The Seminario Evangélico de Apurimac (SEA) opened the 2nd of April and the first class is well underway. This is the first evangelical training center in the area to offer a bachelors' degree and one of few in the country. Local restaurateur (and maker of some of the best pizza in the world) Martin Leon is loaning us the classroom location that is right off the plaza in Andahuaylas. The students, most of whom have graduated from World Reach Mobile Bible Institute or secular universities, are very excited to actually have a chance to study for ministry at a university level! Classes are offered every Saturday with extensive assignments to complete during the week.
Thanks for all your prayers, and please keep praying for:
The students, that their enthusiasm doesn't wane.
The facility--it is in the process of being improved.
Mike-He's writing many of the initial courses and teaching half of the courses.
Visiting professors-keep their commitments, safety in travel, good understanding with the students (also a need for more :)
Cayo Cardenas- He is still quite ill and unable to help with the seminary or teach.
Provision- the students are paying a minimal amount, and some can't really afford that. Pray for provision for books for the library, computers, and scholarships.
Praise God for bringing us this far!
Quechua Bible Institute starts in Huayrapata
Yesterday the new institute in Huayrapata started with Bible Study Methods class. Mike and Cayo Cardenas both went--both for the opening convocation and because even though the coordinator, Pastor Santos Ñawi, has assured us that all the students can study in Spanish, sometimes they need clarification in Quechua.
They were only able to get within a mile because of the mud, and had to slog the rest of the way. Seventeen of the twenty students arrived for the first day, with the others being delayed by muddy roads and landslides.
They had a good lesson in prayer. Although we always teach that the first step in study is to pray for understanding, Mike let them go ahead and start without reminding them. Several minutes later they were crying, "This is impossible! I don't understand!" Then he reminded them to pray first. Soon they were saying, "Look the answer is down here in this verse! We do understand!"
Please pray that the other three students arrive safely, that Mike and Cayo have safety as they travel back and forth, (It is 45 minutes away so they will not stay every night.), and for learning and dedication on the part of the students.
They were only able to get within a mile because of the mud, and had to slog the rest of the way. Seventeen of the twenty students arrived for the first day, with the others being delayed by muddy roads and landslides.
They had a good lesson in prayer. Although we always teach that the first step in study is to pray for understanding, Mike let them go ahead and start without reminding them. Several minutes later they were crying, "This is impossible! I don't understand!" Then he reminded them to pray first. Soon they were saying, "Look the answer is down here in this verse! We do understand!"
Please pray that the other three students arrive safely, that Mike and Cayo have safety as they travel back and forth, (It is 45 minutes away so they will not stay every night.), and for learning and dedication on the part of the students.
It's signed!
A great answer to prayer. The agreement with the IEP (Peruvian Evangelical Church) is now signed. This makes the seminary that opens in April official for the denomination, makes us officially in ministry before the Peruvian government, which facilitates our visas and reception of donations. It also gives us more authority when dealing with strange teachings in the churches!
In Cuzco
It was time for a checkup in Cuzco. There`s no cardiologist in Andahuaylas so we have to go to Cuzco, 10 hours away on bus, for a checkup. (Many thanks to those who contributed for this trip.) The trip turned out to be too exciting. It rained all night the night before. When we left in the morning (late, because they were probably waiting to see if the road was open) we could hear radio reports of flooding and trees down. Sure enough, about 8 am, we came to a place where the road was covered with water that was moving fast. Half the passengers had to get off the bus and half stay on. The passengers that stayed on (Mike and Chris) had to stand at one side to stabilize the bus. Those that got off (Tammy) had to cross the stream by leaping from rock to rock. (While that sounds very spritely and athletic, I had to have help.)
In another place, a landslide had covered the road, but a bulldozer was already clearing it when we got there. Once again half the passengers got off, but this time we all stayed on. The crossing was tricky, as part of the road had washed on down the hill, but God was merciful and we arrived in Cuzco without any further events.
Once here, we tried immediately to buy tickets back to Andahuaylas, but the road was closed!
Chris was planning to go on to Lima to visit Miguel and Becky on his first unaccompanied bus trip, which was causing a little concern for everybody, but we met up with a family of friends from Andahuaylas who were traveling to Lima, and he was able to go with them. (The road from Cuzco to Lima is much better that the one we traveled on from Andahuaylas)
Mike´s checkup went fine. The doctor was more concerned with his injuries from falling on a mango peel about a week ago than his heart, which was fine. The x-rays showed that nothing was broken, and the orthopedist prescribed light activity and much rest for a month. Mike only wishes he could say he was beaten up by two strong men rather than a mango!
Please pray that my (Tammy's) checkup goes as well (it was postponed to Monday) and that we are able to get back to Andahuaylas safely.
In another place, a landslide had covered the road, but a bulldozer was already clearing it when we got there. Once again half the passengers got off, but this time we all stayed on. The crossing was tricky, as part of the road had washed on down the hill, but God was merciful and we arrived in Cuzco without any further events.
Once here, we tried immediately to buy tickets back to Andahuaylas, but the road was closed!
Chris was planning to go on to Lima to visit Miguel and Becky on his first unaccompanied bus trip, which was causing a little concern for everybody, but we met up with a family of friends from Andahuaylas who were traveling to Lima, and he was able to go with them. (The road from Cuzco to Lima is much better that the one we traveled on from Andahuaylas)
Mike´s checkup went fine. The doctor was more concerned with his injuries from falling on a mango peel about a week ago than his heart, which was fine. The x-rays showed that nothing was broken, and the orthopedist prescribed light activity and much rest for a month. Mike only wishes he could say he was beaten up by two strong men rather than a mango!
Please pray that my (Tammy's) checkup goes as well (it was postponed to Monday) and that we are able to get back to Andahuaylas safely.
More answers to prayer!
Things God has done.
Chris had a great birthday and made a wise choice of which friends to celebrate with.
Bill Rowley arrived safely (although two days late because of the snowstorm) and got home safely. He was really encouraged by the possibilities of web conferences and radio outreach.
Cayo Cardenas received a much needed computer. He has been making a Bible dictionary and a one year devotional (in Quechua) writing with pen and paper, but wasn't making much progress.
We received pledges that will make our trip to Cuzco for medical tests possible.
We had been wondering why we hadn´t heard from the IEP on the convenio, and we found out that they had lost the papers and we were able to send new ones to Lima with Bill.
Mike's father, Dick Riggs, had had surgery for an intestinal problem and was very discouraged. He is feeling better spiritually and emotionally now, and seems to be healing physically.
Chris had a great birthday and made a wise choice of which friends to celebrate with.
Bill Rowley arrived safely (although two days late because of the snowstorm) and got home safely. He was really encouraged by the possibilities of web conferences and radio outreach.
Cayo Cardenas received a much needed computer. He has been making a Bible dictionary and a one year devotional (in Quechua) writing with pen and paper, but wasn't making much progress.
We received pledges that will make our trip to Cuzco for medical tests possible.
We had been wondering why we hadn´t heard from the IEP on the convenio, and we found out that they had lost the papers and we were able to send new ones to Lima with Bill.
Mike's father, Dick Riggs, had had surgery for an intestinal problem and was very discouraged. He is feeling better spiritually and emotionally now, and seems to be healing physically.
Answer to prayer #1 of 2011
This year we want to share some of the ways that God is working down here. Every month, almost every week, here we see God at work in wonderful ways. Sometimes, they are big and obvious, while other times, His work is subtle - almost unnoticeable, and sometimes in between. Sometimes they are answers to prayer, and at other times, they are, to us, a complete surprise.
This first one that we want to share is one of the small and subtle ones. I need to go to Cuzco for a cardiac check-up and a stress test. But for several reason, it was going to be difficult right at this time: finances, deadlines, very bad rainy high altitude dirt roads. To us, it seemed like, the time would have to be now - shortly we will be involved in classes, radio programs, promoting the new Bible Institutes. But, there were those obstacles - so what should we do? Well, we prayed for guidance and wisdom and it seemed like God was saying to hold off a couple of weeks - the roads will be better, maybe more money will come in, the travel and hotel costs will go down closer to the end of the end of the month, but still we felt confused and had decided to by the tickets and go, trusting that God would provide for the short-fall. I know that seems presumptuous, but we thought that we were being wise. I was going to go buy the tickets Thursday morning, so that we could leave Thursday night. However, Wednesday night Tammy developed a bad stomach and would not be able to take a 10 hour bus trip, we thought that I might leave Friday morning and make a Saturday appointment, but then Thursday night I developed the same bad stomach. Now some may be saying, well up there in the Andes you all ate something bad, but because of my diabetes I always get sick first, not Tammy and second; Travelers Stomach - as it is politely called - lasts 3-4 days. By Friday afternoon Tammy was fine and by Saturday so was I.
Coincidence? I don't think so, we had prayed for clear guidance and we got it, just in the nick of time. Diarrhea may not seem like an answer to prayer, but it forced us to stay in Andahuaylas. And there is more, there is another missionary couple from the States up here and they have their own car. We found out that they go to Cuzco fairly often, and offered to us along when they went. Sometime soon, I will be able to ride over with them. A lot more comfortable, safer and cheaper. God is always ready to guide us and give us wisdom, if we will just ask Him.
This first one that we want to share is one of the small and subtle ones. I need to go to Cuzco for a cardiac check-up and a stress test. But for several reason, it was going to be difficult right at this time: finances, deadlines, very bad rainy high altitude dirt roads. To us, it seemed like, the time would have to be now - shortly we will be involved in classes, radio programs, promoting the new Bible Institutes. But, there were those obstacles - so what should we do? Well, we prayed for guidance and wisdom and it seemed like God was saying to hold off a couple of weeks - the roads will be better, maybe more money will come in, the travel and hotel costs will go down closer to the end of the end of the month, but still we felt confused and had decided to by the tickets and go, trusting that God would provide for the short-fall. I know that seems presumptuous, but we thought that we were being wise. I was going to go buy the tickets Thursday morning, so that we could leave Thursday night. However, Wednesday night Tammy developed a bad stomach and would not be able to take a 10 hour bus trip, we thought that I might leave Friday morning and make a Saturday appointment, but then Thursday night I developed the same bad stomach. Now some may be saying, well up there in the Andes you all ate something bad, but because of my diabetes I always get sick first, not Tammy and second; Travelers Stomach - as it is politely called - lasts 3-4 days. By Friday afternoon Tammy was fine and by Saturday so was I.
Coincidence? I don't think so, we had prayed for clear guidance and we got it, just in the nick of time. Diarrhea may not seem like an answer to prayer, but it forced us to stay in Andahuaylas. And there is more, there is another missionary couple from the States up here and they have their own car. We found out that they go to Cuzco fairly often, and offered to us along when they went. Sometime soon, I will be able to ride over with them. A lot more comfortable, safer and cheaper. God is always ready to guide us and give us wisdom, if we will just ask Him.
Join our Thursday Prayer Meeting!
Every Thursday the Believers Bridge missionaries here have been meeting for prayer, and suddenly I had the genius idea to include all of you in it by blog.
Here are the requests from today's meeting.
There was a bus wreck here in the province of Andahuaylas. It was the bus going from here to Inca Huasi. (Where the coffee comes from and where we have had to postpone two conferences) 16 people are confirmed dead but only five have been identified. Rumors are flying that someone from our church was aboard the bus, but so far there is no agreement as to who. Please pray for the families involved.
Bill Rowley, President of Believers Bridge, has put his house up for sale and is setting out on a support-raising trip. Please pray for the family in this time of transition. Also pray for his trip to Peru, probably in January.
The family of Miguel Gomez, our son-in-law, is suffering some difficult times. His little niece and nephew have been sick, especially the baby, Mia, who has a high fever and a cough. His sister Patti, is feeling sad and discouraged. Not only are the babies sick, but her husband, who has several times made a profession of faith, shows no interest in Christianity or church. And her father-in-law is in the hospital with diabetes and tuberculosis.
Miguel's parents are also having problems. His stepfather lost his pay--it evidently fell out of his pocket on his way home--and now he and Miguel's mother are having to work night shift guarding the market to get by until his next pay. He feels really bad about this, especially because Miguel's mother is just recovering from the flu. They are both in their seventies.
Miguel and Becky need prayer for decisions that they have to make about their ministry, and prayer for support.
Cayo Cardenas, another BB missionary, needs prayer for his family. His wife, Maritza, and his two children have been struggling with various illnesses.
Cayo also needs prayer for the translation project that he is working on-- a small Bible Dictionary in Quechua. He will be traveling to Cuzco in December to officiate at a wedding.
Tammy is directing the Andahuaylas church choir at the swearing in of the regional government officials, and asks prayer for herself and the choir.
The mayor of nearby town, (Martin) although an evangelical, fell into many problems and wound up in jail. Now that he has come to his senses, he feels that no one will ever trust him again. Pray for real repentance and the strength to start over.
Pray for the progress of our agreement with the IEP (Iglesia Evangelica Peruana). We are waiting for their response to our response to their proposal. And for patience on our parts.
Pray for the couples that we are counseling. Some of them have serious problems.
Pray for the Music and Worship Conference this weekend in Huayrapata. Miguel, Mike, and Cayo will be teaching.
Pray for the upcoming meeting of the Apurimac Synod of the IEP. They will be making several decisions that affect Bible Institutes.
Pray for the families of Chad Barrett and Alejandro Cabrera. Both men have been influential here and their families are struggling with cancer. Alejandro's wife Christy is no longer seeking treatment and they are just looking for the Lord's will as to what happens. Chad's 9 yo daughter Kristina has cancer and the doctors are currently stepping up treatment. Both families need our support in prayer.
Please pray for our son Colin, who is trying to find a place to stay and a job before Christmas. He needs wisdom in making decisions, as well.
Thanks for joining us in prayer for these requests.
Here are the requests from today's meeting.
There was a bus wreck here in the province of Andahuaylas. It was the bus going from here to Inca Huasi. (Where the coffee comes from and where we have had to postpone two conferences) 16 people are confirmed dead but only five have been identified. Rumors are flying that someone from our church was aboard the bus, but so far there is no agreement as to who. Please pray for the families involved.
Bill Rowley, President of Believers Bridge, has put his house up for sale and is setting out on a support-raising trip. Please pray for the family in this time of transition. Also pray for his trip to Peru, probably in January.
The family of Miguel Gomez, our son-in-law, is suffering some difficult times. His little niece and nephew have been sick, especially the baby, Mia, who has a high fever and a cough. His sister Patti, is feeling sad and discouraged. Not only are the babies sick, but her husband, who has several times made a profession of faith, shows no interest in Christianity or church. And her father-in-law is in the hospital with diabetes and tuberculosis.
Miguel's parents are also having problems. His stepfather lost his pay--it evidently fell out of his pocket on his way home--and now he and Miguel's mother are having to work night shift guarding the market to get by until his next pay. He feels really bad about this, especially because Miguel's mother is just recovering from the flu. They are both in their seventies.
Miguel and Becky need prayer for decisions that they have to make about their ministry, and prayer for support.
Cayo Cardenas, another BB missionary, needs prayer for his family. His wife, Maritza, and his two children have been struggling with various illnesses.
Cayo also needs prayer for the translation project that he is working on-- a small Bible Dictionary in Quechua. He will be traveling to Cuzco in December to officiate at a wedding.
Tammy is directing the Andahuaylas church choir at the swearing in of the regional government officials, and asks prayer for herself and the choir.
The mayor of nearby town, (Martin) although an evangelical, fell into many problems and wound up in jail. Now that he has come to his senses, he feels that no one will ever trust him again. Pray for real repentance and the strength to start over.
Pray for the progress of our agreement with the IEP (Iglesia Evangelica Peruana). We are waiting for their response to our response to their proposal. And for patience on our parts.
Pray for the couples that we are counseling. Some of them have serious problems.
Pray for the Music and Worship Conference this weekend in Huayrapata. Miguel, Mike, and Cayo will be teaching.
Pray for the upcoming meeting of the Apurimac Synod of the IEP. They will be making several decisions that affect Bible Institutes.
Pray for the families of Chad Barrett and Alejandro Cabrera. Both men have been influential here and their families are struggling with cancer. Alejandro's wife Christy is no longer seeking treatment and they are just looking for the Lord's will as to what happens. Chad's 9 yo daughter Kristina has cancer and the doctors are currently stepping up treatment. Both families need our support in prayer.
Please pray for our son Colin, who is trying to find a place to stay and a job before Christmas. He needs wisdom in making decisions, as well.
Thanks for joining us in prayer for these requests.
Fabuluous news!
God works in His own way and His own time, but He will surely perform His wonders. In February of 2005, I met with the leaders of the Evangelical Church in Peru(IEP). This is the largest evangelical and 2nd oldest (Methodists beat them by 2 years!)founded in 1893, evangelical Church in the country. For many years the terrorists, cults, extreme poverty and difficulty in travel have been attacking the church and it is now down to a membership of around 300,000. (Which still ain't chicken feed!)
They knew that they had many problems, not the least of which was training pastors for the countryside. Only 1 out of 16 churches have a real pastor. Many country churches have shrunken, closed or even become cults.
We at Believers Bridge have been working with them since our inception to try to help train pastors and leaders for the thousands of churches in the countryside. However, there had been one serious road block. Years ago, a mission from another country working with the IEP, decided that they wanted to change all of the churches that they were working with to their denomination. This caused a serious breach in the IEP and a distrust of foreign missions.
So, the IEP decided that they would only work with missions with whom they could and would sign a convenio (pact of operations). As you might guess this has not proven easy for either foreign missions or for the IEP. BUT, after 4-1/2 years of work with them, they decided last week to sign a convenio with Believers Bridge. We will be working, initially, in our same area of the Andes. Now we will be giving accredited degrees, and producing pastors who are capable of going to work in the many pastorless churches in the IEP.
Not only this, but they have allowed us to admit students from ALL evangelical churches.
Brothers, this is an unparalleled example of God's grace. Of course now we need - more than ever - more qualified teachers, and the funding for them and for the materials. But what God has begun, I am sure He will finish. Will you pray with us for His provision in these areas of need,
God Bless,
Mike
They knew that they had many problems, not the least of which was training pastors for the countryside. Only 1 out of 16 churches have a real pastor. Many country churches have shrunken, closed or even become cults.
We at Believers Bridge have been working with them since our inception to try to help train pastors and leaders for the thousands of churches in the countryside. However, there had been one serious road block. Years ago, a mission from another country working with the IEP, decided that they wanted to change all of the churches that they were working with to their denomination. This caused a serious breach in the IEP and a distrust of foreign missions.
So, the IEP decided that they would only work with missions with whom they could and would sign a convenio (pact of operations). As you might guess this has not proven easy for either foreign missions or for the IEP. BUT, after 4-1/2 years of work with them, they decided last week to sign a convenio with Believers Bridge. We will be working, initially, in our same area of the Andes. Now we will be giving accredited degrees, and producing pastors who are capable of going to work in the many pastorless churches in the IEP.
Not only this, but they have allowed us to admit students from ALL evangelical churches.
Brothers, this is an unparalleled example of God's grace. Of course now we need - more than ever - more qualified teachers, and the funding for them and for the materials. But what God has begun, I am sure He will finish. Will you pray with us for His provision in these areas of need,
God Bless,
Mike
Is it already October?
Time flies by sometimes. Just a quick recap of what has been going on:
At the end of August we moved both house and office to the nearby town of Talavera. It is much less cold there and the rent is more economical for a house with more conveniences. Talavera is a very short taxi ride from Andahuaylas.
Of course that made getting telephone and internet installed all over again.
We also began teaching a Bible Institute in the church in Andahuaylas, and will start up a second in Talavera this month.
At the end of September we made a trip to Chile for visa reasons. Mike´s sciatica fired up badly and we had to stay in the city of Tacna for a week.
We are in Lima right now getting ready to go back to Andahuaylas.
At the end of August we moved both house and office to the nearby town of Talavera. It is much less cold there and the rent is more economical for a house with more conveniences. Talavera is a very short taxi ride from Andahuaylas.
Of course that made getting telephone and internet installed all over again.
We also began teaching a Bible Institute in the church in Andahuaylas, and will start up a second in Talavera this month.
At the end of September we made a trip to Chile for visa reasons. Mike´s sciatica fired up badly and we had to stay in the city of Tacna for a week.
We are in Lima right now getting ready to go back to Andahuaylas.
Ocobamba conference illustrates need
Our last Bible conference, in the beautiful but very cold town of Ocobamba, illustrates the importance of our rural institutes and conferences. The organizing pastor, brother Gabino Gutierrez, was out of communication 10 days before the conference for a week and we almost had to cancel the conference, because we couldn't verify if we had enough attendance. My Peruvian co-worker, Cayo Cardenas had to go to Ocobamba a few days before to personally see if there would be enough people for the conference (this was a Thompson Bible seminar, and they need to have an absolute minimum of 40 students to break even).When Cayo got there, it took him all morning to find pastor Gabino. He was up on a mountain top, fasting and praying for the resurrection of a child of church members who had died of complications of the extreme cold this year. Pastor Gabino had been fasting, just drinking water, for a week and a half and when Cayo finally found him, Gabino had no voice and was frostbitten. Cayo picked up the ball and got the preregistration done and we had a 2 very successful conferences there with over 60 pastors in attendance. Most of them, like Pastor Gabino, men of great desire and love for God, but with no Biblical or doctrinal training. They have asked us to come back and continue to teach them in a regular Bible Institute. They need it and we would love to, but we need at least 1 more full-time worker to meet our current obligations.
Please pray with us to the Lord of the Harvest for more workers to be sent out Matthew 9:38
On Sat, Aug 21, 2010 at 9:42 AM, Tammy Riggs <triggsorama@gmail.com> wrote:
--
Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
Psalm 27:13-14
Tammy Riggs
Missionary
Impact International
--
**NEW -Our website now has current prayer and praise information and news**
Mike Riggs
Field Director
Missionary to Peru
Believers Bridge
www.impact-intl.org
--
Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
Psalm 27:13-14
Tammy Riggs
Missionary
--
Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
Psalm 27:13-14
Tammy Riggs
Missionary
Believers' Bridge
Thompson Bible Seminar in Ocobamba
Welcome to Ocobamba! This is the site of the Thompson Bible conference August 11-14. We had a few anxious moments preparing for this, as the organizing pastor, Gabino, went away for a crucial week to pray and fast. (He was praying for the resurrection of a dead child from the community.)
This is where we stayed--pretty luxurious for out in the country.
We decided to start a day early with a conference on Church History. We are starting a day early because many people will arrive late, and if they miss part of the Thompson seminar they will not receive a Bible. They requested the conference on Church History because they know nothing about it and are unable to meet challenges from other groups. By the time we started, there were more than enough on hand and registered for the conference to meet the minimun requirement, and the ones who had come on time for the Church History conference were now eager to learn more.
Andean harpist
Harpist and harpmaker Leonardo Cahuana and his daughter Edith Ruby Cahuana visited our friend Cayo Vargas and gave a small concer in his living room. (This is only one song!)
...to boldly go...
At three A.M. this morning, my co-workers Cayo Cardenas and Walter Ccoicca left for Incahuasi, a remote (even for Peru!) area the other side of the cordillera Blanca (the really high snow-capped mountains). Incahuasi is on the way down into the Amazon Basin and among other things makes some of the best coffee in the world - I am enjoying a cup right now :).
The bus trip, in an old, small, rattle-trap bus made on a converted truck chassis, will take them 13 hours or so, depending upon the weather at the pass and mechanical breakdowns. But that is better than last year until this year you had to go a long way by mule! This area is so remote, in fact, that are still vestiges of the Shining Path Terrorists in the area, another reason that a Gringo can't really go there.
They are going to set up a Thompson Bible conference that will be held there next month. This area is full of churches, but has not got any trained pastors and it is so remote that American missionaries don't usually go there. In fact, the churches that are there are the result of Christians moving to the area to grow coffee and are not the result of church planting. So, it is really a new field in many ways. And because of the terrorists and the difficulty of getting there, I will probably never or seldom go there. But the Lord has brought us Peruvian - Andean Quechua - co-workers and that has opened yet more doors for us here. They can go places that I can't!
They will also be meeting with the churches there about starting a regular Bible Institute there. They have been asking for teachers up there for as long as I can remember and now that Cayo and Walter are working with Believers Bridge, we can meet that need. Cayo and Walter, both seminary graduates with years of pastoral experience are expanding our ministry here to many such areas - places like Ocros, Puquio, Huancarama - that are at very high altitudes or very far from roads or are unsafe for foreigners. Please pray for these men and their families as they pour their lives into the ministry here. Cayo has only got $200 monthly support and that may only be for this year. Walter so far has no support, he is still pastoring a church and can only work part-time and with me paying for his travel. The fields are white, but the laborers are few, pray to the Lord of the harvest that He will provide for the needs of these workers, who are willing to go where no missionaries have gone before.
The bus trip, in an old, small, rattle-trap bus made on a converted truck chassis, will take them 13 hours or so, depending upon the weather at the pass and mechanical breakdowns. But that is better than last year until this year you had to go a long way by mule! This area is so remote, in fact, that are still vestiges of the Shining Path Terrorists in the area, another reason that a Gringo can't really go there.
They are going to set up a Thompson Bible conference that will be held there next month. This area is full of churches, but has not got any trained pastors and it is so remote that American missionaries don't usually go there. In fact, the churches that are there are the result of Christians moving to the area to grow coffee and are not the result of church planting. So, it is really a new field in many ways. And because of the terrorists and the difficulty of getting there, I will probably never or seldom go there. But the Lord has brought us Peruvian - Andean Quechua - co-workers and that has opened yet more doors for us here. They can go places that I can't!
They will also be meeting with the churches there about starting a regular Bible Institute there. They have been asking for teachers up there for as long as I can remember and now that Cayo and Walter are working with Believers Bridge, we can meet that need. Cayo and Walter, both seminary graduates with years of pastoral experience are expanding our ministry here to many such areas - places like Ocros, Puquio, Huancarama - that are at very high altitudes or very far from roads or are unsafe for foreigners. Please pray for these men and their families as they pour their lives into the ministry here. Cayo has only got $200 monthly support and that may only be for this year. Walter so far has no support, he is still pastoring a church and can only work part-time and with me paying for his travel. The fields are white, but the laborers are few, pray to the Lord of the harvest that He will provide for the needs of these workers, who are willing to go where no missionaries have gone before.
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