A New House and a Familiar Place...

Hey all - just wanted to drop everyone a line and touch base. Right after Christmas I moved from where I was living to a house on SAM Center. The house I am in is the house of my pastor Julio Chiang who is in the states visiting churches and raising support for Mil Palmeras and his ministry (he is also with SAM).

Sooo...upon moving in we (I live with two other single guys) discovered the house was kinda in bad shape. Sooo...the projects we are getting done are - repairing the main bath/shower (hole in the base of the tube), gutting the kitchen sink and cabinets and having them entirley replaced. Then...I have begun cutting/trimming the trees around the house. The house (as you can see from the photo) is surrounded by mango trees that hang low to the ground - it does not allow the the ground and such to dry after rain - hence mildew and mold is a huge problem. I will be taking on this project this coming week. Pastor Julio also has a dog named Brisa that I am taking care of as well!

These next two months are probably going to be the busiest I most likely have ever been. I am teaching Old Testament and PE at the missionary kid school. I am also subbing for high school Civics class for another teacher who is currently in Lima awaiting on the delievery of her grandchild. I am also doing two months of classes everything Thursday nights on missions. I am also preaching this Sunday and the following Sunday. Whew!....

That is a quick update on me! I hope all of you are doing well.

Marshall

Going backwards in time!

Hi all! I am currently using a friends computer who has high speed internet! I have recently moved and the house I am now living in has good ol dial up!! Yep! Sooo...I tried to set it up and move back to dial up...and discovered that my computer does not have a modem. AND also my computer is seeming to have more and more wrong with it everyday!

Sooo...if i seem distant...I'm not...just kinda out of the loop!

I will do my best to keep regular posts on the blog...it just might take some extra effort and patience!

Marshall

God's timing...

Hi all - I am amazed at God's timing and his knowledge of our hearts. Most of you know that while in the states I had to raise money for a vehicle here and the limit set for me was $10,000. Now, in the US buying a used truck for $10,000 is pretty easy. As I began to look in July and August in Arequipa used trucks here go for $12-16,000 (and these trucks have been beaten to death!) Soo... after looking some and moving to Pucallpa in mid September I decided to hold off the the purchase of a truck for various reasons. One being - it was not a pressing need for me to have a vehicle right now. Two, if I were to go "shopping" for a truck it most likely have to be in Lima or Arequipa (not here). Three, I would like to meet the owner and even then...can I trust what he is telling me about it. And four I just didn't have the funds to do it!

Sooo...housing here is a pressing need. I decided to take the money for a vehicle and use it to help build housing on SAM Center for singles (SOMETHING MUCH NEEDED!!!). I then had heard that a missionary couple from another organization had decided not to return as missionaries and had decided to sell their stuff. Having already made up my mind with my money - I didn't really pay attention to the fact they had a 1998 White Nissan 4X4 dual cab - duel fuel (gas and propane) for sale for $11,500. God had to kinda do his thing to get me to notice the truck and actually see it was a possibility. Sooo...I checked the $$$ with SAM - and I had enough, though it was going to take my account almost dangerously low. I sought council and advice for experienced missionaries and they told me to buy it. Soooo...with the monies raised over support raising time and the $5,000 gift from Willow Creek Baptist Church in Crowely, Texas I am in the process of purchasing a "new" truck!

I just find it funny how I had made up my mind to go in another direction and God totally turned things around on me.....I know this was from the Lord. Thank you all who have, are, and will in the future support me here in Peru.


Mucho Love!

Marshall

Realizing Where I Am....

The last year has been quite the journey. I left Peru in June 2007 looking for support as the Lord had directed me to return to Peru full time. Just under a year all my monthly ministry support was raised and as of June of 2008 I was returning to Peru as a career missionary. I spent three months in Arequipa, Peru officially studying Spanish and had returned to Pucallpa to assume all that awaited on Sept. 13, 2008!

I was quickly running...with teaching at the school, starting up the missionary kid youth group, and working at Mil Palmeras (our church plant of 300). My job is to be the missions pastor and I am looking at getting missions classes and such started soon and having that transition into actual local projects and then to other cities and eventually other countries. Since I have been here (2 months) I have taught three classes on "sects/false religions" 2 classes on Mormonism and 1 class on the prosperity gospel. Last Sunday 11/9, was a historical day for me as I preached my frist sermon in Spanish (twice). I am also slotted to preach on 11/23 and 12/7. Exciting huh....keep reading!

There is nothing like being where GOD has called you to be EVEN in the midst of resistance and oppostion. Last week as I was preparing my sermon and such..."things" started happening in the house and such. One night about 10:30pm I was downstairs - my roomates had already gone to bed...and the upstairs shower comes on and I noticed and evil presence in the hosue - so I go upstairs - pray, and turn it off. Come back down and continue my NCAA football game (the nerve to interupt my game!!) Ten minutes later...it happened again. I went back upstairs and turned it off. Yep, ten minutes later...it happened again. Prayed (had been) and prayed some more...then, I took a shower! And went to bed. It happened the next two nights. It never has happened before...nor has it happend since.

I also "lost" my keys for my motocylce three days - and on Sunday morning...happen to find them in shorts I was had not been wearing the day I lost them. Also that week...one time...I walked by my big floor fan and it turned off by itself...brown outs here are common...but we still had power!

Many of you have asked how to pray for me and the ministry here. Here is a snap shot of the resistance that is beginning and I believe will continue. I am not scared, frightened, spooked or anything...not at all...God already has taught me not to fear this. So...would pray for the ministry here in Peru.

Please pray for:
- Salvations
- The understanding of Missions
- Personal growth in the lives of those that attend Mil Palmeras
- Wisdom (for me)
- Anything else the Lord lays on your heart!

Thank you so much!