JOY is the word of the weekend! This includes the joy of being with our brothers and sisters in Christ at Shepherd of the Woods Mission Tarma. We’ve waited 3 years to return and God finally opened the doors for us and said, now is the time. We consider ourselves richly blessed.
Our Sunday began with 9 am worship. People from near and far came to hear the Word proclaimed. In worship, we celebrated 5 first communions with ages ranging from children to adults. Glory to God! We pray the Lord would strengthen them in faith as they receive the sacrament of Holy Communion.
This week, the children are on holiday so we will miss seeing the Kingdom Kids ministry in action. Kingdom Kids is an after school outreach ministry that provides tutoring, snacks, and faith instruction.
Our focus this week involves a couple of priorities. First, we are modifying and reinstalling a fence used to protect the children from falling off the ledge by the playground and to provide as a source of security to the church. We will be spending the next few days welding and installing the fence in the new concrete supports. Second, we spent a lot of time sanding walls today in preparation for a big painting party on Monday! We look forward to beautifying the property as a means to be welcoming and stewards of God’s gifts.
A mission trip is more than just projects. Projects are the means for us to interact and be in mission together, sharing and showing God’s love to one another.
Please continue to keep the Peru mission in your prayers as we seek to share the light of Christ and help others come to know Christ through our witness.
I end tonight’s Peru Post with a comment a church member made after worship in Tarma. While we were sharing words of encouragement with one another, she shared with all those gathered for worship that we (the mission trippers) have made a witness to what it means to sacrifice for the gospel by coming to Tarma. She hoped they would learn and follow the example and thanked us for being with them.
May our gracious Lord continue to lead and guide all His disciples, of all nations, including you! May our witness and our proclamation of Jesus as Lord also be faithful.
Blessings and joy to you!
Pastor Phillips, Pastor DiBias, and the entire mission team
