Ellen, Faithful Servant

This morning a faithful and precious servant went home to Jesus. I first met Ellen Wroughton in June of 2001 on a short-term mission trip to the Northern Conchucos Valley of Peru. She became an inspiration and no doubt, played a part in me being here in full time service. Her husband, Jim, Ellen and their daughters, Katherine and Elizabeth, lived here in Huaraz and Pomabamba for many years as Jim translated the New Testament into Northern Conchucos Quechua. Translating the Word is difficult enough, but they did this during one of Peru’s darkest and most dangerous times. Not even the Sendero Luminoso could shake her faith, even when one of their bullets lodged in the wall of one of the girl’s bed. She viewed it as satan trying to stop the translation and remained faithful to her call. May we be found as faithful as Ellen. Please pray for Jim, Katherine and Elizabeth in the days ahead.

Connecting & Encouraging

One of the greatest blessings of life here in Peru is getting to know and work with National Partners and other missionaries.  They are an encouragement to us and hopefully we are an encouragement to them. We need to support each other because we serve in a culture that is often resistant to the message we bring and to us, the messengers. Pray for National Partners and especially for the ones shown above as they plan for a group coming in May.
Shown above are Markus (church planter) , Cristian (pastor) , Victor (pastor) and Humberta (translator and leader).

Ancash Research

Leaving today for the uttermost parts of Ancash are two student missionaries and their translator. Jared, Jacob and Martin will be traveling for the next three months conducting research in areas that we know little about. Pray for their safety and health. Pray they will easily build relationships with the Northern and Southern Conchucos Quechua as they try to determine the health of the Church in these areas.
(Pictured above are Martin and Jared.)

North Carolina in Recuay

Already ministering this week in the Huaylas is a team from North Carolina. They have been leading Bible studies and ministering among the poorest areas in the Recuay area. Please pray for them this week and next as they faithfully serve and seek more opportunities to share with others. Pray for understanding by those who hear the truth from God’s Word.
(Pictured above is Phillip, Erick, their translator, Earl, René, and Marshall.)

UPDATE – The team was in town today to resupply and shared the news of 3 men who expressed an interest to follow Christ. Two of the men came to the Bible study the next day. During Q & A time, the men wanted to know more about security of the believer and speaking in tongues. Salvation by works is believed by many here and the charismatic movement has become more broad spread in the last two years. Pray for Phillip and Earl as they share what the Bible says about these topics.

2012 Conference Recap

I am happy to report that this years conference was a success! Believers came from the coast, mountains and jungle to be fed, to learn and be encouraged. We are thankful for many things but especially:
1. Dr. Joselito Orellana and Dr. David Sills (a fellow Mississippian) who met the challenge of presenting the lessons in a manner that could be grasped by farmers and seminary graduates. Not an easy task.
2. Pastor Andrés Caller of La Iglesia Evangélica Centro Bautista and more than 40 of his flock who dedicated their hearts and many hours of their time. A number of them left their jobs to serve before and during the conference: planning, cooking, feeding, providing worship music and many other aspects of service.
3. To our translators - who bridged the language gap. They were and are an indispensable and incredible blessing.
4. Ingleside Baptist Church of Macon, GA., the sponsoring church in the U.S. - for also giving guidance, counseling, providing child care and for bathing the conference in prayer before and during the conference. They are a long-time partner yet still humble and willing to learn.
5. And we are thankful to Our Heavenly Father, for by & through Him, all things are possible!
(A highlight of the conference was the baptism of two new believers by Pastor Jaime, a true hero of the faith, pictured above.)
Thanks so much to those of you who prayed! I know there were many.

7th Regional Conference

Excitement is building in anticipation of the annual conference this week. This is a time for learning but also encouragement to those who have chosen to break from their culture and follow Him. The team asks for prayers for the following:
1.      First and foremost, that the Lord would receive the glory and honor due Him—and Him alone;
2.      That through the conference, men and women, boys and girls, would be encouraged and their faith strengthened, and that they (II Tim. 2:2) would be equipped to teach others;
3.      That God would continue to clothe the Church in the Huaylas area, and beyond, with the full armor of God to enable it to stand firm against the schemes of the devil (Eph. 6:11);
4.      For Drs. Sills and Orellano and Pastor Andres (and the other speakers), that God would anoint their teaching and fill them w/ His Spirit;
5.      For traveling mercy, for unity and health among our group, for the fellowship time among the believers that it would be rich and joyful, restoring the soul; and
6.      For the translators, that their every word would be bathed in the Spirit of God, with His full anointing and power.
Thanks so much to those of you who are faithful in praying.
Pictured above are some of the people we will be serving, the speakers, our translators and some of the team members from Ingleside Baptist Church, Georgia. (Thanks to my son, Will Smith, for designing the composite.)

Manna Ministries

Pictured above is Pastor Wilmer, his son Daniel and wife Marisol along with translator Freddy and Tony of Manna Ministries.
Manna Ministries has been ministering in the Aija Valley since October of 2004 and Wilmer and family have been serving there since October of 2011. Tomorrow they will travel to visit the various churches and believers.
Wilmer asks that you pray for safe travel and good health in the days ahead. He travels the area on motorcycle and often the roads are difficult to negotiate. He also asks that you pray he will grow in wisdom as he leads the ministry there.