A Peruvian IMI
Thursday, August 16. In addition to the evening children’s program, we had a special invitation today to visit a school that trains young men from remote parts of Peru for ministry among their own people. They spend six months studying here in Lima and six months putting it into practice in the mountains and jungles. A short tour of the school left us awed at the amazing providence of God in providing the necessary funds and tools to keep the school moving. We then spent time with the students – men whom God has raised up to serve Him among the forgotten people of Peru. Many of the men work among children and young people, so we taught them the “Las Armas de Dios” (Armor of God) song and the “Hockenstock Story” for them to use in their ministry. Some of the team gave testimonies and Dena displayed her wonderful God-given talent on the violin.
The time of prayer that followed was incredible. Each of the guys prayed one-on-one with the students. I prayed for a brother named Marcos. Even though he prayed for me in Spanish and I prayed for him in English, it was still a moving experience. The girls had a time of prayer for the lady who founded the school.
The children’s program was challenging this evening. We had a chance to live out some of the patience we were teaching as the kids were kind of rowdy and disobedient. On the armor of God, we taught about prayer. Specifics of the night included the story of the Ecuadorian missionaries, creating prayer journals and patience pencils, and adding prayer torches to the clay men craft. Dena taught another Bible verse, despite Elizabeth’s crazy distractions, and Andy gave rousing renditions of the “Hockenstock Story” and the “Whale Story.”
I think most of the team has recovered from the earthquake, although sometimes I wonder if a distant roar is just a car engine or the beginning of another earthquake. Please pray for the families of the (last I heard) 510 people who were killed, the thousands injured, and the many more left homeless. Aftershocks continue to occur very frequently, but most are mild at this point. Personally they don’t scarce me; just make me a bit more alert to my surroundings. It’s pretty cool to be in bed and watch the water in the class on the beside table swish about or the Inca Cola tremble in the bottle on the floor and just meditate on how this awesome show of power is extremely small compared to the awesome power of God!
Charlie Johnson
P. S. The sun came out again today!!!!!!!!!!
Tiffany and Daniel's team creating their prayer journals.
We have a smaller number of kids this week so we are able to give them more individualized attention - and boy did this little guy need it! Way to go, Mary Frances!
Craft time