The Church splits! (in a good way)

I write to tell you of some very exciting things that are happening in the church in Lima. For the past two months we have been cramming 70+ people in a member's home on Sunday mornings. It has been different but I love the close family feeling that it gives me. Since Lima is so big some of our members were traveling an hour and a half to get to church. Our missionary Paul has showed a lot of wisdom in what he has decided to do with the churches here. He needed to split the church into two separate congregations but the problem was that there was no other home that would have the capacity to hold 30+ if the church were to multiply. So he asked if the six of the AIMers would use our contribution money towards renting a building for the other church to get started. We all thought that would be a wonderful way to use the money we have been blessed with. Being supported on the field makes you understand very quickly that it was never your money to start with. It took Paul a few weeks to find an appropriate size building in the right location but I think we got exactly what we needed. Two Sundays ago all the members of the church went to the other district to have an opening worship service. I was really tired that Sunday but seeing over 1oo people joined together in a new place worshiping our Father brought so much joy to my heart.

Last Sunday was really different since there were only about 35 members meeting in the house church. It is different now, but knowing that the body here is growing and spreading is so encouraging. I have been through a bad church split or two in my lifetime but now being involved in a "split" that brings glory to the Father makes me thankful to experience this. To all that made it possible for me to come here, your money made it possible for this growth to happen and your blessings has blessed others. I love you all and thank you for being concerned about my life and the work God is doing here.

Dios te bendiga,

God bless you, Brandon

A Light in Dark times

On the 23rd of August I was able to go on a relief trip to Chincha with 20 other members of the church from Lima. The picture on the left is the house where the church in Chincha had been meeting before the earthquake. Down the hall you can see where the roof has collapsed. The house now is considered structurally unsound and must be torn down. It is amazing to see first hand how God is providing for these people in such disastrous times. The Sunday before we went to Chincha the church in Lima took up a special offering for the church in Chincha. We then bought food and supplies and loaded four cars for three hour trip. When we arrived early that afternoon it was really hard to look around and see the kids on the streets that didn't have homes to go to anymore. A lot of random kids came up to the car and were asking for food so we gave them bread and some Coca-Cola. I was so blessed to be there and witness smiles appear on their faces. After passing out all the food we gathered up all the kids and played a friendly game of soccer in the street. It was the craziest game of soccer I have ever played. We were in the middle of the road with four rocks as goals and about 30 people playing in area about the size of a tennis court. There was approximately 300 minor aftershocks in Chincha after the main earthquake. So it is really hard for the people to relax and move on when they are constantly being reminded of the fear they had from the first earthquake. Being able to play soccer with those young guys was the best part of the trip for me because it allowed them to loosen up and have some fun. Before we left I was talking with this little kid named Piero who had been playing soccer barefoot. I told him that I had been studying Spanish for a month so he gave me a kids book in Spanish to help me learn. That was pretty special for me since I knew this kid didn't have much. When I left I told him I would want to come back soon and he said: "I will be waiting".
God has been working through the churches in the states to raise money to rebuild the church and some of the members houses. God really is doing some amazing things! All the money is raised and we will begin to rebuild the houses within the next month or two. After going to Chincha later that week I read Matthew 5. In verse 14 Jesus tells us that we are "the light of the world". Why? What is it in us that is so "bright" or "good"? Thinking more about it I realized that it has nothing to do with what I can do but understanding that it is him in me that is the "light" of this world. Without him I am in darkness and so is the world. In 5:16 it says: "let your light shine before men so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." I am so blessed and thankful to have the opportunity to shine the light of our savior Jesus Christ in Peru. Thank you to all that made sacrifices for me to be here and to all who are battling for me in prayer.
Your brother,
Brandon

Welcome to The Jungle

There has been a lot of things going on here in Lima recently but first I want to tell of a much needed trip we took two weeks ago. Moving from south Alabama to Lima has been a little difficult for me. Partially because it is the middle of winter here. Its not to cold but extremely humid and gloomy. You can go weeks without ever seeing the sun. During the week of Peru's independence we decided to take a break from the cold. We traveled seven hours northeast over the Andes montains. I didn't believe this at first but the seasons are flipped on the other side of the mountains. So right now it is winter here and summer there. I didn't know this until I came here but the Andes are the second highest mountain range in all of the world. We arrived in La Merced late the first night and stayed in a very nice Hostal. The next morning I woke up walked out of my bungalow to find the jungle all around me. It was absolutely beautiful. Another thing you have to understand to appreciate this is that Lima is practically a desert on the coast. Lima receives less rain fall each year than the sierra desert. It is surrounded by mountains but there are not trees to be found. The color green is a rare finding in Lima. The picture above is of our team in La Merced with the Indian tribe that lives there. The way that I connect best with God in prayer is when I am out in his marvelous creation. I knew moving to a city of 8 million would be hard for me to get away and spend time in his wilderness. This trip was just so refreshing for me spiritually. To see God's creativity and power reminded me of what an awesome Father we serve. On our way home on Sunday we weren't going to make it back in time for church so we decided to stop somewhere on the side of the road and have our own service. So my team, coordinator, and a Peruvian brother stopped the cars in jungle and climbed a little hill on the side of a mountain. I will try to describe to you the beauty that surrounded us. We were completely surrounded by mountains, about quarter mile below us was a flowing river and across the gourge parallel with us was a waterfall that was hundreds of feet tall. In my spiritual life I have begun to see more of how Satan attacks us and the tactics he uses to weaken us. Its scares me sometimes to think of how he is so desperately trying to find a foothold in our lives. But standing on that cliff worshiping with my Father looking around and being reminded of how big and powerful he is. To know that I serve someone so faithful and strong in comparison it makes Satan seem so small. God blessed me so much on that trip and reminded me not to worry for the one who made all that is with me each day.
When we arrived back to Lima things have really started picking up for us. One big work that started up once we got back was the satellite school of preaching. Our coordinator has been searching for a building to house the school but had no luck. So he came to me and my two guy teammates to ask us if we wouldn't mind housing the school in our living room. How it works is there is a very high-tech webcam that is hooked up to the internet and receives streaming video from classes that are being taught in spanish in the states. The teachers in the states can see our classroom hear and answer question that our students have. The webcam has voice recognition so when a student has a question the camera will turn to whoever is asking the question and focus on that person. So we spent all weekend last week getting everything set up for school. The schools purpose is to train the men here to become fully capable preachers. It will be just like any preaching school in the states, I am really excited to see what might come of this.
Many of you have probably heard of the 8.0 earthquake that shook most of Peru. Its origin was southwest of Lima of the coast in the pacific. When the earthquake hit Lima I had just left my apartment to go get something to eat and then I started to hear something. It sounded like a really strong wind but I didn't feel any wind at all. I heard a gate beside me begin to shake very hard. I didn't understand what was going on at all. I looked up and saw the power lines above me dancing back and forth and then I thought "earthquake". I immediately ran as fast as I could back to my house. The rest of my team was there with some teens that had come for our small group. We got everyone out of the apartment and huddled up together in the middle of the street. It was eeriest feeling I have ever had before in my life. To feel the earth move back and forth beneath you and move you with it, and then it got worse. It became more violent and wondered if it were going to stop. The lights on our block all went out and then I saw three tranformers on the power line poles blow up. It lasted from beginning to end about two minutes but seemed like forever. It still doesn't seem like it was real. There was not any structural damage done to our apartment and no one was hurt. Lima didn't receive the worst of the earthquake. Three towns south of Lima were devastated. Chincha, Ica, and Pisco is where the earthquake was the worst. In the past week our coordinator had just established a church in Chincha so we were very concerned for the people there. The building that the church meets in collapsed partially. All of the members are OK some have lost family members and friends. So please keep the people of Peru in your prayers. The president of Peru declared a state of emergency and has requested help for the cities devastated by the quakes. Our coordinator and four of my teammates left to spend the day in Chincha to bring relief. They brought supplies to help with the needs and also just wanted to be there for encouragement.
Thank you for taking the time to read this really long update. I am sorry it has been so long since I have updated everyone on what has been going on. I love you all and thank you for the love and support you give me.

God's glorious Family

The past few weeks have been filled with a lot of encouragement. Two guys from ACU have been staying with us and helping out with the work here. Reid and Jeremy are in college training to be missionaries in Concepcion, Chile in 2010. They spent the summer on survey trips in South America and have planed to return to Chile. These two guys have been a huge blessing to me the past few weeks. Reid reminded me how important it is to become Christ to those we are around not just preach the gospel. Watching them love them people here made me realize that I have got to step it up. It is pretty amazing to see God's huge family working together in so many different places. The people of Chile will be extremely blessed to have those guys and I can't wait to here of the work that is done there.

Also last week two girls from ACU came for a few days. Shannon and Ashley have been in Paraguay for summer helping the church in Asuncion. Shannon is someone that is very special to me and my family. Shannon's father spent a year and half with my parents in Honduras when they went to AIM program in 1978. While she was here for a few days it was really awesome to think about our parents being together in Central America nearly 30 years ago. Shannon will be returning to Paraguay next summer and she is considering becoming a longer term missionary in South America. Pray for her that God's plan for her comes through clearly.

Yesterday was a really great day for the church. Since Lima is so big it is not possible for all the members to come together and worship at the same place. Usually we have the church meet at different locations on Sunday but on Sunday we all members meet together in a park in a central location. I was absolutely amazed with how many people showed up. There was about 140 people come. Which is a lot more than the two congregations combined, which means we had about 30 visitors. One visitor really stood out to me, his name is Christopher. I have been meeting in his grandmother's house for the past few weeks where he lives as well. I have really wanted to reach to him but since I don't know much Spanish it makes it sort of difficult. Well he came Sunday and we ate and played futbol(soccer), basketball, tennis, and real football. I had wanted to find a way to begin a friendship with this guy and it was amazing to see it just happen through being boys and having a good time. Please pray for Christopher and decisions he will be making over the next few years. He is only 14 and the choices that he makes in the next few years will be very significant.

I will be leaving today with the rest of my team for Tarma, Peru. This week is independence week for Peru. We are going to take a break for a few days and go to the jungle. I am really excited about being in the woods again. Since I was raised in the woods of south Alabama I feel so at home in the wild. The city is nice but I can only take so much before I need some air. If you have any questions about the work going on or what is going on in my life just leave a comment. Thanks for being interested in the work that God is doing down here.

To all my supporters, friends, and family. Thanks for taking the time to stop by and see what is going on in Lima, Peru. I will be using this blog instead of newsletters to keep you all informed with the work that is going on here. Thanks for the love and concern you have all shown towards me. I ask that you keep me in your prayers.