August Reflections

Reading time: 2.53 minutes

Party time!

It was great to touch bases with many of you while we were in the states for the month of July, especially in the Alabama area. We made a quick stop to my folks for several days before coming back to Peru. When we arrived back on Friday, there was a surprise! The youth from the church at Jose Olaya and Efrain and Mariel,  the couple who was caring for the house while we were gone, bought lunch! It was so good to be back and enjoy time with friends here. Saturday afternoon we had a belated birthday celebration for Mariel before they moved out that evening. Sunday was a full day of church services, Monday we were finally able to catch our breath, unpack and relax a bit from our trip. 

Kitchen and love 

One of the things we decided while in the states was that moving the kitchen upstairs was a high priority because of how working in the lower one was affecting Ruth’s back and mobility. I spent much of August getting the room ready for cabinets, doing things like installing water and electrical lines in masonry walls and then re-patching them, painting walls and installing ceramic tile. I’m a little sheepish about reporting about this project because it’s not typical “mission work” and it’s for ourselves. But I received a reminder from the cleaning lady that helps Ruth. She told Ruth that it was so good to see me doing something I love and to see me doing it for my wife. I realized that this too can be a witness to those we come in contact with. 

One of my former carpentry students…

The first student for the carpentry shop has gone on to take classes for carpentry at a local vocational school. He recently asked to come help me in the afternoons! His help has been a real blessing to me and I love seeing his enthusiasm to learn more about woodworking. It also has been a great way to continue discipling and keeping that relationship going.

Ladies meeting

About two months ago we started a ladies group, where we begin with a time of fellowship, tea and refreshments before going into the regular study time. We are blessed to have Mariel and her mother, who is visiting from Venezuela, assist with the teaching. Right now we are going through the book, ‘Every Woman’s Battle’. It’s been a real eye opener for all of us and most seem to be inhaling as much information as they can. I think what has blessed me the most is seeing the women unite in fellowship and watching relationships grow. Some of these women are putting to practice what they’re hearing and are seeing an improvement in their relationships at home. -Ruth

Restrictions are finally relaxing… a little

This may not seem like a big deal to y’all but it is to us. They have started lifting Covid restrictions! – at least a little. The kids now do not have to wear masks in school and masks are now optional for outdoors! Just a little movement in lifting the restrictions gives us hope that double masks in commercial stores and vaccination cards to enter them won’t last forever.

Prayer request

Julia Sulca, neighbor and church pillar has medical issues

Prayer that our visas would come through

Thanksgiving that Ruth’s back is healing

Blessings, 

Stan & Ruth

commissioned missionaries by Good News Fellowship