Project in Peru

My job has changed in the last six months to include JESUS Film Distribution representative. The JESUS Film is a 2 hour film on the life of Christ that has been translated into more than 950 languages. I had a great week last week in Peru last week helping to get the JESUS Film Quechua project off the ground.

Our first major hurdle for the Quechua project is personnel. To accomplish the goals of the project, i.e. to effectively reach a people group and assure the beginning of a real movement of multiplication and church planting, we need the right man to direct the project.

Both our national director, Jorge Mariaka, and our AOA Director, Rolando Justiniano, have recommended Carlos Olando. I first met Carlos 10 years ago in Colorado. He and his wife joined CCC staff about 20 years ago. He is very effective in building networks of pastors. He is very relational, and a real pleasure to work with.

Last week Carlos and I traveled to Ayacucho and Huanta in the interior of Peru to get a feel for the project. We met with several pastors in both places. They were all excited about the project and the possibility of equipping pastors and church leaders to expand the ministry.

Carlos will come to Bolivia in early January for 10 days of intensive training in the new church planting and multiplication strategy we are using. While he is here we will work on a strategic plan that will include to main objectives:

1. Saturation. This aspect of the plan will use the JESUS Film in partnership with churches to saturate the area with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

2. Pastoral equipping. The majority of pastors have no formal training. Our process includes five week-long modules that equip them in:

-Evangelism and Multiplication
-Bible Study Methods
-Building a disciple-making church
-Developing Leaders and launching disciple-making ministries
-Managing and multiplying disciple-making churches.


I also talked at length with a young Quechua man, Isaias, who works with the JESUS Film project. Isaias grew up in the Amazon area of Peru and has been on his own, away from his parents since he was eight. He has finished high school and a year in a technical institute. His dream is to become a pastor. I think he will play a key part in the plan to reach the Quechua people.

Prayer requests:
Pray for Carlos as he begins work on the project.
Pray for God’s wisdom as we work out the target population. There are many sub-groups of Quechua peoples.
Pray for a productive time planning and training in January.

Have a Merry Christmas!

Ron

Life goes on

Christmas season in Bolivia is pretty rough this year. There is a lot of uncertainty, fear and hate between different political factions. Here in Santa Cruz, our main square is filled with hundreds of hunger strikers protesting against Evo Morales and his socialist government.

Here is a link to an article from the Miami Herald about our current situation in Bolivia: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/16188677.htm


Jeanie brought 3 kids from Talita Cumi children's home back to our house to spend the weekend with us. Every year, the kids all go visit their "Tios" (aunts and uncles) so that the staff of the home can take time together for a retreat. While they were here we celebrated Cristina's 14th birthday.



Blessings,
Ron

Bad news

Sorry to report that Freddy's cow didn't recover.

Ron

This weekend I met a neighbor. Freddy and his wife Yovanna have two kids and 11 cows. One of their cows was "down" on the field across from our house. She had not gotten up for a couple of days. I mentioned to Freddy that I have a friend, Bill, who is a large animal veterinarian. He works with Christian Veterinary Mission out in the campo.

Freddy came to my gate at 7 a.m. the next morning and asked me to bring Bill to take a look at the cow who was still down. To lose this cow would be to lose a huge asset for Freddy and his wife. He had been sitting with the cow for a couple of days. They had built a tent over her to protect her from the sun. He had been cutting grass and hand feeding her, but she could not stand.

Bill came over and gave her a couple of IV's and a vitamin injection, but he was not very hopeful. Andrew and I stood and watched. After Bill finished we all stood and prayed for the cow and for Freddy and his family.