Therefore Go...
Testimonies of God´s Faithfulness in 2011
Therefore Go... “Then Jesus came to them and said… ‘Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matt 28:19-20 Each of us is only allotted with one life—a life that can be spent on a variety of things: the accumulation of wealth, the listing of accomplishments, the building of a family. I believe that God has called me to give my life to making a difference in the lives of others and in so doing to bring Him glory. In 2010 God opened a door for me to move to the nation of Peru in South America where, together with my husband Jaime, we seek to honour God by serving the local church and impoverished communities that are in need. This newsletter highlights some of the awesome things that God has enabled us to do over the last year. It is also an expression of our thanks to the many individuals who through their faith and generosity have made this all possible. We count it a privilege to have a team of such dedicated people who have partnered with us in this ministry. Thank you! We pray that it will serve as an encouragement and testimony of what can happen when we stand together in faith and prayer. Please continue to trust with us that the lives of the people of Peru will be touched and changed as they come to know the love Jesus Christ. Much love, Kim and Jaime
Some basic Peru stats: Population: 29.3 million. 9 million people live in Lima alone! It is a very very big city and very chaotic. Religion: 81% Roman Catholic. Peru is a very “religious� nation, with lots of idolatry and witchcraft in the more rural areas. In recent years the evangelical church has grown substantially, but lacks often in sound doctrine. Poverty: 34% of the population lives below the poverty line. A quarter of the population of Lima lives in poverty, with 7% living in extreme poverty. Literacy: Peru has the lowest levels of literacy in South America Drugs: Peru is the second largest producer of the coca plant (the base used for cocaine) in the world.
Go to the Church... “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy… and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” Ephesians 5:25-27 2011 was a year of settling and establishing for our church Campeones para Cristo, San Isisdro (Champions for Christ). We were blessed with a new venue from which we could now start to grow as a congregation, our focus for the year being primarily on internal growth. As a couple, Jaime and I form part of the church leadership team (the group you see below right). We are believing God that He will give us the wisdom to help shepherd the congregation according to His plans. This last year we spent a lot of time reviewing the
basic doctrines of the Christian faith and making sure that our own beliefs were in accordance with sound doctrine. Worship: Jaime and I also serve in the sound and in the worship teams. Last year we were responsible for storing and transporting the sound equipment to the venue each week, as well as for the set up of the music equipment. On alternate weeks we also lead worship in the service. This is an area I am really trusting that God will help us to grow in. It is such a privilege to be able to lead others into God’s presence and I pray that He will enable us to do it with greater skill and grace. Discipleship: God has given me the privilege of walking with some very precious girls and I am trusting that He can work through me to draw them closer to Him. It is my greatest desire to see them walking in wholeness, victory and grace. Outreach: Below are some photos of a Christmas party that our church held in the community of Pamplona, one of the poverty stricken districts of Lima. We also raised almost R5000 towards famine relief in Somalia.
Go to the “Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners.” Hebrews 13:3 In May God opened the door for me to become a part of a small team that ministers to foreign women who are in Peruvian jails on drug trafficking charges. Each Thursday Beatrice, Mary and I (see photo top left) go to Santa Monica Women’s prison to worship and share God’s Word with the ladies there. On average more than fifty women from more than twenty different nations attend the bible study each week. After each meeting we have a time of counselling and prayer, where we can minister individually to each lady, encouraging them to believe that God will meet her needs in a very difficult place. It is amazing to hear the stories of how each lady came to be in Santa Monica and even more amazing to hear how so many of them are thankful to be there, saying that if they hadn’t come they never would have had the opportunity to know God and change their lives. God really provides for these girls—over these last few months we have received numerous clothing and toiletry donations. Now, whenever a new girl arrives, we are able to give her a
Prisions... welcome pack of a few necessary items. God has also brought two local churches to partner with us, so thanks to their generosity, we were able to bless the girls with a special Christmas party and a generous gift of toiletries. It was a really special time and it was evident that the girls were touched my God’s love for them. In the last few months we have also started a bible study group for ladies who have left the prison but are awaiting the end of their parole. Once the girls are released from prison, some of them have to spend up to two years in Lima, but without being able to work officially. As a result many of the girls return to their reckless ways of living. It is our hope that through this bible study we can provide a much needed support system for the ladies and can help encourage them in their walks with God. The photo on the right is a photo of the girls in the Christmas party that we held for them too.
Go to the Communities... “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.� Luke 18:16
One of my greatest joys this last year has been volunteering in the community libraries of Simon Bolivar and 19A in the Villa Maria township. Peru has one of the lowest reading levels in the whole of South America and the goal of these libraries is to provide the children with a safe and friendly environment where they can discover the joys of reading. Although initiated by World Vision, the libraries are now run by parents from community and are seen as a sustainable means of bringing transformation to the lives of the children. It is our hope to raise children who can be agents of change in their communities
Simon Bolivar Library : I spend each Wednesday afternoon in the little library in Simon. It has been wonderful getting to know the children, but also heartbreaking as one gets to learn their stories. Some of these kids are really tough (imagine being intimidated by a three year old!), many have been abandoned or have parents suffering from addictions. My greatest desire is that in being there, God can work through me to show them His love and to let them know that there is a better way of living and a hope for their future. During of our time together each week, we have story telling, crafts and a time in which the kids spend reading books on their own. We also have reading competitions and a travelling back pack (see photo left) in which they can take books home. Some awesome testimonies: The father of one of the young boys who attends our libraries is currently in jail and his mother is an alcoholic. We were delighted to here the news this year that this little boy won the prize for best reader in his class at school. Over Christmas God again provided miraculously and connected Simon with a local school who were willing to sponsor a Christmas party for the children. We had cake and hot chocolate and presents for each of the 120 children who came. It was a wonderfully special day. The school also generously donated a huge box full of stationary, which means that the library now has much of what they need for their craft activities this year.
Go to the Com “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6 The Library of 19A: Another of my great joys of this year has been getting to know the community of 19A. Here again we saw God’s faithfulness in providing for the little ones He loves so much. The 19A library is run by perhaps one of the most dedicated couples I have ever met, Mr and Mrs Rios. Despite the fact that they live in a house made predominantly of hardboard and do not own much, they are determined to see change come to the lives of the children in their community. Each week Mr Rios arrives from work early to open the library, here he helps children with their home work and organises educational games for the kids. Mrs Rios is permanently on the look out for those in her community are in need, providing them with clothing and milk where she can. It has been such a blessing for me to work alongside them this year. At the start of the year our little library was grey, dirty and had a huge hole in the roof. Having received some contributions from World Vision and help from the rest of the community we were able to repair the hole in the roof and paint the walls with wonderfully colourful images. The following week we saw our attendance double!
munities... Some more testimonies: A big blessing for me this year was that my parents were able to visit the library while they were in Peru (see photo to right). They were moved to see the work that is being done and it was a privilege for me to have them be a part of it for a day. God provides again! Once again God amazed us with His provision and moved a teacher from a local school to donate gifts for the 19A Christmas party. Our church also donated a number of gifts and by the end of the party we had so many presents left over they are going to be used as prizes in the summer workshops. God also moved on the hearts of a group of South African ladies I know to provide milk, hot chocolate and cake—again we had more than was needed and were able to generously bless all the children who came.
More Good News... Apart from my work in the prison and in the community libraries here are some other testimonies that I would like to share with you, testimonies that due to your faithfulness and generosity were made possible… World Vision: This year Jaime began working as a trainee in World Vision, a Christian development and aid organisation that is dedicated to working with children, families and communities to reduce poverty and injustice (for more information, please feel free to click the link http://www.wvi. org/wvi/wviweb.nsf). As a trainee, he received the basic salary last year, so in truth your support has enabled both of us to serve and minister in the communities God has called us to. Thank you! Last year Jaime was responsible for organising a three month training programme that equipped the Children’s church teachers and pastors of 15 churches in Villa Maria. The programme included training ranging from puppet making, to how to lead worship in Children’s church, to how keep the children well behaved. I helped out as administrative assistant and tea lady. It was such a privilege to get to know these men and women who are so committed to making a difference in the lives of the children in their community and to teaching them the Word of God. Katharina: One of my other greatest joys this year was getting to know Katherina Pfisterer, a young German girl who was staying in Lima this year. I first met Katherina in a coffee shop after a friend had told her she needed to “find God”. I will never forget the look on her face when she told me “I don’t even know where to look!” After a few weeks of meeting together to study the Word, Katherina decided to commit her life to Christ. It has been wonderful to see her grow in her faith. She too began volunteering in World Vision and even joined us in Santa Monica prison on a few occasions. Katherina is now back in Germany, but we are continuing our study of the Bible together over Skype. I really believe God has a special plan and purpose for the life of this young woman.
Plans, Hopes and Dreams What does 2012 have in store? So far this year I have really felt God speaking to me about resting and trusting in Him to lead me into the things He has prepared for me to do for Him. My tendency is so often to run around finding things to do and as a result I am often more busy than effective. This year I am really trusting that by abiding in Him, the difference He can make through me will be exponentially greater. I will be continuing my involvement in the two children’s libraries, as well as in Santa Monica Prison. There are a number of changes that are taking place in which I will really need God’s wisdom and grace. The Literacy Project run by World Vision came to an end at the end of last year and so the libraries are being fully run by parents from the communities. I am praying that God will give me the wisdom to be able to encourage and empower them to keep going with the project. Also, as of July, Mary (my teammate in the prison) will be returning to Canada for a year. This leaves only Beatrice and myself going into Santa Monica. Beatrice works primarily with our admin, so it would mean that I would be wholly responsible for all the ministry to the ladies. I am really trusting that God will bring along a new teammate that I can minister alongside. Next week a friend of mine, Peter Young, will be visiting our church. God has blessed with a special ability to minister in worship and in the prophetic. I believe that it is going to be a time of real refreshing and encouragement for our congregation. I am longing to see us discover new depths in God’s goodness and love. One of the goals of World Vision for this year is to mobilise the church of Peru so that they can be better equipped to play a part in the social transformation of their communities. Jaime has been given the responsibility of organising a music concert called Vision Fest for 2500 young people in March. This is the biggest event he has organised and I am really praying that God will give him the Wisdom and strength he needs to work effectively. Please keep us in your prayers this year. We know that so much is accomplished as we stand together in faith.
for 2012... Here are some of our main prayer requests for 2012… • That Jaime and I will remain sensitive to God’s leading this year. • That God will give me wisdom in the work that I do in the children’s libraries and favour in the community. • That God will add more people t o our ministry team going into the Santa Monica Prison • For Peter Young’s visit to our church: that it will be a time of great refreshing and release for the congregation. • For Jaime and the Vision Fest Project: that God will give him strength and favour as he organises this big event. • For our marriage: that in the midst of our various ministry activities, we will be able to always find time for each other and can strong as a couple.
If you would like to know more information about our work among the people of Peru or how you can partner with us in ministry, please don’t hesitate to email me at
kimmysol@gmail.com