Peru Ministry Team Conference

The second full week in February was our ministry team conference time. Once a year all the missionaries in our Mission (Baptist Mid-Missions) meet for five days for spiritual refreshment and fellowship. We also use the time to evaluate our ministries, and make a strategic plan on how to further the cause of Christ together as a team.

We can honestly say we work with some of the greatest servants in the world.

This BMM camp week this year was one of the hardest we have ever experienced. Our colleagues, Samuel and Bethany Rojas were expecting a son and Beth was six months along. Due to life threatening condition to her, the doctor was forced to take the baby by c-section. The little fellow only lived for a very brief time. So in the middle of the week, we had a funeral at our camp. Beth was not able to be present for the funeral or burial. She was still in the clinic recovering.

The funeral service.

Several of the missionaries sang a special at the funeral and I was asked to bring the message. Ruth also ministered in song in a trio.

The tiny casket broke our hearts. It looks big in this picture, but consider the size compared to the roses.

After the funeral, we went to the cemetery for the burial. I read some Scripture and we had prayer. Then after the casket was lowered, the missionary men took turns filling in the hole with a shovel. A sobering moment for all of us as we grieved with the family.

The next day, Beth was released from the clinic. This was a happy time for the Rojas family who rejoiced to see their Mommy again. Ruth took a lot of pictures during the funeral and burial for Beth in case she wanted to see them later.

This is Sam with his three children in the absence of his hurting wife. Sam showed God's wonderful grace during this difficult time. But it was a very hard time for him.

Ruth caught this happy moment when the family was reunited.

Mommy and daughter see each other for the first time after several days.

Samuel and Bethany are choice disciples of Christ who serve in southern Peru. Pray for the Lord to strengthen and comfort them. No one comforts like Jesus!

Pastor's Retreat in Lima Area

During the last of January and the first part of February, we held our annual retreat for pastors in the central region of Peru. Forty pastors with their wives and children attended. Ruth and I were the coordinators for this retreat. Our role was to help the Peruvian director for the camp week (Pastor Fidel Gómez).

The total attendance counting camp workers and all helpers was 190. Pictured here are the pastors, their wives, single missionary ladies and just a few of the children.

Bro. Bruce Burkholder was the main speaker for the week. His wife, Lisa, also spoke to the ladies.

Bruce and Lisa Burkholder.

Bro. Bob Metze and his wife, Terri attended. Bob taught two classes at the retreat and spoke several times at three different churches in Lima during his time here. They stayed in our home and were a great blessing to us! Bob has a powerful testimony and message to give on abuse in the home. God used him to touch many hearts.

Bob and Terri Metze.

Bruce, Lisa and Bob did a terrific job expounding the Scriptures. Both couples are former missionaries to Mexico who had to leave for health reasons. They now work together with EBI (Editorial Bautista Independiente), a ministry that supplies literature for Spanish speaking Latin America. This is a much appreciated and needed ministry for us here in Peru.

Translation of the Bible into the Quechua Language

During the pastor's retreat in southern Peru, a dedication service was held celebrating the translation of the New Testament of the Bible into the Quechua language (spoken by many in the southern part of Peru). Under the direction of Dr. Hantz Bernard with Bibles International, our colleague Tim Whatley, headed up the project. It was a laborious task that took 14 years!

The translators with Dr. Bernard dedicate the N. T. Quechua Bible to God's glory and thank Him for this great accomplishment.

Missionary Tim Whatley holds up a new copy of the Scriptures for all to see. It was an emotional moment.

The group of godly leaders in southern Peru undertook the translation of the New Testament from Greek to their language. They worked faithfully and methodically under difficult circumstances. We rejoice with this team of translators for the Bible in Quechua. We also commend them and Bibles International for their diligence and hard work. What a joy to be present for the ceremony.

The translation team cherishes their copy as they praised the Lord for their Quechua Bible. They humbly thanked the Lord for what He did through their efforts.

As soon as the first copies were placed in the hands of eager believers and pastors, they began reading with great interest and intense enthusiasm.

Here is a sweet young pastor's wife from the mountains with her brand new Bible.

Some expressed that it was first time they understood God’s Word in their mother tongue! These comments made it all worthwhile for those who had worked so hard on the project.

Many of the people are more comfortable in their mother tongue, Quechua. This pastor purchased several Bibles to take back to his church. In the picture above, the man to the left of the pastor is one of the main translators. Tim is to the right of the pastor

Pastor's Retreat in Southern Peru

In January, I spoke for a week at a pastor's retreat giving classes in the morning and preaching in the evening. There were approx-imately 80 pastors present along with their wives and children. Some came from great distances and made significant sacrifices to attend.

The preaching and teaching was in Spanish, but a lot of the people speak the Quechua language. So there were several specials in that language.

Here a group sings praise to the Lord in their typical clothing.

The ladies sang and the men played their musical instruments in the background.

It was a wonderful privilege and opportunity to give God's Word to the leaders of our churches in southern Peru. The pastor's drank in the teaching, which was a thrilling experience that I will never forget. It is exciting to a Bible teacher when there is an intense desire to learn and apply the Scriptures.

On the last day, the children sang as part of the program.

New Radio Transmitter Arrived

We are rejoicing in the Lord! Our new radio transmitter, tuning unit and many other parts that arrived in Lima on December 31 were released from customs and are now sitting at our radio plant.

The equipment arrived in this truck which sits in the middle of the radio plant. Our customs agent and his wife are on the right.

The equipment being unloaded.

This equipment is very delicate and was handled carefully. Jorge, our caretaker is on the left. Our agent is on the right in yellow.

It was a big shipment as you can see.

Our customs agent and his wife did a great job. We thank the Lord for him, his hard work and his integrity. His wife was right there by his side helping all the way.

From left to right are: Edward (our associate), myself, and Oscar (our customs agent).

The new transmitter should be powerful enough to cover every block of Lima with a clear signal. It will take a few months to get things installed and get to the point where we can transmit with a higher power (25,000 watts). Our goal is to cover all of Lima and beyond by the end of May. This is a big step forward.

We want to thank all of you for your prayers, interest, and sacrifice in giving. So many have had a part in this gigantic project. With all of our heart, Ruth and I want to express our deep gratitude.

Two More Redeemed by Christ

A little over a week ago we sent out a message asking for our supporters to pray for the salvation of four people and for the spiritual life of one new convert. We are thrilled to report that two of the four people on that prayer list have received Christ as their Savior: Catalina and María Paz. They are grandmother and granddaughter.

Catalina (pictured on your left) and María Paz (right).

You will recall that Alejandro and his step son, Ayrton, were saved not long ago. Elisabet, Alejandro's wife, was saved as a young girl. Alejandro, Ayrton and Elisabet are very active witnesses for Christ. Catalina is Elisabet's mother and María Paz is her niece. Her influence has played a great part in the salvation of Catalina and María Paz.

From left to right: María Paz, Alejandro, Elisabet, Ayrton, Catalina.

The joy in this family has increased as one by one, more have come to Christ. They are still praying for others in their family. Jesus brings joy to hearts and unites families.

On the Sunday before Christmas, we gave out some special gifts to the children who came to church. They received a new New Testament Bible, a nice gospel tract with pictures at a child's level, candy, cookies, Bible story coloring books, and crayons.

Just before Christmas we held a "Chocolate Time" at our new church plant where our radio station is located. We served everyone in the community who came a cup of hot chocolate and a piece of fruit cake (a Peruvian custom). This was a very special treat for the people in this area. This church is way out in the country and in a neighborhood that is economically speaking, very humble.

Many children came. It made their day!

This was a special treat for the kids!

Several mothers also joined us.

My son, Jonathan, gave a short gospel message.

The children listened attentively as the Word of God was sown one more time in their little hearts.

During the message, Jonathan gave a candy bar to a little boy as part of his illustration of God's gift to us.

He made one little guy happy!

The week after Christmas, we gave the children a shirt with our radio station stamped on it. This was a great gift for the kids and it also provides good will in our community toward our ministry.

A lady in the U.S. got together with some friends to raise funds to help these children. Their donation provided for all these special gifts for the children. We want to thank all of them for their generosity and sacrifice.

The children's faces say it so much better.