Oops! Cheese!

After a really long day I made it home and remembered that I forgot the cheese (that is not code, I really forgot the cheese!). So I hopped back on the motorcycle, which I have been using for a couple months while we try to find a car/van/truck/something, and headed back to the market last night.

There I was on the bike, first one in line, waiting for the light to turn green, and the unbelievable part of the night begins...

All of the sudden on the corner this guy jumps on the back of another guy and starts putting his hands in his pockets trying to rob him...just some foreshadowing, thieves really drive me crazy...and I just reacted. They were about 6-8 feet from me and I just got off the bike, left it in the middle of the street, took off my helmet, and just knocked the bajizzle out of this guy. He took off running and I caught up to him and grabbed him, then from behind I hear "let him go I got a knife." So I obviously just let him go and took a quick step to the other side of a car, look back and there were two guys with something small in their hands...fortunately it was just a small folded up paper.

They took off running, I bought the cheese and headed home with a great story for the family which is in town for Chiqui's grandma's 92nd birthday today! Fun ending to a long day! And the guy I saved didn't even say thank you...just kept on walking.

2010/2011 Projects

As you can read below we are praying to be blessed with $84,000+ in money or materials to make these projects a reality. Please keep them in your prayers and pass along the word to anyone that might be interested in blessing.

We already have been blessed with a possible donor of computer PC's to expand the micro-business'.

Thank you all for your financial support, prayers, encouragement, and partnership in God's wonderful work in Tacna, Peru. You are cherished.

2010/2011 Projects

Medical Clinic $30,000+

Tacna has been blessed with a short-term missions team that comes yearly to set up two week medical clinics. The same church has taken the first step towards beginning a permanent clinic in Nueva Jerusalen, the poorest part of Tacna. Ebel is a peruvian doctor in the church and she has accepted the job to get this project moving forward. Please pray for the other 40% of the funding needed, between $30-50,000, either in materials or money.

Temple Guard Houses $15,000+

In Ciudad Nueva and especially in Nueva Jerusalen, we need to build the houses of the temple guards. They are currently living in their makeshift homes which aren't really intended to be lived in. We will need at least $15,000 to build both houses so that the families can live in better, proper houses.

Truck $15000+ or a donated truck under 5yrs old/48,000 miles

Nueva Jerusalen is located on the outskirts of Tacna and there is not public transportation to all places and during many hours. In order to get materials for any ministries the poorest of the three churches needs to pay high priced taxis. Also, many of the church members miss out on great seminars and preparation courses at two seminaries because they have no way to get to and from during night hours. In the future we envision having a farm in which the church in Nueva Jerusalen will probably be in charge of and they will also need to get back and forth.

Micro-business $18,000+/-

Hopefully Nueva Jerusalen will have a Hardware Store by the end of 2011. A micro-business will help the churches be more self-sustained, provide jobs, and better paying church employees. A hardware store would cost $18,000 to start up, but we are looking into other possibilities that could be helpful to lower the cost of ministries and also be a blessing to the community.

Micro-business Expansion $4000 or donated PC's

The success of the two current micro-businesses has encouraged us to expand the current business' to allow better pay for the workers, more income for the ministries, and lowering the running costs of the churches. We are looking to add a total of 8-10 computers.

Library in Nueva Jerusalen and Ciudad Nueva $2000+

With the blessing of having a small library in the Local Central church, the other two churches also have a desire to have the blessing of a library as well. The library has allowed many members and ministries to have books available to disciple, teach, and equip. Because we are attending a seminary here in Tacna we are allowed to get books at a discount between 35-45%. We hope to begin the two libraries with at least $1000 of books in each church.

I love the Catholics, but this is funny!

On their way to get married, a young Catholic couple are involved in a fatal car accident. They find themselves sitting outside the Pearly Gates, waiting for St. Peter to process them into Heaven. While waiting, they begin to wonder: Could they possibly get married in Heaven?

When St. Peter shows up, they ask him.

St. Peter says, 'I don't know. This is the first time anyone has asked that. Let me go and find out,' and he leaves.

The couple sits, and waits, and waits. Two months pass and the couple are still waiting. As they wait, they discuss that if they were allowed to get married in Heaven, what was the eternal aspect of it all.

'What if it doesn't work?' they wondered. 'Are we stuck together forever?'

After yet another month, St. Peter finally returns, looking somewhat bedraggled.

'Yes,' he informs the couple, 'you can get married in Heaven.'

'Great!' say the couple, 'But we were just wondering, what if things don't work out? Can we also get a divorce in Heaven?'

St. Peter, red-faced with anger, slams his clipboard onto the ground.

'What's wrong?' ask the frightened couple.

'OH, COME ON!' St. Peter shouts, 'It took me three months to find a priest up here! Do you have any idea how long it'll take me to find a lawyer?'

Prayer

Those of you who read the previous post know that another very sad moment happened in the family of a couple kids who come to church. Jose Miguel is the older brother and he is not confronting the situation and trying to act like nothing is wrong. Andres, the younger brother, is taking it harder. We visited them a couple times and they need our prayers. It is time for us to come together as a family for these children.

Please pray that they will open up to us in time and that they will find God's love and care in us.

Please pray that their mother will have work and will be able to care for them.

Pray that God's church will respond.

Urgent Prayer

Please keep the family of Jose Miguel and Andres in your prayers. On Mother's Day their parents had a big argument because the father was abusive and she kicked him out. Later in the afternoon, one of the kids found his father on the floor after he took venom...early this morning he passed away.

Suicide plagues our society here. Please pray for Jose Miguel, Andres, and their family.

Pray for Satan's stronghold to be broken by the hope of our Savior.

A couple of fun Matthew pic's

"Can someone give me a hand here?"

"What the...?"

"Anyone got the time? I'm pooped!" (aka "Benjamin Button")

"I'm from da barrio, hom's"

From the movie "A Christmas Story"

B-day

Had a great birthday on April 17th...was able to take the day off after classes, went to the pool during the afternoon, then all you can eat BBQ, and later that night went out with a few friends to a place we frecuent throughout the year. Great day of friends, family, food, and relaxation!

Supporters

One of the tests of missionaries that do not receive much support must go through from time to time is keeping the faith and not worrying when supporters drop us or lower a good amount of their support. As most of you know, both of those things happened about a month ago. We received a letter from a small church that has been struggling financially the last few years and they will no longer be able to support us at all. Within 10 days we received a letter from our main supporter letting us know that 20% of our support will be going towards new works that have much need in their area. It came as a blow to us, but as we know and many reassured us, though we may want, God will never leave or abandon us...therefore, we will never be in want.

As so it goes, we were contacted by a friend who came down a couple times the last few years with Hope Christian Church in Tustin. He has since moved to the east coast and made a contact with his church to possibly begin supporting God's work here. It is a pretty long process, but get this...later on the same day as above, this new contact emailed us. It was like hearing a soft whisper from God, "Do not worry! I will never leave you nor forsake you." Even if this doesn't happen financially, God continues to reassure us.

Then a couple of weeks ago we were contacted by a good friend who has planted a church and they are interested in supporting as well.

We are confident in the holistic vision God has given us for the community of Tacna. God has blessed us with many great supporters who also believe in the work God has called us to complete with him, and he is opening the eyes of more and more people to see his merciful and loving hand at work here.

Please pray that God would reveal to these possible supporters if it is His will or not to form these relationships. I am almost certain about one and the other one I only have a feeling that God might be making the connection. Please pray his will in these situations.