Miles, Kristi and Ben arrived first and spent a few days in Lima before heading to Conima. On Tuesday, they visited with Ben's Compassion child Luis and his family and toured the “Compassion-run before/after school” program which meets Monday/Wednesday/Friday. It was great to meet the faithful Compassion teachers and see how the children are consistently taught God's Word as well as practical life skills. Very humbling visit but we can all rejoice that about 55,000 children in Peru are being ministered to faithfully and regularly by the Compassion ministry.
John & Sonia Grady and their boys Samuel and Jacob joined Kristi's brother Terry Lassiter and wife Vicki with the Phillips on Wednesday and the team traveled to Conima with no unexpected events. On Thursday, the team got settled in the house and secured permission to host the dental clinic. John, Sonia and Vicki blessed the team with their translating abilities. Some of the team had a good visit with the police chief and gave the books and DVD that Steve Travis from the April 2012 sent. The Phillips and Lassiters hiked up the mountain twice to find Nancy whom the May 2011 and Summer 2011 team had befriended and requested that our team encourage her. The team failed to find her but James Spencer has since given more detailed directions so hopefully they can find her next week.
The team hosted dental clinics on Friday and Saturday. Terry treated nine patients and Ben got to play with several children. There were several conditions that lead to a low turnout despite the team's effort to advertise. Ben and Miles walked around town recruiting with their broken Spanish. “Necessitas el dentist?” Everyone said they would come, but only a few made it down the hill to the clinic. Pray that the love shown to the patients and the community will make a difference in their lives and help them be open to really hearing God's Word.
Also the team hosted community Bible storying sessions on Friday and Saturday evening. A lady named Katie came on Friday night and John Grady did a great job telling the story of Jesus calling Peter. They had a very good visit with her and she responded very well. Several of the police were expected on Saturday night but no one showed.
The Gradys traveled to Huancane to worship and visit with the hermanos and hermanas there who they had discipled over the years. On Sunday, the remainder of the team worshipped at the Conima house and then had lunch on the Isla Suasi. Very nice. They all met back together in Juliaca later on Sunday and had a good time of fellowship (dinner in the mall food court and bumper cars!). Who would have thought Juliaca would have bumper cars?
Early Monday morning (4 a.m) the Van Meter team arrived, got a little rest and heading to Moho with John for orientation. Martin from Arequipa joined that group, serving as their translator. Great guy and very called to this ministry. Terry and Vicki left on Monday, leaving the Phillips and Sonia and her boys to wait for the FBC Willow Park Bible Study team to arrive on Tuesday morning. Jake Valdez called at 9 a.m. on Tuesday to update on the status of the team. They are in the air at the moment, flying from sea level to 12,500 ft above sea level.
Pray for our team as they travel to Conima today and get set for the Bible School sessions. Only God can change lives and bring people to repentance. Pray that we will be His humble servants and not miss any opportunity to minister in His Name. Pray that the people of Conima will have their lives changed by the redeeming love of Christ and that churches will be started.
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