Your many emails have been overwhelming and heartwarming! Thanks so much! We now have a Plan of Action in place that we want to share with you: The many needs of our brethren in the earthquake region need to be addressed soon. While many institutions are taking basic supplies, such as water, tents, blankets etc., to the different areas that were affected, BCM Peru does not have finances, nor goods to help - but we have a Message to tell, hearts to share, and hands to work!!

Therefore, we have developed the following action plan:

·         On Monday, a team of 60, (IBYM students plus missionaries) will leave for a week of intense ministry in the city of Ica (half a million inhabitants). We will take with us all the necessary utensils and tools as well as food supplies, since these are scarce in Ica and quite expensive now. (We certainly don´t want to take away from the people in Ica. We want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem). They will all be lodged at the Ica Bible Institute (which hasn´t suffered major damage) and we will set up a central kitchen there. (we are taking our own kitchen crew with us, as well as our nurse to attend to any needs).

• Coordinating with a local pastor (Ps.Otto Hurtado, father of 1 of our missionaries and 1 of our students), several workteams will be organized each one equipped with tracts, tools, first aid kit and a cellphone.
• A Message to Tell - Each team will engage in personal evangelism, distribution of gospel tracts, and children´s outreach in the neighborhood of the local church they will be working with.
• Hearts to Share - Each team will seek to be an encouragement to the brethren affected by the earthquake by being present with them, hearing their stories, praying with them and offering consolation.
• Hands to Work - Each team will engage in demolishion, clearing, repairing and cleaning as needed, whether church buildings, parsonage, homes of church families or the unsaved in the neighborhoods  

Pray with us for all this and for an added “side benefit”: that our students be impacted through being vessels of God´s love making a difference for someone in Ica. We are estimating the costs for this effort, - which we have called “Operation Filipi” - to be around $2,000. BCM International has made provisions so that donations may be made to a special Disaster Relief Fund. You may access this fund through the BCM website at www.bcmintl.org should you wish to contribute, marking Project: Peru Earthquake. Thank you for helping us help! We count on your prayers for effectiveness in ministry, for safety and protection, and for good team spirits in the midst of discomfort.  

May God be glorified.

Carlos & Marion Odicio

BCM Peru