Missions, Politics and Donald Trump: making the Gospel great again.

Elections are getting closer for my friends at the North of this Continent. And there is only two options Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, most of the people I know are Republicans and they are going to vote for Donald Trump and is ok because of that is their political inclination, they should do it. Now you should have a political position, share your political position but not Idolize it, evangelicals in the USA mostly in the south have traditionally voted republican because most of the candidates sympathized with moral values. Which is great, the problem is when we try to endorse the candidate as a face for what Christianity is.  

 Let me explain, if you are voting for Donald Trump because is the candidate that aligns more to your political views that's good, but say that he is a representation of Christianity?? I wouldn't take that far my friend. I'm glad that people are outspoken about their political opinions in the North but I would like also to be that outspoken about the Gospel, Sound Doctrine and Discipleship. Now as many of you who are reading this are probably Christians, I want to share with you some reasons why you should be wise with your political opinions for the sake of missions in your community and oversees.  

1. Dehumanizing people:  Illegal Immigration, let me talk about your golden calf for a second, yes I think that illegal immigration should be punish it because it's breaking your law, happy? Now the fact that illegal immigration is an issue shouldn't take away our responsibility to share the Gospel, I know you think those illegal people need to go back to their country but they need Jesus the most and I don't think they hearing that from you. Maybe this next president will make your dream come true of kicking them all of your country but then what's next? Will you go to their country and tell them how God loves them while you hated them in yours? I saw this because most of latinos immigrants in the USA have heard more about how they are unwelcome rather than the Gospel.  

 I know you have a political position, but if you are a Christian you know that it doesn't give you the right to dehumanize them of the greatest undeserved privilege you enjoy which is to know God. Illegal people needs Christ, they needed when they all came to this continent and killed all the Indians, mayans and Inkas and they still need Him today as much as you and I do.

   2. Classifying people: not long ago I read a post where a man (trump supporter) was talking about how latinos were ignorant, uneducated and low class people. Apparently he justified himself for the sake of illegal immigration issue, but I know illegal immigration is an issue but you have to insult an ethnic group in order to make your point valid? Isn't that racism?    Preaching heavenly things to people while you shove in their face all their earthly prejudices is certaintly hypocrisy, may some latinos had not the luck of going to school or college but that doesn't make them less worthy as human beings, I don't think you really believe in creation if you can't equally see people as God sees them. Yes, there is some clear limitations some of us have but focusing on them doesn't help us to live for the things above which we claim we hope for. Do you think that on judgement day your immigrant status really will matter? Or will the educated will be more privilege to get Grace rather than the uneducated ones?

   3. Unwholesome talk allowed?: i don't know if you notes but Donald trump likes to talk about things that aren't exactly edifying like some of the members of his body and big this is. I mean I think we are ok with it as long as they kick the immigrants out right? Surely is this how Christianity should be represented? To say Donald Trump is an actual good man and an example is to give room for  disrespectful speech be allowed in our young people, and even adults.  And I'm not adding insults, childish comment and more.

 4. Women are not objects: this man brags of his affairs as a seminary kid brags of his study bible. I don't think we think adultery in the Christian community is okay, even tho a rich powerful men who is running for our favorite party does it, right? Well if you who preach trump more than the Bible are ok with this, then tell the girls in your life that they need to be respected and be look for who they worth. We live in an age where their purity and beauty is strangled and we just so selfish to endorse and lift up a men who collaborated with this. Again is this a Christian principle or a quality in a man worthy to be exalted?  

 5. All Mexicans are bad: apparently Mexico= Latin America for this guy, he once said that mexicans (latinos) don't bring the best to his country, many of them are rapists, murders and more. Well mr trump, neither yours, we have a lot of American tourists coming to buy drugs, encourage human trafficking by consuming prostitution and they have been quite characters like Lori Berenson and people participating in pedophilia here. I think that's not the best of your country neither, but even tho that I won't think that all Americans are the same because is not just right. But you see there that people are sinners doesn't matter where they are from?

   I know you prefer Donald Trump over Hillary, that is okay, just be careful in preaching that he is the model of what's Christians stand for. Because if Americans Christians stand for that, then I'm greatly insulted as a person and as a believer. If you do missions, you have a greater reason to watch out what you stand for, don't forget most of the countries of people you want to kick out, they welcome you when you come for a mission trip. Let's not forget that there are brothers and sisters illegally in the whole world killed by the Gospel, and we will die for politics rather than for the Gospel. 

   I understand the desire many of you have to see their country as they used to be, and see people coming to Christ but law enforcement is okay but that's not the Gospel. Make the Gospel great again by making it your priority and may God have mercy and make your country great, God is sovereign my friend and this is more than a cliche. May the Lord have mercy on us and we look at the heavenly things, the things above and truly looking at them because whoever becomes the president won't alter the course of your eternity if you are in Christ. It's an indictment to our own faith to live obsesibly concerned by our earthly destiny without looking to the heavenly Kingdom.

   Praise the Lord that He will come for those whom He saved from every tribe, tongue and nation.          

Back to the field

Hello brethren i was taking a little while to write my report and what happens is that i was busy doing some stuffs here and catching up with the church here in Puerto. It has been a great encouragement to talk to the people and hear how the Lord has blessed them in their time here with Dan ad Ruthie, i've been blessed of having them helping while i am gone. The church is going through a transition of affirmation, so they can be solid in their faith, so i will be working for opportunities to disciple the people in pueblo viejo in their houses through small groups. Praise the Lord i already have two scheduled and one of them is a man who goes to another church but is willing to invest his weekends in learning more about the word of God. Also Dan and Ruthie has been a huge help during this transition so the people has been able to see the picture of Christ and His church through a marriage working in it for a while.


Finally, i found a mini apartment and i think i will stay here until i leave next year, praise the Lord for that, we are going to start to gather on the last sunday of the month at evenings to share a meal and have fellowship in the church. That will help them with fellowship and getting to know each other more. Im also encouraging them to invite people to the church, they have expressed before that they want to see the church grow and people in pueblo viejo get saved but now im teaching a little more of their part in evangelizing. Pray that their hearts will be prepared during this time so they can learn to share the good news with others.

Most men still resisting to the idea of coming to church but i still talk with many of them during the week so pray for them: Angel, Enrique, Celso, Chita and Erik. Thank you for praying for the church here.

Prayer requests

Character: pray that i grow in humility, love, faithfulness and self control as i am working here
Pueblo viejo: the church can be affirmed and the church may grow according to God's will but also be faithful in the sound teaching
Family: my mom keeps going to church and praying with my sister so i can confidently say they are also my family in Christ. Keep praying for my brother Johnny, dad Juan , sister Kyara, step mom Elizabeth and step brother Ricardo.
October team: there is a team coming in october to work with me so pray as they prepare to come and work here for a week
Missionaries in Peru: Walter and Gabriela Isse (church in lima), Tj and Pamela Lindsey (working with kids in caja de agua) Buddy and Loren Fitzgerald (church in la plaza in PM), Daniel and Becky Nunez (Church in la joya), Bud and Laura Lenz (Orphanage in Peru) Dan and Ruthie Nagao ( deaf church and library), scott and tracy Blackburn (girls rehab house in PM)
Pray for more people to be interested in help the ministry in Pueblo viejo, puerto maldonado
Finances: the Lord has provided faithfully so i cant complain but just to ask for wisdom to administrate His gifts to me.

Thank you all for your prayers
I aprecciate them, feel free to ask any question you want And tell me how i can pray for you.

Living in holiness is not legalism

As relativism advances in the church on this postmodern world we hear people shouting in group of voices phrases like: Christianity is not rules is a relationship, you don't have to be holy to be a Christian, we are all broken and need to be fixed and I can go on and on and you will think this post is about a contemporary worship song, well no it's not.

Let me say first that yes Christianity is about a relationship and yes we are broken but these things are only one side of the coin, if we read carefully these statement it reflects the voice of a generation of church attenders and Christians who openly oppose to obedience, they won't say it like that but they will kind of say things that suggest it. We all want to hear, say and believe the pseudo psychological statement of I'm broken/ i sin / feel sorry about me/ just don't say anything to me about it.

Now this is a dangerous trend because if we don't have to obey we basically can do whatever we want and still being saved. A group of people demand experience, but not just of living but of sin because it makes it more appealing and interesting to play the game of how far the line I can get and still being a Christian. Before they know it, they are already in the other side. 

Now living in obedience is described as living in holiness, the word holy means to be 'set apart' to live in holiness means to walk in the position of being set apart from the world. So holiness is not the enemy of fellowship with God but the basis of it and the confirmation of our position. (1 Peter 1:16, 2:9-12) so it's Christianity about relationship and not rules? Well there is not rules that take you to heaven only putting your trust in the work of Christ but obedience to Christ is going to be the term and evidence of the relationship, he said “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15.

We don't obey to be holy but we obey because we are holy, we don't work hard to be set apart by God in order to be His people but we are set apart therefore we walk in obedience to Him. Those who walk in obedience will do it with joy for they will see the salvation that God has set before them. This means they are perfect? No, this means that they grow in repentance and forgiveness, holiness is not about perfection but is about walk towards Christ which one day will result in perfection when we see him for second time. 

Holiness is not prideful, a Christian doesn't boast in his obedience but boast that even tho he is fallen there is a God who always forgives him when he comes to Him. He sees that is not a free card to sin but is a privilege which should be taken with reverence. Yes we are broken and all that but if you don't come to Christ, all that brokenness you talk about is just pride, just because you refuse to come to the one who is able to put us together.

Holiness will be more sensitive to sin, a person who walks in obedience will be more aware of sin in their lives and will seek God for repentance and faith to live with a clean conscience and because they love God. May the sin he repents are absurd for other people, and they are not it is that he has become more intimate in his relationship with God and for him that's the most important relationship he have.

Holiness is about knowing God, the most important part of obedience is to know who you are obeying to which at the beginning is your  Loving Lord and Savior. And later he becomes the Sovereign one reigning in your life, Almighty, Omniscient, Immutable and always Faithful, and much more. Our view of God will increase our desire to live for Him and our love for Him.

We live in Holiness because we've been born in the Spirit, when God saves us He give us the Holy Spirit as a helper to live the Christian life. To look to out failures and brokenness and a big obstacle for obedience is to diminish the power that is within us for living the Christian life. Do you believe the Spirit is as powerful God says He is? 

I've seen people growing through disciple and people quickly applaud them as heroes while those who want to live righteously are being treated as the curse to the world. Impurity shouldn't never be applaudable in the church but we must go treat in mercy, love and grace to those whom have failed. But for those who are obeying and want to obey, don't get discouraged, your obedience will sometimes be an indictment to those who haven't resolve their conscience because of sin that's why they will be hostile to you. But behold, there is our God able to deliver us and make us show mercy to those who mock us and disrespect us. We are not legalistic since we are not imposing a work to be saved but we are encouraging to those who claim to be saved show some works for to the name of Jesus is worthy and if we are going to carry it, let's show His worth.Rejoice that He has put His Spirit in you.

“For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the LORD. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”

Hebrews 8:7-10 NKJV

Enjoying Opportunities

Hello Brothers and Sisters, 

The time here has been busy so I wasn't able to write an early report as I wanted to but also I'm trusting that the Lord Sovereignty allow me to wait until today so I could testify of somethings which happened this week.

Things in Puerto are going good, Dan and Ruthie Nagao are doing an awesome job in plugging the church together while I am here, there are always an encouragement when I'm there and so its good to have them working there. People are coming but some of them are kind going back and forth so pray that the Lord gives them conviction to be consistent in their walk and assistance to church. Dan and Ruthie has been receiving teams and friends helping them with their ministry and the church in pueblo Viejo, also now they have a relative visiting so pray that the Lord brings rest and refreshment to them through it. 

I've seen the wisdom and faithfulness of God going through all my life since, I started working at the airport and practice my English, when I would go to this ESL bible study hosted by the IMB, when I begin to work a an interpreter. And clearly I could see the purpose the Lord had in this trip, even tho if I kind of consider it unwise to be this long, the Lord's wisdom was demonstrated through it. At the beginning was a lot of questions of what I would do, but the Lord put me to rest at the beginning and showed me why I needed to rest even tho I thought I didn't deserve it and I needed to be doing something when I was here. Also I had the opportunity to serve in a youth conference in the institute I graduate from and it was really neat to see how some members of my team were encouraged to be content with the Lord rather than just win the competitions. On the last day, one of the girls of the team testifies of how the team was encouraging to her because we seek to have enjoyment working as a team for the Lord rather than just do stuff, so that was great. Also I had an amazing co captain who helped a lot, it was a good time in general.

Also I was doing some fundraising to get some tools I need, through yard sale and through working, so I had the opportunity to do some work this week. My other highlight of this trip after the youth conference, has been working for this old retired couple. They served at small southern baptist churches and it really encouraged me their faithfulness. He says that the Lord was calling him to minister at small churches and even tho it wouldn't be financially easy for him, but he worked and minister sometimes while she even tho knowing this man calling, she was with him always. They always talked about the goodness of God in their lives and how He gave them what they've need even tho wasn't a lot, but you could see the contentment and the joy of the Lord in them. I've heard many people talk about being satisfied in Christ, mostly in the subject of singleness which is kind of annoying sometimes, but interacting with this couple I just would hear them and see them and I've learned what does it mean to be satisfied in Christ. Satisfaction in Christ is to be faithful to your calling in an age of success because there is more important things to live for. So many people talk about satisfaction in Christ and how satisfied they must be but this couple just kept talking of the Lord's goodness and their gratefulness for it and I just could see what it looks like to be satisfied in Christ. Ive been really encouraged by them.

If you read this report on Sunday, July 17, pray for me as I go to preach at 2 churches and also working this week, I've really enjoyed hard work a lot. On the 26 I'm flying to NJ and maybe visiting with some friend but mostly seeing family so pray for the opportunities to share Christ with them.

Pray requests:

1.  Character: pray that I can be quicker to listen so I can keep learning from other people and also to walk in humility, love and faithfulness to the Lord.

2. Pueblo Viejo: pray for the people at pueblo Viejo and they can be changed by the power of God, and they get saved and the people who are going to church to be established in the Gospel.

3. Dan and Ruthie: pray as they minister in pueblo Viejo the Lord empowers them and encourages them as they share the goodnews with others.

4. Chacapampa: for those who don't know, I did spend a little over 2 months at the mountains and there was this couple Rita and Espiritu, Rita was pregnant and there as a risk on her pregnancy but she is ok and the baby also so praise the Lord, keep praying for them and their kids. Also for Jonathan and Franz, for Hermes, Luis and Silvio and the missionaries Liz and Henry.

5. Missionaries in Peru: Pray for TJ and Pamela Lindsey as they minister in Caja de Agua with the kids ministry, Buddy and Loren as they lead the church near by the main square in Puerto, Bud and Laura Lenz as they lead their orphanage in Cuzco and Puerto. Daniel and Becky Nuñez as they lead their church a little farther from town, Scott and Tracy Blackburn as they have the girls home.

6. Family: pray for my mother as she gets discipled and encouraged by the Ladies of my church back in Lima.

7. Mission teams: pray that there may be more mission groups encouraged to come to Puerto, whether I'm there or not whom can be an encouragement to the people there and also the local missionaries. If you, your church are interested in doing a short term trip for a week or a month or few weeks and months. Write back so I can share with you show you could help us, also if you are a doctor it would be helpful to have you for medical campaigns.

8. Finances: the Lord has been good in providing some jobs for fundraising to get some tools so pray that I can get more work this week before heading to NJ so I can do it. 

If you have any questions, suggestions or complains :D answer back this email and also let me know how can I be praying for you. Really please like #praying.

Love you all

Edher

Report from the USA.

Report from the USA

Hello brethren, I'm glad to greet you all again, I'm in the land of y'all so I'm so glad that I'm able to write to you. From the last time I've wrote from Puerto, we had a team from Central Baptist Church in Crossville, Tennessee. It was an encouraging, exciting long week of work, we went to an school and a pre school, went to do visitations around pueblo Viejo, also we were able to visit/help other missionaries in Puerto also. It was an encouraging time.

Now there is a couple staying at the church, their name is Dan and Ruthie, they are such a godly and sweet family from Texas, and they have 2 beautiful kids, they will be filling in while I'm here in the USA. Please pray for them as they minister and encourage people in pueblo Viejo, I think it will be good for the people there to see a while a couple ministering them so some of their needs can be addressed in their context also. The last 2 days before I head to Lima I did send time with them and it was such an encouragement for me.

Concerning USA: for some reason I forgot the address of the friend I was staying with when I entered the states, so there was a time when I was looking in my phone and tablet for the address and I couldn't find it and immigration could have easily tell me to go back to Peru. But for some reason the person in immigration was merciful to me so I gave my friend's work address, so I could clearly see that the Lord wanted me to be here. I will be here until August 3 but I'm gonna travel on July 25/26 to NJ, because my returning flight is from there, also I will approach that time to visit/minister family and visit my uncle in prison and encourage my family. 

While I am in the states I'm looking to raise funds to be used for ministry tools and help people who want to come to help me in Peru whether they are from Lima or from another country. As many of you know, I'm by myself working in Puerto so there is sometimes not a lot that I can do by being a single pastor By myself in there, so I would like to have help while working in here, so that money would help people to pay fully or partially their trip to Puerto depending where they are from. They will help me to do program with kids, youth, working with women and also helping other local missionaries with whatever they need. Also it will be used for anything may be needed for the ministry, or tools that I can use while I work there also. 

So I'm looking to present this project to people and churches in here while I'm in the USA. My calendar is open and flexible except July 17 because I'm meeting with a team coming in October to Puerto.  But my calendar is open until July 25/26 so if your church wants to hear more about what is going on in Puerto or would like to go to a short term trip to the jungle of Peru or just support a local missionary, let me know, I will be glad to go there and see you and sharing the ministry with you all. 

Prayer Requests

Character: pray that the Lord grows in me humility, it is essential to look others as a bigger priority than myself and sometimes I can grow an inch above and that inch above is too high. Pray also for love for people and that I be sensitive to minister people while I'm in the USA. Also for perseverance in patience and faithfulness to the sound preaching of the Gospel.

Missionaries in Peru: Pray for Tj Lindsey(missionary in Lima, working with kids in Caja de Agua), Buddy and Loren Fitzgerald, Daniel and Becky, (The husbands are pastor in other churches in Puerto Maldonado), Scott and Tracy (La buena Semilla, Puerto Maldonado, girls home) Bud and Laura Lenz (El Arca orphanage) Walter Isse (Pastor in a church in Lima).

Dan and Ruthie: pray for them as they are in pueblo Viejo ministering to people.

Opportunities to speak in the USA: I'm waiting for two confirmations if I speak in a church in CO and AL so I don't know how that will end but please pray for it and if you think of a church I can speak on and introduce them to ministry let me know.

Chacapampa: there is a team in the mountains of Peru where I was last year and do you guys remember the couple Espiritu and Rita? Well they just got married so that's a huge praise I haven't talk with the team that is there right now about them but the sat time they came in March I've heard that things were getting better with them so praise the Lord, keep praying for this team from Fort Collins, Colorado while they are there sharing the Gospel and also encouraging the local missionary, Liz. 

Family: my mother is very involved in church and really having good friendships from it, she is really encouraged and I think the Lord is truly working in her, she is very willing to be taught and she is also getting discipled, I thought I would baptize her right after I came back from Peru last year but did not happened but pray she keeps growing. I'm getting more close with my Dominican sister so that is great. And pray that rest of my family comes to Christ.

Finances: the Lord has been faithful and He will, pray for wisdom to administrate the money I have, also I'm looking for some project I can work on while I'm here so if you have anything I can do let me know. 

If you would like to Support me, please consider it prayerfully as you doing the will of God and if the Lord will so here are the options:

The Great Comission, C/o Edher Cavero

700 N. Parker Rd. Greenville, SC 29609

TD Bank account: reply this message so the account will be sent to you.

If you would like to send me an encouragement letter or anything, you can send it to 

Edher Cavero

12 west 53rd St Bayonne NJ 07002

If you have any questions, complaining or anything, let me know and feel free to ask any question.

Also tell me how can I pray for you.

Love you all

Edher

Why your short term mission trip is a good idea.

There is a lot of blogs and articles questioning the idea of a short term mission trip,  that last a few weeks or months. Some arguments presented in these articles are really good but the idea of always questioning short term mission trips brings discouragement to those who want to go with a genuine desire to serve God. 

So even tho I will give some warnings, the purpose of this post is redirect your thought about why it is important to do short term trips and how can we make the most of it. 

1. Encourage the long term missionaries and local pastors: even if you are going for a short period of time, there is missionaries and pastors who stay in those countries, these long term missionaries or local pastors most time deal with frustration, loneliness, stress and interpersonal conflicts within their families or with other people. The presence of short term teams can bring refreshment to the long term ministers, even if the week gets busier, I highly recommend to make the most use of your time to encourage the local missionaries or initiate personal conversations regarding how you can pray for them or what is going on in their lives. It is important to take care of those who are staying after you leave, I know you have projects and want to get them done, but you should never forget the hearts of those who will see the long term of the fruit of your work.

     You can also encourage missionaries by having a relax time with them and talking to them, chilling or hanging out with them, or if they are from your country, you can bring them something they miss. Where I work, I know a lot of long term missionaries who speak English and they get excited when English speaking people come. Remember, there is missionaries who are planing to stay long term and having a little taste from home helps them in their homesickness.  People you know and love, even tho they are from different countries can be an encouragement to people in the field, there is a big importance in lift up spiritually (not their ego) to those who stay in the field. 

2. They have people to work with some projects: sometimes missionaries have specific tasks they wish they could do but they sometimes can't because of lack of people prepared for this or just lack of availability in people. So your medical team, construction team, or the group of people you brought can be used for the task that missionaries may have at that point. The presence of your team will be a blessing as you are willing to be flexible and help them with the projects they have in mind. So yes, you should come and help them.

3. Unique time of fellowship: there are missionaries who work in very small rural areas where there is no church at all. For those missionaries the only fellowship they get with other believers is when mission teams comes to help them. So take a time to get in deep fellowship with them because sometimes it has been several weeks or months since they had contact with other believer in person. Fellowship is important in the Christian life, but there is times where the Lord takes you to work in places where fellowship with other believers is something you get once in a while, I've been in those shoes and I can tell how encouraging it can be.

4. You can learn from them: sometimes the mission field help us to grow in maturity if we are not stubborn or proud. The Lord humble us and as missionaries we hope to teach you how to do things effectively in your short term mission trip. And we can say that not because we are proud or we think we know better than you but because when we stay we see the outcome of the work done by short term teams. So if you want to help long term missionaries, let them help you in your short term trip, you may want to get things done but the long term workers know what is best for the area.

5. Don't get too caught in your plans: I know that some people have the mindset of having a full schedule trip where they gonna work 24/7 and that's a great start but sometimes the things you are going to do more by learning, praying and encouraging. Listen before you speak, learn before you act and pray before you preach; it may an eternal help for you and those who hear you. There is some cultures or places where is harder to have everything scheduled because things go slower so be flexible, if you don't have a lot to do one of those days maybe the Lord wants you to be quiet and think about the interactions you already had or meditate in his word and who knows maybe you need to study his word more that day so He prepares you for a particular time He will use you. Whatever plans you have, surrender them to the Lord, and if you are a workaholic, don't worry He will teach you.

6. Enjoy the Culture: Some people who goes on short-term trips are afflicted by the culture they are in, they feel so different and that everybody is staring at them because is not common for the locals to see people like them. I understand that in different places people don't navigate things in the same way you do. But instead of focusing in all the differences and saying look at this or look at that, learn why locals think that way or learn how they get their culture, it will be helpful for you as you are there and also to contextualize your gospel witness.

I think short term mission trips are good but we must be careful to not do our own thing but go along what the Lord directs us to do as we learn more about  the culture and the missionaries who are there. Also don't forget to prepare yourself biblically and in prayer and if you have access to ask questions, don't hesitate but always learn.

My prayer is that you be encouraged by this and go help a missionary whether is locally or oversees.

In need of Wisdom

Brethren I'm glad to be able to send you a report from Puerto maldonado, for my next report I will be in the USA. Things at church are going well but slow, people are starting to ask questions about faith, how to read the bible and more. Some people have grown into consistency, they are coming by themselves to church and getting engaged in it, although the number of people who are coming are varying, there is people willing to hear the Gospel at least. There is a young man whose name is Gerardo, he is one of the man who has the most consistency, so pray for him. Also there is another young man who rarely comes but he likes to talk, his name is Angel, even tho we had good conversations, he hasn't been involved too much with the things at church. 

Concerning the 2 old man whom I visit, Gerardo is doing well and he is always willing to listen but not too much response, Masao is getting more into the stories and ask questions and this past time I've visited, his wife joined us so that was great, we are going through 1 John and they asked just from reading the first chapter about universalism, who is truly a believer? Who is going to heaven? Why everybody doesn't go to heaven?. Visitations are getting better, people knows me, jokes with me and sometimes feed me, they say they don't want me to look unloved that's why they want me to gain weight, I'm not that skinny but Jungle love equals fat by the way.

I was planing to write this letter yesterday but I had a rough weekend with problems and stress, I was preaching in the morning and there was one 3 people and a kid and that kid wasn't quiet at all and was interrupting every minute and I felt praying to the Lord to give me patience or provide ducktape for her mother. But she got quieter, a little, and it was weird because when there is more kids, they normally aren't as loud, even tho sometimes they can make the church look like Chuck E. Cheese playground not kidding. But later evening I played a movie and after the movie I got to talk with Angel and he was telling me how the counsel I gave about how to make his relationship with his girl better was starting to work. Which is funny because I thought of myself very incapable to provide counseling for this because I'm single but heyyyyy the Lord provided wisdom, so he was very encouraged and he is committing again to get involved to church. He said that before but he never came, well most people here does that, they never do what they told you, I wonder if they ever wanted to be politicians, anyways. I love people here even tho they drive me nuts but then God reminds me that I can be also so annoying and I get over.

God then gave more reasons to rejoice at looking how He was using me, and told me to stop whining as a little kid for people. While I was being ungrateful, He gave me a reason for joy.

God has been speaking to me through His Word and through different things (not angels or anything supernatural, I'm not too high spiritually for that) about seeking to be filled with the Spirit, being in a place where my integrity and purity is often attacked I need not just do stuff. But to do ministry in the power of God, don't worry I didn't became charismatic, just biblical, while being fueled by His word, I saw that sometimes my frustrations when I don't get people to church or get excited to church, doesn't depend on what I do or what I know but how much I trust Him in light of it. So this is starting to be my daily pursue and prayer, and what I'm seeking is to be filled with the Spirit, I need it.

prayer requests: 

Character: pray that I get wisdom, humility and Love. Also for faithfulness, that I never diminish the greatness of the Gospel but remain sound in my preaching. I also need wisdom to make upcoming decisions concerning ministry/life. Also pray for me health even tho I've haven't been sick for 2 weeks, it seems that I may get sick again, I have headaches a lot lately.

Church in Pueblo Viejo: Pray that people have a desire to know God and the Holy Spirit to be working in them. Also that God shows through fruits those whom He is saving so I can disciple them, and to not be tempted to give false assurance of faith to those who aren't converted but faithfully persist in sharing the Gospel with them. Pray also for the time when I'm gone Dan Nagao is going to be with them, so they can learn as much from this brother.

3.  Family: pray they come to the knowledge of the Lord, hey y'all remember long ago when I told you about my mom making a profession of faith? Well lately she has been going to my church back in Lima for 3 Sunday's in a rode and she told me that she will mee with one of the ladies on Saturdays which possibly means that she will get discipled, so yayyyyyy Praise the Lord. So Keep praying for her, he name is Marlene and she goes with my sister Nicole she is liking it also.

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 lead a church in the city by the main square. 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: so yay I'm going to the states, but I made a fool decision which is I scheduled my trip for very long trusting that I would had my full support for those months which I'm only gonna have 28 percent of it, which my supporters are in their right because I won't be doing ministry all the time tho, so actually they are being so merciful to me. So if you have any project I can while I'm there let me know or if you would like to provide it by donation, do it prayerfully. .

7. Speaking opportunities: pray that I get speaking opportunities in church to encourage people to come to Peru and to give towards ministry funds, this funds are intended to help those who want to come, as example: with these founds someone who wants to come from the states can be half financed from these funds or someone from Peru like Lima can be fully supported for a month and it would help me a lot here, since I'm doing the work by myself and also other missionaries in here if needed. There is people interested in coming to Puerto from Peru and the USA so that would be a huge help for them.

8. Finances: The Lord has been so good by providing while I'm  here so pray that I be a good administrator of what He has given to me. For the ministry fund I plan to work there and maybe make a Peruvian meal and sell it there in order to raise funds and if you don't Iike any of the ideas above, you can give towards it but consider it prayerfully as you doing the will of God. Also pray that the Lord provides a laptop, the one I have is not working properly lately.

Please if you  have any questions, doubt, curiosity, complain, or something you just want to voice, please let me know. ALSO LET ME KNOW HOW I CAN PRY FOR YOU..........!!!!!!!!!!

Haha

I love you all, thanks for your prayers.

Edher