Hi Everyone,
Here is our August 2019 update;
I will be including many events since the last update in April. I want to focus on this update on our Youth Group. A big change that has happened is that Omar & Luana got married and came back from Lima and decided they wanted to help at our church in El Terminal. The other big change is that Gabriella has graduated from the Bible College and also has returned to work at our church, as she did before she left a couple of years ago.
Gabriella, Omar & Luana are working great together and they have lots of great ideas and a lot of energy. this has given a big boost to our Youth Group and helping Pastor Raul Luzmila who pastor Our Youth Group in El Terminal.
So as I said we will focus on the events these young leaders have been working on since they joined our team.
Henry & Gerri Meyer vistied us in May. It was good to see them here in Iquitos again, it had been a few years since their last visit. I think they hold the record for the "most visits" to our ministries here in Iquitos. Their first visit was in 2004 and they came every year after that for many years.
On this visit, Henry built a brick BBQ at the church for us. While Henry, Jose and I were busy with the BBQ,
Then Henry & Gerri joined Pastor Jose & myself as we visited the CC Bible College in Cajamarca for Gabriella's graduation. Gaby (as we call her) is Pastor Jose & Lidia's daughter, we were all very proud of her. She is now working at our church and helping with the children & our Youth Group.
 Henry working on the BBQ |
 Henry with Gerri with the finished BBQ |
 Jose & Lidia at Gaby's graduation |
I had been wanting to have a retreat for our Youth Group, so all the leaders got together and we put a retreat together. I was so happy with how Gaby, Omar & Luana organized the games, worship, devotions etc. Us old guys, Pastor Jose, Pastor Javier, Pastor Raul and myself just had to do the teachings. It was a blessing to have someone else doing that big part of the work.
 Pastor Jose doing his teaching |
 Games |
 Games |
 More games |
 One of the nights of worship |
 More games |
 Gaby & Luana leading a time of Bible games |
 The Youth's who attended |
 At night at the retreat site |
Yes, there is an annual day that is called "Children's Day". Even though many of you may agree with my mother who used to say "every day is Children's Day".
Well, our new young leaders decided to celebrate "Dia del Niņo" at our church. Especially since it is on Sundays, it lined up perfect with Sunday School. Led by Gaby, Luana & Omar, they organized our Youth Group to prepare a special day for our children, they did a great job in making the day quite a fiesta for the children.
 Children's Worship |
 Games |
 Games |
 Segundo dressed up as a clown |
 Loraine dressed up as a clown |
 All the Youth Group who prepared for and worked that day
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Rocky Mountain Calvary Chapel also visited in August. Led by Pastor Blair (Osito) they had a small team, but they accomplised quite a bit. We visited schools, did a couple of mornings with the moms of El Terminal, played some soccer. But the big event this year was "Cafe Cafe; they had several nights with our youth group, where they had games, teachings and preparing frappuccino's (iced coffee). As you can imagine it was a hit. The idea was for our youth to invite their friends, young people who wouldn't usualy come to the Youth Group. It worked and also many of the younger people in the neighborhood came. I didn't expect that but many 10, 11 & 12 year olds came and they had a great time.
Well, to let you know it wasn't all fun & games, many of those young people have continued to come to church and about 10 of them have accepted the Lord. And to my amazment, some are not just coming to the Youth Group but coming to the other church services, especially Sunday nights.
 Sharing with the moms |
 Preparing frappuccino's |
 Preparing and handing out the frappe's
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 having some fun |
 Pastor Blair & team visiting one of the schools |
 The RMCC team
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we have had 2 weddings at the church this year. In June; Omar & Luana got married. Luana is Pastor Javier & Karina's daughter. Pastor Javier performed the wedding here at the church in El Terminal, I had the privilege of being "El Padrino" (the godfather).
In July Juan Carlos & Camila got married. Juan Carlos is Pastor Jose & Lidia's son. I again had the privilege of being "El Padrino" and giving the bride away.
 Luana & Omar |
 Camila & Juan Carlos
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"Calvary Chapel Iquitos" (There are more pictures there than I can send in an update)
These 3 young leaders have made a huge impact on the ministry here in El Terminal and we also include the other 3 churches in some activities like Youth Retreat's and Christmas Programs. They are a big blessing to me, to the children and to the youth of our church and our community. And I ask that you would pray for them to keep on fire and for their finances.
The next big project is Holloween. I mentioned that I would like to do something for the children one of these years, in our last meeting, and our 3 young leaders took off with the project and we are preparing a big Harvest Party for the neighborhood children of El Terminal this year. Gaby has the Youth Group starting off with fund raisers, as I mentioned to them that our funds are limited. We will be having two movie nights this coming weekend to raise funds. Please pray that all goes well, and that they come up with other ideas for fund raisers.
Prayer Requests:
If you would like to contribute to any of the following ministries\expenses:
Harvest Alliance International P.O. Box 4550 Oceanside, CA 92052 Memo: "62414 - XXX"
(62414 is our ministry number) (Where XXX = General Fund, Children's Ministry, etc...)
*Note: The dollar is currently at 3.36 or 336 soles for every $100 (U.S.).
Thank you all for your prayers and financial support.
and God Bless you
Albert Smith
Calvary Chapel Murrieta
24225 Monroe Avenue
Murrieta, CA 92562
Memo = Peru, Albert Smith
Or for Jose
Memo - Peru, Jose Garate
Pastor Javier & Pastor Raul's offerings go through Harvest Alliance International (above).