October 30, 2002

 

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

 

     Greetings in the name of our precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  We praise the Lord Jesus for having so wonderfully blessed us and for having sent his Holy Spirit to guide and teach us. We hope and pray that He has been blessing you wonderfully and that your life has been filled with His grace.  Thank you for your continued prayers for us and support of the ministry here in Peru.  We definitely see the results of you praying for us.  You are special people called by our Lord Jesus Christ to minister to His children.  Thank you for your faithfulness to His calling.  Thank you for your love for Him, for us, and for His children.

 

     It was back to traveling again in October.  Fortunately the children had a week break from school and the family was able to travel with Arthur on one of the trips.  This trip was down to the low jungle to plan for some of the work for next years teams.  We visited San Martin de Pangoa to plan for a medical mission team from Kentucky and Puente Paucartambo to evaluate an existing structure and the ability to complete it next year.  We also had the chance to visit with Ernesto and Ana Flores.  They are the pastoral family in Satipo and good friends.  Arthur had to travel to Lima twice, once to start the visa process for two new missionary families that will be coming to work in Peru and once to bring the Mobile Medical Clinic back to Huancayo.  Arthur had enough time in Lima to find two new pair of blue jeans that would actually fit him, so now he has no excuse for continuing to wear the old ones with the holes.

 

 

Town Square in San Martin de Pangoa

 

 

Members of the church in Puente Paucartambo preparing lunch for our visit with them.

 

     The Mobile Medical Clinic arrived in Lima in December 2001.  Ivar and Andy Quinsland, short term missionaries with the Mission Society worked for several months to get the Mobile Clinic out of customs.  The unit was finally released duty free in March 2003.  Since that time the Quinslands have been working to acquire the license plates and other papers and documents that were need to move the Mobile Clinic on the public roads.  This month we were able to bring it to Huancayo where hopefully within the next month the church will be trained to use it and it will be put into service.  The concept is so new and the idea so big that there is much fear among the leadership of the church here.  Please pray that the enemy will not be able to use this to cause delays and obstacles to this ministry.  This wonderful blessing has also place additional responsibility on us to raise funds for operation and find sources of medicines.  Please pray that the Lord will bless this ministry.

 

 

 

         ...yesterday I talked with Erica for 5 hours or more.  She finally decided to be on our side and leave behind the worldly life that tortured her so much.  It was a conversation where I firmly felt the presence of demonic powers at work.  Erica attacked me constantly, but finally the power of our Lord Jesus Christ won.  Erica's cell phone rang many times and interrupted our conversation.  I waited patiently for her to return.  One time she returned and handed me the phone.  It was a man who angrily questioned me about why I wanted to be Erica's friend.  I responded simply, because the Lord called me to be.  The phone continued to ring, but Erica did not answer it any more.  She decided to separate herself from her worldly friends and her worldly life.  She realized that we really love her and that she is of great value to us and the Lord Jesus.  She decided that she did not want to look back and that you and I and all of us are here to truly support her and help her.  I will not leave her without help.  I will be her shadow, because I truly want to win for the Lord Jesus.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  Jesus gave me the exact words I needed to win Erica's confidence and persevere until the end.  I want her worldly friends to know that finally Erica is surrounded by persons who really love her and hopefully they too will decide to join us.  I do not intend to allow them to cause any more damage to Erica.  Thank you, brother, for all that you have taught me.  I was finally able to put it into practice.   

  

     Again we want to thank you for all your support and prayers.  Please continue to pray for the church here in Peru. Please pray for our discipleship groups and the attacks against them.  Please pray for the children and young people that are part of the ministries here, for the tension in the churches, and for the church leaders.  Pray for the Lord to enable us to train more church leaders, cell pastors, and church pastors. Please pray for the leaders of the church here:  Bishop Marco Ochoa, and District Superintendents Jose Bustamante and David Figueroa.  Please pray for our safety as we travel, our continued adjustment and ability to understand the Peruvian culture, and that we will boldly speak God's Word wherever we go.  We pray that God is drawing you closer and closer to Him every day. 

 

    God bless you.  We love you.

 

 

                                                                                                                           Yours in Christ,

                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                           Arthur, Mary Alice, Benjamin, Joshua, and Mary Beth Ivey

                                                                                                                               & nbsp;    Missionaries to Peru