May 26, 2008
Yesterday (May 25) worship began at the San Juan de Miraflores congregation around 10:00 a.m. I spoke first and then brother Jack Farber of Latin American Missions spoke next. There was a baptism after services. We enjoyed lunch at a local mall (I was able to sample the Peruvian version of a Caramel Macchiato at Starbucks – pretty good!!). At 4:00 p.m. we began a Bible Study that has just begun (this was the second week) at the school. That study lasted until 7:00 p.m. Because the study ended so late, we were not able to attend services at the Los Olivos congregation in the evening. We will visit them on Thursday evening.
Today we began our classes on Pentateuch II (Leviticus, Numbers and
Deuteronomy). There are seven students in my class. Abraham Alata (one of my students in the last class, which graduated in December, 2007) is serving as an interpreter. I decided I would use an interpreter again because 1) he was available and 2) it makes it more certain that nothing is missed in the class. Today, we covered most of the book of Leviticus, but it is the shortest of the three books. They seem to be a good bunch of guys. There are no wives in the class this time. All of the students to be pretty savvy this time, too. They ask good questions and seem very enthusiastic to preach the Gospel.
After class this afternoon, the school surprised Rodolfo (the director) with a birthday cake, since today is his birthday. A good time was had by all.
Well, I guess that is all for today. I appreciate your support and encouragement. Please keep me and my family and the good brethren here in your prayers.
God bless,
May 27, 2008
Today was another good day. Did you notice that they are always good days? That does not mean there are not little hiccups along the way, but we are accomplishing a lot in the school. Yesterday we fell a little behind in the schedule and when you have to cover so much, you really do not want to fall far behind. Today, we were able to make up that ground and finished on schedule to finish our study. The day began with a quiz and the students seems to do well on it. I say “seem to” because Abraham, my interpreter, offered to grade the quizzes for me, so he has them at his house tonight.
At the Espinoza house, two more people arrived last night after one in the afternoon. So, now there are five of us living with Espinozas. Last night, we celebrated Rodolfo’s birthday. Felicitations, Rodolfo!). We had a very good dinner followed by cake and ice cream. There was no coffee, but the ice cream was coffee-flavored. Tonight, I think there will be a Bible study just among those of us in the house, including the Espinozas. Well, I guess I will end this and get back to work.
¡Que Dios Les Bendiga!
May 28, 2008
Today was another good day, but a very long one. Rodolfo and I left the house this morning at 7:00. We got back a little while ago at 9:15 p.m. By the time we were able to leave the school this afternoon, there was not enough time to go home and then back to church. The school is closer to the center of the city. Rodolfo lives in the northern part of the city. The San Juan de Miraflores congregation is in the southern part of the city. When you are talking about a city of around 9,000,000 people now, that makes it difficult to get across town quickly.
The class went well today, too. We should be able to finish the material tomorrow afternoon. That will leave the Final Exam for Friday morning. I am again impressed with the quality of the students in this school. Several are quite young, but their abilities to preach are impressive, even though they are first year students.
It was an enjoyable meeting at church tonight. I was able to preach again. Rodolfo announced that I was leaving Friday and asked everyone not only to keep me in their prayers, but to be sure and “saludarle” (salute him – say goodbye) and give me “un abrazo” (a hug). I really felt the love tonight. Many asked me when I will return, but I had to tell them I do not know.
Well, I will sign off for now. Please keep this work in your prayers.
¡Hasta mañana, ciao!
May 29, 2008
Greetings from Lima! Since Lima is in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are reversed from the northern hemisphere. In other words, at the end of May, Lima is heading into winter (it corresponds to the end of November for the northern hemisphere). Nevertheless, every day since I have been here, the sun has come out and the days have been very nice (mid-60s). Today, the sun did not come out. There was a mist this morning; to the point that Rodolfo had to use his windshield wipers (and some windshield washer fluid) to clean off the windshield. It was a little cooler today, too.
Well, the lectures are over. We managed to finish a half-hour early this afternoon, which left time for questions and review. I want to say publicly how much I appreciate these men and the work they are doing and are preparing to do. Their names are Robert Caraquiri, Pedro García, Alejandro Manrique, Lázaro Orihuela, Fernando Rodriguez, Bartolomé Trujillo and Jorge Chavez. God bless you all, my brothers!
Tomorrow morning they take the Final Exam. After we grade the exams and after chapel service they are free for the day. I will spend the day packing. My flight leaves Lima at 11:40 p.m. I arrive in Houston at 6:20 a.m. on Saturday. I will arrive in Dallas (Lord willing) at 10:13 a.m. on Saturday.
Thank you all so much for your prayers and support this week. God bless you all.
May 30-31, 2008
Finals are over!!! Friday morning, the class began with a prayer and then the Final Exam was handed out. Afterward, the exams were graded and then given back to the students. All scored well. Since there was no class scheduled for the rest of the day, we decided to have chapel right then. I preached in chapel on Friday and felt well received. I took pictures of the students and said my farewells. I left school around noon.
My ride to and from school on Friday was a brother in one of the congregations who is a “taxista” (taxi driver) and Sarah Dutton. Sarah is here as part of the campaign that Latin American Missions is conducting the next two weeks in Ica, Peru. Sarah and Elogio (I do not know if that is spelled correctly) picked me up and we went to lunch. After lunch, I helped Sarah Dutton finish some of her errands and then we headed back to the Espinoza house where I finished packing. And then, it was a matter of waiting. The waiting was not all bad, however. I had a very enjoyable visit with Katiana who is Eliana’s niece. We watched a DVD on Peru that covered the part of the mountains where she spent her first 12 years. She is now 18 and plans to become a teacher and teach in the primary school that the church in San Juan de Miraflores has recently begun. Finally, around 9:30 p.m. Rodolfo took me to the airport. The plane lifted off around midnight and landed in Houston about 6:15 Saturday morning. I arrived in Dallas around 10:15 and, after lunch we got back to Hugo about 2:30. It is good to be home.
I want to thank everyone who helped me make this trip. I pray God’s richest blessings upon you. Thank you and I love you all.
Donnie Bates
Yesterday (May 25) worship began at the San Juan de Miraflores congregation around 10:00 a.m. I spoke first and then brother Jack Farber of Latin American Missions spoke next. There was a baptism after services. We enjoyed lunch at a local mall (I was able to sample the Peruvian version of a Caramel Macchiato at Starbucks – pretty good!!). At 4:00 p.m. we began a Bible Study that has just begun (this was the second week) at the school. That study lasted until 7:00 p.m. Because the study ended so late, we were not able to attend services at the Los Olivos congregation in the evening. We will visit them on Thursday evening.
Today we began our classes on Pentateuch II (Leviticus, Numbers and
Deuteronomy). There are seven students in my class. Abraham Alata (one of my students in the last class, which graduated in December, 2007) is serving as an interpreter. I decided I would use an interpreter again because 1) he was available and 2) it makes it more certain that nothing is missed in the class. Today, we covered most of the book of Leviticus, but it is the shortest of the three books. They seem to be a good bunch of guys. There are no wives in the class this time. All of the students to be pretty savvy this time, too. They ask good questions and seem very enthusiastic to preach the Gospel.After class this afternoon, the school surprised Rodolfo (the director) with a birthday cake, since today is his birthday. A good time was had by all.
Well, I guess that is all for today. I appreciate your support and encouragement. Please keep me and my family and the good brethren here in your prayers.
God bless,
May 27, 2008
Today was another good day. Did you notice that they are always good days? That does not mean there are not little hiccups along the way, but we are accomplishing a lot in the school. Yesterday we fell a little behind in the schedule and when you have to cover so much, you really do not want to fall far behind. Today, we were able to make up that ground and finished on schedule to finish our study. The day began with a quiz and the students seems to do well on it. I say “seem to” because Abraham, my interpreter, offered to grade the quizzes for me, so he has them at his house tonight.
At the Espinoza house, two more people arrived last night after one in the afternoon. So, now there are five of us living with Espinozas. Last night, we celebrated Rodolfo’s birthday. Felicitations, Rodolfo!). We had a very good dinner followed by cake and ice cream. There was no coffee, but the ice cream was coffee-flavored. Tonight, I think there will be a Bible study just among those of us in the house, including the Espinozas. Well, I guess I will end this and get back to work.
¡Que Dios Les Bendiga!
May 28, 2008
Today was another good day, but a very long one. Rodolfo and I left the house this morning at 7:00. We got back a little while ago at 9:15 p.m. By the time we were able to leave the school this afternoon, there was not enough time to go home and then back to church. The school is closer to the center of the city. Rodolfo lives in the northern part of the city. The San Juan de Miraflores congregation is in the southern part of the city. When you are talking about a city of around 9,000,000 people now, that makes it difficult to get across town quickly.
The class went well today, too. We should be able to finish the material tomorrow afternoon. That will leave the Final Exam for Friday morning. I am again impressed with the quality of the students in this school. Several are quite young, but their abilities to preach are impressive, even though they are first year students.
It was an enjoyable meeting at church tonight. I was able to preach again. Rodolfo announced that I was leaving Friday and asked everyone not only to keep me in their prayers, but to be sure and “saludarle” (salute him – say goodbye) and give me “un abrazo” (a hug). I really felt the love tonight. Many asked me when I will return, but I had to tell them I do not know.
Well, I will sign off for now. Please keep this work in your prayers.
¡Hasta mañana, ciao!
May 29, 2008
Greetings from Lima! Since Lima is in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are reversed from the northern hemisphere. In other words, at the end of May, Lima is heading into winter (it corresponds to the end of November for the northern hemisphere). Nevertheless, every day since I have been here, the sun has come out and the days have been very nice (mid-60s). Today, the sun did not come out. There was a mist this morning; to the point that Rodolfo had to use his windshield wipers (and some windshield washer fluid) to clean off the windshield. It was a little cooler today, too.
Well, the lectures are over. We managed to finish a half-hour early this afternoon, which left time for questions and review. I want to say publicly how much I appreciate these men and the work they are doing and are preparing to do. Their names are Robert Caraquiri, Pedro García, Alejandro Manrique, Lázaro Orihuela, Fernando Rodriguez, Bartolomé Trujillo and Jorge Chavez. God bless you all, my brothers!
Tomorrow morning they take the Final Exam. After we grade the exams and after chapel service they are free for the day. I will spend the day packing. My flight leaves Lima at 11:40 p.m. I arrive in Houston at 6:20 a.m. on Saturday. I will arrive in Dallas (Lord willing) at 10:13 a.m. on Saturday.
Thank you all so much for your prayers and support this week. God bless you all.
May 30-31, 2008
Finals are over!!! Friday morning, the class began with a prayer and then the Final Exam was handed out. Afterward, the exams were graded and then given back to the students. All scored well. Since there was no class scheduled for the rest of the day, we decided to have chapel right then. I preached in chapel on Friday and felt well received. I took pictures of the students and said my farewells. I left school around noon.
My ride to and from school on Friday was a brother in one of the congregations who is a “taxista” (taxi driver) and Sarah Dutton. Sarah is here as part of the campaign that Latin American Missions is conducting the next two weeks in Ica, Peru. Sarah and Elogio (I do not know if that is spelled correctly) picked me up and we went to lunch. After lunch, I helped Sarah Dutton finish some of her errands and then we headed back to the Espinoza house where I finished packing. And then, it was a matter of waiting. The waiting was not all bad, however. I had a very enjoyable visit with Katiana who is Eliana’s niece. We watched a DVD on Peru that covered the part of the mountains where she spent her first 12 years. She is now 18 and plans to become a teacher and teach in the primary school that the church in San Juan de Miraflores has recently begun. Finally, around 9:30 p.m. Rodolfo took me to the airport. The plane lifted off around midnight and landed in Houston about 6:15 Saturday morning. I arrived in Dallas around 10:15 and, after lunch we got back to Hugo about 2:30. It is good to be home.
I want to thank everyone who helped me make this trip. I pray God’s richest blessings upon you. Thank you and I love you all.
Donnie Bates
No comments:
Post a Comment