Church Service Under a Plastic Tarp
I took a 3 hour bus trip Saturday afternoon to be able to
attend the church service in Doce de Septiembre the following morning. The services are new in this poor area on the
east side of Chincha. We had met one of
the families from this community when she lived in Los Jardines, Chabalina,
Chincha shortly after the earthquake August 15th, 2007. Rubie, a young woman working with us in AIM’s First Year Missionary program had knocked on her door wanting to reach
out to those in the neighborhood.
attend the church service in Doce de Septiembre the following morning. The services are new in this poor area on the
east side of Chincha. We had met one of
the families from this community when she lived in Los Jardines, Chabalina,
Chincha shortly after the earthquake August 15th, 2007. Rubie, a young woman working with us in AIM’s First Year Missionary program had knocked on her door wanting to reach
out to those in the neighborhood.
When
the encounter ended, Victoria had asked Jesus into her life and visibly became
a changed person. It began a long term
friendship with Victoria for Robert and me. We had gotten out of touch for about a year when she moved then she
visited us in Lima and we learned that she moved to Doce de Septiembre so
the encounter ended, Victoria had asked Jesus into her life and visibly became
a changed person. It began a long term
friendship with Victoria for Robert and me. We had gotten out of touch for about a year when she moved then she
visited us in Lima and we learned that she moved to Doce de Septiembre so
we began to visit her there.
Soon neighbors
were coming to ask us to help their community and our church funded a project
to bring provisional electricity to their neighborhood in 2010. They still don’t have water or sewage pipes
in their homes which are made of temporary materials, bamboo, plastic, thatch,
and poles with a small amount of thin plywood.
were coming to ask us to help their community and our church funded a project
to bring provisional electricity to their neighborhood in 2010. They still don’t have water or sewage pipes
in their homes which are made of temporary materials, bamboo, plastic, thatch,
and poles with a small amount of thin plywood.
Victoria who continued to grow in her relationship with
Jesus asked Robert to start a Bible study in her home in Doce. A few months later the community was begging
us to have a church service on Sunday.
Jesus asked Robert to start a Bible study in her home in Doce. A few months later the community was begging
us to have a church service on Sunday.
A
local pastor, Pastor Nestor who already pastors 2 churches, gladly started the
Bible study and he and Robert hold Sunday services every other week.
local pastor, Pastor Nestor who already pastors 2 churches, gladly started the
Bible study and he and Robert hold Sunday services every other week.
Robert was sick with an upper respiratory
infection this Sunday so Pastor Nestor invited another pastor he works with to
preach, Pastor Jaime. The service was supposed to start at 9:00am,
but it finally got going at 9:45. Plastic
black stools were set out under an awning to enjoy the shade while a light wind
kept us comfortable. Sylvia led the
worship in singing a cappella since there was no electricity in most of Chincha that day for the sound
system we brought. Everyone joined in
and true worship could be felt. Twenty
adults attended the service with a few kids looking on as well.
infection this Sunday so Pastor Nestor invited another pastor he works with to
preach, Pastor Jaime. The service was supposed to start at 9:00am,
but it finally got going at 9:45. Plastic
black stools were set out under an awning to enjoy the shade while a light wind
kept us comfortable. Sylvia led the
worship in singing a cappella since there was no electricity in most of Chincha that day for the sound
system we brought. Everyone joined in
and true worship could be felt. Twenty
adults attended the service with a few kids looking on as well.
Pastor Jaime had a good sermon using the
story of Abraham and Lot and talking about consulting God for our decisions and
the choices we make. It was lengthy and he spoke from his heart for
the Lord and these people. After the
preaching, Pastor Nestor took off his baseball cap and passed it around for the
offering. It looked like everyone put
something in which was a positive thing to see when they have so little. At the end several people asked for
prayer. When most had left for their Sunday
family activities, Pastor Nestor gave Pastor Jaime 20 soles for preaching,
Sylvia 4 soles for her taxi to the Doce, and pocketed the small change that was
left. The man certainly isn’t looking
for payment to serve the Lord. He serves
with all his heart, soul, mind and spirit. He is an inspiration to us. I was
blessed to participate with God’s people here as a foreigner alongside my
brothers and sisters in the Lord. It was precious.
story of Abraham and Lot and talking about consulting God for our decisions and
the choices we make. It was lengthy and he spoke from his heart for
the Lord and these people. After the
preaching, Pastor Nestor took off his baseball cap and passed it around for the
offering. It looked like everyone put
something in which was a positive thing to see when they have so little. At the end several people asked for
prayer. When most had left for their Sunday
family activities, Pastor Nestor gave Pastor Jaime 20 soles for preaching,
Sylvia 4 soles for her taxi to the Doce, and pocketed the small change that was
left. The man certainly isn’t looking
for payment to serve the Lord. He serves
with all his heart, soul, mind and spirit. He is an inspiration to us. I was
blessed to participate with God’s people here as a foreigner alongside my
brothers and sisters in the Lord. It was precious.
