Written by Noél Rich
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02 June 2011
Yes, June really is "busting out" all over! June 5 is election day here in Perú. The 2 runoff candidates are making a lot of noise, that is, their followers are, and the campaigns often include firecrackers busting out all over the city!! We are very thankful for the freedom we have had through these years to spread the Gospel! Please help us pray that this freedom will continue in the new govt. that takes power July 28 (Perú's Independence Day). Thanks!
God blessed us with some baptisms of new believers in May. Four young girls were won through the witness of other believers here and identified with the Lord in this step. Thanks for praying for their growth in Christ. Thanks for praying for discipleship of these and others in churches outside of Arequipa city. Bob continues his weekly and every other week visits to Pedregal and Aplao, in the Majes irrigation and valley. Especially the little group in Aplao needs encouragement and men to lead there. One of our youth from here, who is really from Aplao, has started a fish selling business there and he is really helping the small group that meets there, but we do need to see more raised up. The church in Pedregal, the irrigation area, is more established and has elders, but they are benefitting from the weekly Bible studies Bob has there. Bob has gone on some more trips to the mountain areas, and hopes to go this weekend to help with some problems in Espinar with one of our workers. Thanks for praying for these outreaches and thanks for praying for our workers, they are human and need their own Spiritual lives refreshed.
The ex ambulance still hasn't been sold. Thanks for praying for it's sale, and that Bob can indeed purchase a vehicle that will serve him, here in town and especially out in the many areas where he travels to. He has to travel on the buses here these days, so thanks for praying for safety.
There has been a real tragedy in one of our faithful believing couple's family. Gianluca Fussotto was the only son of Maria Elena Lazo and her Italian husband, Aldo Fussotto. Maria Elena's parents have been believers with us since early 1970's. Maria Elena remained Roman Catholic, but her son came often to church with his grandparents and did profess faith in Christ. He had the blessing of having a Christian maid that helped raise him from birth. This dear lady is from another church but she did pray with Gianluca and told him about our Lord since he was little. Anyway, Gianluca was in Argentina completing his hours for his pilot's license when last week was in a sudden plane crash which killed instantly all four occupants. Gianluca and the other Peruvian student were in the back part of the plane, while the Argentine instructor and the Ecuadorian student were up front on the controls. The little plane crashed nose down just before landing the night of May 25. Maria Elena and Aldo went to Argentina and brought back his body for burial here. They arrived last night and Gianluca was buried this noon. Bob spoke to the family and other friends at the wake last night, about the brevity of life (really, just a vapor) and of course had the chance to exhort these people to trust in Christ before it is too late. Please help us pray for Maria Elena and Aldo especially these days. We do not know why the Lord allowed this, but we do know that He wants these folks to truly believe in Him and give their lives to Him, leaving off all false hopes in vain rituals for salvation. Their only peace and comfort would be to know our Saviour. Please help us pray. The grandparents have been praying for them for years. Maybe it is God's time.
School is going well, but we need prayer for discipline in the large classes this year. I am truly enjoying and thankful for the times of Formación Cristiana with the younger ones, 4th, 5th, and 6th graders. We had a good Mother's Day program and a good parents meeting the other night, where Bob spoke to the parents about the need to discipline while the children are young, in the love of the Lord. We had our bimester tests and all the grades. English teaching to the 6th grade especially is a challenge. They are rowdy. Thanks so much for praying for the school's witness!
Trust you will have a blessed summer season! Here it is becoming more wintry! Dry, cold, nights and early mornings, finger and toe splitting time for me, which is kind of painful. Well, thanks for praying, and thanks for sharing with us here!