Can we slow the year down? We are already 1/12th of the way though! Our year started very busy with services at both churches. The church at Jose Olaya had a regular service while Esperanza de Vida had a service that lasted until midnight, with worship, testimonies and prayer. And as usual, at midnight the skies of Arequipa erupted with fireworks for about half an hour.

The political unrest that started the first part of December restarted after a holiday truce. Before it restarted in earnest, I planned a quick trip back to the states to take care of some business while Ruth stayed here in Peru. The protest seemed to be a little worse the day before I left so I opted to take an early flight and have a long layover in Lima. I got out of Arequipa fine but it was a different story when I returned. While I was gone, the airport in Arequipa was overrun by rioters again. Land routes also had been blocked so a bus ticket wasn’t an option either. I ended up staying in Lima for 4 days until I could get a flight back.

Jose, Josef, Stan, Viviana, Hilda

I spent time in Lima with the Jose Vera family, relatives of Pastor Willie’s wife. Their hospitality was impeccable and I really enjoyed getting to know them and their cell group that they help lead. Great christian family serving the Lord in Lima!

While I was gone, Ruth kept busy with dentist appointments, fundraisers for summer camp (it’s summertime here), and leading the lady’s Bible study group here in Arequipa. One day was a little frightful for her. She went shopping in the morning but by mid day the roads getting back to our house were all blocked with protesters! She ended up walking the rest of the way, through the blockades to get to our house.

The last Sunday of January we held a baptism in Yumina, a spring about an hour’s drive away. Though it’s the rainy season, the rain held off that day until the baptism and the fellowship meal were over. Five people were baptized, confessing that the reason for this decision was that they had “decided to follow Jesus.” In this catholic culture, to believe in Jesus and go to a christian church is one thing, but to be baptized is another with some being ostracized for their commitment to Jesus.

Lucy, Marina, Fausto, Reina, Valdimir, three generations baptized.

• Please pray for this family of five that made this decision.
•  Pray for both churches: Christians in Action -Jose Olaya, and La Esperanza de Vida as they grow and mature in faith.
• Please pray also for the Summer Camps that have had their schedules interrupted because of the protest.

Blessings, 

Stan & Ruth

commissioned missionaries by Good News Fellowship