Well, we are back home for a little while anyway! We just finished up with a GREAT trip. A group from the South Carolina Baptist Convention came to provide medical treatment and counseling and widespread gospel sharing. We spent a day in Cansejos...

A camp of about 20-25 tents for the victims of a recent mudslide that completely destroyed this small town. Dr. Mark said that some of the older people had probably never had medical attention their whole lives. One young boy decided it was safer in the tree than seeing that doctor- poor fellow. We should have told him we weren't giving shots...

Even in the midst of suffering, these people showed their characteristic hospitality. After we had visited everyone, 2 men took us up to the hydrangea fields. Yes, fields of hydrangeas that they are growing to export to the US. He insisted on stopping to pick us "a few" and came back looking like this...

I think I might have swooned a little at these blooms:)

We were also blessed during the day seeing a group from Huanuco with our friend Edwin minister to the kids- they did a phenomenal job!

The next day- we enjoyed worshiping in the town of Ambo- site of the another tremendous mudslide that has left hundreds homeless and over 70 dead. We joined the congregation of the Alianza church and had a sweet time with them. After lunch we moved to one of the camps and shared the gospel and provided tent to tent medical attention. These days were challenging and sad, but joyful in being able to share the hope we have in Christ with these hurting people.

Monday was a travel day to Huancayo where we spent the night. The next morning we went to San Jose de Quero to minister there for 2 days. In this rural community, the house call method was more challenging and time consuming. But all around it was very effective. We know now where folks live and how to find them to check back up on them. We had a number of people pray to receive Christ and a full Bible study Wed. night.

One of my favorite stories is Elizabeth's mom. Elizabeth is a young mother we've developed a relationship with in de Quero. We stopped by to visit her and she asked if the team could see her mother who lived in a different town 15 minutes away. We agreed and picked up Eli. and her 3 kids later that afternoon. Her mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer 14 years ago and had been living in fear of "death any day now" from it. The doctor was able to assure her that she did not have cancer and this relief opened her heart and she prayed to receive the Lord. What a blessing:)

We heard some sad stories these few days too. Please be praying for a 91 yr old lady who is still traumatized by the terror of the Shining Path, her murdered husband and disfigured daughter as a result of their terrorism. Also please pray for a young 8 year old boy who had fractured his thigh and received insufficient medical attention. He is now dealing with infections in his leg and chest due to being bed ridden. He has also become withdrawn and rarely will speak. Pray for his total healing.

This volunteer team was one of the very best I've ever worked with. They were truly hard working, servant minded and were a huge encouragement to us!

We welcomed a team from Crossroads Baptist Church to Huanuco yesterday. Today they headed out for a pastor's training in Panao- where we will join them later in the week.

But for the next few days we are going to kick back and catch up and sleep!

A piece of good news... we heard that there is a very high likelihood that we will be extended for another year! Thanks for praying about that for us!

Hey there! I'm writing this in between batches of muffins and cookies- Cameron's Bakery is open today folks! Actually I am getting ready for a team coming into Huanuco this evening. This is a medical and evangelism team that is coming to serve in Consejos & Ambo- locations very near Huanuco that have recently suffered from devastating landslides. Hundreds of people are living in tents, having lost everything. We won't spend more than a day in each location, but we are hoping to encourage and help the best we can in that time. We have been told that the greater need will surface in 2 weeks when government aid pulls out. David and I will re-evaluate needs at that time and plan accordingly. After the 2 days here, we'll head out to San Jose de Quero to work for a few days as well.

Maruja's hostal will definitely be our second home this summer, well ok, maybe our first home and our apartment will be our second home.:)
We actually just got back from San Jose, where we spent a great week discipling, leading and participating in Bible studies and teaching in the schools a little.

Going there is always an encouragement to us- its the kind of place you can just go walking around and not worry about safety or unfriendly people.

Anecdote: We went to visit Rosa, Maruja's mother. She and her husband live outside of town a ways. Eugenio usually rides his horse to the store to see us, but he was visiting in another town when we came calling. Rosa was standing in her doorway, hand on hip, peering out to see who the group of gringos was. She welcomed us warmly as always. I'm always taken aback at how short she is. I swear she only comes up to my rib cage! SO tiny- we could just pack her up in a bookbag and carry her around. I'll bet she'd love that! She always invites us in her house which is a big deal culturally, not at all common. We came in and sat down and Rosa began show and tell. We started with her football sized potatoes, which she insisted on giving us a bag of. Then she brought in an apron full of abas, beans that is, which she promptly put in the potato bag, insisting that it was only a few. It was more than a few. Then she tried to give us some of her freshly sheared- yet unwashed wool. Thankfully, we convinced her not to give us that. But she did show us how to spin with nothing but your fingers. In about 10 seconds she produced a string of yarn nearly a foot long. She then showed us old photos she had, one of her as a young woman- probably early 20s, her brother and a few others. That was really special. She is 78 years old, sharp as a tack. She remembered a joke she made back in January and added to it this time. She sent us on our way with detailed instructions on which way to go to avoid the mud and huge smiles for all of us. Rosa and I have the same hat. I love that.

The next, oh I don't know, 5 months are going to be a little crazy, but we are excited about upcoming trips.

Please pray for us:

As we still seek an extension,

Keep up with logistics for teams,

Ministry for the summer,

That our current renters will renew their lease or we will find new renters without missing a month

Thanks so much to all of you, we miss you and love you. Keep us updated on whats going on with you! We love hearing from folks back home or wherever this finds you!