Working in the USA

THANKS to First Presbyterian Church, Corinth, MS, we just passed a little time working in the USA. They graciously invited us to speak about outreach and missions at their week-long Family Bible School. Bill based his lessons on the church in Acts, while Allen added personal stories during her "Sidebars".

And, we got to spend very refreshing time with dear family and friends too! The Lord really used the time to renew and refresh the whole family.

Special Peru Mission Bulletin - Earthquake Relief Fund

Earthquake in Ica, Peru

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

As many of you know, a massive 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck Peru Wednesday evening at 6:40pm, killing hundreds in the southern cities of Pisco and Ica. One church in Pisco collapsed during a memorial service, which alone has left an estimated 200 dead.

The quake thankfully did little damage in the capital city of Lima 90 miles away, a city of nearly 10 million where many more might have perished. The mission's own RUF pastor John Ferguson, with his wife Heather and their children Colton, Jason, Justin, Kevin and Miranda, and our SALI director Caleb Sutton, all happened to be in Lima at the time and experienced some of the panic that occurred there. In northern Peru where our mission works, we felt the tremor, but did not suffer any damage.

The people of Peru are responding to the disaster and sending aid to the affected regions. As a mission, we will also be sending aid through the local church and/or the National Evangelical Council of Peru, which has already taken steps to collect needed items. If you would like to give to our brothers and sisters in need, you may send your contributions to the following address:

Christian Missionary Society

Re: Earthquake Relief Fund

PO Box 53363

Knoxville, TN 37950-3363

We will pledge to use 100% of any contributions received by Thursday, August 23 toward buying emergency supplies for those left without water, electricity or shelter, and 100% of any contributions received afterward toward ongoing care of the victims of this natural disaster.

Thank you again for your prayers.

In His Grace,

The Peru Mission Team

Peru Earthquake Inquiries

Thanks to so many for thinking of us during this time of tragedy for our country. We really don't have any churches in southern Peru, just Lima and northward (we are actually 1 ½ hour plane ride north in Trujillo). So, we don’t know anyone personally affected by the earthquake. However, our team members, the Fergusons and Caleb Sutton were in Lima last night, so they felt the tremors pretty strongly. Thankfully, aside from being scared, they made it through ok (see John Ferguson's account on his blog). For a news account covered by Knoxville, TN, news, who interviewed two of team members currently living in Knoxville, go here.

Thanks for your prayers for those affected - the people in the towns of Ica and Pisco already didn’t have much, now they have even less. Peru Mission will do what we can to assist in the aid for the affected area.