November here in Peru was notoriously blessed. Our month started with a wedding up in the mountains of Huancayo. One of our couples that finished premarital counseling was married. The groom, Aaron Sanchez, is one of our right-hand men at the church. Everyone would say that Aaron is my adopted son. We even took him in a few times when he had no place to stay. About three years ago, I overheard Aaron speaking to a friend, talking about how his brother and his dad had died when he was young. He said in Venezuela there were two men who were like a father to him. He then said something that has always rung in my ear, “Pastor Mark is my dad in Peru.” These words have caused me to weep many times from knowing exactly what we can mean to other people. At the wedding reception, I was honored to speak next to his mother on his dad’s behalf.
The following week, and for the first time in four years, Team Peru was able to have a team retreat. We stayed at a hotel in one of the provinces next to a rapid river. You should have seen our entire family get into one raft to go white-water rafting. You should have seen my eight-month-pregnant sweetheart in the center of the raft, having the time of her life. During this time, we were able to have some very necessary meetings and fellowship, as each family connected well, making plans and talking of new visions for the future. While at the hotel, we had the privilege of leading the cook to the Lord.
Of course, our biggest blessing came while our church had a great weekend full of special meetings. Timothy Gabriel Rader was born on Saturday, November 27, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. on our family’s ninth anniversary of arriving in Peru. He weighed 9 pounds 6 ounces and was 21 inches long. Grandpa and Grandma Rader arrived on the last day of November to visit. God is good.
Please pray for Mommy, Baby, and the rest of the family. Please pray for our institute and many other Team Peru projects. Please pray that we will preach the Gospel and defend the Gospel as is pleasing to Christ.
Thank you for your faithfulness to the Lord and your love for missions during these times. Thank you for your love, support, and prayers. God bless you.
Merry Christmas,
Mark, Sarah, Savannah, Paul, Samuel, Rebekah, Luke, & Timothy Rader