Shalom Church Repairs

Shalom Church Repairs, a set on Flickr.

The Tarma Shalom church is moving to a new location. The building is larger with a nicer layout. Several church people have been helping out with the fix-up during the month of March. We hope to be meeting there by April 1. In the meantime church ministries are meeting in various church members' homes. The Sunday school meets at our house on Sunday mornings. Enjoy the photos!

Man Knows Not His Time

For five years Anibal had been inviting his father Rosario to come to church with him, so that his father's life could be changed like his had been.  Every time his father declined the invitation.  On Saturday, February 11, Anibal again called his parents to invite them to the small group that met in his home that night.  His parents once again declined.  So when his father showed up later at the meeting, Anibal was pleasantly surprised.  Pastor Miguel Algorta prayed with Rosario to accept Jesus that night.  Even though Rosario's body was weakened by cirrhosis, Anibal looked forward to spending time with his "new" father.

That was not to be.  A couple days later Rosario fell and soon had a heart attack.  On February 19, only 8 days after he became a Christian, he passed away at only 60 years of age. We are so thankful that he made his decision in time.  And though the timing was not what Anibal had hoped for, God is using this incident for his purposes.  Anibal's youngest brother and sister prayed to become Christians the day before their father died.  Anibal and Pastor Miguel spoke at the most evangelistic funeral I have ever attended.  Several attendees prayed along with Pastor Miguel to give their hearts to Jesus. 

"Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed.  But if it dies, it produces many seeds."  John 12:24

Tarma Vacation Bible School 2012

Tarma Vacation Bible School 2012, a set on Flickr.

Forty children attended the vacation Bible school organized by the Tarma Shalom church last week. We had a great time singing, playing, doing crafts, and learning about friendship - especially friendship with our best friend, Jesus. Two new children who attended the VBS came to Sunday school this week. Thanks for your prayers for this event.

2012 Ladies' Retreat in Tacna

2012 Ladies' Retreat in Tacna, a set on Flickr.

Feb. 3-5 approximately 30 ladies gathered in Tacna in southern Peru for the annual ladies' conference. For the 13 ladies from Tarma it took us 30 hours one-way by bus to arrive. But the effort was worth it as two ladies (Alicia and Eva) prayed to become Christians, and several young believers were encouraged through the stories of ladies who have been longer in the faith. The event ended with an ocean baptism of seven youth and one mother from the Tacna church.

Rossi from Tarma invited her mother, Berta. Upon arriving home Berta got rid of the images that she had prayed to her whole life. When Rossi asked her about it, she said that the images weren't useful to her anymore. We thank God for the work he's doing in Berta's life, and in the lives of the other ladies who attended this event.