Earthquake in Peru
Cheri and I visited Lima, Peru this past June as part of a team of 12 on an 8 day medical mission’s trip. Our hearts were deeply touched by the people of Camino de Vida who hosted us during our stay. Our prayers go out to them as they work tirelessly around the clock to provide aid to the victims of the recent earthquake. The people we encountered during our stay were loving and very appreciative of our efforts to bring medical help. We partnered with JV Ministries led by Pastor Jordon and Vaness Durso for the medical outreaches. They lead a team of doctors and dentists on outreaches in and around Lima about 30 times a year bringing not only healing but more importantly the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a spiritually lost people. What I witnessed was nothing but agape love for the people of Peru by the church called Camino de Vida. And, this was during a time without a natural disaster to draw attention to them.
As the relief efforts get going south of Lima, Healing Place Church is sending nearly 30 men on what will be a first wave to assist with the building of 3 refugee camps that the government of Peru has asked Camino de Vida to administer for the victims of this earthquake. Shelter is badly needed for these people as they are in the middle of their winter down there and the cold is taking its toll on people who have lost everything in the wake of this earthquake. Please join us in prayer for the relief effort as well as the lives that are touched for His Glory. Through it all we know that God will show Himself as faithful and full of mercy toward the hurting in Peru.
Love,
Joseph and Cheri
Watching the Church Grow!
As I stood back and took the pictures that you see here of the Mobile Medical and Dental clinics during an outreach at Healing Place Church’s Spanish campus this past Saturday, August 18, 2007, I paused and thought, what was it like for the first century church?
I watched the excitement of a people, both volunteer servants and those being served, and everyone was full of life. There were children playing, people eating, people just waiting and talking. Everywhere you looked there was something going on. At times, in the natural, things seemed to get a little chaotic.
I couldn’t quite put my finger on it but there was a buzz in the air. What I was watching were the sights and sounds of the church growing. All you have to do is look at scripture in the book of Acts to see the end result of a people meeting the needs of others to see that the Church was growing and the Gospel of Jesus Christ was being spread.
We have an awesome opportunity and responsibility to pray with each and every person who comes through the clinic at each of our sites. The impact of the prayer and our serving is powerful. At the end of each clinic we have lunch provided for all the volunteers and a special thing happens during this fellowship. We talk about the events of the day and what God has done. As our pastor,
Pastor Dino Rizzo, is always fond of saying, “It is amazing how much can be done for Jesus Christ when no one cares who gets the credit”. And that is exactly what happens during our lunch gatherings. Not a single volunteer ever says look at what I did, but, rather the spirit present is one of humility and deep appreciation for what God Almighty has done.
Jesus Christ is building His Church and it is fun to watch and marvel at. I just want to encourage you today, if you don’t have a good view of watching the church grow where you are today, you may just want to change seats. Ask God to place you in a place where you can watch the church grow. I know you won’t be disappointed for God is faithful and who knows…God may just use you as He grows His Church!
Because He Lives,
Joseph and Cheri LeBlanc
Labels: clinic, spanish
