Peru and Beyond
Lenz Family Update
January 2004
Dear Friends and Family,
We hope that all is well with you. Corban and I (Bud) have arrived
in the States, while Laura and the others have remained in Cusco, holding down family affairs, the construction of our home
and taking care of ministry responsibilites.
Small World
Corban and I spent a few days in Lima getting his passport renewed.
While we were there, we met up with an old friend from my first visit to Peru over six years ago. Enrique was still fairly
young in the Lord and on fire for Jesus. He showed me around Cusco, taught me much about the history and culture, and really
wanted to work with me when we returned as a family. But when we returned, he was no where to be found. I was told that he
had gotten romantically involved with a witch and she had drawn him away from the Lord. Then about a week before our trip
began, I got an email from Michael, the young man who once lived with us and is now in Lima. He told me that his brother-in-law
knows me. It turns out that it is Enrique and the "witch" is Michael’s sister, who had been done wrong by a missionary
pastor, got angry at the church and at God and rebelled against the Lord, taking Enrique with her. Now, after the work that
God has done in Michael’s life, his entire family is being healed and returning to God – including Enrique! His
desire is now to wrap up the responsibilities that he has in Lima and return to Cusco, grow in the Lord and enter into the
service from which he ran years ago.
Huambutío Revisited
The one rural village that we visited during that "spying the land"
trip in 1997 was Huambutío. It was the outreach that we did in that town that lead me to search for the brothers in Caicay
– which led to an on-going relationship over the years. We never thought more about Huambutío because another mission
had gone in and begun a work there. I was always interested in the town, because it is strategically located at the crossroads
to two other majorly needy areas. In other words, it is equally as key on that side of Cusco as Poroy is on its side. We recently
found out that the other group has left and have returned to Huambutío. In fact, brother Abel is praying about moving his
entire family from Poroy to Huambutío to set up a base in that key area. What we have found is that for a church to flourish
and grow in any area is a "pastor" – someone to be with the people constantly. In the meantime, the plan is to spend
at least a couple of days a week there, visiting nearby communities of Huampar and Caicay as well.
Meanwhile, Back on the Other Side of Cusco…
A couple of weeks ago, Abelardo visited a new community in the district
of Poroy. On the day he visited, the priest was there, giving away free food to anyone that would sit around the common building
and say the rosary. Anyone who did not, had their food rations taken away. Abelardo had previously arranged to show a video
in the common building. The catechist refused to vacate and told him that he would not be allowed to show the video. Abelardo
knocked on the door of a friend, where he was allowed to show the video. Several families showed up and the work has begun.
To Meet or Not to Meet…
As those of you who receive our email updates know, there was a movement in Poroy
to try to prevent us from holding services in town and from living in the house we are building. God responded to the prayers
of the saints and after rescheduling the meeting twice, they simply failed to meet. The irony of the question of our house
is that we are the only ones on that side of the road that has a construction permit and that has built according to the few
rules there are!
However, in Huarahuaylla, the entire community showed up to try
to prevent our meetings. Huarahuaylla is a town high in the mountains where we have been forced to meet in and/or around the
van to protect us from the strong, cold winds that blow in the evenings. One sister stood up in the midst and said, "When
it doesn’t rain, you blame the Christians. When it rains, you blame the Christians. When it hails, you blame the Christians.
No matter what, you blame the Christians. It is not the fault of the Christians, it is our sin. We must stop sinning. I used
to think the same way you do, but now I know better. You should come hear what the Bible has to say. That is all we do is
study what God has to say in His Word…" They could not answer her one word, and gradually just walked away.
Meanwhile, on the Home Front…
Laura has been holding down the fort very well. The devil didn’t
wait very long before beginning his assault and there have been a lot of attacks, trials and tests coming from every side,
even from some believers. There is a not so subtle Absalom spirit trying to come in from two people in particular, people
that we have loved and trusted, one for several years. They don’t really realize they are doing it, but it hurts when
it is someone so dear to you… just like Absalom.
Then, one of the girls that is staying with us (Lizett) had her
baby (Laura Lucía) – once again, in the home. But this time, she had some problems. She wouldn’t stop bleeding
so they had to take her to the hospital. At the hospital, she has not been receiving good treatment, because she didn’t
have her baby there. Also, the baby has been kept under observation because she inhaled some mecomium. The last I heard, they
were all doing okay, and Laura and Sarah were trying to catch up on their sleep with more than 20 people in the house. Lizett
came to us saying that she was Carla’s cousin. Carla recently confessed to us that she had lied about that and that
Lizett is really just a friend who has no family in Quillabamba and wanted to have her baby in a place where there was love.
She has been attending mormon services in her home area and didn’t want the baby. Her plan in coming to us was to have
the baby and then leave her with us. We are praying that she will change her mind about raising her baby as well as following
the Lord!
Vehicle Update
We just about have "the Sower" running, the little four-wheel drive
vehicle that we have bought in pieces and assembled. It is running well, just lacking the new tires and hooking up the four
wheel drive.
About a month or two ago, we learned that the mission needed to
sell the van that we have been using. This vehicle carries anywhere from 25 to 30 people to church every weekend, not to mention
serving as our church building in Huarahuaylla and main transportation to other villages. I asked to at least have the first
right of refusal and began to pray. Right before coming back, we were told that we could have the van for $3000, with a $1000
down payment. In His sovereignty, God moved on the heart of one brother to send us the amount of the deposit at just the right
time.
School Days
Two of our young people in Poroy attended a week long training seminar
with Wycliffe Bible Translators recently. The purpose of the seminar was to train workers to work with the quechua people
teaching them how to read. The idea is to teach them how to read their own language so that they can read the Bible. Most
of those with whom we will be working read neither Spanish nor Quechua. We are praying that this will be an effective tool
for entering commmunties normally closed to the gospel as well as furthering work in communities where we already have a presence.
Sarah and Ayde will be traveling to Lima on February 16 for a week
of training in use of the ACE curriculum. ACE is Advanced Christian Education and is an educational curriculum used around
the world. Our desire is not only to homeschool the three peruvian children under our care, but also figure out a way for
the families in the church in Poroy to be able to home school their children as well. Home schooling is something that is
not typically practiced in Perú. We want to provide a legal and Christian alternative to the public and private schools that
are typically prejudiced against, and often persecute, the Christian children.
Back in the U.S.A
Even though it is hard to leave family and ministry behind, it is
good to be visiting with old friends again. It hardly seems like two years since we were last here, yet so much has happened
and so much has changed. We are scheduled to stay until mid-April, but at the present, we have four weeks open at the end
of the trip. If we are not able to fill the gap, we will head back sooner. If you know of anyone, churches or individuals,
who might be interested in hearing about the work of Peru and Beyond, let us know. We would be glad to share with anyone the
work that God is doing among the quechua people. Either email us at "quechua_call@hotmail.com", or call at 713-948-0918.
Needs
Some of you have asked for a list of needs.
Books. Frankly,
the main need that we have right now is for reading material and schooling materials for the children. We have a list of books
that I hope to purchase while here (in case anyone wants to give money for that purpose) but will also accept anything suitable
for reading – ages 1 through 18.
$3000 to purchase the van and finish work on the two vehicles
$2500 to finish the house
$2500 to finish paying for our tickets to come back
2A and 3A battery charger with rechargeable batteries
2 Toner cartridges for HP LaserJet 4L printer
2 Bible covers for large Bibles
Natural moisturizing creams for Laura
2 In-line electrical water heaters (we need to order them)
Prayer –
Please pray with us in the following areas.
Laura and the children, including Lisett and her new baby
Wisdom and discernment to lead for the brothers while I am in the
States
True salvations in the villages where we are working
Sarah and Ayde’s trip to Lima for training in use of the ACE
curriculum (Feb.16-26)
We thank God for the faithful team members that He has raised up
to support the work of Peru and Beyond. Please pray with us that God will raise up new, faithful team members in the areas
of prayer support, workers and financial support.
We’d love to hear from you.
While Corban and I are in the States, if anyone would like to communicate
via email with Laura, you can send them directly to her using Sarah’s email address: "mk_princess98@hotmail.com",
or through our regular email account, and I will forward it along. I’m sure she could use the encouragement. (Just don’t
get upset if she can’t respond right away!) If any of you on our regular mailing list have email and are not currently
receiving regular electronic updates, please send us your request to be added to the email list at "quechua_call@hotmail.com".
