Hi, everyone. For those who've asked, below are three final updates from Carlos and Marian Odicio with the BCM Peru team's followup on the Ica earthquake. Most of this team is young, some in their teens themselves, and they really have done a wonderful job pitching in with the earthquake aid. Note the link given if you'd like to check out some pictures.

 

FROM BCM PERU-EMAIL ONE:

Dear ones,

 

I returned from Ica yesterday afternoon to attend to our kids, after spending 3 days with the BCM Bible Institute students and missionaries in Ica.

It was a very emotive time. We had the privilege to minister to several of the people who were in the Teacher Training class on the very day of the earthquake. Now, two weeks later, we helped break down the walls of the homes of several of them and clear out the rubbish. We helped one of the families move into the undamaged Ebenezer Baptist church in Parcona, and after that the guys demolished the walls of their home…

We spent one evening singing and praying and sharing encouragement from the Word with Richard and Christy, the dear folks that lost their restaurant (and home) in the center of Ica. Richard shared how he had been able to save 3 people from underneath the rubbish of a neighbor´s house, but came too late for another one…

How could we not cry with those that cry!

And yet, their sufferings ministered to our own hearts as we heard of their determination to stand firm and rebuild, -not only their homes but their lives- on the Solid Rock.

It was also a joyful time! The very fact of sweating it together with our students, and hearing the testimonies at night of the 4 workteams that were formed, is something I will treasure forever.

In just 2 days, 351 people made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior!

 

Please continue to pray for effectiveness in ministry, for safety and protection, and for good team spirits.

 

I will be sending some pictures soon.

 

God bless,

Marion

 

 FROM BCM PERU-EMAIL TWO: 

Hello all,

 

Here are some anecdotes of things that happened in Ica these days that I trust will bless your heart and make you smile J

 

-          -          While Roy (1st year student) was clearing an area full of rubbish, he got the scare of his life when he heard a little girl´s voice from underneath the adobe bricks…After carefully removing the bricks, he found…a talking doll J

-          -          Jackie (2 nd year student) met a lady who was wearing a “ Wordless” colored beads bracelet. When Jackie asked her if she was a Christian, the lady answered that she wasn´t but that her son who goes to an evangelical church had given it to her. Jackie seized the moment to share the Gospel with her and led her to Christ, using the lady´s own bracelet J

-          -          Álvaro (1^st year student) came across a little girl at his place of work that badly needed a wash up. He got out his water bottle and cleansed her face and hands. The next day, when he returned to his work place, the little girl was waiting for him and gave him her cookie J

-          -          Two lots away from where Lucho (BCM missionary) was working, there were some troopers doing demolishion as well. Since the soldiers had very little food, Lucho´s team decided to share theirs with them, not after first sharing Christ with them. Two troops made a public profession of faith in front of their peers J

-          -          When Fernando´s group (our gardener at BCM) was heading out to work, they preached the Gospel in the public transportation. A lady listened and asked one of the students about the group. Daniel (1^st year student) told her about BCM and the mission they were on in Ica. She then said that she is a Christian and wanted to help out. She did by paying the busfare for Fernando´s entire group J

 

Thanks for praying. As you can see, God is doing amazing things in Ica these days J

More to follow J

 

Marion

PS If you would like to see some pictures, please go to http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=13309&l=c3075&id=517300562

 

FROM BCM PERU-EMAIL THREE:

Dear friends,

 

Our entire team is back,-  tired, dirty but very happy! God has blessed each and every day, and your prayers were answered! In spite of a long and very busy week, God was glorified. You might be surprised to hear there have been no more tremors during the week, and noone got seriously hurt. J

 

Since several of you have written to comment on the anecdotes, here´s one more you will love J

Daniel´s group (BCM missionary) was working in a place called San Camilo. Two things happened on one day that “truly made their day” : in the morning, a truck with softdrinks passed by where they were demolishing. The truck stopped, the driver got off, and presented each one of them a bottle of soda pop! J)

In the afternoon, the lady of the place they had been cleaning out of rubbish, offered them all some pecans (local nut), a squash, and….a soccer ball!! J (Note: it´s quite a sacrifice for a young peruvian guy to go for a week without a game of soccer! J )

 

During the week there were evangelistic activities done by each group in the neighborhood where they were working, but on Saturday, efforts were combined to present a “Pennies for Peru” activity (coordinated evangelistic program for children) in three different locations. At night, the entire BCM group went to a youth meeting in one of the churches where they had been invited to conduct the program.

Of course, there also had to be some “time out”, and on Saturday morning, the entire group went to the “Huacachina”, (a lovely oasis - a small lake, surrounded by palm trees and high sand dunes!) where they did some sand boarding, conoeing and swimming (unvoluntary, for some J)

 

On Sunday night, a special Service of Praise was held at the Tinguiña Baptist church, with some 120 people present. It was a very emotive time for all. GianCarlo, one of our students from Ica, shared his testimony of how in spite of his family´´s opposition to his decision to prepare for ministry, the Lord has sustained him at IBYM for 2 years now, and that now all his family members have become Christians.

Jonatan Odicio (BCM missionary) shared a message from the Word which impacted the life of all as he shared how even in the midst of storms, God is still God.

Pedro Palomino, senior pastor of the Tinguiña Baptist Church thanked BCM and the team and said that he had “never seen any Bible Institute do the things they did and in the way they did it”,  and that “they are an example to all”.

Carlos Odicio (Director of BCM Peru) said a few closing words that conveyed the heart beat of all: All Glory and Honor belongs to God Almighty!! Amen!

 

A few statistics J

 

-          -         Throughout the week, there were 16 evangelistic outreaches to children (song, verse, game, Gospel message)

-          -         Physical help was given through the demolishion and cleaning of rubbish of one camp property (El Chaco in Pisco, ABWE camp), as well as 8 houses and 7 churches.

-          -         Five thousand (5,000) evangelistic tracts were handed out; on several occasions, the students came across people who were reading one!

-          -         Report on daily evangelism:

1.       1.       Tuesday: 195 witnessed to;  185 decisions.

2.       2.       Wednesday: 231 witnessed to: 166 decisions.

3.       3.       Thursday: 413 witnessed to; 255 decisions.

4.       4.       Friday: 268 witnessed to; 124 decisions.

5.       5.       Saturday: 344 witnessed to; 235 decisions.

6.       6.       Approx. 1450 people were witnessed to in a personal encounter of which 965 made a decision to accept Christ. (Note: this does not include the people who heard the Gospel during taxi- and bus rides J!)

 

It has been worth every drop of BS&T !

BCM might enter the Ica history books as the  “mission that broke down churches instead of building them” J , but we believe what has been built in the lives of the people in Ica, and in the hearts of our students, will never been forgotten – not during this lifetime nor in the One to come!

Thank you for helping make this all possible. You are part of this harvest through your prayers and financial contributions!

 

Carlos & Marion Odicio

BCM Perú

Field Leader