CUSCO, PERU 2010

One of the greatest experiences of a service project is the people that you meet. The team that went to Cusco with me were Kent Houtsma from Visalia, CA, Rob and Diane Verloop from Waterdown Ontario, Canada, Rick and Sheila Wilkins from Pantego, NC and Dr. Hegeman and his daughter Melinda from Miami, FL. Literally, from the four corners of North America. The family we went to help was the Rivera family Javier and Sylvia, with their children Carlos, Carla, Ruth, and Ana. Sylvia is a student of Miami International Seminary (MINTS). While Javier and Carlos are planning to start the program in the near future-Javier to get his bachelors degree and Carlos (DV) to receive his masters to become a pastor in the church that he is presently the president of the Elders. The Rivera family says we were such a blessing to them, however, I believe that they were more of a blessing to us. Their love for the Lord, His Word, and each other showed us what is truly important in this life.

On Sunday, it was a great joy to worship and partake communion with the saints in Cusco. Though the services were in Spanish and Quechua, you could feel the Holy Spirit in both places we worshiped. Their love for the Lord and each other was evident in the singing, Scripture reading, prayers, welcome, and blessings at the end of the service. We had the opportunity to meet a pastor and his wife who are students with MINTS. They are currently looking for a call to serve in a church in a nearby town. In the San Antonio church we met three people who were to be baptized into the membership of the church the next Lord’s Day. Praise the Lord!

The work we were to do there was to build a new house for the Rivera family because a flash flood in February 2010 damaged the foundation of their existing home. The new home would also be used for a meeting and training place for MINTS students. We accomplished a lot, almost completing the first floor (this would be finished by the local contractor). Another gentleman, Lawrence Van Essendelf, from Pantego, NC will D.V. be going down later in January to install windows and doors in the main floor so that the family can move in. Please pray for him that he will have a safe journey and that the work will be accomplished. While we were there, Dr. Hegeman was very busy leading lessons, meeting students, meeting with other church organizations looking to have MINTS help them train new pastors to go out to the rural areas and preach the Word to those who desperately need it. As about 80% of the Cusco area is Catholic and a mixed Inca/Catholic faith, the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is needed more than ever.

Lord willing, I hope to return with a group in November of 2011 to finish the second floor. This will complete the home/ministry center so then it can be put to use. We will need about $8,000 (US) to complete the second floor. Any donations would be greatly appreciated. Feel free to contact me, Dr. Hegeman, or RMS for further details. Please pray for this ministry that God’s Word can go forth in Peru.

Thank you, Rob Brinks

RMS Board member.

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