2017 English 2017 Winter English | Page 15

Piura Project 2017 REBUILD families in the refugee camps and churches. Members of the community gathered at locations for Doctor Song and his team of massage therapists. They helped injured citizens who were suffering from muscle spasms, muscle aches, headaches, and digestion issues. Hospital rooms all across Piura were full and unable to accommodate many patients. The missionaries had an afternoon off where they played soccer. This was a magnificent time of fellowship as the team members shared their testimonies, praised, worshipped, and prayed. In a matter of days, the missionaries could see the joy and peace returning to Piura. The faces of the citizens were starting to smile and have hope restored. Although their efforts were minor, the missionaries felt the presence of God. He had used them to restore the spiritual, emotional, and physical joy of families whose lives were changed from the flood. We do not need to change the lives of 100,000s to please God, we only need to obey Him. A child at one of the many refugee camps receives a hot meal of rice and chicken Powerful winds tore the roof off the Sunday school classrooms at the God is Faithful church The children gather outside to help pray for the workers as they rebuild their church The walls of Pastor Mario’s temporary church located in the refugee camp The HHK WMC deployed teams to refugee camps in Piura to operate soup kitchens in local churches that provided meals for over 1,300 people affected by the flood and rebuilt four churches that suffered flood damage. Pastors and local Christian leaders shared the Gospel of God with those waiting for their hot meals. Local churches received support to help rebuild their damaged churches. There was such a great need everywhere, and yet help was no where in sight. In fact, aid to Piura arrived much later than any other region in Peru. Government response was slow to arrive and international aid aimed to helped out the more major regions of Peru. Piura would need to wait. But these pastors did not have time to spare, they needed to hold their church services. It was agonizing for the pastors of Piura to see their communities hurting and not be able to do anything for their beloved city but the pastors found their answer in prayer. God revealed his plans when HHK WMC confirmed they would help with all three projects! But this small act of obedience resulted in something no one could have ever predicted happening. A great revival occured. All these churches, along with others in Piura, reported an unfathomable number of families who have either rededicated their lives back to God or decided to declare Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior! Hallelujah! www.coj.org 15