Peru & Back!

The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!"  Anyone who hears should say, "Come!" And the one who is thirsty should come.  Whoever desires should take the living water as a gift. 

Revelation 22:17

Amen!  Jesus You are the living water!  May all people respond to your indescribable gift.  

Thank you for your prayers for our Peru trip.  God always proves Himself faithful.  It was an awesome time- both with Hearts in Action in Lima (coast) and with Yazna in Iquitos (the Amazon). 

Here we are with just a few of the HIA Peru team - it was great to meet them, get to know them and see the work God is doing through the ministry.  

Just a glimpse of the strange landscape where the HIA base is set.  It's an area where there's a lot of need -  an ideal place to reach out!

To start off, we had the opportunity to visit three schools and share about identity -  a key factor for the next generation.  Each one needs to know how valuable he is!

At the end of the lesson we take a time to pray (this is public school)  and thank God for how He's made us. 

We also got to participate in two teachers' training sessions.  The values lesson HIA presents requires follow-up and enforcement in the classroom.   And that's where the teachers come into play. 

Walter -  making the rounds house-to-house inviting kids.   

During the week and each Saturday HIA Peru holds an after-school bible-based club for kids.  We got to share the experience and teach different age groups.  

Bus pick-up!

We didn't get a chance to be there for the HIA church service on Sunday, but we did get to be a part of the Saturday night youth group they've worked hard to build up.

Xaume preaching on Apostle Paul's departing words as a challenge to us:  fight the good fight, finish the race, keep the faith.

Thank you God for these lives that are being transformed by Your Word and the faithfulness of these workers.  Bless them indeed! 

Then we got to embark on a whole different adventure with Xau's missionary sister Yazna, in the jungle of Iquitos. 

This is how everyone gets around.  There are very few cars because Iquitos is an island. To get there in boat takes about five days. 

Yazna works primarily with indigenous groups:  Bible-translation projects and Operation Christmas Child.  Due to time we didn't have a chance to go too far out on the river, but God opened several opportunities in the city region.

Xaume preaching at Asiel Church.

I got to dedicate this precious baby girl! 

We were able to do a two-day training seminar at this church for children & youth workers.  Since they announced it on the radio, there were people from different churches around the city.  The leader said he had been praying for someone to come and share on this topic.  What a privilege to be used for His glory!  

We were invited to share about dating with this group of youngsters that meet weekly in a home mission.  Unfortunately, Iquitos is known for it's sexual exploitation of minors.  There's a lot of work yet to be done.  Pray for these generations.

We were struck by the spiritual heaviness of this place - both in the city and in the towns on the river.  Pray with us for these people groups to come to know the Truth in Christ Jesus and to be set free!

The starting point of the Amazon.  This island shows how the water was down while we were there -  the rest of it's width continues on the other side.

The young lady in the gray shirt with glasses (below) shared with us that she had been impacted several years ago by HIA's book  Twelve Unforgettable Lessons.   She was inspired to follow the same format and write her own lessons each week.   

Ana is now in charge of the kids' ministry at this church and had come to the training we did earlier in the week.  She had been so encouraged that she invited us to come share with her volunteers.  Praise God for her faithfulness and dedication to sow into the lives of the little ones!

This trip was eye-opening for us: both as we continue to step forward with the work in Mexico and as we intercede for the nations.   We had been praying about going to Peru for some time - praise Him for making a way! 

Back to Mexico...

On Sunday following the trip, Xaume had the privilege of preaching at this church, Valley Christian Center in the north of the city.  Pastors Ramon and Judith have been working hard in this area.  It's exciting to see the work they're doing and how God is growing the church. 

Committing ourselves to be faithful to His work.

They are raising up a strong Body of believers committed to loving and serving others.  Pray that they be fortified in their faithful witness! 
  

To close the month, we held a skatedboarding outreach in the state of Queretaro (about three hours north).  Erik and Sulemi, a young couple, have been serving at a mission in this town for about a year now.

They asked if we would come work with them to reach out to the young people in the community.   Queretaro is, in general, a very Catholic region - which means the evangelical church is often discriminated against and not widely accepted.

But we were thankful to meet these young people where they are, to bless them, and most importantly, to present the gospel.  They expressed their thanks for someone to reach out to them - someone to tell them that they're valuable and that they have a God-given purpose to fulfill.

It may not have been a crowd you'd typically see at church.  That's the idea: seek and save the lost.  

Praise God for these young lives.  Let this seed grow.  May they seek You - the true source of life.  We pray for Erik & Sulemi to continue the good work and for the church (El Colorado Christian Centerto be bold with Your Good News.  Amen!

Bless you readers!  Thanks for sharing in what God's doing here.  Please continue to pray for Him to establish our steps and extend His Glory in this nation. 



*Special Note: 
If you would like to hear more about the work, and/or partnering with us, I, Anna will be visiting Ohio this next month.   Feel free to write (mexico@heartsinaction.org) and we can try to meet up!