Middle of the World

North of Quito, Ecuador stands an impressive monument marking "The Middle of the World" with a yellow line painted down the pavement.

A few hundred feet away is a museum with a red line painted on the ground that also says "The Middle of the World".  Two equator lines?

Well, the first line was calculated in the 1700's using the best technology available at the time. Present day GPS reveals that the original line was not placed quite correctly.  So like many visitors to Ecuador, we had our photo taken in both places on our recent visit.

Another interesting fact:  it is supposedly easier to balance an egg vertically on a nail at the equator. JR was the first person in our group to accomplish it.

Summer 2015

Created with flickr slideshow.

Our two month visit to the States flew by.  We renewed friendships and received encouragement at the Free Methodist General Conference in Florida.  In between visits to partnering churches we made lots of good memories with family and friends.

Behind the Scenes at AdorArte

As often happens when we are trying to invest in God's kingdom, our enemy tries to discourage us.  The very day AdorArte, an event for training youth in the arts and evangelism, was scheduled to begin, the director's son came down with chicken pox. Laura had to figure out how to continue with her duties while caring for her son and keeping him in isolation.  It wasn't easy, but she persevered.  Through her leadership 45 participants grew in their relationship with Christ, practiced hard, and gave evangelistic presentations in 3 Lima locations to approx. 150 people.  Several people at each presentation indicated their interest in having a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

God also showed his faithfulness in the finances for the event.  Several people had donated food and funds for the event, but as Laura and her brother Luisiño went over the accounts, they discovered they were still s/1000 (over $300) short to cover all their obligations.  JR overheard their conversation and offered to pray with them to ask God to make up for the shortfall.  When JR saw Laura 30 minutes later he jokingly asked if she was coming back to tell him how God had answered their prayer.  She responded with, "How did you know?"  God had already prompted the hearts of some Peruvian brothers to donate the remaining amount.

Youth Working Together to Make a Difference

For the past several months, the youth leaders from three area Free Methodist churches have been planning joint events.  These have included fun events like hiking part of the Inca Trail.  But they have also included training events, like how to use sports as an evangelism tool and how Christians should care for creation.  And over the past month, they have also planned two creative and effective outreach events using sports and the arts to evangelize young people. 

September 27 they organized a sports tournament in Huaricolca.  Teams competed in soccer and volleyball and received awards at a closing ceremony where the gospel was shared.  Several young people raised their hands to indicate that they wanted to receive Jesus as their savior, and several new children have begun participating in the after-school program at Centro Ruhamah.

October 18 the youth organized a talent program in Tarma.  They rented the municipal auditorium and prepared several skits, and musical and choreography numbers.  Then they invited area school youth to make their own presentations.  Peruvian actor Jose Luis Ruiz shared his testimony about how even though he was famous and had everything he thought he wanted in life,
he was still empty without Jesus in his life.  Several people prayed to receive Christ, including Oscar's sister.

We congratulate youth leaders Oscar, Karina, Anibal, and Frank for their efforts, and look forward to how God will continue to use them and the young people they lead for His glory.

A Few Minutes More

I thought ladies' meeting was a washout today.  The lady who was supposed to lead the lesson had gone on a church hike and had gone straight home exhausted.  Starting time was 4:00.  When no one had shown up by 5:00, I figured that was that.  Then the doorbell rang at 5:05.  Two ladies from out of town with their five young children were there.  My American side was tempted to tell them there was no meeting and send them home.  But since they had taken all the effort to walk across town to come I invited them in for a few minutes.

Five minutes later Graciela arrived.  If you read my last entry, you know she has a heart for sharing about Jesus with people.  We visited for a while, and I asked for prayer requests to end the meeting.  Graciela said to one of the ladies, "Excuse me, but, sister, your face looks sad.  If there's anything you'd like to share, we'd love to listen and offer any advice we might have."  So we extended the meeting a few minutes more while Techi poured out her heart about the big struggles she has been having in her marriage.

Graciela shared some about her own experiences and encouraged Techi to take the issue to God in prayer and look for a church near her home.  I then made some follow up questions and ended up leading Techi in a prayer to accept Jesus as her savior and Lord.  Techi left with a smile on her face and plans to visit us at church tomorrow before she heads back to Lima.  Please join me in praying for her marriage and that she will find a good church home.  I'm so glad we were willing to tarry a few minutes more.

Valuable in Christ

Sara is a neighbor who sells souvenirs in the tourist market.  When we first arrived in Tarma I bought a weaving from her that her husband had made.  Over the years we've formed a casual friendship, with me stopping to visit at her stand from time to time.  She shared with me about her difficulties with her husband and a person at her workplace.  I frequently invited her to come to ladies' retreats, and so did another neighbor, Graciela, who also goes to our church, but Sara could never make it.

A few weeks ago when Graciela stopped by to invite her to yet another retreat, Sara was in a crisis point.  Conflict at work had led to a lawsuit.  She was discouraged and frustrated.  Graciela encouraged her and invited her yet again to a retreat.  This time her young adult sons insisted that she attend, and she was the first to arrive.  (She is in purple and white in the middle-right of the photo above.)

The theme of the retreat was "Valuable in Christ".  We listened to teaching about how much God loves us, and how the difficult times we go through can be used to refine us and make us more beautiful in character.  When first time visitors were invited to stand, Sarah and four other ladies stood.  They all five accepted the invitation to pray to ask Jesus to forgive them and take control of their lives.  Please join me in praying that Sara and the other new Christians will continue to remember how valuable they are in Jesus, and will continue to grow in their knowledge of God.

The Mother-in-Law

I answered the door to find my friend Analuz crying.  Her mother-in-law Theodora was very sick in the hospital and would need surgery.  And even though her mother-in-law had mistreated her throughout her entire marriage Analuz was still concerned about her.  And she was especially concerned about her soul.  She asked me how she could help Theodora prepare for heaven.  I offered to go with her to the hospital or send a pastor, but she thought her mother-in-law wouldn't listen to a stranger.  So I coached her through how to share the gospel with Theodora and lead her in a prayer to accept Jesus Christ as her savior. 

Yesterday I saw Analuz again and asked her how things went with her mother-in-law.  She said she had shared what I had told her, and that Theodora had accepted Jesus as her savior.  Even though Theodora remains in serious condition physically, we rejoice in knowing that her soul is at peace, thanks to a daughter-in-law who did not repay evil for evil, but sought the ultimate good for her mother-in-law.