Peru update: Furlough around the corner

Dear Friends,

Greetings from Arequipa! This will be the last update before we arrive in West Virginia on March 12. We are looking forward to hearing from our churches about setting up meetings as well as visiting with our individual supporters. We will need to raise $530.00 a month before we can return to the field. We have lost 30% support because of the drop of the dollar, but we are confident the Lord will raise it up.

We are in the pains of packing up our house and getting ready to head back to the US. Zack and Caleb are having a very difficult time going back to the US, so we would ask you to pray for them. This is the life they have known for a long time and now, at least for Zack, it is a more permanent good-bye. The majority of his friends are here and he is more Peruvian than American, so please pray for him. He turned 18 the 14th of January. Pray that he will be able to find work once we arrive back in the US. His plans are to attend Liberty University in the fall, providing he receives some financial aid. He wants to come back to Latin America and work in youth missions. Caleb will be attending a Christian school while we are in the US. He too is having a difficult time with the packing and getting ready once again for all the sad goodbyes that are soon to come. As for Debbie and I, we are struggling with leaving but are looking forward to fellowship and ministering in the US. We are hoping to serve in our home church and that some friends will allow us to have Bible studies in their homes. If anyone would be interested in hosting a home Bible study using the “Story of Hope”, please let us know.

Yes, we are planning on returning to Peru, Lord willing, once our furlough is up and our funds are raised. However, we are open to do the Lord’s will be that in Peru, the US or another country. For now, the plan is to return to Arequipa.

December was filled with a lot of activities and opportunities to share Christ. There were church dinners as well as our Christmas cantata. We opened up our home on Christmas Eve and had several people stop by for food and fellowship. We also had a special New Years Eve service that was filled with fun, fellowship and praises to our God.

The home Bible study that Aaron has been involved in is going great. He is hoping to finish the “Story of Hope” before we leave for the states. The Bible study is a highlight for Aaron because he believes some of the people have given their lives to Christ. Two weeks ago one of the ladies just came out and asked “What do I have to do to be saved?”. That was like saying “stick-em” to a bull dog. When Aaron finished the presentation of the gospel she said “I believe”.

Willy and his wife have still not made a profession of faith. Aaron took them the “Fire proof” video and the “Love Dare “ book, but obviously they need the Lord first before they can work on their marriage. Their salvation is a huge burden.

We hope to complete the discipleship classes we are currently holding. The students are so full of questions that at times it is hard to get through a lesson. Debbie actually spent 3 weeks on one lesson because of all the questions. We should be able to finish the “Way to Joy” with both of our groups before we leave.

The first Sunday in January, the church held its annual business meeting and elected the first deacon ever in the church. Pastor Abraham has been doing a great job with the transition, stepping up to the job of pastor while we take the role of assistants. We are still meeting with him and his wife offering discipleship and counseling. We are confident in his ability to take the church forward.

The 2nd week in January we had our annual field team meetings and Bible conference with our missionary partners. It is always a blessing for us to see and fellowship with our colleagues from all over Peru. Our conference speaker this year looked at the 7 miracles of Christ in the book of John. It was so refreshing to hear English preaching/teaching as well as singing praises in English.

Right after the Field team meetings, we took a group of five teens to Lima for the Word of Life camp. They made some wonderful decisions for the Lord that week and came back and shared their hearts with the church. We trust that the teens in the church will carry the youth ministry forward since Zack will no longer be here to lead them. José, who has been working with Zack for the last year, has taken over the responsibilities of the youth group and has done a fantastic job so far.

Next week, our church will be joining with another church for family camp in Camana. Aaron will be teaching on purity in the life of a teen as well as on the armor of God. Debbie will not be going with us this year as she is overwhelmed with the packing and final details that need to be done before we leave.

Before we leave, we have planned three weeks of baptisms. We are so thankful for all that the Lord is doing in the church and other ministries we are involved in.

Aaron had the privilege of speaking to a group of ladies at our coworkers’ church on overcoming depression. He does not feel that he is an expert, but having learned so much through his ordeal, he is anxious to share it with others. There were 28 ladies present and the study was a big success. Aaron would love the opportunity to help other people with what he has learned on the subject.

Pastor Julio, who was diagnosed with cancer a few months ago, is doing very well considering. The Lord has actually given him the strength to preach in his own pulpit the last couple of weeks. We pray that the Lord will continue to give the whole family strength to deal with this trial.

Update — Feb. 4

First off, Pastor Julio was given just 3 months to live in November, 2009. The cancer had spread to all his vital organs as well as his bones and the end looked imminent. He took three chemo treatments and yesterday went to the doctor for a progress report. To the amazement of the doctors the cancer that had metastasized is gone, his kidneys are clear and his liver is clear. The large mass he had on one side of his backbone is gone. They are not sure about his bones so they are doing tests to see how they are. There is still some residual cancer so they are going to continue the chemo for a while longer. The doctors told Julio’s wife that there was no way the chemo could have done this and she simply replied “I know it wasn’t the chemo, it was the prayers of God’s people and God who did it”. Churches all over Peru have been praying for his healing and God has answered in a powerful way! ALL things are possible with God. Julio has felt so well, he has even been able to preach the last three weeks without coughing, although he is exhausted when he gets done.

Secondly, the Bible study Aaron has been doing with The Story of Hope has brought much fruit. Last Saturday, three of the four ladies in the Bible study placed their faith in Christ and are now part of the family of God. While they had believed for a long time, they realized that they had never received Christ’s forgiveness, like the thief on the cross did, and confessed Christ as their Savior. So right there in their home, they bowed their heads and prayed for Christ to save them. It was such an awesome time to see them repent and to be used by God in this way. I have prayed for their salvation for months and the Lord brought in the harvest.

Third, Sunday was a very special day in our church. We had a missionary from Chile in the morning and a missionary from Columbia in the evening service. Sunday morning after the morning service we baptized a teenage girl that had received Christ some time ago. We are planning 2 more baptisms before we leave!

The boys left for camp in Camaná on Wednesday and Aaron is leaving to join them today. Pray for Zackary as he is a counselor this year and there are at least 2 unsaved boys in his room. Debbie is staying home this year to finish packing and supervise the painting. We only have 24 more days here and are trying to make them all count for the glory of the Lord.

Can I get an Amen! Glory, hallelujah!!

In His Grip,
Aaron, Debbie, Zack, and Caleb Karr
Vonage (304) 521-4330
Skype name is aaron_karr

Please only use our akarr@abwe.cc from now on.