A BUSY WEEK WITH MARILYN, ALLYSON AND DAVID

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