What would you do if the government stepped in and told you that you no longer could take your children to church?  That is what happened this past June at Mi Refugio Children’s Home in Peru.  Mi Refugio has taken the kids from the children’s home to the local La Roca church in Nauta on a regular basis ever since it opened eight years ago.  Nauta is the closest sizable town about 12 miles away.  The younger kids would go on Saturday and be part of the Awana Club.  The older children from the home would attend the youth activities at the church on Saturday evening and go along to church on Sunday morning.  Now this has been stopped by the government – but God is working!  The home responded by starting an Awana Club at Mi Refugio and opening it up to the locals.  Over 60 kids attended the first club meeting!  God is using this trial to reach more kids and to start a new work at Mi Refugio while the Awana Club and youth ministry continue in Nauta.

 

Charlie and Esther have been with the home since it opened.  Last week Charlie spoke with people in the local village close to Mi Refugio about this need of the kids going to church.  God moved in the village and they called a meeting.  Together they decided to donate some land to build a church!  The land they donated is large enough to also have an Awana field on it for its activities.  Now the kids at Mi Refugio will have a church to attend and a new church in a new area will be planted!  Charlie has agreed to lead this new church in the local village that is close to Mi Refugio.

 

Now all three couples who are caretakers at Mi Refugio are also leading churches.  Dennis and Margarita lead the church at San Joaquin.  Israel and Cynthia lead the church at Nauta. Charlie and Esther will lead the new church plant.