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We Made It
From Florida to Newark to Arequipa, Peru.
Monday, February 28th 2011 - we were up and on the way to Orlando for one of the greatest adventures in our lives and ministry so far. Donnia and I along with Donnia's two daughters Pam and Priscilla and our good
| | Arequipa, Peru |
friends and staff members Rod and Cheryl were on the way to the Orlando airport.
We were to fly out at 8:30 am to Newark where we would have a 4 hour layover and then a 7 hour flight to Lima, Peru where we would spend the night before going to Arequipa, our new home. We had our 5 suitcases at 70 pounds each and 2 carry on pieces and we thought we were ready with everything we could take. It was not easy trying to figure out what we would need to pack into our suitcases and what we could do without and we felt we had done a good job of narrowing it down.
Cheryl had made all the calls and packed and weighed and repacked the bags... everything was just right.....or so we thought. When we arrived at the airport we were informed that we were ONLY allowed two suitcases each and they had to be 50 pounds or less, so that meant we had to leave some things behind and we were out of time and could not be very picky. The word for the day "if it don't fit leave it" and that is just what we did. Donnia and Cheryl repacked and Rod and I weighed the luggage. Finally we were ready and it was off to the gate.
We had prayed that we would be able to go through all the customs and gates with no trouble and that our flights would be smooth and that is just the way God set it up for us. Everything was wonderful! We landed in Lima around 9:30 PM and went through customs with no trouble and then onto our room. If you would like to read a more in depth story with many photos and video please visit our blog and read all the news of our trip and see the wonderful reception that awaited us when we landed in Arequipa.
| | Camana, Peru |
Within one day of getting to Arequipa I was back on the road again, this time to Camana, Peru. This is the coastal region of Peru. Dr. Lew and I and Pastor Mitacc, who is a local pastor for the Assembly of God Churches, went to Camana to make arrangements to take the bible school students on an evangelism trip in Camana. For most of them this will be the first time they have ever been out of Arequipa. It is a 3 1/2 hour trip to the coast and a little longer coming back because of the traffic going up the curvy mountainous roads.
| | Donnia on the back patio |
Once we had made the arrangements and met with the local pastors we headed back to Arequipa. Donnia stayed behind and started to unpack and arrange our room and settle in what is to be our new home.
For the next few days it was a time of getting up very early (4:30 or 5:00 AM) and not getting to bed until 1:00 or 2:00 AM, as we had a lot of things to get done before I had to leave for the coast for 2 1/2 days on Friday, March 25th. We had to go to the market and to many stores. Shopping here is not like shopping in the United States! You can not just go to one place and find everything you need......no Wal-Mart here.
On Sunday, March 18th we were the guest of honor at Pastor Mitacc's church and it was a wonderful welcome. (Again if you would like more details with photos and video please check our blog as we update it weekly).
| | Bible School Students |
The trip to Camana was a real success people were saved and healed. One of the most outstanding things that happed on the trip was to our bus driver and his son.
On the way Lew said to me he just knew that they were going to be saved. On the way down to Camana we were all happy and the students were very excited.
When we arrived one of the students got lost for a little while from the group but it all worked out good. When we went to the churches and then went door to door evangelizing the pueblos the pastors in the area would always have our breakfast, lunch and dinners prepared for us.
| | Chicharon de camaromes |
As a rule while we ate we would all talk about the day and what we had seen and done. (by the way I ate some of the most unusual things I have ever eaten.. take a look at the blog and see the photos or visit our website) During one of the evening meals Lew sat with the bus driver and his son along with a couple of the students and I knew what he was going to do. I ask Pastor Mitacc to pray with me and as we prayed Lew gave the gospel message to the bus driver and his son and it was not long until they had bowed their heads and were accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior.They later testified and said that "we always had so much joy and he could see it on the faces of the people that it made him want to be a Christian too.
Well we ask that you continue to pray for us and Donnia and I pray for you each and everyday. We pray God would increase you in every way and stretch you and help you to be rich in every area of your life. We pray that your family be touched of the Lord, lost children brought to the Father's house and sick bodies be healed and bank accounts be filled.
We would like to ask you to help us with a project we have and that is "Agua " or "Hot Water at Home". We need two hot water heaters, one for the kitchen and one for the upstairs living area. Hot water heaters here are different than in the states. Here each floor has a gas heater like the photo and a propane tank.The water goes through the unis and heats as it is used,the tanks do not store water.
Caliente un Casa
| | Water Heater and Propane Tank |
The kitchen only has cold water so we need a tank in the kitchen then we need a plumber to come and put in the pipes for the kitchen. Hot water is really a need in a kitchen. We also need the tank and the plumbing for the upstairs living area. This is used by all the teams and of course Donnia and I and Lew and Mariesa.
The cost for everything will be about $550.00 dollars American. That will pay for both the tanks and the gas and the plumber. If you can help us with this please mail your offering to our state side address and write on the envelope or the check
"Project Hot Water" Alexander Ministries Int. PO Box 832 Lake Hamilton FL 33851
Thank you again for all your prayers and support and we would LOVE to hear from you. Our address and contact information are at the bottom of this letter. Please send us your prayer requests and those praise reports so we can pray and rejoice with you.
As always we are Teaching the Nations and Reaching the World
In Jesus Strong Name
Darrell & Donnia |