APRIL 1, 2008

Dear South Plains family,

Greetings in the name of our Savior.  We thank God for you and hope that he continues blessing you.  Thanks to David Rix for his help in our sons’ education.  David may finish at Lipscomb in 2009; he has had some language problems. Joel will likely have to suspend his studies until David finishes because of financial limitations.  David’s half-tuition scholarship has ended so the next year will be somewhat more expensive.

We are going through some difficult times with the deteriorating health of our third son, Jairo.  Please pray for him.

The CAMI activities finished in Los Piños Feb 8.  There were four baptisms: Abdias, Cesia, Elizabeth and Ruben, all from Arequipa.  Abdias would like to return in 2009 to enroll in the Interamerican Bible Institute (this is a new name we have recently adopted for our school to prepare Christian workers). We have also expanded the program to 6 semesters.

Feb 22-24 Maximo was invited to preach in Arequipa; Zenon was baptized a week later.  Feb 28- Mar 2 our Vacation Bible School was held at Los Pinos.  During that same time Maximo was invited to preach at Huamanga in Ayacucho.

The ladies of Los Piños meet for Bible study and work session every Wednesday at 4 pm.  Bible study for all members are held at the building Tuesday and Thursday at 7 pm, as well as in various homes on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 5 pm.  The youth meet on Saturdays at 7 pm and we have two worship assemblies on Sundays.

On March 3, we inaugurated a new academic period in the Interamerican Bible Institute.  We have 5 students who should finish in 2010.  We solicit your prayers that all these participants can successfully finish the course and become effective workers in the Lord’s kingdom.

Thank you so much for the support you continue to provide for the work here.  Please keep us always in your prayers.  Greetings to the South Plains family and the elders.

In the love of Christ,

Maximo y Gloria

PHOTOS FROM 2007

Each set of photos is in an online web album.  Click on the links below to view each album.

Each link will open in a new window or tab.

Conference in Huamachuco

Accident on Return to Lima

Joel's Birthday

First trip to aid earthquake victims near Pisco, south of Lima

Second trip to aid earthquake victims near Pisco, south of Lima

UPDATE FEBRUARY 5, 2008

With the Christian love which unites us all we send greetings to the South Plains family along with a report of our recent activities.

We ended 2007 with a series of activities in several locations, including the Los Pinos congregation.  December 14 Leonardo Rios graduated from the School of Biblical Studies, the only one who was able to complete his studies as others had to withdraw for various personal reasons.  He was honored with a dinner on Dec 15.

December 22 we prepared a “chocolatada” and had gifts for the children of Los Pinos along with others, who visited us with their mothers, a total of 60 people.  Sunday December 23, 12 brethren traveled to Los Angeles Caniete where we prepared a “chocolatada” for 350 children and adults.  Following a brief Bible lesson which I shared with those present, the youth group from Los Pinos presented a skit related to Christmas, “Love is the most important part of Christmas”.  That Sunday night we held evening worship in the house of Brother Zocimo.  It is to his house brothers from Los Pinos take turns traveling to conduct worship services every Sunday.

This year beginning in January 7 we have initiated a project to train young people and leaders of the congregations which we call “Intensive Missionary Training” (CAMI).  This is an extension of the Bible School for those interested but who can not attend the regular courses for two years at the School.  The courses will be the same as those being taught at the School.  This will continue through February 8.  There are a total of 17 participants; nine are from other cities and eight from congregations here in Lima.  The classes are being taught at the Los Pinos building and those from outside Lima are housed at the building.  Recently we had three baptisms; Abel Huamani, Leonardo, and Juvenal.  We had a total of 15 baptisms last year.

My family and the family of Los Pinos send greetings and gratitude to all of you there for your continued support of the Lord’s work in Peru.

Yours in Christ,

Maximo

SEPTEMBER 29, 2007 - Photos from the earthquake aftermath

Click on the small photos here to view the larger version

These are photos from the aftermath of the recent earthquake and the help provided by South Plains through Maximo and the Los Pinos congregation.  Notice the vests worn by the Los Pinos volunteers.

MORE PHOTOS

Click on the small photos here to view the larger version

These are photos from the Ladies' Day Conference in Lima, as well as some photos of the campaign in the highlands, in which Maximo was involved.

UPDATE - SEPTEMBER 6, 2007

Dear Brethren,

Thank you so much for your concern for our safety and well being following the earthquake.  Actually Gloria and I were in Huamachuco at the time.  I was invited to participate in a conference there which resulted in the baptisms of 11 people.  We have also had two baptisms recently in Los Pinos.

As we were returning to Lima from Huamachuco, the bus in which we were riding collided with a large truck, causing some anxious moments among the passengers as it appeared that both vehicles might fall into the canyon.  But the hand of God was more powerful and protected us so that we are still alive and in his service, for which we are most grateful.

Thank you for your generous contribution to help those in the area of Pisco where there was extensive damage.  We plan to travel on Friday (Aug 28) to a small village outside of Pisco where so far very little help has arrived.  We will be sending pictures of all these activities as we can.

Thanks again for your generosity and continued support of spreading the gospel in Peru.

May God continue to bless you richly.

Yours in Christ,

Maximo & Gloria

UPDATE - JULY 4, 2007

We were very happy to have the Hoppers visit us on Mothers Day! It encourages us greatly to see the love they have for the work of the Lord at Los Pinos and we are very grateful for the financial contribution they made. We have decided to put that with the small amount we have collected and finish the floor in the worship assembly room and replace the chairs that were stolen. We will be sending photos as the work progresses.

Please forgive me for the delay in answering your last letter; we have been very busy with congregation activities. On June 1 & 2 we had a meeting with Javier Cuaresma from Michigan who had previously been in Bolivia; He was at the Pan American Lectureships last year where we met him. During this meeting tow young people were baptized: Raquel Jamaica and Jonatan Chumbe, and on Sunday Noemi Ramos was baptized. Brother Javier also taught the book of Acts in our Preacher Training School.
 

We also conducted a Ladies Conference organized by Gloria and special participation by Francisca Trevino fm Cuzco; Ladies from several congregations in Lima were in attendance.

We have had two young ladies and a young man working at Los Pinos with Lets Start Talking, Deven, Kelli and Keith from Norman, OK. They retuned to the US last night. On June 10 we had the young man from South Plains and two young ladies with us for lunch and the afternoon. They are working at the Olivar congregation.

David stayed in Nashville this summer; he is working to earn money for next years schooling. Joel is leaving the University for economic reasons. He is considering attending SIBI in Lubbock where I attended. David sent me a digital camera, thanks so much for covering the cost of it.
 

Thanks for your continued interest and support of the Lord’s work here in Peru. May God continue to bless you, greetings to all the brethren. We will be sending pictures later.

Your brother and fellow servant in Christ,
Maximo

MAY 19, 2007

Greetings in the name of the Lord, and my wishes for God's constant blessings, to the brothers and sisters in the faith who comprise the great family of South Plains Church of Christ.

Thanks to God that in 2007 so far, eight people have been added to the Church in Peru.

On January 20, three members of the Rojas family were baptized.  They had participated in the Friday Bible studies in the home of Julia and Mesias Gonzales.  The baptisms took place in the Chillon River, north of Lima.

On February 25, Carlos was baptized, and on May 3, Isabel Sanchez was baptized.  Unfortunately, we don't have photos of those.

Loved brothers, thank you very much for everything.  Our God continues to bless us all.

In the love of Christ, Maximo & Gloria

UPDATE - JANUARY 15, 2007

Dear South Plains family,

I begin by thanking you for the opportunity you have given me to work with you in the Kingdom and the financial support you have provided to help extend the its borders into Latin America like Peru with its diverse Catholic culture and Andean customs.  I’m not deserving of the support you give me but I often share it with others who are in need.  Many of our members have limited income and others don’t have work and need help at times with food and medicine.

Although last year we didn’t experience large growth numbers we are determined to strive even harder this year in our struggle with Satan and attempting to gain souls for Christ.

Some members of other religious groups have decided to meet with us including a social worker and her family, along with friends and family of Joel Jamanca, who is finishing his studies at the preachers training school in Quito.

During the latter days of November we held a Ladies Day attended by a large number from Lima.  We graduated four of the six students from our Bible School for this year in a ceremony on December 15 at the Miraflores congregation followed by a dinner in their honor on Saturday the 16th.

Evangelistic efforts continued in the school where sister Dina works with studies in their homes, since the school is not in session.  We prepared and served refreshments and distributed gifts with the help of our young people to kids in three different locations: 60 children in Antonio Raymondi, 30 children in the house of Julia and 120 children at Los Pinos.  We solicited financial help from various small businesses in the neighborhood; one contributed $68, another gave 14 pairs of shoes and another several packages of snacks.

With regard to the family, our daughter, Elisabet, finished her second year of high school, son Jairo is preparing to enter the university in Lima and our other sons, Joel and David, are studying at David Lipscomb University in spite of financial difficulties.  Thanks to those of you who are helping them with some of their costs.

May our God, who is constantly present to help us, bless you richly in all things, and may your generosity be a sweet offering before him.  Farewell for now with much Christian love.  Greetings from the family.

Your fellow servant in Christ,

Maximo

Please take a look at the recent pictures from Peru (below).

Photos from Peru

Posted January 3, 2007

Click on the small photos below to view the larger version

24 PHOTOS posted online December 19, 2005

Several photos of church activities.

PHOTOS posted online September 19, 2005.  These photos of medical missions activities and the resulting baptisms.

Maximo is a graduate of Sunset School of Preaching and for many years basically supported himself by operating his own bus in Lima, as he shared the gospel with his fellow Peruvians.  In 1997, South Plains Church of Christ made the commitment to further involvement in the Lima work and assumed the full support of Maximo, so he could devote full time to preaching and teaching in the suburbs of Lima.  Maximo's wife, Gloria, is a medical doctor; they have four children and the whole family is dedicated to the work of the Lord.

Over the years, Maximo has assisted various small congregations in and around Lima.  Most of his present efforts are with the Los Pinos congregation, which is in the process of constructing a building.  Following a visit to Peru in July 1999 by two South Plains Church of Christ elders and a missions committee representative, the decision was made to provide additional financial help for their building program.  The building now has permanent walls and roof and provides a much-improved meeting place for the Los Pinos congregation.  Future plans include adding a second story for classrooms and facilities for preacher training, seminars, and workshops.

Thanks to Kern Stutler, one of our elders at South Plains Church of Christ, for translating Maximo's letters and e-mails.