Christmas greetings and transitioning update

Hello brothers and sisters

The last month has been challenging, as I wrote in the last email I'm moving to the jungle, I've been there for 3 weeks and a half and I just came back on Saturday for holidays. It kind of was challenging/sanctifying because of the strike that rise up right after I got there but it was a really good time to think, meditate and pray about what I will be doing in the church next year. To be honest I need a lot of prayer about how to handle things, I've worked as missionary before sharing the Gospel and arranging bible studies but now I'm leading a church and I'm starting to feel the weight of the responsibility now. For those considering the mission field, let me tell you the mission field can be a lonely place where your deepest silly thoughts will bother you the most, you will need to pick your fights wisely and you will need to throw some of them away and ignore situations. It may sound unloving at the beginning but it's necessary and at the long term you will see how somethings didn't need too much attention as we thought. I've been seeing the need to keep a balance on my life and my work plan for next year. 

I want to start by that the church I've been left to lead is not spiritually mature, after years people  haven't been able to grow a lot. Now it's easy to be proud or self pity about doctrine, knowledge and practice so I don't need an extreme but I need people to see Jesus in my doctrine, knowledge and practice. They are very teachable but not disciplined, what I've mean is that they have the desire to do it and they will come to learn inconsistent and that kind of mess their process of learning. Now I don't have the power/ability/gift to fix their problems but I can pray the Sufficient God for Grace and Mercy to help me Because I need and will need that same grace and mercy. 

Definitely to be in charge in something greater than yourself (God's kingdom) changes your perspective and priorities in life. Is not just maturity but also sensitivity, prudence, wisdom and love as the motivation for all this. I'm glad that God has brought along a married man named Dan Nagao whom will help me with doing services and visitations once in a while. But he also have other responsibilities as a missionary in Puerto, so I will need help too.

I will explain more as I develop pray requests:

Ministry: this is my next year plan 2 services on Sunday: 10am 6pm (I'm preparing a series of sermons on Ephesians for the mornings services and I want the evenings be more like a bible study service) Wednesday 6pm prayer service (i will develop a Sunday school class as I see more consistency teaching important doctrines new birth, repentance, faith and all that involves salvation) I'll try to have a youth group on Saturdays at 5, and 2 housing shepherd groups for people who can't make it to church. I'm aiming to do all this in the most simple way, and please I need help with that because I'm used to big words and terms and complicated explanations of doctrine, so do you see how much grace I need. Only God will make this possible.

Most of the members at church are women and because I'm a single man I can't disciple them one on one and Dan doesn't always have time so I need to be careful how I approach them. I mostly meet them in public in front or their kids or husband. Considering the majority of the members are women I have a big limitation so please pray for more help. And praying for discernment concerning what I'm going to do with the kids at church, probably ask some of the parents to help me with it.

Character: Ok I'll be honest, it's kind of scary to assume a big responsibility so the word MATURITY is a big deal for us. Now maturity is not to divorce yourself of your personality but to be prudent on where is the appropriate occasion for it and out others as my priority. Because there is things that can't be changed on me unless someone lay their hands on me, just Kidding. But yeah I need more patience and humbleness, not wannabe humility but the true one that is bold to say things in love and is quicker to listen than to judge, so a sound judgment can be done. Pray also for faithfulness to God and to the preaching of His word. Personally I've lately been struggling with unexplainable depression, I have to look always to Christ, not my situation or people but to Him, as I said ministry is and can be a lonely place but full of joy, how that works? I don't know, But all I can say there is nothing like seeing God working in a soul. So in resume I need God, and I need Him a lot so pray for me.

Family: pray for the salvation of my family, and that I can be a witness of Jesus to them.

Time in Lima: so I will be Lima until January 10 and I will be spending time with family and as well studying and preparing for my sermon series on Ephesians, calling people in Puerto and probably getting gospel tracks. 

Invitation: pray, pray and pray that you may consider to come to Peru by yourself , with friend or with your church to help the ministry here. There is a lot to do here, now I can't pay for your trip but hey I will cook for you ;). If you know people in considering  go oversees contact them with me. And if you are interesting to come for further information or help on how to get aid and also can get trained on worldview, contextualization and the Gospel Logic, answer this message.

Dan and Ruth: they are a sweet couple from Texas that works here as missionaries, Dan is in charge of a library and also helps with the youth in a local church and may help me once in a while.

Finances: the Lord has been providing for me, and pray that I be faithful and grateful for what I have and a good steward of it.

Moving to Puerto: pray that I can find an apartment as soon I get there on January, not so far from the city.

I'm adding a picture of Dan Nagao, preaching at the church and if you have any question please let me know, and also let me know how can I pray for you.

Blessings, have a merry Christmas and a good cholesterol :) 

Edher

Going to the jungle, finishing details

Hi brethren

In my last letter I was really unsure of where I was going or if I would keep working in missions but the Lord has answer my prayers in light of my petitions and your intercession as well.

Lately life has been a little bit crazy, trying to settle things and schedule things, the Lord has provided to go to the jungle and I'm flying on Wednesday 18 to Puerto Maldonado to work in a church in a little town called pueblo viejo, I will be doing the work of a Pastor like discipleship, evangelism, teaching, visiting and more, I will stay in puerto right first until December 12 and then going back in January 10 that time in between will be to spend time with my family for the holidays and enjoy them as much as I can because I will be gone most of the time after January 10 and as well to do any kind of paperwork I need to do for the elections next year. 

The Lord never leave us alone but He make us aware of His presence by tight circumstances or situations, I'm glad and honored to serve this God who not only give promises but also fulfills them. So I'm glad that I'm gonna be a full time missionary in Puerto but as well I think this is a time where the Lord is calling me to be aware more of His presence. My possibilities in the field are not subject to my gifts or my potential of effectively but to the Spirit of the Lord working in me. Thanks so much for praying with me and for me all this journey and I encourage you to keep praying for me. 

Pray Requests:

Chacapampa: pray for the people in there and for the missionaries Liz and Henry, I know that Henry just had an accident and wasn't able to go back for the last 2 weeks but pray that he gets better soon, also pray for Rita and Espiritu as they continue to grow in the Lord and Jhonathan and Franz as they continue to see the Lord. Pray for the Lord to be glorified through the conversion of people in there.

Family: pray for my family as I'm gonna spend time with them in December, it's easy to get off focus of what I do and why I do what I do. But they are assimilating well, little by little. Pray that they come to repentance and faith, also my sister Nicole seems to be interested in the scriptures and God and she seems to look up about what I would have to say about issues. I just want them to be saved and pray that I can share the Gospel to them by words and living before them.

Puerto trip: there is somethings I still need to coordinate but most of the trip is settled, pray that I can ministry from the Lord and I can be an encouragement to local believers and foreign missionaries. I know a group of people in Puerto whom I think and I want to have a consistent fellowship so pray for me to develop that so I'm not alone. Pray for wisdom for me and as well prudence when I have to talk with women while I'm in there. Also pray that God raise godly girls or a couple who can do visitations with me while I'm there because I need to be careful with discipline or advicing women. Pray that I can make the word of God my main priority, spend a good bit on the week, studying it and preparing things prayerfully. And as well my devotional time with the Lord so I don't become a big head person, I know I'm weak but also I know that God is Almighty and that makes my weakness irrelevant if I'm depending on Him.

Character: pray that the Lord build me in the likeness of His son, which I'm gonna admit sometimes is hard, because my heart can be prideful, and deceive me into assumptions that are not true but leads me to insecurity. But also the Lord is being merciful because I'm not blind to this but He is allowing me to see it so I can keep pursuing Him. Pray that I can be characterized by love and humility and always respond in wisdom and kindness being always faithful to the Lord and His word.

Help: pray for people come alongside with me and work in Puerto, also if you would like to come visit me and help let me know.

Finances: the Lord has provided what it's needed and pray for wisdom in the administrations of these gifts and also always thank God for the smallest thing I have. Thanks God for His provision.

Thanks so much for your prayers and please feel free to ask any question, and please let me know how can I pray for you.

Love

Edher

Waiting, hoping and trusting

Hello brothers and sisters

My first term in Chacapampa is over and the lessons were more for me than for the people there. God has been using the mission field to mold me more into His image. I'm not perfect and no one is, but this should never be an excuse to not look for godly character. The mission field is a good place to die to self, not as an start but as a deeper field of examination of our own lives. It has helped me to understand that unless the Holy Spirit works, people won't understand the Gospel or anything in the bible, doesn't matter how clear or good my argument may be. My knowledge is not the Holy Spirit but many of things I understand is because I've been enlighting by Him, therefore I must use my knowledge to share the Gospel but I must not rely on it but in the Holy Spirit.

The scriptures are sufficient for our lives and to do the work God has commanded us to do. My need for prayer and for time with the Lord is the most essential part of my ministry work, if I neglect these I will do " ministry" in my flesh. Pray that I trust the word everyday is essential, and that it becomes real is vital, Christ character is my standard, aiming to be like Him is my goal and if I fail and keep trying I'm not being a hypocrite but I'm acknowledging that my Father's ways are higher than mine, but He is able to enable me to live like Christ. Is hard being there and is easy to feel lonely,and sometimes depressed and is there when the sufficiency of Christ must become a constant theme I my mind and as well the motor and fuel for my pursuit of His presence in prayer and the study of the word.

This and much more I have learned in the mission field and what God is doing in the people there is  amazing. May you keep praying with me in this journey of  serving Him that I never forget that I need to keep knowing Him and that only Him needs to be glorified.

Pray Requests

Chacapampa: pray for the people there, most of them live on traditions and superstitions. Because most of them are uneducated (most of them don't read  or haven't finished high school) it's hard to reason with them, even if something is illogical they will accept it because is part of their traditions or superstitions. Most people believe that they are going to heaven because God is good and love, they have not concept of the justice of God. They always excuse themselves with their traditions, other Christians testimonies or the fact that there is a lot of beliefs to reject the Gospel, they won't reject the Gospel openly but indirectly.

Rita and Espiritu: they are doing so much better, they are being more loving towards one another and more affective which is good. They need to keep being discipled to follow Christ as a couple, also to understand that what they do is important for their family, whether him by working and her by staying at home. Pray that they can keep growing in their discipline to pray and study of the scriptures, and Espiritu can grow in leadership so he can lead in a godly way.

High school kids: Jhonatan and Franz have recently made a profession of faith, they say they are children of God, we have been studying the book of 1 John and the book itself is pretty clear about who is and isn't a believer, and I encourage them to make any profession in light of what the scriptures say. I told them to strive to purse God if that's the desire of their heart, because conversion is evidenced by their fruits and fruits is natural, so when they see the fruits let them abide in the love of God. Jhon a kid from Antacocha still interested in still learning from the scriptures and he is awaking the interest of a kid named Ramiro. Also the last day I spend sometime with Aldrin sharing the gospel, and he seemed to reason well through the justice of God and the need for Christ. Keep praying for them so the Lord confirm the salvation of Jhonathan and Franz and that Jhon, Ramiro and Aldrin be saved.

Character: I've been challenged in major ways being there, and as well trusting the Lord for so many things concerning hard situations and is teaching me to respond in patience rather than anxiety. Pray that I remain faithful in my obedience, character and preaching of the Word.  I'm preaching on Puerto Maldonado (jungle) on Oct 11, pray because I can't preach in my own strength but in His.

Family: while I was in the mountains I've been praying with my mom thought the phone sometimes and  they seem to appreciate what I do. Pray for their salvation and that I can always share the Gospel by words and my life.

Usa call: I feel called to do ministry in the USA, so pray as the Lord leads me in this, I posted the reasons why I feel called to do ministry in the USA, if you want to know check this link http://edhermanuellecavero.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-need-in-usa-growing-mission-field.html

Finances: i just ran out of finances but this doesn't discourage me but leads me to keep trusting Him, I want to go back to Chacapampa until December 5 and go to the puerto/Cuzco to keep working in the mission work. Pray that the Lord provides for both projects and as well for whatever I would need while I'm there or when I'm in Lima. God is able to prove is this is His will, so my enjoyment is to trust Him. Pray as well for provision so I can get resources for kindle or iBooks like commentaries, dictionaries and books, I'm always traveling and I can't take all my books with me.  

Thanks for your prayers and feel free to ask any question you may have

Love you all 

The need in the USA: A growing mission field

Hello brothers and sisters, I want to state the purpose of this blog before I go on to the subject. I have often heard American missionaries state the needs of other countries and even mine, and I want to clarify that many of these things were true. But this time I want to state the needs of the mission field in the states. I don't want to unnecessarily offend you, but if the Lord uses this post to convict you of something so that you may be molded into the image of Christ, then praise the Lord.

Most of the things that you are going to read come from my job as an interpreter, me living in the USA for 2 years, and my interactions with Americans. I want to start with my admiration for the Christian heritage that is in the states. There are so many good theological books, seminaries, good churches, and preachers. God has blessed you, being a wealthy country and known for its dedication to serving justice.

My concern is this, that even though the USA has all this rich theological heritage in books, teachers, preachers and churches, it is going downhill theologically, affecting the view of serious matters such as salvation, evangelism, and the preaching of the truth. I will explain more in detail but I want to say this: 1. IM NOT SAYING THIS IS THE REALITY OF ALL THE CHURCHES. IT MAY OR MAY NOT BE THE REALITY OF YOURS, BUT IM PRETTY SURE THAT THIS MAY BE AROUND YOU.

Salvation: we live in a time where you are applauded for assuming salvation in people but you are persecuted by questioning someone's salvation. And we have forgotten the scriptures' parameters for both: fruits of salvation (Matt 7:16-20). It seems that someone's profession is more important that the ongoing fruit in their lives, and you can't be proud enough to tell them that they may be wrong. To deceitfully assume salvation in someone who clearly doesn't bear fruit only proves coldness and no love for a person made in the image of God. The reality of salvation must be determined by the new life not by the profession of faith. We need to study, learn, pray, and go to the scriptures to identify the marks of conduct and the evidences of a converted soul. We need to stop making affirmations based on emotions and bad theology. If we are dealing with a soul, we must be careful enough to search the word of God and not rely our assumptions. The question is not have you made a profession of faith like the sinner's prayer or raised your hand ? The question is have you become a new person? Have you experienced the new birth? Because unless you are born again you won't see the kingdom of God. (John 3) May our view of salvation be based on the word of God and not just the profession of sinful man. May we love souls in such a way that we don't hurry to affirm someone's salvation but cautiously encourage them to pursue God.

Evangelism: a distorted view of salvation brings a wrong emphasis in evangelism. I know that culturally, Americans are task oriented and that's ok, but my concern is that you are taking this mentality to evangelism and in the with men's souls. If evangelism is a task you want to get done, then you will want to get the job (gospel presentation) done as fast as possible and professions of faith will be the fulfillment of your work. Is that not the logical conclusion of exalting professions over fruit? We need to read the book of Acts to see how our brothers and sisters had a passion to share the Gospel in a way that would be understood by their hearers. Most of our contemporary zeal for evangelism rejoices in numbers rather than love for God and people. If we have a certain number of professions then has our evangelism been successful? NO, evangelism isn't successful because people raise their hands or make commitments to God. Evangelism is successful when we are faithful to the scriptures in preaching the deadliness of sin, the attributes of God, and the nature of Christ in such way that people feel as Martin Luther described, "They end repenting of their sins and trusting Christ or they end hating your preaching because it is so offensive to their love for sin." A passion for evangelism and a clear exposition of this essential truth comes from a love for God and a diligent study of the

scriptures concerning this matter. We need to go back to biblical preaching, not just what fits people but what glorifies God. 1 Timothy 4:16 “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.”Lets take with contentment the exhortation to preach with carefulness the word of God, and this will be done as we examine and discern what the scriptures say about God and man.

Preaching the truth: rightly a preacher said: “We hypocritically applaud men for seeking the truth but call for the public execution of anyone arrogant enough to believe he has found it.”I really believe that despite America's rich theological heritage, zeal for truth has become just zeal. To actually speak the truth would mean that I'm pridefully saying that something is right. To say that someone is wrong while expounding the truth is unacceptable, because to preach the truth in love in our contemporary minds means to not preach the truth at all. Intelligent exposition of a verse with an explanation of a word in Greek (I have nothing against explaining the Greek, but sometimes preachers are caught in a word in Greek to explain the context but there is nothing more) will be applauded because it's smart, even if doesn't confront our lives or help us to live more like Christ. As long it's intelligent, we like it because that's why we tithe. Don't forget the jokes because that's what most people remember from the sermon.

Sound doctrinal preaching is appreciated by some but despised by many. You will hear people disagreeing with sermons not because they weren't true but because they didn't like it. Greek and cute jokes aside, how much do we care that the sermons be doctrinally sound because it's the word of God, even if it offends us.The person who loves you will tell you the truth. Why? Because Christ did. Let me ask you a question. Do you want your pastor to entertain you or be faithful to God? Why do I ask this? Because the issue with preaching mostly revolves around the pressure of what the audience wants. And if the majority wants entertainment over biblical teaching then the majority dictates what the church will be like, even if there is a minority that truly wants to know God. To diminish or undermine faithful exposition of the word of God is to not take into serious consideration what God has already said about eternity. Shall we take the word of God and do what we want and not consider all its content? Sound preaching will be reborn when we lay self preservation and peer pressure aside and we take seriously the high calling of being the voice of the Lord to His people.

STOP HERE: I bet you are disagreeing with me right now, and questioning me but ask yourself this... Is this truth or not? I don't share this because I think I'm better, I share this because I see people falling into error and I love them. I just can't think to myself and remain silent because of what you think about me after reading this... because what concerns me the most is what you may think about God. I think I have a call to do ministry because of the reasons explained in this post, which I expect God to confirm.

You may say:

But we have a lot of churches here: yes, but that should mean something? Fruit as I said before is the indicator of a saved soul. Your country is the greatest exporter of pornography to the world and your only argument is we have a lot of churches? If a local church hasn't impacted the people around, then it has become worldly.

But people have already heard this and have rejected it.

Isaiah was called to people who had ears but didn't hear. I can't give up a call because of people's responses. If I do then I wouldn't be faithful to what God has called me to do but people would determine my office and not God.

You say,

But your people in Peru need to hear the gospel: yes and there is a lot of need, and I'm working here right now. My people are influenced by a lot of Christianity that comes from your country....which most times looks like what I've mentioned above. Do you really want that kind of Christianity to grow?

I always heard people talking about going out and reaching people but when it comes to the matter of illegal immigrants I just hear Christians say lets kick them out and you are in your right. Don't take me wrong, they have broken your law, but rethink that and what if you reach them with the Gospel. The fact that they are illegal doesn't give you the right to denigrate their need for Christ. They are internationals in your country. I know you think they are taking your money and probably they are....but really? That's all you care about? May your law be fulfilled but let your priority be your call as a believer to love and share the Love of Christ with others.

PLEASE, church in the USA awake!!! Please brothers and sisters lets see before us the great privilege we have of being stewards of the Gospel. I love you, I really do and I know this will cost me some friendships and will bring critiques, but if this is the price I have to pay to be like my Savior then let it be done. Y’all are in my prayers as well your country.

Edher's update

-- hello brethren

i write to you, so i can give you all an update of what is going on with me personally. The Lord has been gracious in His dealing with me, i dont have a lot of experience in the field, but i dont think is about experience but abut loving God in such way that is evident by a love for people. 

The field is teaching me a lot of how to be humble, loving and patience, God is working i my character as He is using me to work in some of other people. He also is working in the life of my family. my mom, my sister and i went to church yesterday and that was really encouraging. i really loved. im on a break right now until tonight because of my sister's birthday, it was the first time that i was able to send a birthday with her. 

spiritual warfare is more real being in the field, but i think it is a great reminder that we dont fight in our strength but in Gods. The people i interact with, doesnt need my eloquence or my skill to share the Gospel, they need the Gospel, i must be clear, concise and biblical. the enemy can deviate us to look at us too much and compliment ourselves too much, but what the worth of your own compliment if you may fail yourself tomorrow. we must trust that God will not ourselves. Love for people will lead  to wait for  the fruit of the Spirit manifest itself instead of rushing for results.

pray requests:

Character: Pray that the Lord keeps molding me into a man who clearly loves him, and be encourage by His sufficiency. Pray that i can keep myself faithful to God in character and preaching. and that i can be bold and loving in my speech always.

Family: pray for my aunt myrian who is dying of cancer and this situation has move my mother to pray with me once in a while, pray that this situation leads the members of my family closer to Christ. My brother is moving more towards biblical matters in our conversations so pray that this be true in his life. pray for the salvation of all of them.

Wisdom: i need to make some decisions which will determine my future in some sense, and i need wisdom to do what the Lord pleases to be good in his sight

books: okay i have physical books and i need them but i cant carry them everywhere i go because of the weight and as well the extra weight cost on the trips. so i need to find them, on kindle or Ibooks in my ipad so i can take them everywhere. so if you interested you can donate so i can purshase them on itunes or kindle

preaching: im being as basic as possible in my preaching but pray that any kind of bible subject or matter always lead to the Gospel and specifically salvation by faith alone, they are really big into works here.

Finances: pray that the Lord provide to continue working as a minister, my budget covers me until oct 6 which is the end of my first term in chacapampa. whether i go back to chacapampa or somewhere else pray that the Lord provides so i can keep doing missions.

Puerto/ Cuzco project: i plan to travel next year to puerto and be there for a while, possibly covering a pastor in the jungle while he goes to vacations and helping him while he is back until april and in between go to cuzco. this is a bigger project because of its more expensive but pray that the Lord provides for this. God has already provided for a ticket to go i just need the rest, keep praying with me for this

if you interested to help me financially whether is a one time gift or a monthly support first pray and then you can help me through

TD Bank , western union or The great Comission

feel free to answer this email and ask any kind of question you may have. 

Love you all

Edher

Update about Chacapampa

Chacapampa update 

Hey brethren

This is the update about the work I'm doing in the mountains. There is a lot going on so I will list it and detail it as pray request. Please feel free to ask any question about it. Just letting you know this is no my personal update that will be posted tomorrow. Is just what is going on in the field.

Here we go:

Rita and Espiritu: this is the couple that we've been trying to disciple, they seem to still having problems, as I said before there is things that we can't deal with, there must be a married couple coming to treat these with them. The other day we made them talk so they can pray for each other, but they end talking and arguing the whole time. Later on we talk we both of them and confront them about their issue to understanding each other, Espiritu works outside and he doesn't have a settled schedule, he sleeps from 4 to 7 hours daily (he said mostly 6). The thing is Rita asks him to do stuffs while he is at home and most times what he wants is to rest, but she is so demanding about it and he gets mad because she says but you only been driving, sitting all time, as if no stress, concentration and pressure were involved. And Rita as well works hard raising and making sure 4 kids go to school, eat, do homework, is as well other kind of stress. We talked the, about starting by understanding each other and then pray for each other and in that way try to seek restoration in the Lord. The thing Espiritu prayed for her and Rita prayed for herself, she seems to be resentful about what he did to her, I know I can't understand her but I'm trying to emphasize forgiveness in my conversations. I know she has been mistreated by him a lot before, but please pray that she stops victimizing herself bringing things of the past to justify her lack of forgiveness it as well restoration for her wounds. Also for Espiritu, he seems to be changing but he feels frustration to not be able to deal with things in a different way only because he hasn't be taught. Please for humbleness of heart on him and for wisdom about how to deal with him and he can be patient in how brings forgiveness to his family. We go to his house Tuesday and Fridays.

2. Saturday bible studies: I'm having a bible study with 2 young man on Saturday called Jonathan and Franz, they professed salvation not long ago. So cool on the 2nd bible study we had, I asked Franz what was the most cool or important teaching we have been through so far and he mention the study we had in Matthew 7 have made him think a lot, about going through the narrow gate and as well walking through the narrow path and the fact that every good tree bears good fruit and the impossibility that a good tree bears bad fruit, it seemed that has thought a lot about it which was really cool. Now we are going through the book of 1 John, we normally have a bible study, then cook and have dinner while watching a movie. For this coming Saturday a guy name aldrin will possibly join us, his grandfather is a believer and I look up to this kid because of his maturity and determination.

3. John: he is a kid from a town 90 minutes away by walking named Antacocha. He is starting to talk to us a lot and he may also come on Saturdays and spend the day with us for the bible study, he hasn't confirm yet. Pray that he can confirm us about it.

4. Mission House and Mr. Gilda: the owner of the house wants us to leave and we need to move soon. She is being really problematic but I always try talk to her and be nice and polite to her and her daughter. Is hard because she is really conflictive. We may moving to the house of a lady named Nicolas, she is moving out of the town towards the end of the year because her daughter is going to college. They are a really dear family.

5. Gospel impact: I just came in a time where catholic authorities were demanding to the people go through their rituals to "get to heaven". The thing is they have been exposed to bible teaching because Liz (another Peruvian missionary) and different mission teams that have come from the states and people are wondering sometimes if what they do is right or not. I'm been able to share directly the Gospel with others and has been amazing, some of them asked many questions about religions, others about the evidence that the bible is true, but all of them have been fruitful. There is openness to the Gospel but pray that they be willing to leave their tradition because of Christ. 

6. Helping them on the field has helped me to see that they value hard work and as well has helped to gain the respect of many. Adult men are often talking to me about different matters but I always try to lead the conversation to the Gospel somehow. Also pray that we get the chance to share the gospel with the catholic authorities, they need Christ as well.

7. Pray for Liz and Henry as they are in Chacapampa, pray for their lives and health. They are so encouraging to me and so useful for the ministry, I learn a lot from them.

Thanks for your prayers 

First update from Chacapampa (the mountains)

Hi brothers and sisters

 

This is my 10th day in the mountains and there is a lot going on. I'm so privileged to be serving in this place, the mountains, the beauty, the daily hiking to get around is amazing. Concerning the mission work, it's humbling that i thought that I came to use my gifts and knowledge to talk about God's Grace but I see myself in more need of it. People are receptive because the culture here is mostly polite, but they are not willing to let their traditions go. 

The mission work to be honest can be exhausting, there may be days you will or won't do a lot but the spiritual burdens wears you out physically. Being here can also be hard and joyful, humbling and an opportunity to learn. In the little time I'm here there. Has been amazing things going on, and I will list them as pray requests.

1. Rita and Espiritu: they are a couple whom lives in Antacocha (another little village 20 minutes away in a bus from where I am). They had marital problems from years ago, and there is a lot of hurt from each other, mostly from Espiritu. I've visited them last Friday and I went straight forward the Gospel with Espiritu, it seems that he responded well, since then my other last 2 visits had been encouraging to see him changing a lot. There has been time when Rita and Espiritu has been together peacefully, there has been times where Espiritu has been praying. I can't affirm for sure in this little time I've been there if he is experiencing salvation, but if it is, pray that this becomes more real. Also Rita is a believer, and she has been hurt by Espiritu, but pray that she have a forgiving heart, because it seems that when Espiritu tries to express spirituality positive, she questions him and this is discouraging him, because he is trying. Also please pray for a married couple who can disciple them, because they need to see what a biblical marriage looks like, and that's a limitation I have. They acknowledge their problems also is because they haven't been taught different concerning relationships. 

2. Jhonatan and Franz: they are 2 high School guys that I'm connecting with, we are starting a bible studies on 1 John, we started today, then we watched a movie and had dinner together. They seem very receptive and they want to keep the meetings on, pray that they can come to repentance and faith.

3. Mission house: the lady who rents the mission house, is a lady who lives in the city with her daughter and most people in the town don't get along with her, and she is giving a lot of nonsense problems about the house, electricity, things. Pray that we can find another house, and that we can be encouraging to her and she can come to salvation, her name is Gilda and her daughter Christina.

4. Liz: she is a missionary lady who has been here for almost 7 years I guess, and she had some legs problems, pray that she can be healed. Also pray that she can still encouraged in the Lord and she can find another lady she can relate to and she can pray with, and have a friendship with. Something she is longing for. 

5. Henry: he is a married man who comes once a week and stay for 2 days, I do a lot of work with him when he comes, and as well we are going through a bible studies/ disciplining him in some doctrines of the scriptures. Pray for his marriage, he have a lot on him. 

6. Connecting with people: I've been here several times and is cool to see how God has preserved some of the friendships I had, and there has been a lot of good conversations about the Gospel, but pray that I can be bold, loving and humble. We are doing a church service (there is no church building here) tomorrow 8 am. Pray for me as I give the message and pray people may go and even if is one person whom just goes, pray that person gets saved. 

7. Spiritual warfare: there has been times where we had been sharing and there has been a lot of ongoing distraction that just showed up while we were sharing the word. There has been personally a lot of unnecessary worries, and discouragement and I believe this is part of the mission work. I see the need to keep spending in the study of the Word and prayer, because I need so much grace.

There is a work to do that is hard but also there is a fragility in ourselves, there is power In Christ but In Christ must always be our sight to keep doing the work that God has called us to do.

Thank for your prayers and feel free to ask any question.

Love you all

Edher

In the process of growing there is always learning

Hello brethren 

The last month has been a time of encouragement and learning for me. Coming out from school and being in the field has taught me a great lesson, I still know nothing, I still can't do ministry, I still no sufficient but all provision is found only in God. 

5 weeks ago Caleb (a classmate who graduated with me) came to Peru, we worked in missions together at puerto Maldonado as well in Lima for the last week. He gave a interesting perspective to the trip, because of how he saw his people in a different setting and as well my people. It was so encouraging working along with him, as well his encouragement to value what really matters, edifying one another as brothers in Christ. Sufficiency in Christ was a big theme, being surrounded by people with a balance of personalities like some where loving, bold and humble and a few were prideful. Serving and recognizing that your work won't be always recognizing by the people around you was a great lesson, my work recognition is not as important as the extension of the kingdom of the Lord.

Ministers are really fragile, and there is more people are looking at them because of their position. May some people say this is peer pressure to live a "holy life", but no, this is a task of love. To love enough so you live a life that leads others to Christ, requires courage. You can please yourself and do things that in your Christian life are just fine and not sin, and you may not care if others may stumbling with this, but if this is your mindset please DONT DO MINISTRY.  Seeing missionaries living in a loving way in puerto was a great encouragement. I love the mission field and as I get closer to it, I came to the conclusion that even if I teach, the times I learn are so much more. 

God gave us a great chance to share the Gospel with others, many good conversations that we pray they may lead to salvation one day. Professions that prayerfully will be evidenced by a changed heart. I can talk about numbers and say this number of people got saved and get you excited but let's be honest I can't determine that in 3 weeks. I don't care how much you love numbers, I love people more than numbers. Pray that everyone who we had contact with be saved, those who doubt can be affirmed in Christ and those who professed faith can be assured by ongoing fruit in their lives not by their profession

I know there is things that I still learning and other that I'm not really good at, but this is evidence of God's grace in my life. I'm leaving to the mountains on August 19, I'm leaving to Chacapampa to help some local missionaries as well to evangelize. There is not church there, and there is people who still had not heard a solid presentation of the gospel. Pray for strength, love, humbleness, patience and joy. This first term will be until October, looking forward being there until December.

Pray requests:

1. Character: pray for my character, that I grow in maturity and likeness of Christ. I'm not enough for all I want to do, only Christ is. Also to be wise in some decisions that I have to reconsider for a long term. And for spiritual dependence always in Christ.

2. Chacapampa: it's going to be an interesting time to do missions but as well to keep using my time wisely to keep studying the word of God, and keep preparing myself for the mission life. Pray that I can do this please for the sake of God's name and others.

3. Puerto Maldonado: I'm praying about planing to go back next year to do a quick training program for 3 months, training pastors and leaders on essential matters like attributes of God, the doctrines of Salvation, and Christ's life, nature and the riches we find in His life. Pray that of the Lord confirm this desire in my heart.

4. My family: pray that the Lord saves them. My mom is doing well but things are getting slow with her. Pray that she may be hungry for discipleship, also my brother always ask questions about God. Pray for my relationship with my sisters Kyara and Nicole, I really love them and I want them to have a picture of a man according to the bible standards. Nicole and me are getting closer but is being a little slow because she is shy, and I haven't been most of her life with her. Pray that God's love and kindness be shown to them through me.

5. Visa and trip to the USA: I'm planing to go back and speak to present my missionary project in churches around the states. I will be posting the missionary project as soon I can, pray that I can have a visa to travel back, for churches interested in my project and if you think your church may be interested let me know.

6. Finances: has been really encouraging to see the Lord provide for His work. Pray that the Lord provides and I can be a good administrator. Also I'm doing fundraising by collecting old smartphones or tablets that people don't use, electronics take longer here to lose value so I could still selling them with a decent price, so if you would like to donate  them answer this email back. If you would like to support me financially, I strongly encourage you to pray first and make sure you are doing God's will by it. If so, you can donate by

PayPal: edhermanuelle@gmail.com

TD Bank account: ask the account info 

The great commission (tax deductible): ask for the address

Feel free to ask any question about this email. I won't be online for a while so if I take long to reply is because the lack of Internet. After Thursday 20 a good way to reach me would be Facebook or what's app

Thank you for your prayers

Edher

Because Joy comes in the Morning

Hi prayer partners and friends

After the first update many things has changed, being in missions last week was refreshing, as well being with people from the USA helped me a lot with my reverse culture shock. So as well seeing what God was doing on that little town down the mountains made me more sensitive to the need there. There is a lot more openness to the word of God but pray that people can make it a priority. 

So Caleb is coming today, and we are heading tomorrow for puerto, please keep us in your prayers and help us with your prayers to do the work that only God can succeed.

 Probably one thing is that I was very caught up with my needs and wondering how I would supply them. But I was forgetting  a promise that God has given me on His word: “For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Matthew 6:32-34 ESV

So suddenly I'm encouraged to press on, because God will supply of He wants me to keep doing missions and traveling  if He doesn't, He has provided me with a healthy body to work :) and I have a commandment to carry with life for ever if I truly been born again, which is Make Disciples. Let's rejoice for God's goodness today.

This are the pray requests 

Puerto trip with Caleb: pray that we have wisdom in how to handle things and how we can do things in the best way possible. To be a blessing to those who are already there.

Character: God gives me faithfulness to press on and as well build me in His word with gentleness and humility. Love be my reason, and honor to God be my priority for anything that I attempt to do.

Chacapampa: this is a little town up the mountains, I may be going there from August all the way to October. I still need to arrange details but is almost certainly that I will be going to help 2 missionaries already working there. I'm praying that I be helpful and learn to move out if I'm not being help for them.

Family: my mom seems to be a new convert yet but her character inflicts with herself. I haven't been able to go through baptism, I may encourage her to do it but not push her. Let her take initiative, pray that the new heart in her be more manifest. As well pray that my family gets saved and understands what I'm doing, I don't feel they always do because of their pressures.

Finances: my spirituality is more important than my support, if I'm a man who's character will honor God, then He will supply for His work, if not I will do what I'm called to do, work. As well if God open the door to keep working as missionary, I'm thinking in the possibility to make a business to become self sustaining at long term. Now is this the wisest decision? Only God knows.

Visa: I'm planing to come back at the end of April next year, so pray that I get my visa paper done work by January of next year. (Conforming the time goes by I will be updating more about this)

Thanks for your prayers and keep asking questions and feel free to dig more into this email, curiosity doesn't bother me.

Love you and Miss you all

Edher

What's wrong with my tongue?

The following post, is a compile of thought process on life experiences which has impacted my life. My intention with this post is to edify, so if you have any constructive critic or commentary feel free to post it or write it down to me. 

So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. (James 3:5-12 ESV)

Where to start? Apologizing, regretting? I guess I'm going to go by praying that the Lord use my foolishness to warn others. What is wrong with my tongue? Is a question that often has made me lose my sleep and to be honest lead to a secret depression. I don't confess this for the sake of you feeling sad of me but you can see how painful this is. One of the greatest challenges in my life which I face is my tongue, and I dare to say this is a today's church serious problem. When we talk about purity we often related to just sexual purity or sexual disciplines which are not wrong. But what we don't realize is that there is other kind of actions that stains the purity of the church. This is gossiping, now gossiping is not just talking negatively of other people but is as well spread unnecessary information that often is true. 

My case is not just being participate of gossiping but of being a receptor of them, the amount of things that I know are sometimes unhealthy. Why? Because this makes you look at people with other eyes. I won't deny this, there are things that must be told in order to be cautious of certain things in people, as persistent sin, or unhealthy behavior, things of which we can do nothing, but pray for it. Always looking this people with eyes of love, grace and mercy standing in our position giving them a chance of repentance and acceptance that will follow. But there is things that affects peoples relationships, and interactions. Things that can start a little fire but at the end becomes a hell of fire, things that you heard that will make you think unnecessarily of other people. 

First, be cautious of hearing bad commentaries about friends- if you have a good relationship with someone don't let the first thing that people tells you about it change your view about them. Pray a lot for them, and look at their lives and see if this commentary match with the lifestyle of this person. Let  us not forget that gossiping are not always truths but misconceptions that create bad concepts of people. The danger of assumption may hurt, mutilate and burn the body of love for the sake of selfishnes. If this happens to be true, pray about confront this person or maybe talk to someone older that confronts them, seeking their repentance in love. 

Second, measure their maturity- this is a tricky one, for that define what maturity is according to what the scripture says and seeking for godly counsel (preferably older people). Sometimes the things you hear from people is a display of their lack of maturity, their lack of self control makes them say things that they ought not to. Pray that God gives them maturity to be in a stage where confrontation will beedifying  for them.

Third, be careful who knows things - there is nothing wrong in keeping secrets with friends, but if your friends are immature is better for you to not say anything to anybody rather than things about you end in wrong hands, be careful because there is people who will say things about you in order to get attention. That happened to me and I think this person have no problem with doing the same over and over in order to gain attention. 

Fourth, test the spirits- sometimes information comes to our ears so we can be praying or be a tool of edification to others, but sometimes it comes as a slaughter to others. It may be that we have to be careful with a kind of behavior in others who are not willing to submit to discipline or listen to godly counsel. Whatever this is, test the spirits, what is the outcome of this situation. Also this can be done by looking at the lives of the people, are they leading me to Christ or leading me to worldly things ? 

Fifth, Love, Godliness and Holiness- increase the image of Christ in our lives is the purpose of sanctification, any deviation of this is wicked and ungodly. May what we hear of others don't change our reponse of love. Being gentle, humble and loving, but let us not ignore that sometimes there will be cases in which our interaction will change and we will need to be less open with others but let us not forget of praying for them, being educated before them and praying that they get help from someone more mature than them.

Sixth, God is able- whatever it is, if it is truth. Trust God for the situation, if it will change it will be because God is working and He will do a miracle in that situation. Yes humans fail, but don't diminish the power of God on His creation. He is able to change them and to make them fruitful.

I must confess that I did put in question the character of friends out of gossiping, and I regret it. For some reason some of them still love me and I'm grateful of God for that. Others keep their distance, but I pray that God gives them faithful friends that can makes them happy. Be possitive in talking about others, I have not been the best example of this but please do it. And if there is something negative, seek their edification, don't just get stuck with the negativity.

May the Lord bless you

Love hall

Edher