I hope all of you are doing well and having a blessed time wherever you are.
I'm back in Puerto maldonado, things here are going well thanks God. They are going slow but they are doing well, even tho the majority of the people are inconsistent, I'm starting to see consistency in few of the people at church. Today we had a review of what we've been studying so far which is Ephesians 1:1-2:16, and the responses were good, I gave them a time to ask things they felt curious about or they wanted to understand and they asked really deep theological/historical questions concerning election, adoption and circumcision. That really made me happy today, also one of the men Gerardo is getting more into it, even tho he is not always avaliable to go to church, he goes when he can, and something that really excited me was that in one of the prayer meetings is that he prayed for people in Pubelo Viejo to know God. Inwardly I was shouting out of joy because clearly God has been working in him, I will take him to lunch or coffee one of this days and ask him if I can personally disciple him because I see a big potential in him.
Church growth have been progressive but people are inconstant that's why it's hard to see a growth but there actually is one. I know there is not a lot of numbers in my ministry but I can see there is a lot of joy so that's good for now. My desire is for more people to come to church and I always invite and go around and talk to them but many just don't come and there is nothing I can do about it. I can invite but not insist but persevere in how I encourage them to come to church.
I personally been challenged lately because I have a lot of limitations as a single guy and being the only person at church working but if this is the way it is then must be good. I've been in Lima not long ago because of presidential election and visa interview which I have to say that I got the visa again yayyyy......!!!!!!!! I've been struggling with depression lately also, but later on as I spend time with the Lord, I was able to see that it was a self-centered one. I can't call the attention anymore and what I have to say is not relevant for anyone, and that was kind of bringing me down, but I could see is a self centered struggle, because I'm not the center of the world. So even tho I can say there is genuine moments of discouragement, God gave me the joy to see that I'm not the center of the world but He is. The ministry is a place where you see yourself as who you really are, I know I say this a lot but is true. Many of our struggles are not as important as we think because sometimes there can be personal interests where our ego is afflicted. I'm a window of what I preach so as much as I like doing this I need humility and love, and it will weed the ground of my heart so only it will grow what is good. Please I don't write this for you to feel sorry for me but to give testimony of what the Lord is doing in my life, this is a big responsibility so as I work and see the life of others, God is seeing mine.
Prayers requests
1. Character: to walk in Humility and Love, looking others as better than myself, I need a daily reminder of this so I can be a servant not just a leader. Also wisdom as I dear with some family issues, and find my encouragement and sufficiency in the Lord.
2. Church in Pueblo Viejo: Pray we can grow in unity, and communion with the Lord and one another. They can grow in their communion with God and love for Him and that be reflected in their personal time with the Lord.
3. Family: pray for their salvation and also there is a situation with my mother, please pray for wisdom, Grace and peace for this, I can't go into details unless you are really interested in order to be able to pray specifically.
4. Missionaries in Puerto: Daniel and Becky Nuñez, they just had a baby Alejandro, yay babies. Scott and Tracy Blackburn, they re opened a girls home so praise the Lord. Dan and Ruthie Nagao, as they work in the Library. Buddy and Lauren Fitgerald, they are on family vacation but they are coming back soon. Bud and Laura Lenz, as they work in the orphanage EL Arca. Pray for unity among all of us.
5. Seminary project: My friend Mike who lives in Scotland is planing to put a seminary in the jungle region north Peru so pray for wisdom as he plans to do this.
6. USA Trip: I got the visa yay..!!! So some people are wondering what I'm gonna do there, well this I'm going to a wedding of a good friend of mine also for a youth conference in the institute that I graduate from. Also seeking the opportunities to speak in churches so I can encourage people to come to Peru and help my ministry, and for people who want to support those who are willing to come but can't fund themselves whether they are in USA or Peru. I possibly be from June 16 through July 25, this will come to happen if I have someone who can preach while I'm gone otherwise I will just stay, for obvious and logical reasons.
7. Support: the Lord has been faithful in providing while i'm here, pray that I can be a good administrator of His good entrusted to me. Also pray that the Lord provides for me while I am in the states. Also if you can pray, I need a new laptop, mine is falling apart, the wireless card just died and the one I got is not working really well.
Thanks for your prayers and thanks for reading this letter which is a form of sanctification for some of you because of my grammar. Well..........Amon and Amen.
Let me know how I can pray for you or just maybe talk or Skype to encourage one another, unless you are teamCap.
Love you all (oh and if you are female and this is awkward, I love you in Christ :D)
Edher
