Walk in newness of life

I love to read.

I'm always reading while I'm nursing the baby. She's grown accustomed to reaching out with her hand to feel the book that I'm reading while she's nursing. She especially loves the sound my Bible makes as she crinkles the thin pages. I've been reading in Romans lately. The day I started Romans 6, I was reading between Nala's sweet little baby fingers feeling all over the page. It was such a picture of what I read:

"Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." Romans 6:4

I read the last part right between Nala's fingers. It was an image of our life with the Lord. She is walking in newness of life. Everything is new and fascinating to her. She sees everything with such joy and interest. We should walk that way with Christ, with excitement over His word, seeing the good in people, loving them, hoping for them.

It was a sweet morning with the Lord.

New chairs for the church

We bought some new chairs from Jaime (Calvary Chapel Pastor in Canete). We are starting with 20 chairs and we will get new ones when we need them. They fit great in the space and we still have room to add a few more.

Americo holding the new toilet we bought. We can't install it yet because the water shut off valve is broken. They are repairing it this week and we should be able to put in the new toilet and sink.

Donal Watson came from Brentwood, TN to help out around the church in Surco. He came to Ica with us with plans to change out the toilet but that didn't happen because of the shut off valve. This is a terrible picture of Donal, he looks like he hasn't slept in 10 days.

Donal taught the Bible study in the evening and we were all very blessed. I translated for the first time (first time to translate a whole message) and all went well. Praise God!!

Resurrection Beach service

This past Sunday we had a special Resurrection service of the beach. We had a great time celebrating the ressurection of Jesus and the new life he has given us. OHHH PRAISE HIM!!

To get up so early in the morning Nala had to have her morning coffee. She is just like daddy.

The girls always fight over who gets to hold Nala.

The kids were content playing in the sand in their church clothes.



About 35-40 people came out to enjoy the beach and the majesty of the Lord's creation.

Tracy, Ricardo and David blessed us with some sweet worship.

Three people got baptized in the ocean.


Then we enjoyed a time of breaking the bread as a family. We ate sandwiches and shared some with others on the beach.

Then we went back to the church for our normal Sunday service followed by some nice fellowship and some more breaking of bread together. Why is it when we celebrate that we eat so much food?

Liam turns 5

A New Little Church Building

Yeah! We found a little church building. It is small, it will hold about 20-24 folding chairs. The Lord has lead us here and He has a purpose. We will be very centrally located and easy to find. The location need some work, which we will do over the coming weeks.

This is the face of the building. The owner said we can paint a sign on the door and hang a banner on or above the window.

This is the inside which will serve as the small sanctuary. We feel like about 6 rows of 4 folding chairs each will fit inside.

This is a small room that we will use for kids ministry. It's about 9ft by 9ft.

This is the bathroom. We are going to change the toilet and sink for a new one and clean up and paint everything. We will probably begin service here sometime in the beginning of May. Please pray for the work that needs to be done here.

Update on the ministry in Los Pollitos

Ana (blue pants)

About two weeks ago I posted an update saying that for certain unspoken reasons we were not having Bible studies in Los Pollitos at this time. Well after some time of prayer we are back in Los Pollitos, we have decided to change the ministry for now, to just reading once a week with Ana only. We feel that it isn't wise at this time to invite others to the this study. Please pray for Ana and the work the Lord is doing in her life, she is under a great spiritual attack and needs your prayers.

You can also pray for us as we consider beginning a Bible study for the community of Los Pollitos in a small wooden building that the community has offered to let us use for free. We don't want to start because an opporunity exist, we want to hear directly from the Spirit that this is from Him and not of our own makings. Please keep this in your prayers also.

Small wooden building, possibility for Bible study

The Hunt Continues

Well we had a meeting, we made an offer and it was denied. We prayed that the Lord would close the door if it was not from Him and He did, but that is not always easy. I was looking forward to being done with looking for a house. It is very difficult to look, because that means leaving Tracy and the kids alone for several days and staying in hotels or with other people. It means walking the streets day and night looking and praying. It means more time in Lima and more time before we get to move to Ica and minister more directly with the flock there. I realize that through it all Christ will be glorified and that His provision is always better than ours. Continue to pray for us, I stuggle greatly with patience.
Robin

Housing update

We continue to look for a house in Ica. We have some prospects, but they are a little more expensive than we originally budgeted. We know that the Lord will and has provided for our family in miraculous ways, so we wait for His confirmation. We are trying to have a meeting with a lady today or tomorrow to negociate a price on a very nice house, that is located very close to the downtown area and that would be excellent for the church and for our family. It is also excellent for receiving missions teams. It has three floors. The first floor we would use as the church. It has a large open living room/dining room area that opens with double doors to a patio, it also has a small guest bathroom. This would be the sanctuary area. It would seat about 40 or 50 maybe more. The upstairs has 4 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. We would be able to use this area to live in as a family and still have one room to use as children's ministry room. The upstairs has a laundry area an outside patio area to hang clothes and two rooms that could be used for office space and/or homeschooling and would also be great when teams come to stay.

We currently have a team coming to visit May 19-29 and then again in July some friends of ours from Boynton are planning a small trip to see the ministry. We also have a young teenage girl who will come to serve with us for about 4 or 5 weeks in July/August. We are very excited about all of these opportunities. Will you please pray with us for the Lord's will for us with this house.

The end of furlough...

The last days in Florida...

My mom came over a few times. It was nice to spend some time with her. The kids love hanging out with Nana!

Dan and Kathy Whisman had a pot luck over at their house for us. Marcelo and Angelica were there. They are planning on coming down to Peru with Dan and Kathy in July. Thanks for having the potluck Dan and Kathy!!

Missionaries... Chris Baran (left) was a missionary in Russia in the 90's. He and his wife, Tomara are called to go back to the field. They are going to Zambia (in Africa) to see if it is the place for them. Mike Jones (middle) grew up a missionary kid in Brazil. Good conversation.

Tomara was also a missionary in Russia in the 90's. Pray for them as they visit Zambia. They are leaving their 4 kids here as they go for 3 weeks.

Me and Dawn. I love that crazy lady!!!

We shared our last Sunday in Calvary Boynton, our home church. Here's Cassy at breakfast at the church. She's coming to Peru to stay with us for a couple of weeks in July. We're so excited for her to come.

Robin eating a wonderful bagel. Yum! Dominick holding the famous Nala.

Ha. This day was my birthday. Dominick did up the van for us. It was awesome!

Zach came out to say goodbye to us. Liam just can't pass up making a goofy face for a picture.

Well, we had a great time in the states. I didn't take pictures of so many good friends. Too busy talking I suppose. Thanks, Chris so much for letting us totally mess up your house. It was a huge blessing. We'll see you guys!!!!!!!!!

Furlough part 4...

So we visited Brian Thacker. He invited their church over for pizza and fellowship time. It was nice to see some old friends and share what's going on in Peru.

Kilaine with Eden, one of the Thacker tribe.

We had dinner with Philip and Lia LaRue. It was so good to see them and eat Lia's delicious Shepherd's Pie!!!

Baby Callina with Nala. I think that was the first time Nala ever looked big! She is 3 months older, though. Callina looks like a little moviestar!

While in Tennesse, we stayed with family. All the cousins got together in a line up.

We shared at Calvary Brentwood. This is a part of the slideshow. One of the pictures from when Robin went to Cusi, a remote place in the mountains to bring relief after the earthquake in August, 2007.

Didn't know I had my own city...

This is for my peruvian friends. You just don't see this in Peru! Crazy!

Esto es para mis amigos peruanos. No se ve eso en el Peru! Loco!

And back in Florida. Another recording session with David. It was good to relax a little and just hang out.

and record. =)

Robin and the kids were having their own jam session in the backyard at Chris's house. I snuck up and heard the rapping... hilarious.

Update on Ica

Please pray for Ana and the study in Los Pollitos. For now we have had to stop the study in her house. Please pray that the Lord would lead us in how to minister to her. We are looking into the possibility of starting a study in a public building in Los Pollitos, please pray about this with us as well. Maybe through this Ana will feel comfortable enough to return to the study. We don't want to do anything outside of the Lord's will.

The evening study is still doing well and it was good to be with the flock again. We had a blessed time worshiping together. Please pray as we begin to go through many changes as a small body of believers. Also pray for a few of the young adults who have stopped coming in the last few months. Pray that Christ would do a work in their hearts and bring them back to His throne of grace.

Robin

Looking for a house in Ica

Since we have returned we have been on the search for a house in Ica. We need your prayers. There is almost nothing in our price range right now, all that we have been able to see are houses for double what we have to pay. We are trusting in the Lord to provide a place at a reasonable price as the end of our current contract is nearing. Please be in prayer with us.

part 3

Well, most of my pictures are driving pictures, because I usually forgot to take pictures when we were visiting places. More involved in relationshiping with people, I guess. Or chasing 3 kids. Something like that...

On the way to Terre Haute, IN

Robin and Pastor Dave Hole talking. They are going to come and visit us in May in Ica. Looking forward to having them come. They'll be our 1st official team to recieve.

God made, man made

Yet another contrast between God and man...

Rolling plains of Indiana.

Heading down to Tennessee.

That's frozen water. Little waterfalls on the side of the road that froze. It was pretty cold in Tennessee!

We stayed with Daniel and Dixie, Robin's cousin. He's getting started out in the music world.

A moment of rest and reading to the kids.

We shared in Murfreesboro, TN. It was great to see Pastor Phillip Frensley. Robin taught the service. I just love their heart for missions.

I was just loving the beauty of the sunsets, the skies, and the trees. I love this part of the country.

Furlough part 2...

We shared on a Sunday at Calvary Jacksonville with Pastor Keith Pintar and Trip and Susan Kimball. It was great talking with the Kimballs. I got to sit and just talk to Susan for a while, so nice.

We went to South Carolina next and stayed a couple days with Robin's parents.

Robin's dad

While in South Carolina we visited Calvary Chapel Aiken with Pastor Bob Aiken. Here's his sweet wife hanging out with Nala.

driving, driving, driving,

fun in the van

Beautiful skies. I love the skies.

This is how it feels to be on furlough sometimes. =)

We spent the night in Kentucky with Robin's sister. This is Kenzie with Nala. She's the oldest cousin.

on the road again...

entering Indiana

Just had to post this. Factories. I don't think you see any of this in Peru.

Brrr... it was really cold. 27 degrees Farenheit. We saw some flurries that morning. This is on the way to visit Calvary Chapel Terre Haute in Indiana.

Sunrise