CT News & Pics February 2025
February 2025
Dear praying family!
Yes, we have our habitual segment of pictures and short video clips to illustrate a great assortment of news here!
We wrap ourselves daily in your prayers thanking God for keeping us safe and sound in the middle of a new state of emergency issued to 18 regions all over Peru due to heavy rains across the country. Believers in the mountains, jungle, and northern coast have reported severe damage to roads and bridges and even church facilities.
For us here in Trujillo, it is the second state of emergency as we were already in red alert due to an unstoppable extortion epidemic. After my morning message one Sunday, with a heavy heart a dear saint whispered to my ears: “I have to close down my shop, TdA (Tren de Aragua) is asking more than I can afford.” He went on to describe that for years Peruvian gangs have systematically demanded “civilly affordable” bribes from all shops downtown in our city, but lately, with the arrival of bloodthirsty TdA, things have gotten out of hand and most shops are moving out, closing, or going into hiding.
Our governor said the other day: “I offer to lower crime, but don’t ask me to stop all bombings.” That was said in the aftermath of a daring bombing attack at the prosecutor’s office downtown, right in the middle of our state of emergency. We see armed soldiers all over, but nothing has really changed. Rather, we are seeing bolder crime activity. Something does not seem right. We either have incapable and ignorant authorities or they are allowing these things to happen. The latter seems to be the case. A report came out recently where it showed once more the entrenched reality that criminals in prisons abetted and colluded with law enforcement. (in Spanish)
Now, we know the dark will never overcome the light, nor should we retreat and be paralyzed by it. It is the preferred way for the light to shine in the darkest of times. So, we have continued pressing on with our responsibilities:
New School Year for Elliot School: It was easy to get everyone’s attention during the opening address to parents, teachers, and students by pointing them to the recent tragedy at one of the malls in our city when a roof collapsed on top of many. It is common knowledge that such tragedy occurred because of corruption and collusion that led to premeditated negligence. Oh, the urgent need to invest in the lives of the students to guide them and encourage them to embrace new life in the Lord Jesus. That is what I intended to communicate during my opening message.
Centro Biblico Trujillo: The elders decided to take the challenge to carry the assembly through the book of Daniel this first half of the year! I was assigned to kick it off with an introduction and then address the first two verses … what an exciting adventure we are in. Please pray for our weekly preparation and delivery!
Hogar de Esperanza: Hard to know where to begin giving a concise and clear update of where we are with orphanage land issues. We’ve continued our never-ending meetings listening to our lawyer and surveyors. Out of the blue, the municipality came to us asking us to allow them to pass a new road on the back side of the orphanage compound! The state owns most of the land behind our compound, but we still have a good piece that they need to complete the projected road. We requested to sit down and talk. They had already begun doing the work. We feel we have at last a bit of leverage to negotiate something with them. Our most pressing need, getting land tax exemption, was a definite no. So, our next big thing is getting land documents signed and stamped. This is much bigger than tax exemption … if we don’t pay, they go for the land. We need to clear our land papers!
And yes … we are not Hogar de Esperanza because of the land, but because of the children and what’s going on with them. If I got you reading up to here, you need to go and see our pictures and pray for the children at Hogar … they need your prayers!
Coming up…
March 9, speaking on the family in Wichanzao.
March 10, discussing with experts about Hogar de Esperanza land and our options for negotiating opportunities with the municipality.
March 15, last session on relationships to our youth.
Marzo 17, Hogar de Esperanza kids return to school. Pray for the last-minute errands to get school utilities and uniforms.
March 18, our home bible study resumes.
March 25-30, Pablo and Timothy travel to the jungle to get materials ready for the next leg in the church plant site in San Luis and new facility for Callanayacu.
April 1, our son Timothy turns 9!
Thank you for your loving prayers in Jesus’ name!
Pablo & Sarah CT
