Update, 6/5/09

Hey guys, we just wanted to keep you updated with some pictures and some posts to tell you about readers we are spending time with. Today Daniel and Mindy share their stories of time they spent with readers this week:

From Mindy: Of the many people I have gotten the chance to sit down and read with, one sticks out in my mind. This young woman came to our information meeting and sat down at my table. We visited for a couple hours and set up a time for the next day…she hasn’t missed a day yet. She doesn’t have much of a religious background, and even told me that the story of the virgin conception was hard for her to believe, but she comes every day with a smile and an eagerness to sit down and read. An important aspect in this culture is to form and maintain relationships, and she definitely has with me. One evening she came and told me that one of her best friends had just returned to Lima for the first time in two years and had stopped by to say hello to her. He invited her to go out with him but she told him that she had to come to the church because she had promised her new friends that she would be there. We’ve made plans this weekend to play some volleyball and I’m excited to see God’s plan for this woman he has placed in my life!

From Daniel: The reader who sticks out to me the most is Paola. Paola walked in off of the street five days ago. She came to the church building with her two friends. All three of them are studying English at a local institute; Paola’s friends are Christians (of some denomination), but she has very little Christian background. One of the questions on the LST form is “Religion.” When I asked what religion she was, she replied, “Umm… Catholic, I think…” She kinda believes in God, but isn’t sure about the Christianity thing. We have only read for three days, but she has had great insights into the story. When we were talking about the Virgin Birth, and I asked what two impossible things happen in that story. (#1: A virgin becomes pregnant. #2: An old woman becomes pregnant.) When I asked her how these things could happen, she quickly replied, “Because God can do anything he wants!” I was so excited to hear this answer from someone who isn’t sure what they believe about God, Jesus, and the Bible! Please keep us in your prayers as we continue our conversations!
God bless you guys! Thanks for the prayers!

Just a few pictures so that you can see our lives in Peru! God bless you today!

Seven Days Down, and a Short Reflection

Hey guys, I hope everyone in America is doing well! Actually, I have been told (multiple times) that I am not an American. I am actually a Estadios Unidenses (a “United States-zian”). I am not sure how that works, exactly, but whatever; it makes them happy here.

Things are going really well. We have been here for exactly one week now, and things are moving right along. Each of us has a pretty packed schedule. Most of us have 8-10 readers now, and all of our time slots throughout the day are filled. LST wants us to have 15 apiece, but that is difficult when we will only be here for three weeks and we hope to make a lasting impact with those that we do see.

But things seem to be going well so far. We have had a lot of interest in conversation. People often walk into the church from off of the street asking to read. Unfortunately, with the way Peru works, they want to read right then. If we are full of readers they say they will return but often do not. We have probably signed up enough readers to fill three schedules apiece, but many people commit to things here and never come back.

But please don’t think we are discouraged. Far from it. Things seem to be going well. I have had a number of great conversations with readers since I have been here. I have heard all sorts of stories: stories of personal loss, personal growth, the loss of family members, the deaths of friends, the challenges of living in Peru… Yet most of my readers have a deep love for God. Out of all of my readers only one isn’t a Christian of some sort. He is a 16 year old kid who believes but has never really had a Christian experience outside of LST. The other day he talked about how he prays many nights before he goes to bed, even though his family does not attend church, but he was afraid he didn’t believe in God enough because he often fell asleep while he was praying. I told him that if that was a mark of our belief in God then ALL of us fail! Tonight we talked about how we could follow Jesus this week, and he told me that he wants to pray with his family and try to learn more about Jesus! What an awesome blessing!

I want to include some pictures from this last week in LST. So here they go!

Also, we will focus one blog on the party we held on Saturday. Look for that manana.

Vaya con Dios, mi hermanos en Cristo!