One Month and One Week

Karina has lived with us in the States for one month and one week and both Sheila and I are still overwhelmed at how blessed we are to have Karina as part of our family.  We are so thankful for her.

So many of you have been so kind and giving since we returned.  Thanks for the clothes, the purse, the money, the Target gift card, the parties... thanks for all you have done to welcome Karina and to help provide for her.  We are grateful for you and Karina is so thankful for every thing she is given.

As a family we have been doing some traveling and a lot of speaking regarding our ministry and Karina has been a huge help with this and an encouragement to us.  She wants to serve and minister to others and we thank God for her servant's heart.

Many of you prayed for us while in Peru - in between two Ukraine trips.  Thanks for those prayers.  Last week our Peru Mission Team published the following and I just wanted to share it with you.  Karina is excited about helping with these camps:

Twin Lakes Camp Reaches Children, Reaches Families

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 19:14

For the second year in a row, a very talented and enthusiastic group from Twin Lakes Camp came to Trujillo to provide a summer camp for the youth in our churches and community. Twin Lakes, which is a ministry of First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, Mississippi, brought twenty-six team members from the states who worked alongside dozens of Peruvian volunteers to host 165 kids for the week-long camp.

The kids were surrounded by camp leaders who were able to share the love of Christ with them as they sang songs, played games, and learned biblical stories. For these kids this week is a very special time. For some it is the reward for faithful church attendance and participation throughout the year; for others it may be their first encounter with a body of believers.

The purpose of the Twin Lakes camp goes well beyond the fun and games. As missionary Allen Smith explains, “God uses this camp to reach children and families with the Gospel.  In a week full of fun and worship, many children for the first time hear the gospel proclaimed and see the gospel portrayed through the godly character of the counselors. One pastor told me that several of the children who went to camp last year are now members of the church along with their families.”

The church in Peru not only realizes the importance of this camp in the lives of the youth, but also its importance in the life of the church. The camp has been invited to return to Trujillo and has also been asked to start a summer camp in Cajamarca. The summer camp that Twin Lakes provides helps to better integrate these young students into the churches they attend, and we pray that God develops these children into a new generation of leaders in the Peruvian church.

In His Grace,

The Peru Mission Team