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