We made it back from out trip to the jungle safely. We arrived yesterday at 3:00 after a 16 or 17 hour bus ride with enough time to wash my clothes and make it to college and career meeting.

We were able to see many decisions made and kids saved over this past week. It was exciting to see teenagers giving their lives over to Christ and then bringing their friends to hear about Jesus.

My week included leading games for 60 crazy little kids, helping with songs and crafts, and keeping control (or attempting too). We also sang specials in the evenings and did several skits. When we werent working we were hanging out at the river. The temperature got pretty high, so I spent what time I could soaking in the river and playing with little kids.

One answer to prayer was that we did not have problems with cockroaches. When we arrived they told us that there really were not many around because the big rats eat them. That gave me comfort when I was sleeping on the floor.

Kimi, a little tired

What is Perú without a soccer game or two?!

Dear friends and family,

It is hard to believe that we are already this far into the year of 2005. I realized today that we have now been here for 8 months. It sounds like a long time, but the time has flown. I praise the Lord for this time that I am here in Perú, He is teaching me and changing me so much! There are so many things that I would like to share with you about this past month, but I have to settle for summing things up.
We had a good Christmas and New Year’s, spending the evenings in the church with special services. That was a lot of fun, and the view of Christmas among the believers of Buenas Nuevas was so refreshing! No matter how many times I have heard that the real meaning of Christmas is about Christ’s birth and life and not presents and candy and such, I think this year was the best teacher that I have had of what Christmas really is. The people here have next to nothing compared to us, and yet they are so happy and they celebrate Christ more than they celebrate presents and Christmas trees. I didn’t hear people complaining about the gifts they got or didn’t get. The members of my church here are wonderful examples to me. I praise the Lord for them!
These last few weeks have been very busy preparing for the trip to Bagua in the jungle and also the three weeks after Bagua that we will be working at a camp a couple of hours north of where we live in Lima. In Bagua the ARRIBA! group will be holding a Vacation Bible School for all of the children at a conference of churches. Pastor Evelio will be speaking for the evening services. For the VBS, we are in charge of the crafts, games, lessons, and everything else. Please pray that we would be able to communicate well with the children, capture their attention, and that those who are not yet saved would accept Christ as their Savior. We will be teaching the lessons in a style like the “Wordless Book.” We will be leaving tonight on about a 20 hour bus ride to get to Bagua. We will be on this Bagua trip for a week, and then we will be home for less than two full days before we head out again to do the camps. I am really excited for these following weeks!
The four of us of the ARRIBA! group that live in Musa are now each in charge of one kid’s club. I am in charge of one in Manchay. It has been a good learning experience. I have had the opportunity of working with a lot of the planning and scheduling and deciding how the club should be run. I work with two 18 year old boys from the church, Henry and Román, and they are a great help to me. They have a passion for serving, and they are willing to help in any way that they can. Within the last two weeks, 7 people (5 adults and 2 young boys) have accepted Christ as their personal Savior! Praise the Lord! It is so encouraging to see how God is working!
Also, we are now in charge of the Jóvenes meetings, Caleb and Annette with the younger group and Seth and I with the older group. During the lesson time Seth teaches the guys and I teach the ladies. We are teaching through the book of James, which is tremendous! I am God is teaching me so much through my studying for the lessons, and there are so many things to learn, there is no possible way that I can possible teach everything that I would like to in the length of time that we have to teach. Pray that the Lord would continue to conform my life to be more like Him, and that He would also speak through me to help the girls grow also.
I also have had the opportunity to teach at the ladies meeting at church twice. I really enjoy speaking to them, I just pray that even though at times I lack the right words or grammar they would still learn and be encouraged. I am so thankful that God uses us in spite of our weaknesses!
My Peruvian family has gone to the jungle to visit the family of Nordid, my house mom. They will be gone for about a month. Nordid went up there with the hope and prayer of witnessing to her siblings, aunts, uncles and all the members of her family that are unsaved. Pray that she would be bold while doing this and that the Lord would give her opportunities to share the Gospel and that the Holy Spirit would work so they would have open hearts to accept Christ.
Thank you so much for all of your prayers and support! I appreciate it so much, I can never say thank you enough. I know that words cannot accurately describe everything God is doing down here in our hearts and lives and through us, but I hope that this gives you a little bit of an idea!
Prayer Requests:
-Trip to Bagua
-The camps in which we will be working
-Nordid and family in the jungle, salvation of the rest of her family
-New believers in the church and kid’s clubs
-Kid’s clubs
-Jóvenes Mayores-that the Jóvenes would come and would grow in their walks with Christ
-The financial situation of Buenas Nuevas- they are in debt some right now, pray that the Lord would provide the money to pay it off completely, and that they would have the money that they need to pay Pastor Evelio

This afternoon we take off for Bagwa, Northern Perú. It will be about 18 hours in the bus, provided the trip goes well. When we arrive, the job for the Arriba group will be to teach and entertain in between 50 and 100 kids during the teaching times of the family conference. There will be Bible lessons, verses, games, crafts, and lots of songs!

Please pray for our group, that we may work together for the glory of God, and that we will be able to serve effectively.

This past week brought many little tests and challenges, but each have helped me grow in my spiritual walk. God keeps challenging me with His Word and the testimony of His servants here in Perú.

We spent many an hour preparing for our next few weeks of camps and activities. Please pray for us that we will not be so busy with the ministry of the Lord, that we neglect the Lord of the ministry.

In the Jungle

One of the Bible clubs in Manchay

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4 (NIV)

These verses have been echoing throughout my mind for the past two weeks. No matter where I turn, they seem to be manifested in my life! I think God is trying to tell me something. Seeing the everyday and seemingly overwhelming struggles in the ministry, the thought came to my mind, “Why do God’s most faithful servants seem to have the hardest tests in life?” The reply that came to my plea was, “Maybe that is why they are His most faithful servants.” May I be able to say with Job: “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” Job 23:10 (NIV)

Hanging out in the jungle