I'll be back...

Hey guys! hows life?

Hard to believe its only 2months and I´ll be back!?

I´m writing from Cusco, the Inca capital of south america, on my way to Bolivia. Why am I here, you ask? Well, Lyn-duh kinda forgot to renew her 90day visa, and I´m now a month over, and illegally in the country. Unfortunately, immigrations told me that if the police happen to catch me I can get into trouble and they can ban me from re-entering Peru for 6years. Woops! So I have to do a border cross into Bolivia, get a new visa there, and then come back into the country. We (an ozzie missionary chick is travelling with me) travel by bus wednesday night to the border. The systems here are soo not formalized, so it kinda depends who you get on the day as to whether they want to be nice or not. Another missionary guy who had the same problem was stuck in Bolivia for 30 days before they would renew his visa. I´m not really keen for that!!! So if you could have a wee word to God on my behalf to let all go smoothly, that´d be really awesome. Will keep you posted!!

As for the rest of stuff here, I´ve been working with the small church I´ve been going to and visiting people in their homes to chat and encourage them or read the bible. very cool. Starting to get to form relationships with other families in the community too, and will start going to 2 homes from next week to teach their kids english. Great outreach opportunity.

love y´all, huge blessings and may the God of all grace keep you safe in His hands in all that you´re up to!!!

Lynda

Gotta love Jaffas :)

Hey, you just gotta love jaffas :). Pentecost weekend was just a fantastic weekend with Pastors Richard Lander and Don Lake both stirring up a storm! It's awesome when people with prophetic giftings get going, and some people definitely had their mail read... lol.

We also came in contact with a couple of awesome leaders from Bayside Apo up on the north shore - Matt (lol, we were on a first name basis from the start so i have no idea what your last name is...) and Shelly Thornton (who used to be Buxton, a family who i have had a lot of easter camp connections with over the years). Hey - you guys rock, we really enjoyed having you down, and I hope you're able to return the favour sometime soon (Matt, please don't try to break my arm... I was only joking...). I'll even wear a pink shirt specially to catch some of that north shore annointing...

Seriously guys, thanks so much for making the weekend. If you'd like to get a hold of us, try ray at christiancentre dot org dot nz... looking forward to hassling you soon...

Any way, a joke to seal the new friendships made:

A Taste of Jafa

"A lion in Dunedin Zoo was lying in the sun licking its backside when The Lion Man on a rare visit to the South, turned to the keeper and said, 'That's a docile old thing, isn't it?'
'NO WAY,' said the keeper, 'it's the most ferocious beast in the zoo. Why, just an hour ago
it dragged an Auckland visitor into the cage and completely devoured him.'
'Hardly seems possible,' said the astonished Dugdale. 'Why is it lying there licking its bum?'
Zoo Keeper, 'The poor thing is trying get the taste out of its mouth.'

:) To friendships between north and south...

Peach out (just a little metro joke there... lol, I'm funny...)

Ray

The six million dollar man...

We have the technology, we can rebuild him....

It's funny how things are cyclical really ay? I'm twenty something and suddenly the 80s become cool again (and let's face it, they were NOT cool the first time around... a round of legwarmers for everybody...) roll on the 90s retro I say. Bring grunge back into fashion, and suddenly my entire waredrobe becomes cool again.

Resonate as a ministry are going retro... we are going back to basics and our focus for this next part of the year is COMMUNITY - how to build community, making an impact in our community, and just rebuilding some of the things that just make us an awesome group of people to hang out with.

Last night, shannon and I ran our first cell group as a couple (the first one in a YEAR!!), and we had the tuesday and wednesday groups come together again... man it was a pretty cool night, and it turns out we all have a lot in common (mainly PS2, XBOX, and any other acronym that surrounds gaming...). Shannon and I thought it would be a great idea to set some atmosphere, so we turned off the main lights and lit some candles and stuff. It created an awesome atmosphere to talk and laugh in, and i think it might become a regular thing for a while.

Highlight of the night for us was the 8 second fervent prayer meeting at the end, which went something like:

Ray: Richard could you start and Stephen could you end, and anyone else can pray in the middle.

Richard: Ok, um God thanks that we can come together, and help us to think about how we can be evangelists in our own community...
(.017 milliseconds)
Stephen: ...AMEN


Peace Out
Ray

The New Pastor

A new pastor moved into town and went out one Saturday to visit his community. All went well until he came to one house. It was obvious that someone was home, but no one came to the door even after he knocked several times. Finally, he took out his card, wrote on the back "Revelation 3:20" and stuck it in the door. The next day, as he was counting the offering he found his card in the collection plate. Below his message was a notation "Genesis 3:10." Upon opening his Bible to the passage he let out a roar of laughter.

Revelation 3:20 reads: (Pastors note) "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice, and opens the door, I will come into him, and will dine with him, and he with me."
Genesis 3:10 reads: "And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked."

Where's Lynda?

(Hint: She's behind the flag - Ray :) Oh and we miss you too Lynda!

Here's the latest update from Peru...

Hey guys!

thankyou so much to yáll who´ve emailed me, I´ve now gotta go to an internet cafe to use email, so sorry if I can´t always write back, but know that your emails, thoughts, encouragement (gossip, stories...!) are fully appreciated!!!

Im now in my new home, a city called Abancay. I dunno what the population is, but it feels a bit bigger than invers, and smaller than chch. But hey theres like traffic lights and paved roads woohoo! but ya still see horses in the street, and mud brick houses, so its a real contrast. I was hanging out to go to a cafe, and was sooooo disappointed when I went. The waitress brought me over a mug of hot water, and a wee bottle of coffee concentrate to pour in myself WHAT??!! No layer of foamy milk with cinnamon sprinkles?? Ripped off! Although it did only cost me the equivalent of 90cents, so I cant´complain hehe

The trip here was a bit of a nightmare. It should take 13hours driving, so we left at 6am. But by 9.30 we arrived at this massive landslide covering the road. Remember this is peru, and the local tractor was in another village waiting to be fixed, so if ya wana get through you gotta do it yourself. So we started clearing rocks, 5 of us (including me, my 18yr old host sister, and a pregnant chick, not the best road works team!) We worked out butts off for 5 hours clearing that road... then once we passed it... there was another landslide round the next corner... and then another one...and another one..!!! We didn´t finish until it was dark, after TEN hours of rock moving!!!! arrrrrggggghhhhh Our hands were raw by the end of it, but we did it. One day I´ll look back and laugh.... but for now I´ll be happy if I never touch another rock in my life...!

Im living with a Peruvian family for the first month here. Theres a mum, dad, 11yr old boy and 2 yr old girl. We´re just getting over the usual awkward conversation stage, so should be a good experience. My address is really easy here (hint hint!) Apartado 206, Abancay, Peru.

I went to a tiny church of 8 people last night. Well, when they found out I was a missionary they asked me to speak at their youth group this weekend. In the midst of the languge barrier I kinda agreed before I realised they meant they wanted ME to do the speaking! So we´ll see how that goes! My spanish is gettng heaps better, and a guy I met in town asked if I was from Spain ha! that´s the best compliment!

Will get myself settled into ministry, and youth and kids work in the next week or so. Will be teaching English a lot here.

keep the stories coming my way, huge blessings to yáll xoxoxo

love, Lynda

PS To my prayer supporters: praise God for all that He´s teaching me here, please pray for the family I´m living with, as they´re not Christians, pray for Saturday as I speak at youth group, praise God for the support of the other missionaries here in Abancay, pray for Him to lead me clearly to the opportunities He has for me to serve here xoxo

Album Tour Rocks!!!

Hey guys,
Sorry it's been a while between posts...
The album tour absolutely rocked the party... around 150 people came to listen to some fantastic acoustic stylings of three great bands... will put up some photos once shannon has worked her magic on them. Thanks for coming guys!

Ray