David and I got a chance to catch up with some of our family in the village communities of Chinchero and Pucamarca last night. For about 9 months, Spirit-Led Expeditions (ran by our friends, Eric Lovin and Jen Smith) have seen God do amazing things in such a short period of time. 9 months ago they sent a short-term team from Georgia, USA to share the Gospel and spend a week serving in this community. They witnessed Pucamarca having no discipleship classes or training for believers, little to no church involvement and no growth. There was nothing going on in this town.

Fast forward 9 months: God has connected Eric and Jen with Pastor Ciriaco (a pastor in Chinchero), together with Pastor C they have graduated a class of 15-20 youth/adults from their 13-week discipleship program, they are starting on a 2nd level discipleship class, the community President of Pucamarca has joined their group, they have all-night prayer vigils once a week, volunteers in the class are stepping up to lead outreaches and kid’s Bible studies and the community is planning to run a soup-kitchen to feed their own village. God did this in 9 months. That same group from Georgia is coming back this summer and the Lord is going to show them so much harvest and fruit from their previous efforts!

 

This is Pastor C’s newest addition: 5 month old Andrea! I got to hold baby girl for an hour. She was super entertained by my “gringa skin” and a sleeve of plastic cups. Pastor C’s 4-year old daughter, Rebekah, is peeking around the corner.

Last night we got to meet with two very enthusiastic teenagers: brothers, Elisban and Joel. These guys are on fire for the Lord and very “wise beyond their years”. The Lord is so creative in how he is using youth to transform communities like Pucamarca and the rest of the world!

Thanks Eric and Jen for inviting us out to see what God is doing in Chinchero and Pucamarca! We are so excited for you guys and for the Quechua coming to Christ! God is moving!!

Left to right: Eric, Joel, Celia (his mom), Elisban and David

Jen Smith helps Julio (Joel and Elisban’s little brother) read a chapter in Esther