the end of camps!

(Campamentos Jovenes 2011)

What a month it has been, cant belive that January is over, camps have finished and that i´m still in one piece.

The last week has been great and the campers have had a brilliant time at camp. Every camp we finish the last night with a bonfire and people share their testimony, songs or their experiences of camp. This week the bonfire lasted til 1 in the morning with so many young people sharing how God has impacted their lives and their hopes for the future. we had roughly 87 young people (including the team) at camp this week and i just cant help thinking about the potential there was, so many young people passionate about serving God here in Peru and trying to work out what the future holds, whether is serving God in their jobs or going to bible college or working with churches in full time basis.

(one of the teams) (obstacle course) (praise team)

Some stories from the week, on thursday the obstacle course finished with a waterfight, my attempts to escape the campsite didn´t quite work out. the Pastor came out of his room to see what was happening. Jonny Younge told him it was safe to come out, that noone would soak the Pastor but Jonny was wrong! Friday at the beach had a few more people thrown into the sea, the waves were huge on Friday so good job we had our faithful life guard on duty! had a few pranks this week as well, a few of the boys on the team looked very pretty with scarlet red nails, and not sure whose underwear was up the flag pole but they got a bit of a shock on friday morning. I now sleep with the bedroom door locked, just safer that way!

Pray points post camp

- For the young people, that the teaching would have a lasting impact on their lives

- For an excitement for God´s word and a passion to live for him

- For the family issues that many of the young people have, that they wouold find strength in God to deal with incredibly difficult situations

- For the Counselors, that they would know God´s guidance for the future and would continue to serve faithfully in their churches

Ephesians 1: 18

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, ¹⁹ and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength ²⁰ he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,

(me and tiara and morelia, (from back left: Daniel, Jorge, Jonny,

daughters of our lovely cooks) and in the front David)

So what next for mision rescate.....

sleep.....sleep.....sleep

this week is time to recover post camps and to start preparations for the craziness to come. On thursday we head to Tacna for our first Holiday Bible club. We will be working alongside Luz de Vida in church services, youth work, kids clubs, and anything and everything else. So in the next few days we´re looking over the material, preparing testimonies, devotionals, memory verses, songs etc. I´m looking forward to working with kids and to visit the different churches associated with Baptist missions, to meet people and travel.

Pray for the team as we head to Tacna, most of mision rescate are from Tacna so it will be hard being so close to family and friends and not having a lot of time to see them. Pray for Luz Maria Camp Co-ordinator) too, now that camps are over the campsite is quiet and when the team head off to Tacna, it will be even quieter, so pray that she will be encouraged this week and not too lonely at the campsite. After Luz de Vida, we have a holiday bible club in Ite and then to Ilo to La Pampa, so ready for another busy three weeks!

For me, i´m really loving this experience. Not going to lie, its hard at times being the only irish person in the team, living so far from home and working flat out. Yet i see so many blessings from God, and his mercies are new everyday. This week i got to sing with the worship band and find that i´m even starting to understand the words of the songs, its a baeautiful way to learn spanish. we have great cooks at camp and i enjoy the banter in the kitchen. a special moment for me was when i was telling them i had done the devotional in the morning, they asked what is was about and i got to share i bit of my devotional. It was brilliant to be able to share a little bit of the Bible in spanish, we were talking about Abraham and Sarah. They had many reasons to doubt God

1) God promised them they would live in Canaan a land which belong to another tribe

2) God had promised them they would be parents to many nations and Sarah couldn´t have children

3) God promised them a son but they were both over 100 years old.

Yet Romans 4 says that Abraham did not waver through unbelief regarding the promises of God.

I am trusting in the promises of God and i´m thankful that he promises he will never leave us or forsake us, that when we come to him we can find rest, that we can do all things through christ who gives us strength. Thank you so much for all your prayers, your prayers make a real difference and the fact that i can talk as much spanish as i do is a result of prayer. Pray that i would continue to know God purpose for having me here, and that i would be as useful as i can be, and would enjoy every moment of my time here!

Prayer points

- That the team would be faithful in our preparations for our work with various churches

- That we would be faithful in prayer and continue to rely on God in all things

- That God would send kids to the holiday bible clubs and that we would have fruitful conversations with the young people as we work with them

- that we would be an encouragement to the churches and pastors and that god would bless those relationships

- That i continue to learn and practice my spanish and not be frustrated, that i would trust God to meet every need

^{Romans 4:20} Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, ²¹ being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

And then there were 3 camps

Well teenager camp has just ended and what a week it has been. We finish each camp with a bonfire and people share what they have thought of the week and how they have been challenged by the teaching. It was amazing to see young people, 13-16 telling stories of God´s grace in their lives, how he has helped them through incredibly difficult situations and committing to know him more. The Pastor this week was great and really releveant for the young people, played some interesting videos to illustrate his points. He talked so fast that i couldn´t understand a thing he said but i know that the young people were challenge about how they were living their lives, the consequences of the decisions they will make in life and shown the grace that is freely given in Christ´s death on the cross. The theme of camps is ´The way´, Caminos in Spanish and our verse for the week is Psalm 18:30:

³⁰ As for God, his way is perfect:
The LORD’s word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him.
³¹ For who is God besides the LORD?
And who is the Rock except our God?
³² It is God who arms me with strength
and keeps my way secure.
³³ He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he causes me to stand on the heights.
³⁴ He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
³⁵ You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me;
your help has made me great.

We had plenty of games through the week, the Pastor had some great ones he played with the kids in the morning and he had the young people do dramas on bible lessons and some typical tough decisions young people make regarding relationships, drugs, friendships with hilarious results. Weve had plenty of time at the beach (i think exteme frisbee is the sport for me), treasure hunts, quiz night, a dance off, ningas and photo challenge. It has been great to get to know the kids, to teach some english and learn some spanish slang!

Jonny Younge, has joined the Mision Rescate team from Arequipa! Jonny works in Arequipa with Latin Link, another Christian organisiation seeking to share the good news of Christ here in Peru. He has been studying Spanish for the last few months and is about to start working with the young people in his church and pyoung adults with dissabilities. He will be with us for the next camp and we´d be happy for him to stay longer! he´s been a great addition to the team and its great to have another northern irish accent, we even sang a few n.i athems. If you want to read more about what jonnys been up to in peru have a look at jonnyinperu.blogspot.com

for me its been a busy week and today exhaustion took over, slept for 4 hours this afternoon and couldn´t work out why it was dark when i woke. but feeling ready for the next camp, up to 100 young adults are due to arrive tomorrow (sunday night) and a few more counsellors to keep us right.

Prayer points

- For the young people people who have just finish camp that the teaching they have heard would stay with them and they would faithful serve God int eh future

- For the young adults arriving tomorrow that they would have a fun and encouraging camp and they would find the help they need here

- that the team would learn together, learn from the campers and from the teaching at camps

- for the health of the team and counsellors as the start another camp

- that we would know the joy of the Lord daily, listen for His voice and know His love

Neh 8: 10+

"For the Joy of the Lod is our Strength...Be still"

Campamentos de adolescentes

Sorry this will be a short post. The young people´s camp has begun with about 35 young people filling the campsite this evening. Things have started well and we pray that this will be a time of teaching, encouragement and training for the young people. Many are coming from difficult situations at home and we hope that this week will be a time when they can find wisdom and srength. Pray that the Lord would meet the needs of every camper, leaders, counselor and those of the mision rescate team as we start camp numero 2.

Gracias

Family Camp

Well family camp has nearly ended. It has been a fantastic week with families from Ilo, Ete, Moquegua, Tacna and Arequippa. The focus of the week has been ´The way´asking whether we lives our lives according to God´s word in how we love others, and whether the realities of life put roadblocks in the way.

(kids at camp)

It has been great to spend time with the different families at the beach, doing the obstacle course, treasure hunts round Ete and the most inventive photo competition i have ever seen. The teams put so much work into everything they´ve been asked to do including kissing crabs, dressing up like pirates and reenacting Titanic! The holiday bible club has gone really well and the team have learnt so much whilst having fun with the kids. After kids club the kids go to the main meeting and stand at the front to say their memory verse and sing for their family one of the songs we have learnt in kids club. it has been great to see their enthusiam and to see how much they have remembered from the bible lessons and verses.

(Obstacle course)

^{Matt 7:13} “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find

it.

(One of the team at camp)

Pray for the families who have come to camps, that they will have been encouraged in their walk with God and are better equipped to follow in His Way. Please pray for the kids at camp that the things they have learnt will have excited their hearts as they have learnt about a

wonderful saviour who can give them life and life to the full. Pray for Pastor Silas who has led our studies this week and his family that they will have had a blessed time and for their church in Tacna.

For the team, this has been such a busy week but they is joy that comes in serving God and knowing that you are being used by him. Unfortunately Judith hasn´t been able to join the team so pray that see will find peace and know that God has other plans for her. Pray for Guido as he leads the team, as he keeps track of all the things we have to do and for wisdom as he counsels and guides the team.

(Me, Jorge (MR), David (MR), Andrew Morrow, Chris (former MR))

For me, its been a week of new things. I did my first memory verse in Spanish, have sang in spanish at the talent night and also had a 4 year old correct my spanish. A special moment was when i was practicing my memory verse, four of the girls from the kids club came to chat and let me practice with them and helped me prono

unce a few words. I praise God for his provision in the little things, that i have had such fun with the kids, that i´ve been healthy and surviving late night preparations and spanish translation, that the team have been so patient with me. i´m thankful for Trevor and Christine, Andrew and Rebecca (missionary family who look after mision rescate) for looking after me and for all those from home who have sent emails and facebook, it always brings a smile to hear from home. I imagine that i will ask for pray for my spanish a lot over the next months but as i start to get the hand of simple phrases and sentences i realise how much more there is to learn. Pray that i will find strength and courage in God and serve him and him alone.

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong andcourageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Welcome to Camps

Welcome

After all the cleaning and preparation camps begin this week. Family camp starts tomorrow (Sunday) and we expect to have 50 people staying at the camp all week, leaving on Saturday. While the grown ups are meeting and studying God´s word together the mision rescate team will be looking after the children. We´re organising a program of games, songs, memory verses and bible lessons and appreciate your prayers as we finalise the program. I´ll be teaching memory verses, so pray i can manage the Spanish. The team have been working really hard and as i write its 12 oclock and we´re painting and cutting metal posts, so pray that we would find strength in God and that he would sustain us through the week.

For many families, family camp provides an opportunity for parents and children to be together. Many parents work long hours to support their children and dont get to see their children through the day. It will be a time when families can relax and enjoy spending time with each other, pray that families wold feel refreshed and encouraged. Some of the family members who will come to camp are not Christians and dont follow Jesus, and for some this will be the first time that they have heard the message of the gospel. Pray that the seed would be planted and especially for the children that they would understand and accept the wonderful gift of salvation.

^{Matthew 11:28-29}

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

Meet the Team

This the team (plus two Baptist Missions workers and minus David and Judith). From the left round, Vanessa, Jorge, Elizabeth (married to Raul), Raul (Radio el Sembrador) Guido, Luz (BM worker and camp coordinator) Me, Marisol

It´s now day 6, and 6 packed days they have been. I think i can say that i have settled into life in Peru. Below is the campsite, where i am saying, the team have their own accomodation in the campsite. I received a great welcome from the team, i´ve even had a few rounds of the song ´hey jude´!

It is great getting to who the other team members. Here´s a bit of info about the team:

Marisol worked in a clothes shop in Tacna, she´s 19 and the baby of the team. Vanessa is the eldest and she´s a primary teacher in Tacna. They both work with kids in their churches in Tacna and have been so patient with my spanish. We´ve having language lessons tonight, i´m teaching english (which will be interesting considering how bad my spelling is).

Guido is the team leader, and has been brilliant at managing the team, keeping us focused on what we´re doing and helping us bond as a team. It´s easy to get distracted with all the work we have to do and the tiredness that comes from working in the sun, but he reminded us this morning that our relationship with God comes first, and like Mary we should choice what is better, and spend time with Christ our Saviour (luke 10).

Then we have Jorge, a mechanic from tacna. He the singer of the team and unfortunately the snorer. David, is a dental assistant and is great with impressions and finally for the boys Daniel who is my second translator and who has just finishing a degree in computer science and led the Christian union in his university in Tacna.

We are getting on well together and each person brings a different element and different gifts to the team. We expected to have another girl on the team, another judith but unfortunately due to difficulties at home she hasn´t yet been able to join us, so pray that she will be able to join us and complete the team.

this week our days consist of getting the campsite ready for camps. We have painted the shop in the campsite, cleared and cleaned the games room and kitchen and this afternoon we will build the obstacle course. The work is mixed with plenty of food (some of which definately doesn´t exist at home) , games and the occasional siesta. There´s also three crazy dogs to keep us entertained, one who likes to lick knees, one who drools and paddington who needs to be loved and petted.

While things have been going well, please continue to pray for me. I´m learning spanish and the team have been patient but its frustrating not being able to join in during the bible study and i want to be able to talk to people about their faith. Its easy to let frustrations turn into negativity so pray that i would keep the right attitude and be constant in prayer. Pray that we as a team would be focused on the work that we have to do and that we would rely on God for all things and show unity as a team.

A New Year in Peru

Happy New Year to all!

After 18 hours of travel I have arrived in Peru! I managed to make all my connections and get through immigration and customs without any intergoations or bag checks, praise the Lord! I had time to enjoy a last starbucks in Miami. only for Christine Morrow to me for a coffee in Starbucks in Lima airport. Travelling to Miami I was sitting beside a comedian heading to a weeks shows on a cruise ship and had a great chat about the differences between world religions, he had been a Budist for a time but had started reading the Bible. Chatting about what we hoped for the new year we were both resolving to read and study more.

I got into Lima about tenpm and Trevor was waiting at the airport! It was so lovely to meet the Morrows at the hotel and Lima was celebrating my arrival with an hour long fireworks display which filled the sky! It was an amazing way to mark the new year and a new adventure for me in Peru. On Saturday we returned to the airport for our flight down to Tacna and I enjoyed the sunshine and 28oC very much!

We have now arrived in Ilo and Andrew and Rebecca have been been keeping me right! We´re leaving for the campsite shortly where I will meet the rest of the mision rescate team and get settled into the campsite for the next few months. We´re also heading up to church in Ete where the team are taking sunday school and Trevor will be preaching.

Please pray
- for the team as we are finally all together
- for all those who will meet together to plan for the camps in the coming week
- for my spanish this week as i have to actually start talking in Spanish!

Thanks you for all your prayers as i have travelled, i still cant believe how smoothly everything has gone, that i havn´t lost anything and have been on time for everything! It exciting thinking what the new year will bring in Peru and I have great anticipation for how the Lord will lead. I pray that you all will look to the Lord for his leading in the year to come and seek Him in all your plans for the year. As God calls in Genesis 17

"I am God almighty, walk before me faithfullly and be blameless"