Visiting Counselor & Texas Doctors

We are so hot, hot, hot here! The kids are in the backyard in the inflatable swimming pool we brought from the USA. It's huge, so they can even swim 2-3 strokes from one end to the other. We didn’t have time to make it to the beach today, but they are still enjoying this sunny summer day!

Rev. Henry Beaulieu and Faith (his 13 year old daughter) were an incredible blessing to us during their visit this past week. Henry is a counselor/pastor at Eastwood Presbyterian Church in Montgomery, AL, whom we knew in seminary. He conducted a Biblical Counseling seminar for our pastors and leaders and did some vital counseling with several of our pastors and members. Our prayer is that the Lord continue to produce fruit from the wisdom from His Word which was planted in hearts.

Henry Beaulieu

(photo courtesy of Eastwood Presbyterian Church)

Henry’s ministry was really helpful to us personally as well. For example, one practical manner for dealing with anxiety: he spoke about keeping a "fear journal" to help pinpoint the sources of our anxiety and then actively "put off" those fears in confession and ask forgiveness, and "put on" Christ in Scripture study and meditation. We pray that his counsel was helpful to the Peruvian pastors as well, and will be an agent of change for the church here.

This week we also had the privilege of having 4 doctors here from New Braunfels, TX - 2 pediatricians, Dr. Tim Owens and Dr. Chris Filetti, who attended patients in our Wichanzao, Larco and Arevalo churches, and Dr. Pete Forney, an OB/GYN, who did surgeries in the hospital with Dr. Luis Ramos, an anaesthesiologist. They worked really hard all week, taking very few breaks. We are thankful for their service to the brethren here.

Hannah's Birthday

Today we had a fun four-year-old birthday party for our spunky little girl. When we asked her what type of party she wanted she replied, “A clown party! And I want y’all to be the clowns!” So, after Sunday lunch, Mommy and Daddy dutifully put on clown costumes and wigs and led all our visitors in her favorite kiddie games.

(photos courtesy of Anne Hofer)

Manzanamayo Building Dedication

The whole family had a really good visit in Cajamarca this week. One of our rural churches, Manzanamayo, just completed the building that we, along with First Presbyterian Church in Corinth, MS, and the brethren in Cajamarca, helped begin in 2002, so they had a big inauguration and vigilia which we attended.The building was really surprising - we expected the typical mud building with no finishing touches like the rest of the buildings on the mountain. But, they really pulled out all stops up there - it is painted inside and out, has pretty wood floors and wooden beams in the ceiling - and even has electric lights (maybe the only ones on the mountain) hooked up to the generator donated by First Pres. Corinth in 2000. It looks great and they are so excited - it will be greatly used! It was fun for us to be up there again, even to eat the goat intestine soup for breakfast and the guinea pig for the big banquet.

Inauguration of the newly completed church building in Manzanamayo

(photo courtesy of Juan Marquina)

Setting up for the Inauguration Ceremony

(photo courtesy of Juan Marquina)

Bill participating in the traditional "breaking a water pitcher" to inaugurate the building

(photo courtesy of Juan Marquina)

Cooking guinea pig and goat for the Inauguration Banquet

Congregation in their first service in their new building - a "vigilia" (all night worship service)

The brethren in Manzanamayo are thrilled and so thankful to the Lord for all He's done for them - and a whole lot of that has been through the generous brothers and sisters in the USA. Thanks to all our supporters for your dedication and sacrifice for these humble brothers and sisters. They continue to pray for you, as do we.

We stayed in Cajamarca with our friends and co-workers, the Ramirez's, one week and were able to visit with many of our other friends as well, notably Eduardo Vargas. In addition to the Manzanamayo festivities, Bill was able to take over the pastoral duties in the Los Rosales Church, permitting the minister, Juan Santa Cruz, to have a little vacation. He also preached at a special youth service on "Friendship," which was held at the downtown, "del Batan" church. Then, he was able to participate in the vigilia at the Quinuapata church plant. The Lord is slowly but surely adding his increase to the work in Cajamarca. Please pray for all these churches and church plants, that God would pour out his Spirit in power upon them.

IEPP General Assembly & Missions Conference

Thank you for your prayers for our denominational Missions Conference and General Assembly. We were truly blessed by God's Word as brought to us by our visiting speakers and blessed by the fellowship with the brethren.

Bill translating for Rev. Mike Ross

(photo courtesy of Dan Doolittle)