I left you last at 10:00 AM on Saturday. Since that time much, much has happened and many, many doors of various kinds have opened.
We departed from our place of abode and headed across town to pick up Marlene Luna, my interpreter and headed after a couple of stops to a lunch meeting with a group of prominent ladies who are the force behind an organization that works to assist abused women and children of the Dominican Republic. The leader is a TV personality and those who assist her are lawyers, journalists, one is even from Miami.
I knew that Jeaneris was married to a judge, but I was not expecting what I found. First of all we were met by a vehicle that escorted us to their house. When the driver stepped out of his car, I discovered I was in the presence of several well armed government security men and personal body guards. The judge is a very high judge comparable to our Supreme Court Judges.
After a time of sharing, then eating a typical Dominican meal I was privileged to sit with the judge, talk to him and pray for both he and his wife and then the other members of the foundation. The judge informed me the government was in the process of writing a law which would give the Evangelical pastors the privilege of performing marriages even as the Catholic Priests now have. So the “project” – as Pacto De Vida became known for the remainder of my trip – was very interesting to him and he promised his support and legal knowledge to assist even in the process of registering Pacto De Vida (Covenant Life University) in the country. AND – the spokesman for the foundation – informed me that they wanted to be of any assistance I might need. Those who were lawyers freely offered their help and were going to start their own research.
We had to tear ourselves away from those present so we could make it to our evening Church appointment. We arrived after they service had started – which seemed to be the pattern because we were always behind schedule due to the pressing of those we were with previous to our next appointment. The sounds of worship echoed from the little room on the corner of the block and all I can say is that it was a joyous sound.
Now I can’t say much about the preacher – it would be too easy to overstate the case – but the response was again tremendous (as had been the other services to this point.) When the service ended we rushed out, into our car and I thought I was going to get home early! WRONG AGAIN! We drove to the YWAM (Youth With A Mission) facility where I became the final speaker for the weeks activities.
My assignment: Challenge the parents to support the youth and what God had accomplished in their lives during the past week. I “think” it was a success by the way the parents greeted me and hugged me as though I was “their pastor.”
Now since I had not eaten anything since 2:30 and it was now almost 11:00 (again this was becoming a pattern for the week) but by the time we took Marlene home and got back to our place it was now 12:30 AM on Sunday and sleep was a necessity if I was to survive the upcoming events.
Sunday’s activities began with departure at 9:30 AM, go across town (after getting a cappuccino and a pastry – a bun like piece of bread, which also became a morning ritual for breakfast. It took us over 45 minutes to traverse the city of Santo Domingo even on Sunday AM – and then to try to get to the Tabernacle Assembly of God, pastored by Pastor Francisco and Anna Rosa. We did but had to venture around and around because of the activities taking place in the area of the Church. Well, we did not make it for Sunday School, but we were slightly early for the 11:00 service.
The place was packed! IT HAD AIR CONDITIONING! Thank the Lord! Their auditorium was upstairs and would hold about 200 in close quarters sitting and then I am not sure how many were standing on the stairs that led back downstairs to the floor below.
I was greeted with a warm welcoming statement: “You have a minimum of one hour to preach. And one hour can be too short for these people!” Only a preacher can enjoy such a statement! I did my best! Now wait a minute, after sharing about the university I only preached for about 45-50 minutes, plus an altar ministry (well maybe it was 50-55 minutes – I haven’t edited the sermon which I recorded yet!
I had to meet with the pastor and his wife after the service to share about the university, so it was after 2:00 PM when we walked outside to the car and drove to the mall for some Dominican Pizza and a Dominican Pizza Desert (WOW!) Both were good and after doing my best to eat my share – which was not my normal amount – we took Marlene to the YWAM facility and picked up Imer Ramierz, a pastor’s son, 21 years of age and a YWAM-er to travel with us to Santiago for two service in the evening, the first which was scheduled to begin at 5:30 PM.
However, it requires a minimum of two hours travel time. But since we did not depart until 4:00 PM and had to drive in a down pour, we did not arrive until about 6:15 and the pastor’s wife was ministering the Word. So, I missed sharing but by 7:00 their second service started, the auditorium finally filled up, I ministered the Word and God blessed.
Pastor Chavez disappeared at the beginning of the second service and returned with another pastor – a Cuban who was pastoring another church in this city of Santiago. He wanted to introduce him to me and for him to be a part of the meeting after the service regarding Pacto De Vida. So we ventured out to the mall, had some Dominican food and talked about the university.
I have found out that Pastors like to talk to other Pastors – particularly when one is from he United States. So we spent a lot of time after talking about education and then finally drove to a home where my host used a key he had, opened the gate, then went in the house and disarmed the security, took me inside and showed me my room and the shower. I wonder where we were and he told me that the owners, who were there at this time, had given him a key and permission to stay there whenever he was in the city.
So I crashed with my a pedestal fan acting as my personal air-conditioner and tried to sleep. But being in a new place, with different sounds and knowing that I only had about 4 hours and it would be time to get up again and drive to Haiti, it was hard to shut my mind off from the activities of the day and what may be ahead of me. Well, as you can imagine, morning came either too soon or too slowly so it was “upward and onward” into the unknown.
By 9:30 AM Monday, we were in Dajadon, Dominican Republic on the border of Haiti. What now, I wondered as we made our way on foot through the teeming groups of businesses lining the street, merchants pushing their carts of all sizes and shapes loaded with everything from fruit to chairs and mattresses through the mobs and listening to the cries of others selling their wares. All of this while we were walking toward the border crossing.
Allow me to only say that “a miracle provided” our entry into Haiti in less than 5 minutes. It was very interesting to hear the border patrol officers scream out “Chavez,” throw up their hands and welcome us as we walked through the covered gate. I cannot tell you how crowded the narrow roadway was with people going both directions. It was like watching a colony of ants busily working on some bread crumbs and toting them to their ant hill.
The shock came when I saw the different conditions on the Haitian side of the border. Over 60,000 people live in this village area. “Filth, stench, unsanitary” are the best words to describe what I saw. I will not even begin to describe what my eyes saw, but only say, food stands with food lying on dirty clothes covered the ground right next to piles of garbage from which water was draining from the rains the day before. Meat was being cut with axes and machetes on dirty clothes lying right on the ground. In the middle of the major market an area about the size of the infield of a baseball diamond and completely surrounded by food peddlers was a pile of garbage averaging about 30 inches high through which many would come at night and sift through to see if any peddler had thrown away anything they could eat.
We eventually wound our way from there to a building under construction. Pastor Chavez is building a place where he can educate, feed and train children of this area. On the way there I heard time and time again the cries of children as the called out “Chavez! Chavez!” and ran to hug him as we walked. His plan is to complete the first floor of 6 rooms about 20 feet square. He has also purchased a field behind the building on which he plans to build a playground and use some for growing food. His desire is to build a clinic in front so he can see the children receive the medical help they need. I asked him how much money he needed to get it open in September. $2,000 with which to purchase the doors and windows.
It took me two hours after crossing the border back in to Dominican Republic to get the odor out of my consciousness. And the sights and sounds vividly remain with me as I write this.
We had an appointment with the brother of Gustavo Rodriquez from Peru at the mall to share with him the “project”. We meet him there about 4:30 - 5:00. The meeting was almost completed when Pastor Chavez saw a pastor descending on the escalator. He went over and called to him. The pastor came and sat down. I was instructed to share with him the “project” but before I could, Alvaro, Gustavo’s brother began and in less than three minutes I was given an “opportunity” to speak at the Santiago Evangelical Pastors Meeting at 7:00 PM. I say “opportunity” but is such a divine appointment really an “opportunity” or is it another point of destiny with God?
Simply, I did and the response was over-whelming and a demand was placed on us that we open an extension also in Santiago. Question? How do you open “an extension” by choosing “one church, one pastor” over the desires and needs of “many pastors?” That is the question I face, both in Santiago and Santo Domingo!
We got back to Santo Domingo and to our home about 11:30 PM, only to discover that someone had cut the electric wire from the pole to the house and taken it with them. So for the next 36 hours we were without the “natural” electrical feed to the house. An extension cord was dropped out a window to the neighbor below and we used it for our fans on Monday evening. However, for Tuesday night we “back-fed” the electricity using the cord and plugged it into a receptacle and sent it throughout the house. So I at least had electricity to do some very necessary computer work and thus be albs to leave some valuable material with Pastor Chavez and the team of two youth who have volunteered to help in the beginning of Pacto De Vida in the Dominican Republic.
Tuesday, my last day here was filled with appointments with pastors and leaders as well as an evening service. One of those appointments was in the home of a man who owns five optometry stores in Santo Domingo. I soon discovered that he was also a Mennonite pastor. We had spent about 30-40 minutes talking about the “project” and various other spiritual thoughts when he turned to my host and said, “Pastor Chavez, everyone needs to be submitted to someone who is older in the ministry than they are. You and I need to submit our lives and ministry to Dr. D.”
My mouth probably dropped open and I am sure the look on my \face was something else as he turned to me and asked me if I would be his “father -in-the-faith” and watch over him and his ministry. He jumped over any denominational barrier, over any cultural barrier and what could I say?
The presence of the Holy Spirit was rich and I simply responded, “I would be honored.” I will not continue (it would take too much space) to share the other things he expressed. This man is a very successful business man with a lovely family of two late teen, early twenties daughters and a handsome son in the same age category. And then the next words were, “Will you come in later October and be the speaker for our Couples Retreat? And if you cannot be here in October, will you commit to next year?”
The ministry portion of the trip ended Tuesday evening service. I am home! But the impact of this trip will last forever. However, the challenge is BIG! The open doors are many! A nation can be changed spiritually by walking along side of these pastors and their people to assist them in doing the work God has called them to do in their country.
NOW WHAT? We need finances immediately so we can purchase the necessary equipment and supplies as well as print the syllabus outlines of the lessons for the students to purchase. A computer, a printer and a CD/DVD reproducer and some CD/DVD’s and some paper to print the applications as well as the CD/DVD covers.
$3-5,000 will launch the “project”!
The pastors and the students are waiting! God opened the doors! Destiny is ahead!
THE CHALLENGE! Finances! And God is the provider? Are you a channel for the provisions? Pray with us that God will supply what we nee so we can open Universidad Pacto De Vida - Dominican Republic before November.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Dominican Republic Blog
Wednesday (8/12/09)
I arrived on time and that is after the plane arrived in Fort Lauderdale 35 minutes late. Somehow those “Spirit” people got us away from the gate right on time - 6:15 PM. And then they sat us down on the runway at 8:21 PM and I walked off the plane before 8:30 PM.
Immigration and Aduana (Customs) was no problem and I breezed through it and out the door to my waiting host – I thought before 8:45. But to my amazement – no one greeted me! And they had my picture – but maybe that is why no one was there. I finally went upstairs and ran into a friendly taxi drive hoping to get a fair I figured. He did not speak English but he wanted to help and in a few minutes with no help from any airlines or terminal staff, he just took out his phone and called the number of the pastor. I had that with me and in a few seconds the voice on the other end told him they had arrived and would be upstairs to get me in a few seconds. They did! And we were out he door.
Now remember, my Spanish level rises to the great heights of about the size of the letters you are reading. Well, on a scale of 1-10, it hits the heights of .001! But the pastor who knows no English brought a Doctor – and that is scarey in itself. Why is it that Ukraine, Peru, and now Dominican have doctors that come to meet me? Well, Paul had Dr. Luke so I guess I am in with the best!
We stopped by the mall to get some food – Burger King and then a couple of bottles of water and off we went to the bachelor pad! The pastor is single and his home is just that – a bachelor pad. No screens, an ocillating fan for AC, no shower head, just a stream of water and I’m not sure yet if it is hot or cold and a toliet that does not flush – you pour the water into it from the sink and the sink faucwet runs slowly so it is a major job to get enough water to flush. But anyway, it isn’t an “outhouse” and the place looks clean.
No internet tonight – problems with the equipment of the pastors, so off to bed – if I can sleep. Like a dumb bunny I did not bring my printer, having printed out the sermons I thought they requested but now I find out that there are several more services added with each having a requested subject.
Tomorrow it is a youth camp which focuses on missions and I am to speak about missions. That will not be hard but I’ll lay away most of the night tring to get it right so the Spirit can have something to use to speak to the youth.
Hey! This is enough for tonight. I’ll add to it later because tomorrow is here and the activity begins at 8:00 not the 10:30 that was on my schedule.
Thursday & Friday (11:00 AM on Friday)
I slept last night, rather Wednesday night “some”. No AC and a fan blowing on me and no pillow only my zipper bag of t-shirts as a pillow and covered by the t-shirt I had worn on Wednesday’s trip to Santo Domingo. Talk about “improvising”.
Then I had to face the shower! I could not do it! I decided I’d just do a “spash wash” (whatever that is) and get by since we were going to a YWAM camp. I knew it had to be rustic! Was I surprised! It was lovely and the youth were fantastic. But here was the “catch”.
I have never felt comfortable speaking to youth – at least in the last 20-25 years. However, God showed up and honored my faith and we had a fabulous morning service as I challenged the youth to give their life to a full-time ministry – to which we are all called! The only difference between any of us is “how we earn our living”. The response and altar service lasted for one and one-half hours.
After eating lunch, Pastor Chavez said we were going to take a nap, then we would talk about the university at 4:00 PM. That was okay with me, even though I had just found out we would remain here and go from here to the street meeting with these youth. A street meeting was in the agenda, but I did not know we were going with this group of kids. So, as in missions, you just “punt” and play hard.
HOWEVER! While I was resting, not sleeping, it began to storm and I mean STORM!!! Lightning, thunder and torrential rain for over two hours. When I got up to go outside, it had almost ceased so I journied from my room to the main area and open air cabana to meet with the pastor. He had a strange look on his face and I began to wonder “what now?” The “what now” was that the rain had flooded the low area where we had to ford the water and we were not going to be able to have the street meeting ... AND WE WERE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO EVEN GO BACK TO HIS HOUSE!
Hold it Jack! That meant I would have to sleep here, without any thing with me but what I had on. No towel, no soap, no toothbrush or toothpaste and all the rest! So, because of that, I was then told I would be the speaker for the evening service, after we concluded our discussion about the university – which lasted four hours (your eyes read that correctly - 4 HOURS) and no time to even get my mind in gear and hear what the Holy Spirit had planned.
But as is the beauty of the Spirit of God, he fed me and I fed the youth. Another blow-out service. The Word, prayer, prophetic words to some, encouragement to others, emotional healings and much much more. The service concluded about 11:30 and I was then taken to the cafeteria to eat what I refused to eat before the service. Now it was not because I did not like what they were serving. I eat what is set before me regardless (well almost) but because I do not eat just before speaking.
I ate, spent some time sharing with the youth who dropped by and spoke English or who brought an interpreter with them. Some workers brought us bedding and we ventured down to our room, mae our beds and took the towel and headed to the shower. On the way, Pastor Chavez entered the room of some guys and found a bar of soap. After taking my shower I found a tube of tooth paste God had placed in the room because of one youth’s forgetfulness and with my finger “brushed - that is rubbed” my teeth – at least my mouth felt clean.
Sleeping??? Well that was another story that will have to wait until I return from my noon appointment. See you then!
I AM BACK! I hope you are glad to see me! I mean read what I have to say about my experiences here.
The night was rough when it came to sleeping. The ceiling fan was on high and it blew a “mean wind.” The bed was tolerable but the sheets did not fit and so you kept waking up trying to put the bottom sheet back in place over the vinyl that covered the mattress. Then the sheet you covered up with was not enough to keep the cold air from bothering you so you do the next best thing and pull the sleeping bag you were given down from the steps of the bunk bed and draw it up over you. All the time you are wrestling with the pillow which was about the size of a legal sheet of paper – a piece of foam also covered with vinyl and of course a pillow case on it. That made it hot! Now my body in hot and my head is cold because the wind from the van was whipping it around bouncing it off the wall and it was “very cool,” that is cold. So between all that and getting to bed at 12:45 AM it made for a rough night of missions.
I skipped breakfast - first of all because I do not normally eat breakfast and secondly because I was asked to speak again – in 10 minutes to a very talented group of youth dancers who were facing competition on Saturday against many others who are not believers. When I say dancing, I mean the youth stomping, coreographed to perfection. They are good!
Then a quick meeting with the director who wanted to know more about the university she heard I was here to open in some churches. She is a lovely person who loves the youth and they love and respect her. Finally we departed.
Oh, did I tell you that the place where the camp is located requires us to drive through the Seattle Mariners baseball camp facilities here in Santo Domingo? I didn’t? Well it does!
Now to fill you in on the rest of the day! It is now about 9:45 AM and we are on our way back to the house. I am offered a shower and time to rest. I forego the shower because I am afraid of cold water and I also skip the 25 minute nap because I must get some material ready for the day. So onward and upward we go departing the house at 11:35 AM and off we go to get my interpreter for the day.
We picked up Marlene Luna, a 21 year old psychology major after a drive across Santo Domingo. She is a beautiful young lady who dearly loves the Lord. She has been through YWAM (Youth With A Mission) training and has been on location in Africa and Peru (both in Lima and in the the jungle). Her English is clear and without any accent.
Our next stop was to meet Jeaneris, who works for a local TV station – on the air and who has aan organization registered with their Dominican Government to help abused and underprivileged children. I was requested to share about the “project” (as Pastor Chavez calls Pacto De Vida). She said she wanted us to meet with her and the other “prominent ladies” who serve as members of her organization because she wants to help with the “project.” Who knows where this will lead.
Because Pastor Chavez is from Peru and both Marlene and I are familiar with Peru and like Peruvian food, he took us to a Peruvian restaurant to have Civichi and Lomas Saltada - a beef, vegetable, and french fry, rice combo.
A quick stop by the house to get my materials for the evening service and we were on the road again headed to meet three pastors and to share with them about the project. From the time we departed at 3:45 PM until almost 8:00 we were sharing the “project” and the “project” was very warmly welcomed and accepted with great anticipation and with the expression – “God sent you here at the right time. Our country is experiencing a move of God and we need to teach our people.”
The evening ended by sharing with an Assemblies of God pastor, and teaching a lesson from the Marriage Material I have developed with PowerPoint and student notes – The Basis of Marriage, lessons one and two: The Yoke of Marriage and The Emotions of Marriage.
Now when the church is on a very busy neighborhood intersection, with card games taking place in the street outside, children funning to and fro on the sidewalks, all doors and windows open to attempt to stay cool, all fans in the building running a full speed, a generator running on the door steps of the church because it was the time of day when the electricity for this section of Santo Domingo has their service turned off, and children inside moving about freely – well you get the message! AND – then we had to stop and turn the generator off, throw a switch to return to the “normal power” – which meant to turn off the projector to protect the bulb, the restart it and then to have to stop and do it again because the “normal power” when off again, which meant we switched back to the generator. Anyway it was an eventful evening and the teaching was well received – anyway that is what the pastor (a lady) and her husband and the pastor’s mother (who is a pastor in New Jersey) expressed.
So I thought since it was now 9:00 PM that we would be going back home. WRONG! We drove to another part of the city, found the YWAM team in the process of holding a street meeting with their 96 youth and a large crowd. Then I discovered that the pastor was to bring the evangelistic message. So I spent my time observing and chatting with some of the youth from Thursday’s event-filled day.
Well that brings you up-to-date and here it is Saturday morning about 10:00. I did sleep good with the help of two little friends and a cold shower.
Now for the day and all it holds. Thank God he hold this day as he has all the others in this “timely” – “God’s time” venture through this door He has opened.
I’ll be back on line whenever I have access to the internet.
God bless,
Dr D
I arrived on time and that is after the plane arrived in Fort Lauderdale 35 minutes late. Somehow those “Spirit” people got us away from the gate right on time - 6:15 PM. And then they sat us down on the runway at 8:21 PM and I walked off the plane before 8:30 PM.
Immigration and Aduana (Customs) was no problem and I breezed through it and out the door to my waiting host – I thought before 8:45. But to my amazement – no one greeted me! And they had my picture – but maybe that is why no one was there. I finally went upstairs and ran into a friendly taxi drive hoping to get a fair I figured. He did not speak English but he wanted to help and in a few minutes with no help from any airlines or terminal staff, he just took out his phone and called the number of the pastor. I had that with me and in a few seconds the voice on the other end told him they had arrived and would be upstairs to get me in a few seconds. They did! And we were out he door.
Now remember, my Spanish level rises to the great heights of about the size of the letters you are reading. Well, on a scale of 1-10, it hits the heights of .001! But the pastor who knows no English brought a Doctor – and that is scarey in itself. Why is it that Ukraine, Peru, and now Dominican have doctors that come to meet me? Well, Paul had Dr. Luke so I guess I am in with the best!
We stopped by the mall to get some food – Burger King and then a couple of bottles of water and off we went to the bachelor pad! The pastor is single and his home is just that – a bachelor pad. No screens, an ocillating fan for AC, no shower head, just a stream of water and I’m not sure yet if it is hot or cold and a toliet that does not flush – you pour the water into it from the sink and the sink faucwet runs slowly so it is a major job to get enough water to flush. But anyway, it isn’t an “outhouse” and the place looks clean.
No internet tonight – problems with the equipment of the pastors, so off to bed – if I can sleep. Like a dumb bunny I did not bring my printer, having printed out the sermons I thought they requested but now I find out that there are several more services added with each having a requested subject.
Tomorrow it is a youth camp which focuses on missions and I am to speak about missions. That will not be hard but I’ll lay away most of the night tring to get it right so the Spirit can have something to use to speak to the youth.
Hey! This is enough for tonight. I’ll add to it later because tomorrow is here and the activity begins at 8:00 not the 10:30 that was on my schedule.
Thursday & Friday (11:00 AM on Friday)
I slept last night, rather Wednesday night “some”. No AC and a fan blowing on me and no pillow only my zipper bag of t-shirts as a pillow and covered by the t-shirt I had worn on Wednesday’s trip to Santo Domingo. Talk about “improvising”.
Then I had to face the shower! I could not do it! I decided I’d just do a “spash wash” (whatever that is) and get by since we were going to a YWAM camp. I knew it had to be rustic! Was I surprised! It was lovely and the youth were fantastic. But here was the “catch”.
I have never felt comfortable speaking to youth – at least in the last 20-25 years. However, God showed up and honored my faith and we had a fabulous morning service as I challenged the youth to give their life to a full-time ministry – to which we are all called! The only difference between any of us is “how we earn our living”. The response and altar service lasted for one and one-half hours.
After eating lunch, Pastor Chavez said we were going to take a nap, then we would talk about the university at 4:00 PM. That was okay with me, even though I had just found out we would remain here and go from here to the street meeting with these youth. A street meeting was in the agenda, but I did not know we were going with this group of kids. So, as in missions, you just “punt” and play hard.
HOWEVER! While I was resting, not sleeping, it began to storm and I mean STORM!!! Lightning, thunder and torrential rain for over two hours. When I got up to go outside, it had almost ceased so I journied from my room to the main area and open air cabana to meet with the pastor. He had a strange look on his face and I began to wonder “what now?” The “what now” was that the rain had flooded the low area where we had to ford the water and we were not going to be able to have the street meeting ... AND WE WERE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO EVEN GO BACK TO HIS HOUSE!
Hold it Jack! That meant I would have to sleep here, without any thing with me but what I had on. No towel, no soap, no toothbrush or toothpaste and all the rest! So, because of that, I was then told I would be the speaker for the evening service, after we concluded our discussion about the university – which lasted four hours (your eyes read that correctly - 4 HOURS) and no time to even get my mind in gear and hear what the Holy Spirit had planned.
But as is the beauty of the Spirit of God, he fed me and I fed the youth. Another blow-out service. The Word, prayer, prophetic words to some, encouragement to others, emotional healings and much much more. The service concluded about 11:30 and I was then taken to the cafeteria to eat what I refused to eat before the service. Now it was not because I did not like what they were serving. I eat what is set before me regardless (well almost) but because I do not eat just before speaking.
I ate, spent some time sharing with the youth who dropped by and spoke English or who brought an interpreter with them. Some workers brought us bedding and we ventured down to our room, mae our beds and took the towel and headed to the shower. On the way, Pastor Chavez entered the room of some guys and found a bar of soap. After taking my shower I found a tube of tooth paste God had placed in the room because of one youth’s forgetfulness and with my finger “brushed - that is rubbed” my teeth – at least my mouth felt clean.
Sleeping??? Well that was another story that will have to wait until I return from my noon appointment. See you then!
I AM BACK! I hope you are glad to see me! I mean read what I have to say about my experiences here.
The night was rough when it came to sleeping. The ceiling fan was on high and it blew a “mean wind.” The bed was tolerable but the sheets did not fit and so you kept waking up trying to put the bottom sheet back in place over the vinyl that covered the mattress. Then the sheet you covered up with was not enough to keep the cold air from bothering you so you do the next best thing and pull the sleeping bag you were given down from the steps of the bunk bed and draw it up over you. All the time you are wrestling with the pillow which was about the size of a legal sheet of paper – a piece of foam also covered with vinyl and of course a pillow case on it. That made it hot! Now my body in hot and my head is cold because the wind from the van was whipping it around bouncing it off the wall and it was “very cool,” that is cold. So between all that and getting to bed at 12:45 AM it made for a rough night of missions.
I skipped breakfast - first of all because I do not normally eat breakfast and secondly because I was asked to speak again – in 10 minutes to a very talented group of youth dancers who were facing competition on Saturday against many others who are not believers. When I say dancing, I mean the youth stomping, coreographed to perfection. They are good!
Then a quick meeting with the director who wanted to know more about the university she heard I was here to open in some churches. She is a lovely person who loves the youth and they love and respect her. Finally we departed.
Oh, did I tell you that the place where the camp is located requires us to drive through the Seattle Mariners baseball camp facilities here in Santo Domingo? I didn’t? Well it does!
Now to fill you in on the rest of the day! It is now about 9:45 AM and we are on our way back to the house. I am offered a shower and time to rest. I forego the shower because I am afraid of cold water and I also skip the 25 minute nap because I must get some material ready for the day. So onward and upward we go departing the house at 11:35 AM and off we go to get my interpreter for the day.
We picked up Marlene Luna, a 21 year old psychology major after a drive across Santo Domingo. She is a beautiful young lady who dearly loves the Lord. She has been through YWAM (Youth With A Mission) training and has been on location in Africa and Peru (both in Lima and in the the jungle). Her English is clear and without any accent.
Our next stop was to meet Jeaneris, who works for a local TV station – on the air and who has aan organization registered with their Dominican Government to help abused and underprivileged children. I was requested to share about the “project” (as Pastor Chavez calls Pacto De Vida). She said she wanted us to meet with her and the other “prominent ladies” who serve as members of her organization because she wants to help with the “project.” Who knows where this will lead.
Because Pastor Chavez is from Peru and both Marlene and I are familiar with Peru and like Peruvian food, he took us to a Peruvian restaurant to have Civichi and Lomas Saltada - a beef, vegetable, and french fry, rice combo.
A quick stop by the house to get my materials for the evening service and we were on the road again headed to meet three pastors and to share with them about the project. From the time we departed at 3:45 PM until almost 8:00 we were sharing the “project” and the “project” was very warmly welcomed and accepted with great anticipation and with the expression – “God sent you here at the right time. Our country is experiencing a move of God and we need to teach our people.”
The evening ended by sharing with an Assemblies of God pastor, and teaching a lesson from the Marriage Material I have developed with PowerPoint and student notes – The Basis of Marriage, lessons one and two: The Yoke of Marriage and The Emotions of Marriage.
Now when the church is on a very busy neighborhood intersection, with card games taking place in the street outside, children funning to and fro on the sidewalks, all doors and windows open to attempt to stay cool, all fans in the building running a full speed, a generator running on the door steps of the church because it was the time of day when the electricity for this section of Santo Domingo has their service turned off, and children inside moving about freely – well you get the message! AND – then we had to stop and turn the generator off, throw a switch to return to the “normal power” – which meant to turn off the projector to protect the bulb, the restart it and then to have to stop and do it again because the “normal power” when off again, which meant we switched back to the generator. Anyway it was an eventful evening and the teaching was well received – anyway that is what the pastor (a lady) and her husband and the pastor’s mother (who is a pastor in New Jersey) expressed.
So I thought since it was now 9:00 PM that we would be going back home. WRONG! We drove to another part of the city, found the YWAM team in the process of holding a street meeting with their 96 youth and a large crowd. Then I discovered that the pastor was to bring the evangelistic message. So I spent my time observing and chatting with some of the youth from Thursday’s event-filled day.
Well that brings you up-to-date and here it is Saturday morning about 10:00. I did sleep good with the help of two little friends and a cold shower.
Now for the day and all it holds. Thank God he hold this day as he has all the others in this “timely” – “God’s time” venture through this door He has opened.
I’ll be back on line whenever I have access to the internet.
God bless,
Dr D
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
OOPS! CATCH-UP TIME: Sunday and Monday
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
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
Friday, July 10, 2009
AND THE WORD SPREADS!
The meeting with the ‘Fraternity of Fraternity of Pastors” (Confraternidad Peruana De Pastores Evangelicos – CONPPE) can best be explained in the terms of the speaker from the Peruvian Health Department as he spoke about the spread of “flu” when he said “it is passed from one to another” and that is what happened today.
We used our allotted time to share the vision and burden of Pacto De Vida. Then, because I had my computer and projector I found myself as the “media technician” and projected for several other speakers. It seemed strange for a North American to be serving the pastors of Peru. It was a “big” “ice-breaker” and produced much communication.
After the close of the meeting about 1:00 PM (it started at 9:00) Marco Aroni, our National Coordinator and Walter Villajuan, our regional coordinator from Ancon, were kept busy for 30 minutes answering questions and taking information from those pastors who were interested. And I had to find Jose Navarro, one of the officers of CONPPE to translate for me so I could assist others.
One pastor began his discussion with me by asking, “Have you been to or are you now working in Ecuador?” Of course my response was “No.” Then came the inevitable statement and invitation: “Will you come to Ecuador in January or February? If you will, I will set up a meeting with the pastors of the 25 Churches related to our Church and make introduction for you to the organization of 1,000 pastors.”
What do you say and do? Ecuador has the same law which requires pastors to have a degree and if they do not, the present government is doing all it can to shut the doors of those evangelical churches.
I hear Jesus saying, “Behold the fields! They are white unto harvest!” Why else would Satan be trying so hard to stop the voice of the evangelical pastors?
Here we stand, poised with the answer to the crisis and we did not even know about the crisis!
And then we return to my abode and get a call from a fellow North American who has been using ISOM materials (the same teachings we currently use for the first year and one half). He requests we come to his house for lunch on Saturday. He wants to discuss how we can work together to help the pastors who do not have the required education. He states he has been able to take 2,500 people through the first year of ISOM and wants a way to help them go further. We are the answer to “further!”
I was invited upstairs to speak to the local students. This is only their 3rd or 4th night of classes. Pastor Jorge introduced me to two young girls, not more than 20. He said that because of the money donated by Destiny International, St. Augustine, FL, pastor Donovan Tinsley, they are able to scholarship them. They are currently working with youth in a very poor area just outside Lima. Their faces were beaming with excitement! They are now able to attend Bible College!
Someone please give me a “handle to hold on to!” This is a bigger challenge than I had anticipated! And yet the results can impact the nation of Peru! We must meet the challenge!
I need you! I need your prayers! I need your involvement! I need a financial investment in this “Peru Challenge” to take it to the next level.
Thanks for your prayers!!!!!
Dr D
We used our allotted time to share the vision and burden of Pacto De Vida. Then, because I had my computer and projector I found myself as the “media technician” and projected for several other speakers. It seemed strange for a North American to be serving the pastors of Peru. It was a “big” “ice-breaker” and produced much communication.
After the close of the meeting about 1:00 PM (it started at 9:00) Marco Aroni, our National Coordinator and Walter Villajuan, our regional coordinator from Ancon, were kept busy for 30 minutes answering questions and taking information from those pastors who were interested. And I had to find Jose Navarro, one of the officers of CONPPE to translate for me so I could assist others.
One pastor began his discussion with me by asking, “Have you been to or are you now working in Ecuador?” Of course my response was “No.” Then came the inevitable statement and invitation: “Will you come to Ecuador in January or February? If you will, I will set up a meeting with the pastors of the 25 Churches related to our Church and make introduction for you to the organization of 1,000 pastors.”
What do you say and do? Ecuador has the same law which requires pastors to have a degree and if they do not, the present government is doing all it can to shut the doors of those evangelical churches.
I hear Jesus saying, “Behold the fields! They are white unto harvest!” Why else would Satan be trying so hard to stop the voice of the evangelical pastors?
Here we stand, poised with the answer to the crisis and we did not even know about the crisis!
And then we return to my abode and get a call from a fellow North American who has been using ISOM materials (the same teachings we currently use for the first year and one half). He requests we come to his house for lunch on Saturday. He wants to discuss how we can work together to help the pastors who do not have the required education. He states he has been able to take 2,500 people through the first year of ISOM and wants a way to help them go further. We are the answer to “further!”
I was invited upstairs to speak to the local students. This is only their 3rd or 4th night of classes. Pastor Jorge introduced me to two young girls, not more than 20. He said that because of the money donated by Destiny International, St. Augustine, FL, pastor Donovan Tinsley, they are able to scholarship them. They are currently working with youth in a very poor area just outside Lima. Their faces were beaming with excitement! They are now able to attend Bible College!
Someone please give me a “handle to hold on to!” This is a bigger challenge than I had anticipated! And yet the results can impact the nation of Peru! We must meet the challenge!
I need you! I need your prayers! I need your involvement! I need a financial investment in this “Peru Challenge” to take it to the next level.
Thanks for your prayers!!!!!
Dr D
Thursday, July 9, 2009
GREAT DOORS ARE OPENING!
My last Blog was written on Saturday, July 4th. Today is Thursday, well it was, because it is just about over. This week has gone very fast. So allow me to fill you in on the happenings since Saturday.
Saturday we spent the day with Doctor Roger (MD) and Magaly and Abigail (their 5 month old daughter.) Roger went with me as my interpreter for the Saturday evening service at Escuela Biblica Corazon En Fuego where Hector Carpio, the engineer on the Hodges home is connected. The Church has one of our largest University classes - 44 in the 3rd Trimester and 20 in the 1st Trimester. It is about 25 minutes from the airport and in a very, very poor area.
Pacto De Vida’s success there is very exciting. Not only does the local Church have many students but their students come from other area Churches and include several pastors. I was able to spend about 45 minutes sharing with a couple of them. Their excitement about what they have learned is indeed gratifying and helps to propel me forward to do more to help them do the work of Christ among their own people.
Sunday, we departed from Jicamarca earlier than we, David and I, needed because we had the incorrect information about the starting time of our morning service at Iglesia Pentecostal de Santidad, with Pastor Jorge & Janine Watanabe. He is the superintendent of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church here in Peru. Upon arrival we discovered that the pastor was very sick with the flu and that many of the congregation were also sick. But in-spite of not having any musicians we had a good service.
We returned back to Jicamarca just in time to stretch out for 45 minutes and then prepare for the evening service at Iglesia Vida (Life Church) pastored by our own David and Ceci Hodges and boys. Sometimes you’d think that their eldest, “El-E-L” (I just discovered I do not know how to spell his name) was the pastor to listen to him. Anyway, wearing my leather sport jacket and my Ukrainian black sweater shirt, I made it through another cold evening at Church without any heat – the Holy Spirit and fire assisted greatly.
Monday, I spent the entire day going from one place to another in the greater Lima area to accomplish many tasks. The most interesting was that of having the privilege of hosting four pastors from Lima. These men are the officers of the “Fraternity of Leaders of Fraternities of Pastors of Peru.” That is the only way I know how to explain who they are. You will understand more in a moment.
The purpose of the meeting was to share with them about Pacto De Vida (Covenant Life University). The President wanted to meet me and discuss the university prior to my sharing with the Presidents of the Fraternities of Pastors throughout Peru. There will be 100 of them gathering tomorrow, Friday. Together these men represent all the Fraternities of Pastors in all of Peru. The bottom line is this: They represent literally thousands of Churches in Peru.
Now listen to this: The government of Peru is or has prepared a bill that will require all pastors to have an education equivalent or parallel to that of the Catholic Priests. Meaning, that the majority of the pastors of Peru do not have an Biblical education. AND THAT MEANS: Pacto De Vida is being given the opportunity to share how it can help educated the pastors and they can remain at their task of pastoring their churches and keep their jobs and not leave their homes to fulfill the requirements of this law.
I felt like Esther - destiny wise: “For Such A Time As This!” Here I am, the doors swinging wide open to the entire nation of spiritual leaders of all faiths! All four pastors opened their hearts and gave me complete support to be the first item on the agenda on Friday morning! One offered his lawyer to help Pacto De Vida secure government registration. Another shared how the classes have impacted his Church and how many were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke with tongues as they listened to A.L. Gill teach on the Holy Spirit.
The President, who teaches at three or four different Bible Colleges said that he was completely behind our method of Biblical Education and offered to teach any course that would assist and allow us to use it on DVD without any fees attached. Another, who speaks excellent English and also is fluent in Quechua - the language of the mountain people said he would donate his time and effort to assist in dubbing any teaching into the Quechua tongue.
And then the evening concluded with 25% of the people present in Jicamarca being filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking in Tongues! Well, allow me to say that means five – an another so hungry and so close but fear kept him back. This was the culmination of the teaching on the Baptism in the Holy Spirit with the Initial Physical Evidence of Speaking With Tongues – a four part, four hour teaching requested by Pastor Hodges.
Tuesday was a repeat of time spent traveling in Lima to complete the tasks begun on Monday, picking up my laptop that had developed even more serious problems (I hope it will last until I can get my new one). And shopping for a new printer for the University here – the other one developed a leak in the ink system and ruined the mother-board – we are still looking and checking prices.
We had to do some last minute grocery shopping so we would have the necessary food for the guests for supper. Pastor Agustin and Jessica Ciccia and their three children and Pastor Gustavo and Jenny Rodriquez who had been invited by the Hodges to eat with us. They are close friends of the Hodges and also are special to us. And, well, after picking up some material for the Restaurant being built on the Church property to assist with local expenses, I made it back just in time to sit a spell and then get geared up for the evening.
Let me tell you – a trip to Lima and its many, many adjacent “burgs” is an all day, tiring trip even with a car and a driver. I can’t imagine doing it by foot, moto-cab, taxi, bus and then repeating the same to get back home. Yet the Hodges have no other means at this time.
Wednesday was a day off! Hush! I am not “off every day!” It was good to relax, but it also meant that we had to complete many small tasks, and then pack to be ready to leave at 3:30 AM Thursday to take Marilyn to the airport for her 7:05 departure for Miami and home. It would have been easier but some of the people of the Church decided that Marilyn needed to spend some time with them – the ladies! So they arrived and she did! They finally departed at 11:30 PM! We completed the necessary things and decided to shower, shave, etc. before retiring since the generator was on and we had electricity for lights – which we would not have at 2:45 AM!
Problem! Sleep never arrived! At least for me, though I thought I heard some strange sounds from the bunk below. Please be careful how you handle this. No one needs to know that my lovely wife makes sounds that sound like “snoring.” So we completed the hours and departed from Jicamarca at 3:35 AM and did find the airport and Dunkin Donuts as well as “Starbucks” – which between the two it helped the body do without the sleep it wanted.
Marco and I said good-by to Marilyn about 5:20 AM and made our way to my new place of abode – at the International Pentecostal Church Headquarters here in Peru which also houses the Church pastored by Jorge Watanabe.
Dan Clowers, the Latin American - Caribbean Missions Director had offered me a room in his apartment and I had accepted, provided he take me out to eat “Alpaca Steak”. However, due to the death of his mother, he is not here. Thanks Dan and may God bless and strengthen you at this time.
Marco and I crashed for two hours, worked for four, caught some food at a very nice buffet filled with a Chinese-Peruvian mixed foods and drink – all for 50 soles (divide by 3 to get dollars). Since I thought it would be my first and only meal today, and I had only one meal yesterday – I took advantage of the great food – including chevechi (fish cooked in lemon juice). It was great!
Then back to the bed for another nap and up and back to work on the presentation for the Fraternity of Pastors tomorrow.
Here I sit - tired, glad I have finished this blog, and very happy to be back in communication via the internet and can catch up on some very important communications and work.
God bless!
Dr D (Marilyn is home! I spoke with her and watched her via Skype and the computer.)
Saturday we spent the day with Doctor Roger (MD) and Magaly and Abigail (their 5 month old daughter.) Roger went with me as my interpreter for the Saturday evening service at Escuela Biblica Corazon En Fuego where Hector Carpio, the engineer on the Hodges home is connected. The Church has one of our largest University classes - 44 in the 3rd Trimester and 20 in the 1st Trimester. It is about 25 minutes from the airport and in a very, very poor area.
Pacto De Vida’s success there is very exciting. Not only does the local Church have many students but their students come from other area Churches and include several pastors. I was able to spend about 45 minutes sharing with a couple of them. Their excitement about what they have learned is indeed gratifying and helps to propel me forward to do more to help them do the work of Christ among their own people.
Sunday, we departed from Jicamarca earlier than we, David and I, needed because we had the incorrect information about the starting time of our morning service at Iglesia Pentecostal de Santidad, with Pastor Jorge & Janine Watanabe. He is the superintendent of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church here in Peru. Upon arrival we discovered that the pastor was very sick with the flu and that many of the congregation were also sick. But in-spite of not having any musicians we had a good service.
We returned back to Jicamarca just in time to stretch out for 45 minutes and then prepare for the evening service at Iglesia Vida (Life Church) pastored by our own David and Ceci Hodges and boys. Sometimes you’d think that their eldest, “El-E-L” (I just discovered I do not know how to spell his name) was the pastor to listen to him. Anyway, wearing my leather sport jacket and my Ukrainian black sweater shirt, I made it through another cold evening at Church without any heat – the Holy Spirit and fire assisted greatly.
Monday, I spent the entire day going from one place to another in the greater Lima area to accomplish many tasks. The most interesting was that of having the privilege of hosting four pastors from Lima. These men are the officers of the “Fraternity of Leaders of Fraternities of Pastors of Peru.” That is the only way I know how to explain who they are. You will understand more in a moment.
The purpose of the meeting was to share with them about Pacto De Vida (Covenant Life University). The President wanted to meet me and discuss the university prior to my sharing with the Presidents of the Fraternities of Pastors throughout Peru. There will be 100 of them gathering tomorrow, Friday. Together these men represent all the Fraternities of Pastors in all of Peru. The bottom line is this: They represent literally thousands of Churches in Peru.
Now listen to this: The government of Peru is or has prepared a bill that will require all pastors to have an education equivalent or parallel to that of the Catholic Priests. Meaning, that the majority of the pastors of Peru do not have an Biblical education. AND THAT MEANS: Pacto De Vida is being given the opportunity to share how it can help educated the pastors and they can remain at their task of pastoring their churches and keep their jobs and not leave their homes to fulfill the requirements of this law.
I felt like Esther - destiny wise: “For Such A Time As This!” Here I am, the doors swinging wide open to the entire nation of spiritual leaders of all faiths! All four pastors opened their hearts and gave me complete support to be the first item on the agenda on Friday morning! One offered his lawyer to help Pacto De Vida secure government registration. Another shared how the classes have impacted his Church and how many were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke with tongues as they listened to A.L. Gill teach on the Holy Spirit.
The President, who teaches at three or four different Bible Colleges said that he was completely behind our method of Biblical Education and offered to teach any course that would assist and allow us to use it on DVD without any fees attached. Another, who speaks excellent English and also is fluent in Quechua - the language of the mountain people said he would donate his time and effort to assist in dubbing any teaching into the Quechua tongue.
And then the evening concluded with 25% of the people present in Jicamarca being filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking in Tongues! Well, allow me to say that means five – an another so hungry and so close but fear kept him back. This was the culmination of the teaching on the Baptism in the Holy Spirit with the Initial Physical Evidence of Speaking With Tongues – a four part, four hour teaching requested by Pastor Hodges.
Tuesday was a repeat of time spent traveling in Lima to complete the tasks begun on Monday, picking up my laptop that had developed even more serious problems (I hope it will last until I can get my new one). And shopping for a new printer for the University here – the other one developed a leak in the ink system and ruined the mother-board – we are still looking and checking prices.
We had to do some last minute grocery shopping so we would have the necessary food for the guests for supper. Pastor Agustin and Jessica Ciccia and their three children and Pastor Gustavo and Jenny Rodriquez who had been invited by the Hodges to eat with us. They are close friends of the Hodges and also are special to us. And, well, after picking up some material for the Restaurant being built on the Church property to assist with local expenses, I made it back just in time to sit a spell and then get geared up for the evening.
Let me tell you – a trip to Lima and its many, many adjacent “burgs” is an all day, tiring trip even with a car and a driver. I can’t imagine doing it by foot, moto-cab, taxi, bus and then repeating the same to get back home. Yet the Hodges have no other means at this time.
Wednesday was a day off! Hush! I am not “off every day!” It was good to relax, but it also meant that we had to complete many small tasks, and then pack to be ready to leave at 3:30 AM Thursday to take Marilyn to the airport for her 7:05 departure for Miami and home. It would have been easier but some of the people of the Church decided that Marilyn needed to spend some time with them – the ladies! So they arrived and she did! They finally departed at 11:30 PM! We completed the necessary things and decided to shower, shave, etc. before retiring since the generator was on and we had electricity for lights – which we would not have at 2:45 AM!
Problem! Sleep never arrived! At least for me, though I thought I heard some strange sounds from the bunk below. Please be careful how you handle this. No one needs to know that my lovely wife makes sounds that sound like “snoring.” So we completed the hours and departed from Jicamarca at 3:35 AM and did find the airport and Dunkin Donuts as well as “Starbucks” – which between the two it helped the body do without the sleep it wanted.
Marco and I said good-by to Marilyn about 5:20 AM and made our way to my new place of abode – at the International Pentecostal Church Headquarters here in Peru which also houses the Church pastored by Jorge Watanabe.
Dan Clowers, the Latin American - Caribbean Missions Director had offered me a room in his apartment and I had accepted, provided he take me out to eat “Alpaca Steak”. However, due to the death of his mother, he is not here. Thanks Dan and may God bless and strengthen you at this time.
Marco and I crashed for two hours, worked for four, caught some food at a very nice buffet filled with a Chinese-Peruvian mixed foods and drink – all for 50 soles (divide by 3 to get dollars). Since I thought it would be my first and only meal today, and I had only one meal yesterday – I took advantage of the great food – including chevechi (fish cooked in lemon juice). It was great!
Then back to the bed for another nap and up and back to work on the presentation for the Fraternity of Pastors tomorrow.
Here I sit - tired, glad I have finished this blog, and very happy to be back in communication via the internet and can catch up on some very important communications and work.
God bless!
Dr D (Marilyn is home! I spoke with her and watched her via Skype and the computer.)
Saturday, July 4, 2009
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
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
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Last Day in Arequipa
There isn’t a lot to say about yesterday, Monday – spiritually speaking. We had the day off so we hooked up with a 4 hour tour of the city and say this beautiful city.
Every mountain is more than just a mountain. They are former volcanoes. As I said in Blog #4 - three of the 3,000 are active and are connected. They surround the city and give it a great look.
The city is called the “White City” because the Spanish built it from stone cut from the volcanoes or “City of White People” because of the Spanish who settled here. Because the stones from the volcanic activity is not very strong it does not require much of a tremor to cause damage to the buildings. But they also build them with very thick walls so the buildings have endured through the hundreds of years.
Today, the pastor took us on a walking tour in downtown Arequipa which included visiting the cathedral and a couple of other Catholic buildings – monastery and convent. It is sad to see the paganism that attached itself to the Catholic Church with its life of bondage and no hope.
We had a good time and then indulged in some typical Peruvian food - Lomo Saltado – beef, onion, red pepper, rice, french-fries.
Tonight we complete the trip here the Church of our host, Comunidad Christiana La Vina – Pastor Rolando Romero. The focus tonight will be on marriage.
The nights here have been long due to the lack of ability to stay asleep all night. And because the shower has anything but hot water as we know it. In fact, I think it is straight from the snow on the mountains! I think it is easier to just try to cover up with deodorant – but since I use “The Rock” I cannot take that avenue of escape and so I endure the flowing ice-cubes.
We are presently in the Cusco Coffee Café which has Wi-Fi and will be met by the pastor shortly, so I’d better close this and get it posted.
We leave here tomorrow at 11:00 AM and arrive back in Lima about 12:15 PM.
Talk to you later.
Dr D and Marilyn
Every mountain is more than just a mountain. They are former volcanoes. As I said in Blog #4 - three of the 3,000 are active and are connected. They surround the city and give it a great look.
The city is called the “White City” because the Spanish built it from stone cut from the volcanoes or “City of White People” because of the Spanish who settled here. Because the stones from the volcanic activity is not very strong it does not require much of a tremor to cause damage to the buildings. But they also build them with very thick walls so the buildings have endured through the hundreds of years.
Today, the pastor took us on a walking tour in downtown Arequipa which included visiting the cathedral and a couple of other Catholic buildings – monastery and convent. It is sad to see the paganism that attached itself to the Catholic Church with its life of bondage and no hope.
We had a good time and then indulged in some typical Peruvian food - Lomo Saltado – beef, onion, red pepper, rice, french-fries.
Tonight we complete the trip here the Church of our host, Comunidad Christiana La Vina – Pastor Rolando Romero. The focus tonight will be on marriage.
The nights here have been long due to the lack of ability to stay asleep all night. And because the shower has anything but hot water as we know it. In fact, I think it is straight from the snow on the mountains! I think it is easier to just try to cover up with deodorant – but since I use “The Rock” I cannot take that avenue of escape and so I endure the flowing ice-cubes.
We are presently in the Cusco Coffee Café which has Wi-Fi and will be met by the pastor shortly, so I’d better close this and get it posted.
We leave here tomorrow at 11:00 AM and arrive back in Lima about 12:15 PM.
Talk to you later.
Dr D and Marilyn
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