Olivares family update

Cusco, Peru

Sept/Oct 2011

A village church plant
A few months ago we were approached by a brother in our church to begin praying about God’s leading toward starting a new work. This work would be a church plant in Sangarara, an agricultural village nestled high in the Andes Mountains a few hours outside of Cusco. Most residents speak only Quechua and are illiterate. They work herding sheep, cows and pigs. They live by barter. Their lives have been mostly untouched by the western world. There is a group of individuals who have heard the gospel and have placed their faith in Christ. But they have no church, no shepherd, no one to teach them. They
want more. 


So, we visited and prayed, sent Jorge and Janet back to visit, and have met with Eloy, the believer who lives in Sangarara who shared this need in the first place. It encourages us that God has led the believers in our church in this way. We will help support the formation with the idea that the members of our church will be the
leaders and teachers who continue and sustain this work.


We will begin this Saturday, Oct. 15th, with a children’s outreach campaign; with music, children’s songs,
dances, a lesson and breakfast served. We are inviting the entire village, with the hopes to get to know the
families and begin inviting them to the small group that Jorge and Eloy will be starting. The head of police
gave us the approval for the open-air meeting and said he that he also wants to learn more about God. He was so thrilled that he is going to have the entire police force (which isn’t many) attend. 


The small group that is being formed will be led by Eloy. Seeing as Eloy doesn’t speak Spanish and doesn’t
read at all, his wife will read the Bible to him. Jorge will meet with to disciple him on a weekly basis since Jorge is bilingual in Spanish and Quechua. Janet will be leading ministry with the children. We have already begun to collect Bibles in Quechua. The members of the church are compiling worship music in Quechua as well. Everyone is excited at how they can participate in what God is leading us to do in Sangarara.


Prayer needs:
-For the people of Sangarara to have open hearts to receive Christ and to follow Him 
-For interfamily violence and alcoholism that exists in the village
-That it doesn’t rain this Saturday
-For safe travels for everyone who will be going Saturday, we leave Cusco at 6am
-For God’s provision of the approx. $400 we will need monthly, for a location, supplies and travel costs for those who will be going each week.

If you would like to commit to supporting the new work in Sangarara on a monthly basis or send a one-time donation, please make check payable to Iberoamerican Ministries, with a note attached for “Olivares Cusco Ministry” And send to IAM, PO Box 1493, Monroe, WA 98272

Other prayer requests:
-Tracie’s health- her eyes are continuing to have complications, accompanied with pain and blurry vision.
-Jorge and Janet, pray that they will continue to grow and mature in the Lord, as shepherd and teacher.
-Aracely and Carlos, for their marriage and commitment to the Lord and to each other, that they will
continue taking steps of faith. For Aracely who is being discipled as a children’s leader in the church and for
Carlos, who wants to serve, but is easily distracted with other things.
-For the annual children’s Christmas party in December; planning has begun so that this year’s party will be
as much of a blessing as it has been in the past. If you would like to make a donation we’d be grateful!

Praises:
-Efrain and Olger took steps of faith and were baptized recently. They
also are attending the leadership course that Ricky is leading. Both
men are growing and desiring to serve more in the church.
-Ricardo and Julia, the couple who were recently married in the church
are taking steps toward leadership as well.
-Though we don’t know anything yet, it is possible the neighborhood
association of San Blas will donate a piece of land to the church that we can build on. We praise God in advance knowing we will soon have something… and we continue praying for favor from God and that of the association’s president. And for a meeting and decision to take place soon.

We will close by sending greetings and love from our family to yours. Isabella and Milan are doing well, growing too fast, and bring so much joy to our lives. We are looking forward to the medical team that will be coming in November and the upcoming Christmas celebrations, preparations are already underway!


With love and peace,
Ricky, Tracie, Isabella and Milan

• For donations please attach a note for “Olivares Cusco Ministry”

• Specify it for the “Cusco Christmas Project” if desired

• Send to: IberoAmerican Ministries. PO Box 1493. Monroe, WA 98272