimum! Therefore the days become long and tiring before I can lay my body down for some rest. But is has been very rewarding.
Sunday morning we were in the city or region of Ancon at Iglesia Cristiana El Camion, pastored by Walter and Clarisa Villajuan. We departed from my apartment here at 8:00, drove to Agustin Ciccia’s house to get my Bible and notebook (which for the first time I forgot and left it on the pulpit.) Then we went to the home of Dr. Roger Falcon – he was my interpreter for the day – all this by taxi. We arrived at Ancon at 10:30 with 30 minutes to spare.
Pastor Walter had invited four other pastors friends to be in the service. He had also requested that I minister on the subject of marriages. The worship was one of the finest I have enjoyed in Peru for some time. The Word was well received (And they Lived Happily Ever After). By the time the altar service was over (2 came to Christ) and I had prayed for every couple as well as those who spouses were not present it was 2:30. We walked to a restaurant, accompanied by the four pastors and spouses then were requested to take a walk along the beach – the city is famous for its resorts of the rich and famous. By the time we got finished with the walk and back to the Church and our car, it was time to leave and go to our evening service about a 15 minute drive.
Comunidad Carismatica Cristian Cristo Sanador, pastored by Everth Ipanaque is a very interesting Church. Pastor Everth is blind. He was blinded by a large rock that hit him in the forehead when he was 21 (now 43) and another rock from the rock slide tore of his right leg just above his knee. At the time this happened he was heavily involved in a drug cartel moving drugs from the jungle. At some point their cartel was involved in the robbing of several banks and a guard was killed by one of the men. He came to Lima to hide and it was here while helping his brother that the accident happened.
The Church was celebrating their 11th Anniversary. I was shocked when I walked in! The room was filled with youth who enthusiastically greeted us. By the time the service began there were over 150 people present and a minimum of them were youth – probably 50-60. They were involved in the worship which was led by Pastor Everth playing his guitar and supported by two youth who were vocals and another on the synthesizer – drums and another guy on the keyboard. Their worship was intense and you could see the depth of their commitment by the expressions on their faces. The older generation were as excited and involved as the youth.
I took time at the end of my message to pray for the youth. It was thrilling to watch them and experience the moving of the Holy Spirit upon them as I prayed for them.
The “FUN” all began after that! They had a Peruvian Church Party! The youth and children did their skits, choreographic dances including rap dancing. The approval on the faces of the adults was fascinating to watch. We were then fed a meal of rice, with onions on top, yucca and a chicken leg. Because it was already 8:45 and it would take me two hours to get back to my bed, we excused ourselves and departed.
Now for some very important information. This area is a “poor” area. Yet the Pastor takes the youth and adults to other churches to do evangelistic meetings. They take with them clothing, food and money to assist others! This information crystalized in my heart the reason why the Church was dynamic and the youth were so deeply involved.
The pastor shared with me that many of the youth are involved in Pacto De Vida and because it is so inexpensive (only 50 soles per trimester – about $16 – yet even this is costly for these who live in this area) these youth who cannot afford a secular education are attending the university to get a Biblical Education.
Monday, well it was a day of going back to an adjoining city and meeting with pastor Guillermo Sifuentes and his wife, Lisset. They also have Pacto De Vida and wanted to discuss some ideas for classes they wanted in their local curriculum. I have designed the curriculum to allow the pastors to produce courses they want to teach to their people and this is what they wanted to discuss. They will have their first group complete the first year in November.
While there, he told me of a couple who had been luke-warm and struggling with their marriage when we were there in February. During that service I spoke a word from God to him and his wife. It was exactly what he needed and spoke directly to the need in his life. Since that time he and his wife have become solid and are working closely with the pastor and taking a load from him so he can more adequately what God wants him to do.
We departed for the meeting at 10:00, arrived at 11:00 and departed at 2:40 to meet Pastor Walter (from Sunday) to discuss his involvement in the university. He was the original contact who got the invitation for us to present Pacto De Vida to the meeting of the leaders of the pastors organization throughout Peru. He will be helping us to move forward in curriculum and coordinating the new schools.
So with the new challenges of many more schools, God has also caused Pastors to step-up and declare their assistance to move forward and meet the challenges.
I finally found my bed – I even skipped supper and ate only some chips, Oreo’s and some yogurt – and did the bed ever feel good.
Well, thanks for your prayers. Pray that we will know how to step up and complete the vision God has given.
Dr D
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