“Watch to see where God is working and join Him in His work. -Henry Blackaby

Although our time in the states was primarily work, we did get some down time when we visited Austin a week in Kansas where he is working for choice books and also at my family reunion in Colorado. We flew from Denver, CO to Peru with a stopover of 5 days in El Salvador to visit Ruth’s aunt who is a native and lives there. We connected with her on a different level than before since we now can speak her language. We also learned many things that we did not know before about her life and about Ruth’s uncle Menno, who passed away in 2022. We had an enjoyable time of rest, fellowship and encouragement with each other.

We celebrated Jose Olaya Church’s first wedding ever since the +20 years since they have been meeting. Three of them happened within 3 weeks of each other! Two of the weddings were from the youth group and one was a couple that had been living together. In Peru, the state is the only entity that can legally marry, so the civil wedding usually happens first and the church wedding later. While all 3 couples are legally married, we still have 2 church weddings to celebrate sometime in the near future. We are very thankful to see God at work in these couples lives and that they want to honor God with their marriages.

While we were in the states, a men’s and a women’s ministry started up in Jose Olaya. I was especially surprised at the interest in the men’s group with many of the young men in the youth group coming also. Several men have made commitments to follow Jesus through it, including one of the men that got married in the weddings that I mentioned previously. I also took a turn in teaching on hearing the call of God in your life. Pray for this group that there would continue being a hunger for God’s Word.

The women also started a group and are meeting once a month. Ruth has been asked to help lead this group and is weighing whether to accept this or not. We also have agreed to help teach the adolescent Sunday School class. God is working in the men’s and women’s ministries. The carpentry workshop has picked up projects and also people who want to participate. I only do one workshop a week so that I have time to do other projects, study and other ministry. We have completed a cupboard for Ruth’s cleaning lady and also several sets of shelves for a close friend of mine. I have another student lined up to teach during summer school vacation from January through the first of March. There is also interest for Ruth to teach some baking classes again. God is opening opportunities to connect with others.

We consider it a privilege to be part of God’s work here. When I consider myself simply a partner in what God is doing, it takes the pressure off of performing or meeting other people’s expectations. It no longer is our work, it’s God’s work and He has invited us to be a part of it.

Please join us in prayer for:

• The new marriages
• Those who recently made commitments
• For Tiago, an 18 year old young man that recently moved to Arequipa for work.
• That God would complete the work that he has started in the men and women ministries.

Blessings,

Stan and Ruth 

commissioned missionaries by Good News Fellowship