Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I know, I’m a little late on the holiday greetings. But I really do hope everyone had a great holiday season! It’s been busy around here. The Cooks were able to come and stay with us for a couple of week at Christmas time, and we enjoyed having them here. The midnight fireworks show did not disappoint! We had our team Christmas dinner at the Kizer’s on Sunday evening, and the food was delicious. We went ahead and had a turkey cooked, and Allison and I prepared the sides: broccoli casserole, creamed corn, pineapple casserole, brown-sugared carrots…and of course there was dessert, as well as white hot chocolate and wassail. It was a good Christmas!

We spent a quiet New Year’s at home this year, since it was a Saturday night. Gabbi even got to go to bed at her normal time. However, the quietness ended at midnight, when round 2 of the fireworks show started. Somehow, Gabbi slept right through it all…even with fireworks and noisemakers going off right outside her window. The new year is always welcomed to Cusco in style!

We have lots of really exciting events planned for this year, and we can’t wait to see what God will do in Cusco in 2012! We pray it will be a year filled with spiritual and physical growth for the church, and that many more will choose to live for Jesus. As always, we appreciate your prayers and support!

Charla

The Cooks on Christmas Day after church

 

Some of our members and regular attenders after services on Christmas Day

 

Cole and Gabbi dressed for Christmas dinner at the Kizer's

Christmas in Huerta

We’ve had some really good stuff going on this month! This month, our worship attendance has averaged around 60 each Sunday. December 4th we had our first ever church picnic, organized by a couple of our members, and 30 people went! We took a bus up to the “countryside” above Cusco and grilled out, played games, and visited. It was a really fun day. Unfortunately, our camera was broken, so I don’t have any pictures of it.

Yesterday we spent the day in the village of Huerta, about 35 minutes outside of Cusco. This event was also organized by one of our members and it went really well. We watched a movie with the kids, had a Bible lesson and activity with them, made hot chocolate and gave out paneton (Peruvian Christmas bread), and at the end of the day each child received a gift bag of warm clothes and fun toys. (Thanks to my in-laws, I do have some pictures of this!)

Some kids watching Matt set up for the movie.

Showing off his craft from the Bible activity

 

Drinking hot chocolate and eating paneton

 

Handing out gifts

 

Gabbi made a new friend in Huerta.

Some of the boys with a bike

 

Group shot!

 

 

Thanksgiving in Cusco

Well, Thanksgiving is over, the turkey has been eaten and the Christmas tree is up! We were really excited to celebrate with our teammates, the Kizers (the Reaves are in the States on furlough), and with my parents. My parents came and stayed with us for about 10 days, and we made lots of good memories. They just arrived back in Tennessee about 30 minutes ago, and we are so thankful that they were able to be with us.

We’re also thankful for our new brother in Christ, Rafael. Rafael is 75 years old and was invited by a neighbor to come to Matt’s Monday night Bible study. He has been attending the Monday night study and our worship services ever since. Please keep this young Christian in your prayers.

Thanksgiving Dinner at our place

Cole and Gabbi even got to swim on Thanksgiving Day!

 

Enjoying a day in the Sacred Valley with the Kings

 

Rafael's baptism

 

Leticia

Leticia, Valentin’s (http://cuscoandthecooks.wordpress.com/2011/07/24/old-friends-and-a-new-brother/) sister, put Christ on in baptism on Sunday! Please pray for her and for all of the young Christians here in Cusco.

Matt and Leticia after Leticia's baptism

Ruth

Our new sister, Ruth! Ruth is a co-worker of one of our regular attenders, and she has been attending worship with her and has also been studying the Bible with Gary. Please pray for Ruth and Irvin as they both begin their new lives in Christ. Praise God for His saving grace!

Ruth's baptism

Happy Halloween!

Dorothy hopes that everyone had a great Halloween!

Ready for Halloween!

Now the Cook house is ready for Thanksgiving!

Irvin

Yesterday, Irvin was baptized into Christ! He has been attending worship as well as other church activities for a few months, and after the “How to Become a Christian” seminar yesterday after worship, he decided to be baptized. Please pray for Irvin as he begins his walk with Christ!

Irvin's Baptism

 

The group who was there for Irvin's baptism: (Left to Right) Rafael and Gaby (who also attended the seminar), Irvin, Jorge Luis (one of our members who started bringing Irvin to church), Barton and Matt (Gary was taking the picture)