Alpaca, Vicuna – their evidence is everywhere. Very beautiful, in your face and very expensive. Vicuna, a near extinct Camelid, yields the most luxurious fibre in the world. It is the “Real gold of the Andes”

Our search in Peru was for Pure Gold – gold that lasts for eternity.

We found it! Not in the airport shopping malls or tourist centres but in the hearts of men, women, boys and girls. People, who have come to faith in Jesus Christ, through the Spirit blessing the preaching and through your support and prayers. During our recent visit we found much to excite and encourage us and lots to praise God for. Your prayers are being answered and your support so greatly appreciated. The church at Simon Bolivar is in great heart. God is at work. Please keep praying.

THE MAN WHO NEVER SANG

Pastor Ronny and Anthony are greatly encouraged, especially by the emergence of at least two men, who show considerable promise for the future. Adolfo and Alfredo. These two men have come to faith in recent years and are zealous for the Lord and His church. Adolfo works long hours as a taxi driver. His “Tico” is a pulpit on wheels! He gives out tracts and testifies to all who ride with him. As an unbeliever he would never sing, not even in the army! Now he leads the congregation in worship and in song. Alfredo, a younger man, was saved at a church camp. His daughter “pestered” him and his wife to go to church. A “little child led them” and now they too are keen to serve the Lord and His church. He works in the construction industry and could be a key man in the next phase of the work.

Pray for Adolfo and Alfredo that they will grow in the Lord. Pure gold!

OUTREACH – A ROCKY AFFAIR

Puquina is only thirty miles away but it takes four hours to get there! The dirt track is rough and full of rocks and holes. The pain and patience needed to endure is amply rewarded. Along this remote Andean ridge (3109m absl) sits a small village housing less than 4000 people. The JW’s have been - and gone! A Grace Baptist Church sits prominently at the top of the village and can be seen for miles around. It is this area that was so devastated during the 2001 earthquake. Through your generous support 37 houses and achurch were built. Antonio greets us warmly, gospel music is blaring out from a loudspeaker like a call to worship. This one time village drunk has the building open, spotlesslyclean and ready for worship. “Oh how the grace of God amazes me, it loosed me from my chains and set me free”. Ronny goes once a week to minister but a Peruvian pastor is urgently needed. Pray for Antonio he needs help. Pure gold!

San Pedro sits on a “gravel” outcrop on the western edge of the city. This place defies gravity. The dwellings are a modern day parable of the foolish man who built his house on the sand! Here you will find, every Saturday afternoon, in the local Social Centre, 50/60 children all learning God’s word. Mid week Ronny holds a Bible study in one of the homes and then each Sunday morning makes his way there to collect about sixteen people and bring them to Simon Bolivar. On Sunday evening some of the ladies take a hazardous bus journey across the city, just to be in worship. Pray for Tomasita and Lucresia, two faithful ladies, who, against considerable odds love the Lord with all their heart.  Pure gold!

A RISING GENERATION ?

The church currently has a good nucleus of teenagers. They heldtheir week end conference whilst we were there. Seventeen attended. They are just like teenagers everywhere but many are deadly serious about their faith. They face many pressures but are really keen to live godly lives before their peers. They ask serious questions and acknowledge the hurdles that lie ahead if they want to make progress academically or in employment. Can this generation stay in the church and be part of the next generation of workers? Pray that the country will remain economically stable so that upon graduation or completion of apprenticeships they willfind work in the city. They talked about, in the future, using their degree/training for the benefit of the church.

Pray for Eddy, Amy, Daisy, Juan and Leopoldo. Pure gold!

WE NEED A ROOF ?

The present church building is too small so they have to meet outside, under the sun. The building is in an excellent location, main road frontage and surrounded by what will become a major housing development. Plots of land are being bought up around them. The potential to reach a growing community is huge. The purchase of an area of land is being finalised, initial sketch designs have been drawn up and a local architect instructed. The plans include the refurbishment of the existing building to give improved toilet, kitchen and classroom facilities. These new proposals are essential and will contribute to the future development of the work. When complete, men’s, women’s and youth residential conferences can be held. Also, in the future, the new premises could give scope for a mature man and wife to join the work and run Bible study courses and influence men in the wider Arequipa area. Pray that the Lord will continue to bless and consolidate this work so that in time the church will then develop its own missionary vision.

The church is grateful to all who have helped them get this far with the building and land purchase. The church in Southport will soon be setting up a building fund and once all the details are available will be notifying all supporters with information on how they might contribute to such a fund.

Looking for a secure investment? Here is one. Pure gold!

Please continue in prayer that the Lord will keep Anthony, Roxy, Ronny and Rocio in good health and faithful in reaching out to Peruvians, lost and without hope. They are digging deep. Pure gold is there!

“Where can wisdom be found?”…“the deep says ‘it is not in me’; the sea says ‘it is not in me’. It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor its price be weighed in silver. Job 28 v12 -15

Yours together in the work of Christ

Trevor Condy (Southport), Peter Logie (GBM Council)