Mission Update

Friends and Family,

I love you so much. This last week has been one of hard, and I mean hard labor,
as well as a time of evangelism and mission work. We picked up 4 individuals
from all over the states last Saturday and headed to a city about the population
of Spokane, which is 3 hours by bus south of Lima. It was hit very hard in the
August earthquake. We went to help out a church called Iglesia Emanuel, the
pastor’s home as well as church was shook up pretty bad. Almost all of the
buildings were made of adobe, pretty much hardened dirt. And when the quake
happened the houses fell apart. We worked at the church for two days helping
disassemble and clean up Pastor Dessy’s home, as well as adjacent classrooms
(he has a program with Compassion International feeding and teaching 150+
children 3 days a week). When that project was finished, we went to another
neighborhood of a Pastor who just started a sister church less then 1 month
ago. It took him 4 years to build a simplistic adobe home, and in 2 minutes it was
almost completely destroyed. We spent two days cleaning his home, as well as
helping out some neighbors. The government is trying to help, but the
devastation is going to take a lifetime to rebuild. The most help people
receive is from the outside. So, if their home is destroyed, they have to
rebuild it themselves. So, think of a single mom, or an elderly person, or a
husband who drives a taxi 16 hours a day to provide for his family, take being
the poorest of the poor, and now everything you have is gone. And on top of
that, looters take what little you have. And now it is up to you to not only
make ends meet, but build a new home. Everyone here is also taking advantage of
the situation. So where as before water was 14 soles, now it is 30. And where a
grass roof was 5 soles a section, it is now 20+. I hope you are getting the
picture that life here is hard, and very often depressing for these people.

After working in the 2nd neighborhood (Pastor Nestor’s), our leader Bob
suggested that we do some door to door evangelism. After discussing this, the
following day, we prayed together and broke into three teams, each team having
a translator. My team consisted of Bob Cooley (the missionary down here), and
another Bob (in his 50’s and from Michigan), as well as Pastor Dessy’s oldest
son, who was our translator. We went to the first ‘tent’ and talked with the
lady, asking her where she was when the earthquake hit, and how we could pray
for her. They are ready to accept prayer, and most of them are eager to receive
forgiveness, and say the sinner’s prayer. But, it is also necessary that they
hear and know the consequences of sin, and how there is a gap that it creates
between us and God. And also that it requires actions of obedience, and their
must be a heart change. We explained this to her, and she said she would think
about it.

After meeting with her, we went to another house where most of the adobe walls
but two sides had fallen, and there were tarps around where adobe was missing,
and a grass roof. The radio was playing and after knocking, she was not coming.
I was just about to recommend we move on when a woman, most likely in her late
20’s early 30’s came to the ‘door.’ We started asking her where she was in the
earthquake, how many kids she had, ect. She invited us to come in, and showed
us what was left of her humble abode. She started to explain that she was
fearful of looters, and had not really left her house in a year. Her husband
works alot, and her two sons (like 7 and 8 years old) are in the Highlands
living with her sister, so they can go to school. The schools are shut down for
the most part in Chincha because there are no buildings. Her beautiful two year
old daughter, Melanie, was lying on the bed, with no bottoms on. As I was
listening to her I began to get a real sense of hopelessness and depression
that was consuming this lady. I asked her if she knew someone who could take
her fears away, and she stated that she prayed to a little shrine everyday.
Obviously that was out of fear too! The Holy Spirit began to speak through me,
and I began talking about a Gentleman who so desires to take all our
worries away. God began to manifest himself in that one room house! His
presence was so real, that we both saw so clearly our desperateness without Him.
She was so lonely without her sons, and wanted so badly for things to be okay.
But, when she heard that it was not necessary to be gripped with fear, and that
Someone wanted to be her comfort, her provider and companion, she readily
accepted Him!! Both of us were crying at the overwhelming love God has for us!
We felt compelled to give her money to purchase a ticket to see her two sons in
the Highlands. I have tasted and seen that God is Good! How much He desires for
each one of us to let Him be our all-in-all!! By the way, her name is Victoria!

We encouraged Victoria, as well as the others we talked to, about the
importance of joining a church, and being in fellowship with other believers.
We gave them flyer’s for Pastor Nestor’s church, and encouraged them to come
that night. I did see Victoria there that night, leaving her house for the
first time!!

The following day we went to a town called Tambo de Mora, which is apart of
Chincha. The devestation there is way worse. Water filled the town, about two feet
deep, 30 minutes before the quake. What was once a cute happy town, is now
devastated, nothing is fixable. We went back to the main town and bought 400
pounds of rice, blankets, and Bibles. We distributed bags of rice, and blankets
to the people of Tambo de Mora, and the Bibles to Nestor’s neighborhood.
Something so little, that brought so much to many. On Saturday we went back to
Nestor’s neighborhood to work a little, as well as pass out the Bibles.
Victoria found us working, she was clean, dressed up, as well as her daughter.
She had told me that her daughter saw the Gringo’s coming in the van, and came
running after me, and when I didn’t see her she was utterly disappointed. So I
picked her up, twirled her around, and gave her the biggest kiss! What a
transformation, even for a little 2 year old!!

After passing out the Bibles, the neighborhood asked us to play volleyball with
them. I must inform you that people here do not get to know their neighbors.
Some will live within yard of each other for years, and never know each others
names. So imagine the implications of a neighborhood getting together for a few
hours of volleyball!! We had so much fun, Peruanos as well as Gringos were
smiling and laughing from ear to ear for a whole afternoon! If this is God’s
Kingdom Come, I want to taste so much more! Later on that evening Nestor had
church (which meets by candlelight in part of his thatch home), and their were
so many people! We realized later, without even knowing it, that our few hours
of evangelism, had played a vital role in planting a church!

And this is only a little portion of what God has done in one week. I am
excited to see how He will continue to use me and change me for His kingdom
purposes! Please pray for the many thousands of people who’s lives and bodies
will never be the same. Pray for the little church that is forming in Nestor’s
neighborhood, and please pray about donating to the Earthquake relief fund (you
can specifically give through AIM’s website). I have seen what a little money does,
but I have seen and tasted what a huge God can do! Gloria a Dios!

Until later,

Rubie Palmer

Check my pictures to see pictures of Chincha and Tambo de Mora.