Happy NEW Year!
Happy New Year to you!!
We have been back in Peru for 2 months now! We look with anticipation & excitement towards what 2021 brings to our lives & to our ministry. We are feeling pretty well settled into our new home & are getting used to our new neighborhood & our new friends on this side of the City!
Our photo above shows our first "monthly worship service" that was held on Dec. 27th at a restaurant in town called Niñachay. Fourteen were in attendance at that first service. We were encouraged. Our next service will be on Sunday, Jan. 24th. We would appreciate your prayers for that next gathering. We are having monthly services to let folks know that we do indeed have a church family gathering & growing, but we also know that we are not quite "ready" to launch officially with weekly services. Please pray for more people to commit to join us & commit to this new work.
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Since back, we have been re-connecting with friends & former small group attenders. After this photo was taken, our dear friends have added a little daughter to their family! She was born Dec. 28th! All are doing well!
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Of course we celebrated the Christmas season last month! We had fun doing some "typical" Christmas activities -- like making Christmas cut-out cookies! My friend, Mary Lynne, came over & helped me decorate them! We had such fun & had lots of cookies to share with our new neighbors! Below are some other Christmas "sights" from the main Plaza in the center of the city.
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Right before Christmas, we had a visit from our new Regional Director, Seth Malec. He is a Church Planter in Arequipa. They just launched their new church plant this past Sunday, Jan. 10th! Pray for that new church plant too!
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Our Christmas Day gathering with family was via ZOOM this year! We thought those of you who know our family might enjoy seeing them too! (Sort of looks like the opening to the Brady Bunch, doesn't it?! )
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Right after ringing in the new year -- with the sky ablaze with a bazillion fireworks all around us -- being shot off from nearly every rooftop, we celebrated our 34th wedding anniversary! Here's a photo from a waterfall that we visited way up high on a nearby mountain!
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Our December update shared the need for SAM Air to replace the damaged float plane due to a huge microburst in Pucallpa. We are thrilled to report that enough money was raised to replace the plane, to rebuild the hangar, & even possibly to upgrade some radio equipment! Hallelujah! Thank You, Lord!
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We have shared several prayer requests throughout this update. We appreciate your continued prayers & support of us here in Peru. We know that COVID remains a real issue & constant stress for many as it continues to plague the world. Thus far, we have been fine, though 4 of our family members have had it in the last month, but thankfully they are doing well.
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We hope & pray that you & your families are all doing well. We also pray that this new year brings you much hope, joy, peace & blessing as we look to the One who holds all things in His hand.
"You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance." Psalm 65:11
With much love & appreciation,
Rick & Donna Martin
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