Edward & Esme in Peru

Evangelism and Church planting in the Andean highlands of Arequipa, Peru

Volume 1: Issue 3 April 2012

The Zárates

Dear Friends,

Thank you for standing with us in prayer since our last letter. We have really felt your concern and support for us and our work during this time. As we fill you in on ‘Our life in Peru’ we know that your prayers have been answered and we have so much to be thankful for.

Contrary to the usual Peruvian topic of conversation this summer everyone was talking about the weather, more specifically about the rains. Back in early February Arequipa was declared in a ‘state of emergency’ due to the continued heavy rains that we experienced. Many people’s homes were destroyed and livelihoods lost, nobody escaped the chaos that these rains caused. Drainage and sewage systems throughout the city couldn’t cope with the volume of water and burst. Power and water cuts followed without any notice. Getting about was made very difficult as roads suddenly became hazardous due to the many pot holes that appeared and the subsequent repairs that were required. This affected everyday lives. Church activities were suspended, except for services on Sundays.

Chachas was completely cut off due to roads and bridges being destroyed. We are thankful that Edward’s parents had provisions to sustain them and that they have just returned to Chachas after finally being able to make it down to Arequipa to restock and see us.

The major blessing that we have received has been the provision of a 4×4. We are most thankful that we have been able to buy a vehicle that will enable us to travel to and from Chachas and which also makes us more independent and safer around the city. We are humbled as we recall each one of you who has contributed to the purchasing of this vehicle. Due to the urgency of requiring a vehicle we did need to borrow £5000 for the shortfall, we trust that the Lord will provide.

Luis has started at a Christian Nursery and is settling in. Thank you to those of you who have prayed specifically for him as he has struggled with being separated from us. He has been going 5 mornings a week for 2.5 hours. There are other international children there and the staff are experienced in working with missionary families. Ideally we would like him to just do 3 or 4 mornings a week so that we can still have precious time together with him before 5 days a week is compulsory at three years old.

‘Little Fishers’ is the toddler group that we started at the end of January, unfortunately we had to stop during the rains but we have now re-started and welcomed another 5 children. We hope that this group will get more established and be a real encouragement to both adults and children alike. It has been a struggle promoting the group as it is the first of its kind and there are lots of hurdles to getting parents to see the benefits of attending. The Sunday school at church has grown and this is exciting to see. There needs to be a team of committed workers and Esmé has been invited to be part of the leadership team for the Sunday school.

The Friday night prayer and bible study at church has now been disbanded as numbers were low, there are now three home groups that have been set up. It has been really exciting to see 8 people meeting in our home on a Monday evening to participate in the Christianity Explored course that Edward is leading. The other home groups have a good attendance too with a mixture of both Christians and those seeking to know more.

Progress has been made on Esmé’s visa front. We are very thankful (and relieved) that a copy of our marriage certificate was obtained from the Peruvian Consulate in London and has now been presented to the authorities here. We await the go ahead for Esmé to leave the country within the next month to get her residency papers which will be issued in Chile and then she is required to travel to Lima to get a photo taken! Please pray that this will all be completed before the beginning of May. Luis is now the proud owner of his very own Peruvian Identity Card and so this is one thing that we don’t need to be concerned about – that is until they bring back compulsory military service!

We are planning a trip to Chachas within the next couple of months so that we can get started on the building work. As you will recall we have a plot of land with a dilapidated house on it. We need to make plans to demolish and start building somewhere that we can call home in order to start our ministry there. Much prayer is required on this front as material prices have increased significantly in the last few years and so too has labour.

There is plenty for us to do in the meantime and we know that we are being used here in Arequipa. Edward has been really busy with church responsibilities and activities and needs to re-evaluate what his focus should be for the year ahead. He has been involved in most aspects of church life but would like to focus more on evangelism, discipleship and leadership. He would like to continue preaching once a month as he enjoys it very much.

Our parting news is that we are expecting a brother or sister for Luis, all being well sometime in September. We would appreciate your prayers as to where the baby will be born and to the best antenatal care here in Arequipa. Esmé has really struggled with sickness and tiredness over the past three months but is feeling that things are improving now. In terms of how this will affect our plans for Chachas we envisage moving this time next year by which time the baby will be 6 months old and God willing we will have a home to move to.

Thanking you once again for your continued interest and support in this valuable kingdom work,

With love and thanks from,

Edward, Esmé and Luis