Report from Manuel Salazar May to October 2014

Recent Events

May

We continued our visits to the Ashaninka village of Sapani on Sundays. We met with a family, plus other children that came. In those meetings we shared some subjects on Christian values. 

This month we also began weekly missionary prayer meetings with our Segadores missionary co-workers. At first only 5 of us met together, but now we are 8 people. 

We were also given new opportunities in the church where we gather: I was asked to preach a couple of Sundays.  

June

We continued visiting Sapani on Sundays, accompanied by Daniela (a Romanian missionary candidate) who was a great help and blessing in our ministry. After the Bible class we gave a breakfast to the children.  

July

Our visits to Sapani continued until the end of July. Then there came a big drop in the number of children attending, because their parents began requiring that they go to help in their farm on Sundays. Also, some of the children live quite far away from where we meet. 

My wife and I prayed that God would show us what He wanted us to do. Then a door opened for teaching in the school in Sapani through one of the teachers with whom we had shared our desire to help the children. We offered to teach the Bible in the religion class, plus strengthen their understanding of other courses. The teacher accepted, and we began teaching once a week. Later, talking with the Director, he accepted for us to teach twice a week. (This was near the end of August.) 

August 

This month we participated in a youth camp organized by the Alliance Church (of Atalaya) for 4 days in the village of Sapani. We participated as spiritual counselors. About 30 young people participated in this camp. Some of them were not believers, but at the end of the camp most of them received Christ. 

September 

Once again we began our classes in the school teaching the Word of God through the material called Firm Foundations. These studies are a chronological study of the Bible. This study helps the children understand the beginning of everything. We begin in Genesis, and develop the lessons until the New Testament, ending with the death and resurrection of Jesus. We began our teaching with subjects such as: The Importance of the Bible. Who and How is God?  God’s Attributes. Who Created the Spirit Beings? Our co-workers Liviu and Amalia provided us with the visual aids for teaching. We photocopied lesson-materials for the children to fill out and color. 

On some of our visits we helped the 3rd and 4th year students with their math lessons, plus communication. 

We are happy and grateful to God for giving us this great opportunity to share His blessed Word with these children. We don’t mind that we have to travel one hour on a gravel road on our motorcycle, or that we have to push the motorcycle when a tire goes flat when we are far from a place that repairs tires. When that happens, we have to push the machine to the top of a hill where we can reach someone through our cell phone to have them come to help us. There also are bridges in bad condition that are dangerous for a motorcycle to cross. We also have to cross some streams that, when it rains, fill up with so much water that we cannot cross them. In spite of these problems on the road, we will continue travelling to the village of Sapani. Jesus said: “Let the children come unto me, and do not hinder them, because theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.” We ask our God that His Word be understood by each of the children of Sapani, that it reach their hearts, and that it give fruit in due time. 

We have been going to Sapani twice a week. On Mondays at 8am we teach the children of 3rd and 4th grades (together in one classroom), which is a group of 40 children. At 11am we teach the children of 5th and 6th grades (which are 20 children). On Fridays at 8am we teach the students of 1st and 2nd grade (40 children). After we teach the class each child receives a printed lesson, adapted to his age-level, to fill out. 

On Fridays we also visit Irene, a native lady to have a Bible study with her in Spanish. She understands Spanish better than her native language. This is because she spent most of her life in a city. 

October 

In the church that we attend I preached missionary messages. I thank God that we have a good relationship with the leaders of the church, and they give me opportunities to preach. Our prayer group has been strengthened by having the participation of the two pastors of the Alliance Church where we attend. Our prayer group has two missionary families of Segadores, and two pastors from the Alliance Church. 

Up till now our God has been faithful in providing the financial resources for our trips to Sapani twice a week to teach His Word to the school children. Thank you for your prayers that have strengthened us in all the work that we have been doing. 

Family News

God gave our family a special gift: our daughter Stephany was able to visit us (in Atalaya) during her university vacation (from Chiclayo). She came with her aunt. We had been praying for our daughter because she had health problems. We thank God that she is getting better. As to her studies, she is doing very well. She has entered her 5th cycle. We are praying that God would provide for us to be able to purchase a laptop computer for her since she needs this very much for her profession. 

Our daughter Sue (who lives with us in Atalaya) is advancing well in her High School studies. She is helping in the church with the children, and is participating in the worship ministry. Pray that God keeps her heart faithful to Him, and that she grows in knowledge of the Word. 

As to my wife, lately she has had ear problems. We went to the doctor for him to examine her and he said that she has an ear infection, plus a perforated ear drum. He gave her an antibiotic for the infection. Here in Atalaya there are no ear specialists. Lord willing, when we travel to Chiclayo we will go to a specialist for her treatment. 

Plans for the Future

Lord willing, the first week of December we will have a Christmas program for all the school children of Sapani. That will be around 180 people, including the teachers. The meaning of Christmas will be taught, after which everyone will receive a hot cup of chocolate milk with oat meal, plus a piece of Peruvian fruit cake, and a small bag of candies. (This will be a special treat for everyone.) 

Prayer and Praise Points

1) For the spiritual and physical health of our family (Manuel, Lucy, Stephany and Sue)
2) Pray that God continue to open doors for sharing His Word
3) Pray for the children of Sapani, that the Word of God might remain impressed on their minds and hearts
4) For the financial resources that we need for travelling to Chiclayo at the end of this year for medical check-ups for each member of our family. Lucy has a perforated ear drum, plus a fibroma tumor in her uterus. 
5) For the needed finances next year for the repairs on our motorcycle, plus the fuel expenses for travelling to and from Sapani. 

With joy and great satisfaction we can say “Ebenezer” (Up to here the Lord has helped us). God has not forgotten us. We have seen Him at work every moment of our lives. Thank you for your prayers on our behalf, because these have sustained us, and have given us the courage to continue working, and serving our God gladly and with diligence all year. May the Lord bless you. 

May the Lord keep you and bless you. May He make His face to shine upon you, and have mercy on you. May He  look upon you, and give you peace.     Numbers 6:24-26