Therefore Go‌
Testimonies from May 2012
Greener grass…. Hi there! Yesterday as Pam (a young missionary who has just recently joined us in our ministry in Fatima prison) and I were on our way back from ministering to the ladies in Fatima prison, she made a comment that really struck me. She said... “The grass is not greener on the other side. The grass is greener where it is watered.” In life, and especially in ministry, it is so easy to give and give and give without stopping to be “watered.” I think this has been my greatest challenge of late. Pam’s comment made me realise that I was probably a lot drier than I had thought. Over this next month, my great desire is that God would “water me”, so that I might give out of the overflow of His love and strength in me. I pray the same for you too. May this next month be one of much “watering” and may God fill up in you those areas that need a touch of His love. So much love, Kim
A Huge Thank you…. In January of 2009, God laid a vision on my heart to do a “mission in reverse”. Instead of taking a team of South Africans to Peru on a mission, we were to raise the funds to bring some of the young leaders from our church in Peru to South Africa to participate in the first ever Campus Harvest Student Conference. We needed to raise R50 000 in a month. It was really challenging, but God opened people’s hearts and they gave generously. We not only reached our target, we surpassed it. Consequently Jaime and Ingrid were able to travel to South Africa for an amazing two months of training (the rest of that story is for another day). The remaining finance was held in a missions account in Cape Town. A few months ago Pastor Wolfgang Beyer contacted me saying that they would like to donate the rest of the finance to the work we are doing here in Peru. It has been the most amazing blessing to us. We have been able to buy some much needed stationary, we have been able to replace broken light fixings and we will also be buying a drill to help with the maintenance or our children’s libraries (see picture below). The finance has also made a way for me to attend a course on “Peruvian Reality” which is held by the Bartolome de las Casas Institute (a well known theological institute in Lima) This is a three week course that specifically aims to provide foreigners living in Peru with a better understanding of the history and current affairs that shape the nation, so that they might be more effective in serving the people. Thank you to everyone gave towards the “reverse mission”. Your generosity has continued to be blessing both to our family and to the people of Peru.
Saints in Cells‌. Thank you so much for your prayers for our work with the foreign ladies in the prisons! This last month has been one of some great victories and some challenges too. Fatima Prison: After initially being caught up in an administrative nightmare with the Fatima Prison administration, it appears that we have found favour with the director and will be given permission to hold a group Bible Study with the 20 foreign inmates there. As yet we do not physically have the passes, but we are trusting they will be given to us soon. At the moment we visit with the girls in their individual pavilions. This is really stressful as depending on the mood of the prison
Saints in Cells‌. guards, sometimes we are allowed in and on other days not. A few weeks ago I was locked into the maximum security section and was not allowed out for a few hours. As a result I didn’t get to see all the girls and went out quite shaken. It is not fun trying to reason with Peruvian prison guards One great answer to prayer is that a young missionary from the US, Pam Tullman, has decided to join us in Fatima. We have been trusting God for our team to grow and Pam is really a great blessing and an incredible minister. Santa Monica: Last month the prison director in Santa Monica changed. As a result the rules have become far stricter and it is harder to bring in toiletries or clothing for the girls. We have received a massive donation of clothing and are hoping to be able to give at least 3 items to each of the 40 girls who attend the Bible Study. Please pray that the administration will give us permission to bring in the clothing donation! In July Mary will be returning to Canada to apply to return to Peru as a long-term missionary. This means that from July onwards I will be heading up the prison ministry. It is a huge load to carry and I am really trusting for God to bring someone along who can shoulder the ministry with me. Please pray that God will add another lady to our Santa Monica team, one who loves God and is established in the Word.
Fe en Acción... One of the most exciting developments over the last month, is my involvement in the movement “Fe en Acción”. This is a programme run by World Vision and which seeks to empower 50 young people from various churches across Lima to be involved in the transformation of communities in need. The aim of the project is to equip the young people in such a way that they can return to their home churches and launch similar development initiatives. The group of young people is the fruit of the Vision Fest Concert and meets every second Friday for a time of prayer, inspiration and training. Later on they will be participating in already existing transformational development projects in some of the poorest districts of Lima. I have been asked to help with developing the curriculum for the training sessions. It is wonderful to be able to draw from my experience in the Perspectives Course and from other training that I received while still in South Africa. I also help with the set-up and organisation of the Friday meetings. “Fe en Acción is the project that Jaime is responsible for in World Vision. It is really is the first of its kind in the way provides a bridge for the NGO and the church to work together towards sustainable dev el opm ent . It is al so w on d erf ul t o h av e t h e opportunity to work together with him on a project.
In the Community... All continues to go well in the children's libraries of Simon Bolivar and 19A. Our only challenge has been the broken light fittings which have cut our time short due to lack of light. Thankfully due to the donation we received from South Africa, we can replace the fittings, get new lights and stay in the libraries a bit longer. For the next two months I will be hosting a volunteer, Christina Tetreault, from the United States who has come to serve in World Vision. Each week she will be accompanying me to the two libraries. I am really trusting that it will be a special learning experience for her. My most precious can of peaches: On Wednesday as we were finishing up our time in the Simon Bolivar Library, one of the children’s moms asked me if I could help her children with their English homework. I really enjoy teaching, so for me it was a delight, and I spent the next hour in their home helping her kids wit their “past tenses”. As I was about to leave their mom came out of the kitchen and insisted on “paying me” for my time there. She proceeded to give me a can of tinned peaches. I was so touched by her gesture and generosity. It always humbles me how those we consider poor are often so rich in their giving.
Some prayer requests…. Please could you pray with me in the following areas:
That God will add another lady to our Santa Monica prison ministry team: a woman who is solid in her faith, able to teach and will work well together with me and Beatrice (our administrator) That we will be given permission to hold a group Bible Study in Fatima prison on Tuesday mornings That we will be given permission to bring in the clothes that have been donated to the ladies. Please pray for my course that starts on Monday. I am trusting it will be a very strategic time. I am also a bit anxious as to how I am going to juggle all my other responsibilities. Please pray for the young people attending “Fe en accion” - may they be challenged and inspired to honour God as they serve others.
Thank you…. Jaime and I consider it a privilege to have a team of such dedicated and generous people partnering with us in our ministry here in Peru. We are so thankful for each one of you. Our victories are your victories, the things we accomplish each month only made possible because of your faithfulness. We thank God for your lives and pray you will be encouraged knowing that you are making a difference in this part of the world. Much love,
Jaime and Kim
Jaime and I would love to hear from you: please write to us at kimmysol@gmail.com or you could call on +51 990 50 1552. My skype name is kimmysol.