The need for a new roof (techar)

We've had an unusual amount of rain in Villa El Salvador this year. Many of the buildings here in the desert are not built with rain in mind. Most of the roofs are flat and therefore are being damaged. This ministry needed to build a roof over their classrooms which had been damaged by the rain. Our apartment is located on the third floor and will be connected to the new roof being added.

Pastor Silvano as our Spanish Teacher

Pastor Silvano became our new spanish tutor in August. We appreciate his encouragement and passion in teaching us the Spanish language. Learning a new language brings many up and down moments filled with mixed feelings. We have learned that it is a process that takes time and effort.

Fútbol in Peru

Every Saturday in August Jon, Mathew and Nathan were able to play Fútbol (soccer) in a church league. It was a blessing to meet other pastors and have fellowship one with another. Of course, when the game starts it becomes every man for himself, but that is what is expected when there is such a focused priority with this sport in the country. It's a whole new level of fútbol compared to the United States.

Each player needed to show a picture ID as proof of being a regular attender in their church.

Even Mom came out to watch and cheer for our church teams.

Celebrando el cumpleaños de Nathan

On August 1st, our son Nathan turned eleven years old. Time seems to be going at a faster rate. It is hard to believe that our children have grown up so fast. We celebrated his birthday with other friends from the church here in Peru.

May God bless you in a special way this year Nathan!

Hosting deaf orphans at our house

You don't realize the excitment you are missing until you attempt to host orphans at your house. We had the boys out one night and hooked up the projector to allow them to play the Wii on the big screen.

We had the girls out another night and attempted the piñata event. Did I mention that the orphans are deaf? It was fun learning to interact with them especially when swinging the stick. I'm so glad that Jon decided not to blindfold them first as that could have been disastrous.

We were excited to have them over and spend time with them.

Peru's Independence Day

Peru celebrated their Independence Day on July 28th. The President was inagurated and moved into the palace where he will remain for a five year term.

The ministry here at EFATA paraded through the town before going on their two week winter break. Our children were also able to join them in the parade. The pictures below show Matthew and Nathan up near the front while Becca and Katie were waving their flags near the back marching with the other students.

It was a blessing to be able to enjoy a cookout on July 28th with Buddy and Loren Fitzgerald (Peru Missionaries), Tim and Cheryl Chapman (Peru Missionaries), and Shawn and Shannon Walker (visiting from the States).

Happy 16th Anniversary

We celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary in Peru on July 15th. We had the opportunity to have friends watch our children so that we could enjoy the evening together. We went out to eat and enjoyed remembering past years. We are so thankful to God for putting us together.

Celebrating the 4th of July in Peru

On our first 4th of July in Peru, we gathered together with other Missionary Families to celebrate. It consisted of grilling out, lots of food, table games, piñata, party poppers, silly string, famous american poems being read, and singing of patriot songs. What a great time of fellowship with other Christian Americans in Peru. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those who had and have a part in giving us our freedom. We reflect also on the Grace of our God who gave us Salvation from sin. So much to be thankful for on this 4th of July.

Inauguration of Jesus Statue

(Below is an article from "living in Peru" web page)

As Peru is known for Catholicism, it is no surprise to see relics all over the coastal cities of the country. People in Peru seek to be blessed, but in a way that contradicts the doctrines of the Bible. Peru just celebrated the national holiday called "the Pope's Day", where all schools were required by law to be closed. They inaugurated a new giant statue of Christ in Lima on Wednesday. Please pray for Peru to see the value of having a true relationship with Christ more than possessing relics for blessings.

Lima | June 30, 2011 [ 9:19 ]

Giant statue of Christ inaugurated in Peru

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The statue was officially inaugurated by Peruvian president Alan García on Wednesday. (Photo: Sepres)

Peruvian president Alan García has formally inaugurated one of the world's tallest statues of Jesus Christ on a hill in the capital Lima.

Hundreds of Peruvians turned out on Wednesday to welcome the monument, known as "Cristo del Pacífico" or Christ of the Pacific.

The statue, standing 37 meters tall when its 15 meter pedestal is taken into account, was built in Brazil and shipped to Peru in pieces, where it was assembled on the historic Morro Solar hill which overlooks Lima's bay and 19 kilometers of beach on the Pacific coast.

"Our Lord, Jesus Christ, I ask you to bring peace to our country. Material things can do a lot, but nothing is worth anything if there is not a transcendental and different message, and that is what you have brought here," president García said at yesterday's ceremony.

Monsignor Bruno Musaro, the Apostolic Nuncio to Peru, was also in attendance at the ceremony. "I am very excited by this show of faith," he said.

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Business | June 30, 2011 [ 8:59 ]

Heart transplant

Valita’s situation appeared hopeless. The estimated $775,000 in anticipated transplant-related expenses was not even coming close to being raised.

Then EsSalud, the national health care network of Peru, has reportedly made a last-minute decision to assume the remaining cost and, with her parents, Valita flew aboard a charter ambulance plane on the 10-hour journey to the university hospital in Minnesota

After a series of complicated preparatory surgeries, Valita could only wait for a donor heart to become available. Three months later, one did.

The operation began Monday night, June 6th, at 9 p.m., El Comercio reported, and continued for 11 hours until Tuesday morning.

It's inspiring to hear good news of giving hope and life to one another. Can you imagine how the parents felt to hear their daughter would be given an opportunity to receive a miracle in which they were unable to give themselves? It required the love of another and the willingness to receive such a gift that could never be repaid.

Of course, this reminds me of our ministry of sharing the Gospel (the good news) to those who will die in their sin and be destined for hell but have a way to be saved. God gave His only begotten Son (Jesus Christ) to take sins penalty and has offered it to you. You must be willing to receive the gift of salvation and ask Him to be your Saviour. There is such a joy given to those who have been given eternal life.

June Prayer Letter

To Our Faithful Prayer Partners and Supporters,

Psalm 37:5, “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”

After completing one of five books in our Spanish curriculum, our teacher recommended some time away from the books. Jon took theopportunity to go visit Andahuaylas where he was able to preach and serve in the church there.

Spanish continues to be our main focus. It can be frustrating at times because we want to understand and speak it now and fail to remember that it’s a process that will take time. We are committed and ask you to continue to pray that we’d have clarity to retain what we are learning.

Peru’s newly elected President, Ollanta Humala, assumes office on July 28^th. Only time will tell what changes will be made in the country.

It is winter now in Peru. Very different than the winters we’ve experienced in the States. The sun seldom shines and there is usually a mist that covers the city ofLima. Could make one feel dreary if you let it. So thankful we have the promise of the Son to brighten our days!

We’d like to thank all of you for faithfully praying for us. There have been times in the past few months that we have been encouraged knowing we have had people back home supporting us through their prayers.

We praise the Lord we, Jon and Nisha, have been able to get our visas (carnets)! This now enables us to start processing the kids. Please pray as we seek to do this in the next week, that there would be no delays and we can get their visas promptly.

We ask for wisdom while transitioning our homeschooling year into Peru’s school year, which happens to be March thru November. Our children are now finishing their school year and are looking forward to some time off. We have different groups from the States bringing more school curriculum down for us. Please pray for safe arrival of the school supplies.

Serving the Lord in Peru,

The Harris Family

Peru Presidential runoff for 2011 has been decided

On Sunday, June 5th, Peru elected Ollanta Humala as their next President after narrowly defeating Keiko Fujimori by 51.5% to 48.5%. He will officially take office on July 28th, Peru's Independence Day. The country is in anticipation to see who he will elect as his board and if he will keep his word concerning helping the poor, lowering gas expenses, and helping Peru's economy to continue to grow. Although very close to Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, Ollanta has said that he will not follow Venezuela's type of government but many in Peru fear that he will. Ollanta was heard saying after the election, “It’s not possible to say that the country is progressing when12 million people are living in miserable conditions without electricity or running water,” he told cheering supporters. But he also promised “a government of national consensus” that would “promote investment and the free market,which is the consolidation of the internal market”.

Once again, I'm reminded to pray for those in government so that we may live peaceably and honestly.