Peru - La Roca
July 26 - August 3,2007

Update 7

Well friends, we made it back safe and sound to Denver Saturday morning. On our return we our flight was over booked and two of our team member's had some trouble with their ticket numbers, so we ended up staying an extra day in Lima. No worries though, because the airline put us up in a very nice hotel and gave us each a future travel voucher. It actually turned out to be quite a blessing...to unwind and debrief somewhat as a team.

Overall, our time in Lima flew by as usual and we are looking back already at a very rewarded and fulfilling trip, not only for each of us personally, but much more importantly for God's work in Peru. The believers we worked alongside in Peru are incredibly passionate about reaching their people and nation for Christ. Each one of us felt like we had our priorities refocused and reinforced and in terms of simply loving God and loving people. As Jeff Kautz put it, "A trip like this helps you realize that there are only a handful of essentials that we really need to keep our sights on as Christians." We will pray regularly for our brothers and sisters in Peru...That God will continue to use them for his honor and the sake of the Gospel "until all the nets are full".
Thanks again to all our friends and family that helped make this trip possible. Your partnership impacted lives!

We serve a great God!
Jeff, Brandon, Michelle, Natalie and Kris

Update 6

Another day is past and the trip is now coming to a close. Some of us are anxious to return home, others would stay another week, but we all have enjoyed our time here in Peru. This morning we helped around the camp organizing supplies and preparing for our trip to Karopongo where the WorldReach Staff are attempting to plant a church. There is currently an adult bible study, youth program and children's program taking place on a weekly basis. Sounded familiar to us since that is what we are attempting to accomplish in Boulder County. The vision and compassion of the ministry team here is challenging to me. Every time I come to Peru, I am reminded of what's really important. It helps me reprioritize my life. There really are only a handful of very important things, yet I get so distracted by the circumstances of life. I once again need to simplify and focus my efforts on loving God and loving people.
We traveled to Karopongo after lunch and began recruiting for the clinic.
Around 3 pm 40-50 children had gathered with other youth and parents hanging around to see what was going to happen. Our team had prepared a drama and after a couple of hours of sport clinics we gathered the group for the drama. Alexis followed the drama with the gospel message. Because there were many adolescents standing around, we decided to challenge them to a futbol match. We played two different teams (with the help of our Peruvian friends : ). Kris gathered the youth around and shared the gospel with them using a soccer ball of many colors. It seems to be a useful tool in sharing the gospel in this culture. It is an honor to serve with my brothers and sisters here in Peru. Today will be a little sight seeing and onto the airport for our travel home. Thank you for your prayers. Continue to pray for the work of the ministry here.

The Team

Update 5:

Today was a very rewarding day for everyone! I'm going to try and take you on a time line via the pictures you see below.
We loaded up the church van with our sports equipment, sound system and plenty of help from the church family...we actually prefer to be called their helpers. This was around 9:30am. We arrived at the first neighborhood and began the set up and promotion piece of the clinic by going door to door for 30 minutes, inviting children and teens all all ages. You also can see that we need to be creative in setting up equipment like volleyball nets and soccer goals. Our campers showed up around 11am and we began the sports instruction, games and scrimmages. The church leadership and the SportReach team were thrilled to see over 50 campers participate in this neighborhood clinic. This particular neighborhood had a small group from the church that had just begun 4 months prior. The goal was to use the sports outreach as means to connecting with new families for the church small group. The longer range plan is for a daughter church to emerge in this neighborhood not too far from the mother church, Inglesia La Roca, where we hosted the family camp earlier during our stay. At the conclusion of the sports clinic, one team member from the SportReach team shared their testimony of faith in Christ and then a team member from the local church shared a clear gospel presentation using a ball of many colors (similar to a bracelet or book of many colors). It was a simple means of sharing a powerful, life changing message. Most of the children prayed a prayer of salvation along with the presenter and then small groups of 5-8 children huddled together with other local church leaders and SportReach staff to talk further about the message of the Gospel and exchanged contact information for follow-up...all geared toward extending the reach of this budding church plant. We then repeated this same clinic strategy in the afternoon at yet another location where a daughter church was in the midst of forming. As we sat down for dinner at 7:30 this evening, we thanked God for the miracle of Gospel all over again and the privilege of using sports ministry as a catalyst for for building His church!
Tomorrow will look much like today...so please pray for spiritual and physical endurance as the message of Christ is advanced!

Kris for the Team

Update 4

Greetings Amigos...
Today was a recharge day for us. We caught up on rest, laundry and a few of us even got wet in the freezing cold ocean. We toured Inca ruins near the church compound and had some Pizza Hut for supper to Michelle Brinker's delight! Tomorrow and Wednesday we will be running street clinics around the church neighborhoods...please be in prayer for open hearts and connections with new families that have not been exposed to the local church family.

See you all tomorrow!

Kris for the Team

Update 3

It was a beautiful day in Peru today. The sun came out and the sunglasses went on. It was a nice relief from the clouds and mist we have had the last couple of days.

Today was the close of family camp.We started off with a church service at La Roca. It's been a lot of fun worshipping here. Even though I don't understand most of the words I'm able to recognize some of the songs we've sung here. It was good to see the different people stand up and share what God has been teaching them from his word.

We also spent some time on the town today. We went downtown and ate some lunch and then went to the Indian market. Other than the somewhat crazy drive to and from it was a lot of fun.

Tonight we were also able to attend a wedding here at La Roca. They had a triple ceremony. It is very common here to live together without being married. It was good to see these couple commit their marriage to Christ.

We are looking forward to a day of sight seeing tomorrow before starting the street clinics on Tuesday.

Thanks, Brandon

Update 2

Today was not as chilly as yesterday and we were very thankful. Michelle and I played some great games of volleyball with the Peruvians this morning while Kris coached basketball and Jeff and Brandon coached soccer. We are getting more and more comfortable trying to talk to the people through interpreters and our little knowledge of Spanish. This afternoon they had different relay races which they call the Super Match! It was great! We tried to participate in each one. Some of the games are crazy! Michelle joined the girls soccer match along with Esther Walker, a girl who is on an internship from North Platte. This evening we had a bonfire with the Peruvians giving testimony of their faith and coming to Christ. It was a very special time. We are all really feeling a love for these people. There is so much work to be done here for Christ and we are such a small part. Thank you again for your help in getting us here and please remember to be praying for us.
Here are some prayer requests:
The sun to shine!
to build relationships quickly so we care share our faith
for the La Roca church staff, strength, perseverance, and blessing
for our families back home- we miss you!

This is my fifth time to Peru and each time I am amazed at these peoples content, their passion for the Lord. They are such an encouragement to me. Pray that we may encourage our Peruvian brothers and Sister in Christ while we work to see people come to Christ this week.
Thanks, Kris

 

Update 1

Hello friends and family up north!!

We arrived in Lima on Friday morning about 12:30am. It was raining when we arrived and have been chilled to the bone since. We were very ready to get our destination and get some rest. We began the morning getting reacquainted with the surroundings and the wonderful Peruvian people. We enjoyed our first day of family camp and a wonderful program put on by the camp that evening. We are again exhausted and ready for a good nights sleep. Tomorrow will be another busy day.

Michelle

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