Took one on the chin today...

Hey there...well, nothing like news happening in your life to make the blog post! And, I wish this was going to be good news...but, that is life sometimes.

I love swimming and the Lord has blessed me to be able to have several swim classes throughout the week. On Monday and Friday mornings I do swim lessons with a missionary family who is home schooling their children. So, this morning...I showed up at 9:30 and had class till about 11 or so. Today's class was probably the hardest I have pushed the kids. They are age 10, 8, and 7. They did great...and I walked away thinking that was a great class. I walked out to my truck (not even 15 feet from the entrance to the place) and the drivers side lock is missing.....oh no!

Yep, I was robbed. They got my back pack (which I normally take into any establishment that I go into). They got my wallet (the wallet I have had since I was 15). Inside was $60, my credit card, debit card, peruvian drivers license, and my florida one as well. Also, a book that was borrowed (Same Kind of Different as Me (if you have not read this...it is a good one!)). And, I lost my leatherman...as I just had put it in my backpack the night before. (My credit and debit cards were canceled in time and new ones are on the way). THEY DID NOT get my peruvian carnet as it was at my house...and I had a copy in my wallet!

Soooo.....yep, I am pretty mad...and am actually lucky I did not see the guy doing it. On the flip side though....from the first moment I saw it...I was just flooded with this peace...and was really surprised at how calm I was.

Pray for him/her...whoever. Theft here is HUGE...and its almost not worth having anything cuz it is just gonna grow legs and walk away.

Pic 1 of lock missing on door...

Pic 2 of lock missing on door....

Pray for thieves!!

Marshall

Mil Palmeras Baptism Feb 2010

Two posts in one day! Can you believe it???

Mil Palmeras had it's annual baptism at Cashibo Cocha yesterday among some rain and biting piranhas! Praise the Lord for the 22 who came forth and were baptized!!!

Below are some photos:

All four Mil Palmeras Pastors in the water with the first baptism.

Artulo leaving the baptism area...

Marcos getting baptized...

The church family watching the baptism...

Miguel had to step out because his finger was nipped by a piranha...

The group that was baptized - notice my hands are OUT of the water!!!

Thank you!

Keep praying for us!

Marshall

First Official Social Project for Mil Palmeras

Hi all! Sorry it has been a while since my last post, but I'm back with two posts this time! First off I want to talk about our first social project that we did this past weekend (Sat Feb 20, 2010). About four months ago I was made aware of an elderly lady (Gloria) whose house burnt to the ground. As a church we decided to help her and moved to get her at least a roof over her head.

The pics below are from that project in October.

I am in charge of social projects for Mil Palmeras. This was our first "official" social project for our church. We had about ten guys that showed up and gave their time. We purchased the wood and nails needed and showed up Saturday eager to work. The following pics are from this Saturday where we returned to Gloria's house and built her a floor for inside her home.

The beginning - making post holes!

Cross beams in place and now laying down the floor!

Gloria, her two grand daughters and a neighborhood friend!

Getting it done!

Final touches!

Group shot!

Thank you for reading about and looking at pictures from our first official social project!

Marshall

Prayer and Support Needed...

Hey all! Well I have never made this type of blog entry…but I guess the old saying is true “never say never!” It is a real joy to be able to serve on the mission field here in Pucallpa, Peru. Knowing the Lord has ordained me to be here and be involved in the specific ministries I am involved in…is beyond what some might call a “blessing!”

The past year I have been able to work with the men in our church and see them grow mightily in the Lord. Most churches here in Peru have mostly women and a few men in the church, let alone men who are training to be leaders. This training for leadership is taking place at Mil Palmeras…and crazy as it may seem, the Lord is using me in this regard.

I spent 2009 working with men in our church directly in groups…via an Old Testament study I did with them. We covered Genesis through II Kings 11 and will pick back up soon with II Kings through Malachi. I also was involved in getting the social ministries/missions ball rolling for Mil Palmeras. It has been a great year!!

But…staying here involves support. The support channel is a long one and at times can be confusing and complicated. I purchased a truck in Dec of 2008 and the purchase of the truck was over looked in getting credited to my account with SAM. And now, the error has been caught and is now being credited (or debited – however you look at it). This comes at a time when I no longer have in my account enough to cover the cost of my truck…which means I am going in the “RED” by about $2,000.

The quick answer is really getting more monthly support. My monthly goal is $2,900 (with a %50 increase in health insurance starting in January of 2010.) More monthly support will help pull me out of the “red” and get me back to where I need to be.

The not so quick answer, is upon council and prayer…is to return to the US to raise more support. This involves leaving the ministry, house, truck, and forfeiting my resident visa (if over six months).

If you have read this far…God Bless you!! Haa haa – Pray for me and these next two or three trying months…a lot will be known soon…

If you are interested in supporting my ministry or know someone who is send checks to:

South America Mission, Inc.
1021 Maxwell Mill Road, Suite B
Fort Mill, SC 29708

(Make checks payable to South America Mission)

Thank you!...please keep praying!

Marshall