Peru Mission E-bulletin January 2009

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IEPP General Assembly

The denomination with whom Peru Mission works, La Iglesia Evangelica Presbiteriana del Peru (IEPP), is holding its annual General Assembly this week in Cajamarca.

Please be in prayer for all of the Peruvian pastors and elders attending, as well as the Peru Mission Team members who are attending from Trujillo, Bill Bradford, Allen Smith and Josh Eby.

Wichanzao Hosts Rolling Book Fair

Trujillo is currently hosting its 4th Annual Book Fair, a grand event celebrating art and culture, especially celebrating the written word. A special component of the Trujillo Book Fair this year is the Rolling Book Fair, which is a library on wheels that is traveling around to the poorer areas of Trujillo. The bus has 200 childrens' books and a large reading area inside. Outside, volunteers lead games and fun activities that promote reading and encourage children to pursue more education.Today, the Wichanzao Presbyterian Church is acting as host to the Rolling Book Fair in the Wichanzao neighborhood - for over 200 kids. They have done a lot of work organizing and promoting the event, as well as ensuring that all goes smoothly today. The kids are loving it! What a privilege it is to see children joyfully maximizing the gifts and talents God has given them, while giving Him the glory and honor.

New Deacons in Larco Presbyterian Church

With much thanksgiving to the Lord, we are happy to report that Larco Presbyterian Church now has three new deacons.

For ten weeks, Bill, Allen Smith, Pastor Jaime Avalleneda and Pastor Gerardo Castro team-taught a 10 week deacon's course to 13 eager men at the Larco Church. At the end of that course, three eligible, trained men were elected by the congregation as Deacons: Wilmer Alcantara, Donald Savitsky and Julton Tomanguillo.

Please pray for these men, as well as for the other leaders and members of the Larco congregation.

Cajamarca 10th Anniversary Trip

2009 is a milestone year for Peru Mission - we turn 10! Actually, the Lord brought us into this adventure now known as Peru Mission back in 1995, when the founding members (Ramirezes, Bradfords, Bakers & Balls) began meeting together in Jackson, MS, to discuss ministry needs in northern Peru. But, the actual hands-on work in Peru began in 1999, when team members actually arrived in Cajamarca, Peru, and began the church plant now known as 2nd Presbyterian Church, Cajamarca. To commemorate this event, the 2nd Presbyterian Church held a 10th Anniversary Celebration during the second week in January. 32 of us from Trujillo (Bradfords, Balls, Ellisons, Ebys, Karrakers, & Kellers) travelled up to celebrate the big event with the Ramirezes and the dear brothers and sisters of 2nd Presbyterian Church. We had a lot of fun celebrating in the church and visiting friends in the countryside around Cajamarca. It was a blessed time of reminiscing and marveling over what the Lord is doing in Peru!

Meet the Kellers

We are so happy to introduce y'all to the Keller Family - Jim, Cheryl, Phoebe and Peter. They live in the New York City area, but are joining in the work of Peru Mission in Trujillo for most of 2009. Both Jim and Cheryl have business backgrounds, with much experience working in banking and with foundations. We look forward to seeing how God uses them in Peru Mission's economic development ventures, as well as to sharing some good fellowship with them.

Camp Is Back!

The marvelous folks of Twin Lakes Camp in Jackson, MS, are back, spreading the love of Christ in Peru this week! They are putting on camp for the children of the three Presbyterian churches in Trujillo, as well as for the orphans in Hogar de Esperanza, a partner ministry of Peru Mission. Please pray for the children who are attending, that they understand the love and mercy of Christ in a life-changing way. And pray for the staff - both American and Peruvian - for patience, wisdom and overflowing love.

Christmas Break Beaches

Christmas break was full of beach trips - we explored the northern Peruvian desert coast with some of our team members, looking for the perfect beach spot. We found some good spots and some bad spots – but had fun and made great memories everywhere we went!

The break was a much-needed refresher/energizer – now we feel ready for a new year full of ministry and activities. January will be a very full month: Twin Lakes Camp Peru will be here hosting a Christian camp, Los Rosales Church in Cajamarca is celebrating its 10th Anniversary (which means Peru Mission has been at work in Peru for 10 years too!), our IEPP denomination has its annual General Assembly,. . . . We already have lots to be thankful for this year!