Day-by-Day

We've been blessed to see some growth and change in Hunter, which we have to remind ourselves is not always the case in ministry.  Sundays and Mondays are our Hunter Days.  We're right in the middle of the rainy season here in Arequipa.  Based on last year around this time I hadn't a clue that the rainy season existed, but it came back full force this year, the worst that some have seen since their childhood.  Because of this, we've been unable to teach in the park, but since our impact we have been making new connections that appear to be bearing fruit.  We continue to teach at Zelmira's house.  Her father joined the group yesterday and we had 4 children in addition to the 5 adults.  A little girl, of 11 years, that lives across the street wanted to join us but could not leave the care of her house while her mom is working.  We will start to meet with her and her mom next week.

We stopped by Sandra's house again - she had not joined us at the church because of the rain and her phone had been turned off.  We were leaving a note and on our way out, when she and her daughter Camila came walking up the long stretch of stairs.  She still wants to meet with us at Zelmira's house next week and possibly go to church with us on Sunday.  We were unable to meet with Rosa yesterday because she was working, but continue to look forward to being with her next week.  Mariselda, a single mom that came to the event, has opened her house to us to teach her niece, nephew, and daughter besides joining us for the cell group.  She seems eager to learn as well.

The conversation that touched my heart the most this week was at the Jove's house.  Barely anyone came out because of the rain, but Laura was there and was later joined by Shirley and her mom, Señora Cristina.  When we arrived we witnessed Laura getting Jimmy up out of the room to haul him to another room - both him and his father were drunk.  Señora Cristina, tried to convince Señor Julio to join us, but he said, "I'm a little drunk and embarrassed, but you can give them my word that I'll be there to listen next week."

In many of our lives, Sundays are a day of rest from work and a time we go to church or spend the day with family.  For many in this area there is still work on this day, but less than normal, and then the rest of the day they sit around and drink.  Maybe by virtue of being around consistently we can help convince them of other pass times as all of the women in their family are saddened by this behavior.  Since it was just the three women, and for a time only Laura, we were able to have a heart-to-heart with them.  We were able to apply Biblical truths to their situations, encourage them to continue to pray even if at times it feels like God isn't listening, and we were able to witness first hand the spiritual hunger that God is putting in Laura's life especially.  It's a beautiful thing really and it's the slow bloom of relationship day-by-day.