In the valleys

Hola!!
I am back in the city after over a month in the valleys! I had a great time up in the mountains firstly seeing the beauty of God's creation;

Snow-capped mountains!

Red Earth!!

Although it was tough being away from my friends in the city and technology to be in touch with you all, I was blessed in being able to make some new friends and be part of the team that is working in the village of Angastaco in the first Evangelical Church in the area.

Pastor Ernesto

Some of the girls

Some of the guys

The church started with a Guarderia offering childcare. Here it's not so much that Mums work but more that they are very young and still studying, abandoned by their children's Fathers or have a large number of children and struggle to feed them well. Many of the children arrive malnourished and underweight but within a few months of receiving breakfast and a three-course meal everyday they soon grow stronger and healthier. And they are just as cute as the kids in the city;

Gonzalo

Martina (cousins that live with their Grandmother and
Mums who are still in secondary school)

Sofi, Maria and Sol

I also helped out with a Sunday school class, the youth meetings and preached in a service when the Pastor had to travel!

Next adventure!!
Very excitingly on the 6th June I will be travelling to Peru for 2 weeks. A few months ago I managed to get in touch with Shirley who was a great friend to me in my time in Peru 10 years(!!!) ago. She has since been living in California but has recently traveled back to Peru for the first time in years for a visit. Also 5 sisters who were orphans living in the home I volunteered in are travelling back for the first time in 8 years so I

couldn't resist the opportunity for a big reunion as I am so much closer! So I am really looking forward to seeing all that has happened in the work God is doing in another part of the Andes. I'm sure there will be lots of photos to keep you entertained!! :)

Fame!!
If you haven't seen it yet, I made it into Latin Link's latest magazine!! You can see a copy online by following this link, http://www.latinlink.org.uk/getmedia/e0359530-515f-4ed3-9d4a-b4e64374657a/LatinFile_Spring_2013_web.pdf.aspx

Thanks for reading and a huge thanks for the ongoing support!
Keep in touch!!

Love Jo. xx

For the pray-ers;
-Please continue to pray for my Aunty Sally that she will continue to make good progress and be completely free of cancer.
-Please pray for the church in the valleys that God will bless and protect the workers and children and it will continue to grow.
-Please pray for my church in Blaenau Gwent, Wales as it looks for a new Pastor, that God will provide the ideal person.
-Please pray for provision of a job for when I return to the UK in August and give thanks to God that He's already sorted out a car (for free!!)