We are now back in Lima and tonight we head to the airport to fly back to the States. We had a great time the last few days as we visited with Carlos G. and with Javier C.

Carlos teaches at the seminary in Sullana (shown above) and pastors a church in one of the most dangerous parts of town. In talking with him and in hearing him share about his church it was evident that he has a genuine love for the people with whom he is working. This is him in the blue/gray shirt in the picture to the right. It was also great to see at his church a group of young men that are being trained as leaders and that have sensed the Lord calling them into ministry.

Javier is probably one of our busiest missionaries. He teaches at the seminary and pastors. In addition to this, his church runs a program through Compassion and his church has just started a Christian school. Cassie and I had a great visit with Javier and his family which not only included two church services but also a trip to the beach.

Both Carlos and Javier are working in difficult places. In the case of Carlos, as I said, he works in a very dangerous area. In the case of Javier, he lives and works in a place where there is still no running water (you can see one of the neighborhood watering holes in the picture below). Please pray for the Lord to give each of these men the grace to press on in their respective ministries. Pray also that the Lord would help them to be wise with their time so that they can also be good husbands and fathers.

The internet here has gotten progressively slower and less reliable, so this may be my last post from Sullana. Yesterday I was able to meet with Miguel C. He is pastoring at a church in the mountains close to Sullana and he is also involved as a leader in his association. The people in his area have suffered a great deal because of a drought last year, but they seem to be recovering.

Today Cassie and I are meeting with Gloria M. She teaches Spanish and grammar classes at the Seminary. She also is involved in ministry to women and children through her church here in Sullana.

Both Miguel and Gloria have had some health problems recently. Please pray for each of them.

Our class on Mark has gone well and we have had some good question and answer times. Saturday, we will go to Carlos G.'s church and Sunday to the church where Javier C. is pastoring. Please pray for us to have endurance for this last part of the trip.

Yesterday Cassie and I met with Benjamin C.  and his wife Mari. Benjamin is involved in several ministries. He is a professor at the seminary in Sullana, he and his wife are the dorm-parents at the seminary, he is the professor for one of the locations of the Seminary by extension, he is the pastor of a church plant in Sullana, and he helps out with the construction work at the seminary. Please pray for Benjamin to have the strength to continue doing what the Lord has called him to do.

Today I met with Gilberto N. and I was again (just as I was last August) encouraged by our time together. Gilberto continues to serve as a pastor and an associational missionary for an association of 45 churches. Most of all I was encouraged to hear of the unity and the harmony between the churches that Gilberto works with. It truly is a group of churches that is working together to see the Gospel spread in its area. This is particularly encouraging to me; to see a group of churches in the same area working together for the Gospel rather than in competition with one another.

Also today, we began our class on the book of Mark. I am teaching the same material that I taught in Lima. In addition to our missionaries (I think that 8 of them will have been in attendance for at least part of the class here) there are some other local pastors and seminary students attending the classes.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010
The view out one of the windows of the place we are staying (a home located on the seminary grounds)

Digging deep in the Word with the adult Sunday school class at Angel C.'s church. We studied Psalm 67 - a missionary Psalm.  Let the nations be glad!

One of the main streets leading into the city of Sullana