AN
AUSPICIOUS BEGINNING

My wife and I
were invited to attend the inaugural service (Sunday 12/20/09) at a new church in San Juan de Lurigancho, one of
Lima's more populous and relatively poor areas. Even though it was scheduled on Becky's birthday, we accepted the
invitation. It was a joy to have a part
in the birthing of a new church.

This church
began as a cell group made up of mostly teenagers. There was an amazing 17 year-old from Iglesia
Shalom which is in Villa el Salvador named Jon Carlos who traveled 2 ½ to 3
hours by bus every Saturday to disciple other teens in San Juan de Lurigancho. They met in a home and studied the Bible
together. As the cell group grew to more
than 20 regular attendees, they collectively felt it was time for more mature
leadership.

WELL PREPARED FOR
MINISTRY

For three years, Levis Melendez has been studying
theology in a program sponsored by Camino de Vida-a large church in Surco. Becky and I attend this church regularly. Levis came to Lima from a broken home in the Jungle
and ended up living with-and being mentored by-Pastor Moises of Iglesia Shalom
in Villa el Salvador. He has functioned
as the worship leader at Iglesia Shalom and most recently he's been serving as
the youth pastor. Levis was married a
little over a year ago. His wife is a
nurse. He graduated last week from his
theology program. Several months ago, Levis
took over the leadership of the group in San Juan de Lurigancho. The group has continued to meet in the home
(a relative of Jon Carlos, I believe). I
visited this cell group about a month ago and did some teaching.

GOD
PROVIDES

They found a
private school willing to let them use their facility and scheduled their first
service for this past Sunday. They
opened to a full house. How that happened
is an interesting story-and this is where the Christmas angle enters.

The most
prevalent custom in Peru for Christmas is to have hot chocolate and a sweet
bread with candied fruit in it called panatón. I'm not sure how this tradition began, but December in Peru is when the
school year comes to a close and "summer vacation" begins. It is the month when spending time at the
beach begins in earnest. Go to the
department stores to do some Christmas shopping and you'll find swim wear on
sale. Believe me, hot chocolate is not
consumed because the weather is cold.

In the poorer
communities, different groups, including the government, distribute "chocolatada"-
hot chocolate and panatón. It is also
common to give out gifts for children at the same time. As we were setting up for the service, the
lines began forming outside the school for chocolatada. Fortunately, Levis and his wife Elizabeth had
already planned to serve chocolatada at the end of the service and the supply
was adequate. We informed the people
gathering that we did not have gifts and that we were preparing for a church
service with worship and the preaching of God's Word. They
all stayed.

Most were mothers with children. There were also some children unaccompanied
by parents. A few men also showed
up. The worship was two songs long. They used music that had a great beat and was
lively. All seemed

to enjoy it,
including the kids. Then Levis' wife, Elizabeth,
had a word for the women. She gave voice
the pain that is a common reality for the majority of these women. Then she presented the gospel as their best
hope for authentic change in their circumstances. Six women came forward and prayed for
forgiveness and to ask Jesus into their lives. I never get over the openness to the gospel here. There is such need and God's Word speaks life
and hope into great desperation, pain and hopelessness.

pain and
hopelessness.

Levis and Elizabeth in our Kitchen. We had invited them to share Mexican food with us...

Levis and Elizabeth are transitioning into full time
ministry at the new church in San Juan de Lurigancho (it doesn't even have a
name yet). They will be leaving Iglesia
Shalom and relocating their residence also. They will, of

course, maintain their connection to their sending church. Elizabeth will continue working as a nurse
while they are getting the ministry established. She works at a medical practice in Surco-a
very long commute from San Juan de Lurigancho.   These two are not only competent; they have
huge hearts for God and very sensitive spirits. They've got years of ministry experience at Iglesia Shalom and know how
to work with the people in the type of community they are in. We have committed  to support them in their first year of
ministry.

We hope this
Christmas story blesses you. The people
got their chocolatada and panatón, but they were also offered the best gift of
all-new life in Jesus-and several of them received that gift in this season of
Christmas, 2009. This is why He came.

We also want
to extend our wishes to all of you for a blessed Christmas. We hope your time is rich with the good
things of the season, but even more so with the awareness of His Presence and
thankful hearts for the coming of baby Jesus-Emanuel, God with us.

With Lots of
Love,

Robert and Becky