As with churches and ministries around the world, the last couple of months in quarantine have brought changes and challenges to our ministry here on the mission field. I have had to cancel trainings and now I wait to see what government restrictions there will be on large group gatherings once the quarantine is lifted since most of the groups I train are made up of around 50 pastors and church leaders. I am especially eager to restart the trainings that take place in our home for the future teachers of the Bible institute, Seminario Cristiano Andino.  

However, the quarantine has not stopped our mission work, rather it has caused for adjustments. I continue to text and chat with key pastors that are part of our trainings and I have started teaching and preaching online through our local church. Aside from sharing the preaching load with our lead pastor, Darwin Torres, and other leaders in the church, I have been providing daily devotionals titled, "Let Us Rejoice at All Times," through the book of Philippians. The preachings and devotionals are watched by people throughout Latin America and the United States. Moreover, starting in May they will be played on the radio here in Cusco and will reach throughout the surrounding rural communities. We are so thankful that nothing can stop the advance of God's Word!

Click on the picture above to see an example of one of my daily devotions. 

The Love of Christ in Action
Beyond teaching, one big need all around us is provision of food and necessities. In response to this we have been able to help to provide some food for those who are in need in our neighborhood. Our church is now using a large bulk of its resources to provide for those in need in our congregation, a home for homeless teen girls who are pregnant or have a baby, the twenty-two widows that are enrolled in the church's widows ministry, as well as many others.

In fact, Darwin recently shared with me that one family from our church, with three children, was praying that the government would help them with food since the parents are out of work right now. Then, one of the leaders from the church showed up at their door with a basket of food from the church. They immediately began crying and telling how God had responded to their prayers with something far better than government help, the love of Christ. 

First, and most importantly, the quarantine allowed Jill to reach a major milestone - she is potty trained!!! Betsy had the thought of taking advantage of the extra time and thus she took on the task of potty training Jill. I was hesitant but Betsy crushed it with Jill and now we can celebrate a diaper free life. 

Betsy has also taken up a new baking venture - she made a sourdough bread starter and has been making a range of yummy recipes with sourdough bread. 

Finally, because the Peruvian schools will most likely be doing their entire school year (it runs from March - December) via e-learning we decided to pull Ethan, Titus, and Nora out of school so Betsy could begin homeschooling them again. The news about no face-to-face school was tough on them because they were just starting to make friends in the school they were attending but they are also happy to do school with Betsy again.