End of the Spear

If you haven't seen this movie about Ecuadorian missionaries, you have missed a good one. God works even in adversity if we offer it up to Him. Padre is showing it to the seminarians at a special "informal" gathering that he hopes will turn into a small group that meets regularly. The event was billed as a "seminarian only" event and we even had someone of "mature" years sign up for the seminary so she could come to the show! Whatever it takes, Lord!!

NEW LAMB IN THE FLOCK

Vicki and Ron were delighted to participate in the baptism of Aleska on Saturday. Just two days before here first birthday, Aleska seems particularly precosious. Her family in very involved in Cristo Redentor with sister and two aunts involved in seminary classes. Of course there was a big party at the house afterwards. You go girl!

NEW STUDENT

As you can see, we are adding some more mature students in the seminary. This is one is particularly bright! (I had to say that, he's my bishop-William Godfrey.) We were delighted to have the Bishop visit our class and give us a word of encouragement. Our students do range from 2nd or 3rd year college students through adult professionals. It is exciting to see how the Lord is drawing more parishoners into considering service as lay leaders or ordained ministers. Please pray that more parishoners from San Lucas Mission will feel drawn to the Lord's service.

COULD YOU EXPLAIN THAT????

Seminarian Ruth asks a question in the Biblical Interpretation class. Ruth is a school teacher who has been a student for some time. Good question, Ruth!

More on Tía Nani´s Project

Nani´s (or Sherry) project turned out super. Each teen learned how to use the NEW SEWING MACHINE that came from Narnia. I know, that doesn´t seem to make sense to most of us, but it will to those of you who know Tía Nani! Hugs, smiles, and laughter all around, the time just flew by for the kids. Of course the week ended with plenty of tears! Here is a scripture that seem most appropriate for Sherry´s testimony and witness to the kids this time:

Deut. 10:22 What does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul..?

Madre Felicia

Madre Felicia, Padre Tony, and Padre Suerte (Luck) have been doing a great job with the seminary class on Hebrews that they are teaching. It really helps Padre Ron by squeezing in one more class. It allows him a week to begin to prepare for the 4 new classes he will teach next week: Biblical Interpretation, Introduction to the Old Testament, Minor Prophets, and Acts of the Apostles.

Santiago Apóstol

The Cathedral team headed up to our 6000 sq. meter site in Vía Ecológico to give us a hand on Monday. Digging holes, cleaning out the holding tank, painting the inside of the tank with swimming pool paint to cut down on seepage. Today they are working on the cover.

Cathedral Team

The St. Matthew´s Cathedral team from Dallas is in this week. Three of the group was here last year and were suprised at all the changes in the work here. As it was Sunday, we started off with a lunch at the Tipika restaurant with traditional cuisine. Then, off to San Lucas mission for a 4:30 eucharist. The seminarian scheduled to preach wasn´t able to make it, so, guess who stepped in to give the homily?? Thank you, Father Suerte (Luck)! Padre Ron celebrated.

More Elves

Not so sure about these funny looking elves, though! Well, we are all called to serve and participate in one form or another. No always as we expect beforehand!

Elves

Santa has his elves, but the Bishop has his elves, too! Santa´s elves do what Santa wants-and the Bishop´s deacons do what the Bishop wants! The calling to simple SERVE the Bishop and the Body of Christ is so beautiful and so straight forward. It was wonderful to have a team of deacon´s down to inspire our Peruvian deacons to grow in their calling as deacons. I heard several comments in appreciation of how much our local church people learned from the visit.

Cool Dudes

María´s boys look pretty cool here. Yet they still call for "Ma" to help out in a pinch! Juan Carlos kept telling the boys they´d have to call her "Reverend Ma" now! They almost believed him!

Maria's Ordination

We were thrilled to be able to go to Lima for María´s ordination. It was fun to be with them as it was the first airplane ride for some and everyone was so excited! María has been serving in so many capacities already that it is a fitting recognition of her love for serving the People of God. Blessings, María!

Seminarians

The seminarians really enjoyed talking with the Deacons. Father Ron translated. Deacon Diana´s husband, Father George, will be with the Saint Matthew´s team next week and, along with Father Tony and Deacon Phyllis, will be teaching an intensive course on the book of Hebrews. We can´t wait!

Diocese of Dallas Deacons

We were excited to host Arch-deacon Diana Luck from St. Matthew´s Cathedral and Deacon David Petrash from Denison. A quick two day visit, it was packed with as much as we could show them in that time. They visited our school San Lucas with which David´s church wants to connect, the Santiago Apóstol mission site, both Casas Hogares, and Cristo Redentor before we all ran out of steam! In addition they served at the altar with Padre Juan Carlos and did a teaching for the seminarians on the diaconate. Pretty good for two days! We loved having them and look forward to continuing this relationship.

Ordination

María Andia, Padre Juan Carlos´s wife, is a seminary graduate. She actually graduated in the same class with Juan Carlos. Recently she has accepted the bishop´s call to serve in the diaconate. We are all excited and will be off to Lima to share in the ordination. What an exciting event. Nani had recently sent down two albs which just "happened" to fit. Thank you, Lord, your provision in advance was perfect! Of to Lima we will go!

NANI

One again we are privileged to host Nani. This time she is has a wonderful sewing project for Casa Hogar Sagrada Familia. Besides pulling a sewing machine out of her backpack, she brought an incredibe amount of materials and supplies for projects. In addition to learning how to operate the machine, the kids have made individual sewing kits in which to keep their own personal sewing supplies. Each teen learned how to sew on four different kind of buttons, repair a tear without a machine as well as with one, and make buttonholes. Part of the project includes making a wall hanging with the symbols for the twelve apostles. Vicki has been both translating and assisting Nani in this endeavor. Casa kids can now identify the twelve apostles and tell something about each one. Great job, Nani! We love you!

Karola's Birthday

A much greater emphasis is placed on birthdays here. Besides being a family event, they are a community event. We were delighted to celebrate with Karola her birthday. She is a 5th year psychology major who has helped us out with occasional assessments at Sagrada Familia. In addition she is a seminarian with great potential. Happy birthday, hermana!

DETOUR!

Since we were already in North Carolina, we made a slight detour through Texas on the way back to Peru. It was our granddaughter's 3rd birthday and we were able to be there for her celebration. It was a "Princess" event and great fun for Grammi and Papi! The "Princess" enjoyed be driven about in her John Deere by other royalty.

NEW WINESKINS

On April 9th, Easter Monday, we headed off to a special event that occurs every 3 years- the NEW WINESKINS mission conference in North Carolina. Wonderful for both networking and hearing testimonies of Anglican missionaries from all over the world, SAMS had that on our "to-do" list. We were blessed to visit with friends from Plano, Dallas, and Frisco. What a blessing for us. We met some new friends who might be called to help out at the seminary down here or as interns. Also, we were able to help out some dear friends and "pinch hit" as part of a panel discussion on missionary internships.