Calvary Chapel Iquitos

Hi Everyone,

Here is our April 2020 update;

Well … as you all know things are very different now, there in the States as well as here in Peru, and all over the world. This update won't start as happy as in the past, but I have to give an accurate update of what is happenig here.

Here in Iquitos only 1 person, per family, can go grocery shopping at a time. No children are allowed to be out. Of course if we are out in public, we have to have masks on. We have to have 1.5 meters between us, in lines to get into stores, and the stores have to close by 10:00am. We also have a curfew of 4:00 pm, the police and military patrol the streets after the start of curfew.

So all that to say, yes, life has changed very much. We haven’t had a regular church service since this all began, but we have been having our services using Zoom Room. This has been different and not everyone has been able to sign on, mainly the young people are on with me during our meeting times.

Our biggest problem is that many people here are not working. Most of the jobs here in Iquitos are what the call “informal” that is independent. So they didn’t have any vacation or sick time to help them through this time. Luckily there are many stores on almost every block in Peru, so that is work for some families. For those of you who have been to the church in El Terminal, The bus stop area has been replaced by a “Mercado” (an informal street market) where each vendor has a table with chickens, vegetables, fruits, etc... So we do have groceries available, the problem is that many families don’t have anything to buy with. The government has provided some funds for certain people and some food baskets, but that only lasts for a few days. Thank you for those who have blessed us with funds to be able to bless the people in need here.

It is hard to know who is really in need, so I am first helping our church families, who I already knew their circumstances, but we have been able to help a few other families as well. Helping has to be done quietly if not I would have a line of people at my door constantly.

So, as I said this update may be a bit heavy, but the good news is that God is still in control and is working in many of the families around here. We are not supposed to visit homes, but we do run into people in our neighborhoods and at the market place. People have questions and although we don't have all the answers, we know that this Pandemic did not catch God by surprise and He is not worried about what comes next.

Whether this will lead directly to the last days, (that is the rapture of the church and the beginning of the 7 years of Tribulation), we do not know, only looking back will we know that. But things sure are being put in place for the world chaos that will bring the anti-christ into power, and the One World Government that is coming. We must be ready and prepare others to be ready as well.

February

"Escuelita" (Little School)

Well... back to happier news. Back in February we started the "Escuelita", our little school at the church, that helps the neighborhood children with their math, grammer, reading, etc.. So that they will be ready for school when it starts, usually in March. We have found out in the past, that many of the children are way behind in certain areas, so we come along-side them to bring them up to speed. And in many cases teach them the basics.

The really good news is: That we have a lot of our Youth Group who are really involved with the church this year, so for the first time, we had so many helpers that I didn't get to teach. I guess I was the director, and was there just to make sure every Teacher had what they needed, as far a supplies or other materials. Each class had a teacher and at least 1 assistant.


Elizabeth teaching Kindergarten
Elizabeth teaching with her assistant Tatiana
Assistants Nicole & Tatiana

(click to enlarge)


Gaby teaching reading
Gaby with her assistant Segundo
Gaby & Segundo teaching


Sandro & Luis teaching addition & subtraction
Luis explaining

(click to enlarge)


Eli teaching multiplication
Eli with his assistant Obed
Eli & Obed

(click to enlarge)


Loraine teaching division
Loraine with her assistant Ena
Loraine explaining a problem

Facebook

In case you want to see more pictures you can check us out on Facebook and get up to date there:

"Calvary Chapel Iquitos" (There are more pictures there than I can send in an update)

Luana & Omar

As I am writing this, Luana had her baby last night by c-section. Omar went to Lima in February to work, painting with his brother, and got stuck there when the lock-down began. He is praying that he can come back to Iquitos as soon as the government allows.

Needs:

Funds to help the needey families here with groceries during this time of quarantine.

Praise Reports:

Prayer Requests:

Opportunities to partner with us:

If you would like to contribute to any of the following ministries\expenses:

You can send donations to the following address: (Putting our account # (62414)in the memo portion of your check & the ministry you wish to donate to) 

	Harvest Alliance International
	P.O. Box 4550
	Oceanside, CA 92052
	Memo: "62414 - XXX"  


                      (62414 is our ministry number)
                      (Where XXX = General Fund, Children's Ministry, etc...)

*Note: The dollar is currently at 3.25 or 325 soles for every $100 (U.S.).

Thank you all for your prayers and financial support.
 
         and God Bless you   
 
           Albert Smith 


 
     
     Calvary Chapel Murrieta
     24225 Monroe Avenue
     Murrieta, CA 92562  
 
     Memo = Peru, Albert Smith
 
Or for Jose
     Memo - Peru, Jose Garate

Pastor Javier & Pastor Raul's offerings go through Harvest Alliance International (above).

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