Arequippa News April 2012

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Hebrews 13.8

Red tape, roofing & rain have dominated the first couple of months since our return; I am still waiting to have my visa renewed. The new Government has brought in changes, which you only learn about when you begin the process! So much time has to be spent in preparing more legal documents. Furthermore there has also been a shake up in regards to the criteria for the acceptance of mission organizations. The requirement for the number of active members has changed, which could practically eliminate most foreign missions. Many agencies are currently making representations to the relevant authorities, so we will have to follow this issue very carefully in the coming days.

Whilst you were having fine weather we had rain non-stop for a month! One day we had an electric storm combined with hailstones. The damage to the roads has been extensive, and it´s no fun driving around in the city at the moment.

But through all these unwelcome changes we fix our faith upon the Lord whose promises and purposes cannot fail; “in every change he faithful will remain”. It also delivers us from the natural tendency to frustration, especially when bureaucracy seems to rob us of the time we could devote to more pressing matters.

Villa Magisterial

Despite the weather delaying progress, building work on our new meeting place has continued and we have just completed the roof. In the next couple of weeks we plan to install the windows. On the first Sunday we used the building, without windows, it was not the most enjoyable service, so we hope to get that finished very soon! We have now begun the children´s meetings on Friday´s and the family service on Sunday afternoon. We have made some changes to how and where we spend our time here in the work. We no longer lead the children’s work in San Pedro, Ronny and Rocío now take full responsibility for that. We now plan to spend most of the available time visiting in Villa Magisterial, and using Saturdays for discipleship classes and Evangelism. Pray that these new arrangements will prove a blessing, not only to the work but also to us as workers together here in Arequipa.

Simon Bolivar

The work in the church at Simon Bolivar is steady, but we long to see growth and progress. A few have applied for Baptism, but we need to be cautious, given that some are sporadic in their attendance. We need to make disciples, and they must understand the significance of baptism in relation to their commitment to the church. The body of Christ is where we best serve him together and where we are most effective. Miguel, an architect and one of our younger members, has been in the UK for a couple of months, visiting his brother and fiancé, Megan. (Megan was on the first Envision Team to Peru last year) The visit seems to have cemented their commitment to each other and confirmed the will of God for their future. Megan is

due to return to Peru sometime this year, to serve the Lord here in Arequipa. We pray that they both may be of service to the Lord here in the future.

I trust the following list of prayer items will be helpful in providing fuel for intercession during the year, although we do plan to keep in touch, DV!!

Prayer items

Some of the items are perhaps of a more general nature, but nonetheless Biblical in their import, as we earnestly seek the Holy Spirit to guide us in prayer and in the work.

Pray for:

• Joachin, Lucresia´s husband. He attends the meetings in his home (in VM) and is listening well to the word of God. Pray that he will soon be saved and able to join his wife in serving the Lord. What a blessing and witness that would be as we develop the work in this area. It would be great to have a couple living in the township and serving the Lord together.
• Miguel and Megan, that they may know the mind of Christ regarding their future.
• The church of Christ in Peru, especially concerning the recent changes that affect all Missions, that these new requirements will be revised and not affect future ministry among the churches.
• His Kingdom may be extended. (Matt 6:10)
• A constant filling with the Holy Spirit to be effective in his service (Luke 11:13)
• For the salvation of the lost in all areas (Rom 10:1)
• Healing among us, both spiritually and physically. Often physical ills proceed from a life of sin. (James 5:13-15)
• Strategic wisdom as to how best use our time and resources. (James 1:5)
• Unity and love to be deepened in the life of every member in the church. If there is disunity then the work will be hindered. (Phil 2;2)
• The Lord to help us grow in the knowledge of God and in increasing measure, so that our words and our lives will express real love and compassion. (Eph 3,14,18,19)
• A deeper understanding of the glorious hope we have in Christ, that our service will be one of joy and that he will be exalted in all we do. (Eph 1:16-18, Matt 6:9)
• Strength and patience, they do not come naturally. Our natural bent is weakness and impatience. That we may persevere when we see so many obstacles and opposition in various ways. (Col 1:9-11)
• Our faith to be preserved among all the Lords people and that it will not fail, but give glory to God (Lucas 21:36)
• The Lord to work in us that which is pleasing, for his purposes to be fulfilled in us and in those we minister to. (2 Thess 1:11)
• Us to keep short accounts with the Lord and for his forgiveness and presence each day (Matt 6: 12)
• The Lord to keep us from falling into temptation and protect us from the wiles of the devil and keep ourselves blameless to the day of Christ. (1 Peter 5:8)

We do appreciate and covet your on-going prayer and support.