Lima Baptism

Lima Baptism, a set on Flickr.

Last week our family spent several days in Lima. We joined some college friends of JR's who are Wycliffe missionaries for Thanksgiving dinner. The next two days JR and I joined 10 other FM church leaders to participate in a Willow Creek Leadership Summit.

On Sunday the three Free Methodist churches in Lima met for a united service at a local park. Four people were baptized and several more received prayer. It was a beautiful day in a beautiful place, and we were glad to be part of it.

2012 Tarma Ladies' Retreat

2012 Tarma Ladies' Retreat, a set on Flickr.

The ladies' retreat in Tarma on November 17 was a great success. 50 ladies learned Godly relationship principles by studying the lives of Ruth and Naomi.

Betty is a young lady who recently started attended English Bible studies we host. She had already paid to attend an event in Lima for her work. But after reflecting on something she'd learned at the study, she decided God wanted her at the retreat. We were so glad for her attendance, and for all the other ladies who took the time to come.

Christian Education Workshop

Christian Education Workshop, a set on Flickr.

Karina and Becky organized a Christian Education workshop on Nov. 3 for young people who work with children. Nine people came, and they did a great job in presenting their sample lessons. Oliver, who attended our church while growing up, is attending university in another town. He has just started assisting a church in the college town with their youth and children, and he was wishing for some special training. He was home this weekend and was eager to come when he heard about the workshop. We're so glad Oliver could attend. He and the other participants will have many opportunities to put the training into practice.

Christmas Catalog

Earrings, purses, doll clothes, and beaded headbands made by the Mujeres Jireh can be purchased in the alternate gift catalog made available through Child Care Ministries and SEED.  http://www.childcareministries.org/give/christmas_gift_catalog.php
Happy shopping!

New House Church in Tarma

For many years Adrian lived for himself, focusing on making money and drinking alcohol.  A few years ago he gave his life to Jesus and let God give him new priorities.  This year he and his wife sensed that God was telling them to fix up a large room in their house to invite neighbors and family members to hear more about God.

This past Saturday night our family attended the inaugural service that took place in Adrian's home.  Pastors Miguel and Guillermo, members from the Buen Pastor church, and family members packed the beautifully prepared room.  They shared testimonies, joyfully sang, shared a meal, and prayed to dedicate this new place of worship.  A highlight was when two of Adrian's young granddaughters, dressed in frilly pink dresses, prayed to ask Jesus into their hearts.

Leaders from Buen Pastor plan to lead the meetings that will take place there each Monday evening.  We pray that many people in Adrian's neighborhood can find new life in Christ as he did through this new undertaking.

Laura's story

Laura Algorta Salinas is our Mujeres Jireh Artisan of the Month.  Here is her story in her words:

Everything started with a liking for earrings.  I always liked to change something in the earrings I bought.  At that time I was far from God and living a lukewarm life.  I became pregnant, and I met people who were doing this type of work (making earrings) in the street.  That’s how I learned the basics, but I’m sure that God put the creative part in me.

When my son was born, I could understand how great and marvelous God’s love is – His love for me.  I had known God since I was a little girl, but I hadn’t had an adequate personal experience.  Maybe that’s way I got far away from Him.  Even though I had returned to God, emotionally I wasn’t stable. But He opened the doors for me to start a home business without needing to go someplace to work.  (My son) Mikey was little, and I didn’t want to leave him.  The first earrings were very difficult to make.  Little by little I learned, making 10 pairs at first, then 20, later 50, and finally up to 100 pairs.

Later I got married (to Mikey’s father) believing it to be the best.  But it wasn’t; it resulted in me being far away from God again.  I got a job as a teacher, and for that reason I stopped making earrings.  As the months went by, I realized that something was missing. I didn’t have time to make earrings, and I discovered that making them was my second profession.  I like making earrings very much.  When I came to Lima (from Tarma) to live, after a painful separation (from my husband) I decided to study beadwork and learned how to make more models of earrings, bracelets, and necklaces.

Today I thank God for having given me the opportunity to know Him and for this talent that is a fun hobby which benefits me economically.  Also, for this ministry (SEED) that helps the ladies of the church, and also for the people that buy (the products), for my parents who always help and encourage me, for my son (now 6 years old) and my brother, for sister Becky (Crouse) who is a blessing for my life. She photographed my first work, gave me ideas, and made sure that my work was at its best.

Although I’ve lived through a lot of bad experiences, God has always been good and faithful.  That’s why I won’t distance myself from Him again.  There’s nothing better than to be at His side and to desire to be faithful and show Him my love as He does to me.

I desire that each woman can know and develop the talent that God has given her so that she can be a source of full blessing to her family, as the Bible says in Proverbs 31:10-31.  With the help and approval of God, we want to be this kind of virtuous women.

May God illumine and guide us always.

Quite an evening!

Our evening with the kids in the rural community of Ayas on Saturday required much more creativity than normal. First, the 24 plastic chairs we normally take up for the kids to sit on were locked in a church and the pastor had gone with the key to another town. So, we decided we'd make do with the limited amount of furniture already in the room. Well, the long wooden bench that is normally in the room was locked in another room and the person with the key was elsewhere. So we arranged 20 something kids on 4 chairs, 2 tables, and a window sill. Then while we were half-way through the Bible story the electricity went out. We finished the story and snack by flashlight, skipped the coloring page, and ended the evening with group games lit by the car's headlights. All and all I think it went pretty well!

August Update

We've posted a new ministry update.  You can read it at:  http://fmcusa.org/fmwm/files/2011/05/Crouse.081512.pdf   Be sure to read the story about a giant of a man.

Mujeres Jireh Artisan of the Month

Beatriz Castro de Baldoceda is our Mujeres Jireh featured artisan of the month.  Read her story here:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=265075753597218&set=a.265073370264123.47257.246622185442575&type=1&theater

I started working making handicrafts about 8 years ago.  Our economic situation was insupportable.  There were days when we didn’t have bread to lift to our mouths.  I was used to drinking water and going to sleep.  My husband was a retired teacher and his income was small.  And money was discounted from his pay for debts so that we received very little.  I only asked that God would illumine me and give me wisdom so I could dedicate myself to something that I could do with my hands so that we could survive and not get sick.

One day a friend took me to see how to make (Barbie) dolls with hard clothing.  I paid attention and was interested in making them.  But I realized that I wasn’t apt at this type of work.  So I got the idea to start making other kinds of dolls.  At the congregation where I attend (Shalom Free Methodist Church in Tarma) I met the missionary (Becky Crouse) that God has put in my life so that I can go forward and leave behind the misery of our lives.  Until today I thank God for this great blessing to send his servants so far to see to the needs of his children in these places.  The missionary asked me if I could make cloth dolls like a model that she had. I said yes without knowing how I would do it.  But I started to think about how to make the patterns and everything else.  First I gave my hands to God and whenever I work on my dolls I say to God, “Let’s go to work.  You put your art and beauty, and they are your dolls.  I am only your instrument.”  This is how we work together when there are orders.

Presently I still make dolls, perhaps making them better and better each time because I have a beautiful dream that I know God will permit me some day to give work to many persons, be they men or women, so they can give food to their little children.  I thank God for having given me difficult times economically because if I hadn’t passed through them then I wouldn’t think about my brothers and sisters who need to live.

Fiesta in Ayas

Fiesta in Ayas, a set on Flickr.

Last week we attended the annual festival in the rural community of Ayas. Karina and Oscar and the youth of the Buen Pastor FMC accompanied us. Even though the gospel has yet to take deep root in the adults' hearts, we could see evidence of how God has been working in their hearts over the past three years as Karina and Oscar and company have been working with the children. We are more fully accepted and were included in the day's activities, and there was a more positive atmosphere than in other years. We enjoyed watching the community parade, kids' dances, and games. (Make sure you look closely at the sack race photos.)