We took an overnight bus from Trujillo to Lima last night, we are at the hotel, getting ready to shop this morning, rest and refresh this afternoon and headed to the airport early this evening. Spirits are up concerning all the Lord has done and looking forward to seeing family and friends. We love you all!
Deanna and Brent

It is truly unbelievable, how much the Lord has done while we have been here! Everything from the nearly 4,000 souls who have prayed to receive Christ, to how He has provided for us, to the growth in this team, to how quickly it has all gone! Where did the time go?

Yesterday, we ran out of response cards for the third time, and once again had to go get more printed!!! Jesus is amazing!

Along the coast, there is a STRONG fish smell in certain places. This is where they process the catch, and unfortunately, don’t get rid of the parts they don’t use, before they permeate the air. It takes your breath away at times.

However, the coast is filled with anchored fishing boats, and even a huge Chilean tanker that was moored off of the coast, when the anchor broke and it drifted to the shore, where the hull stuck fast, tilted the tanker and filled it with water. The Peruvians took down the Chilean flag and ran up their own. Interesting!

We are doing our last two dramas this morning, before we begin the long trek back to Lima. After lunch, we head to Trujillo, where we will spend the night, and then head tomorrow evening to Lima. Tuesday night, Lord willing, we catch our flight to Miami, then Dallas, beginning at 11:30 pm.

This team has been unified, grown strong, and marched out their obedience to the Holy God! We are so proud of them!!! They will have much to tell you upon their return to you!

We appreciate your prayer support for our travels and our continued focus on sharing Christ, even though official ministry ends today.

We cannot wait to reunite with the teams from Chile, South Asia and Uganda, to hear what incredible things the Lord has done!!!

God bless and we will see you soon!!!

Deanna and Brent, CC’s

Chimbote has a reputation for being a city of thieves but we haven’t seen that. Maybe the response hasn’t been as overwhelmingly positive to the gospel as elsewhere, but we have found the police and hotel personnel especially friendly and helpful. We’ve met two pastors so far here and the churches that followed us today were very welcoming and endearingly warm. We had the honor of singing “Feliz Cumpleanos” to Pastor Cesar’s 14 year old daughter. His younger son has made a point of getting a center seat during the drama so that he can better enjoy the dragon up close and personal. The reaction from the children in the audience still brings us all joy when the dragon first turns around;they are initially scared but usually are able to laugh with all of us.

We have had close to 200 responses today so we rejoice and give thanks for the continued harvest of God’s work in the six sites we visited. Please pray for the established churches that have begun here as they follow up, the discipleship step is so important. We shared the drama in several market places, with the brightly colored fruits and vegetables, freshly butchered meat (we saw two goat heads), the smells, and the crowds pressing in at times (they don’t seem as bothered about squeezing in tight spaces like we do.) We saw a boy carrying a small bag of fish in one hand and eating jello with the other. It reminded us of how Jesus met the hunger of the 5,000 with 2 fish and 5 loaves, yet how awesome that He can meet the crowds’ spiritual needs involving us in a different way today.

Chimbote is a big city with factories and commerce here along the coast. They had an earthquake years ago that caused the city to divide between the old and new. There is much hurt here, problems within churches are evident as one of the pastors we are working with has been asked to leave the congregation, yet he chooses to work alongside us still with his family.

We appreciate again your perseverance in prayer for us. We are staying strong and healthy, praise God! It is such a blessing to have a team full of students coming from such solid Christian homes. They have brought us such joy with how responsive they have been and how easy going their collective personalities are. We pray we can stay in touch with them. They inspire us in this work! Thank YOU for raising them well. We love them and look forward to meeting those of you we haven’t yet met.

Buenos noches,
Deanna and Brent, CCs

What an amazing time we had at Shiran, the Baptist Camp, outside of Trujillo! After several hours in a bus down from Huamachuco, we arrived, settled in, and began to relax!

Relaxing meant, volleyball, football and then soccer…in that order! We had an incredible time at this beautiful camp! We enjoyed the down time and soaked up the time with each other with no particular agenda. We were blessed to have Peruvian hotdogs, and homemade potato salad for dinner. This potato salad (made by Tito´s wife) had carrots, apples and raisins in it and was unbelievably great!

We just arrived at Tito´s home, where the students have gone into Mom and Pop time. We will eat a homecooked meal here shortly, and then catch a bus to Chimbote, our last ministry city!

It´s hard to believe we only have a few days left! We are so blessed to have seen the hand of God move the way He has chosen to fold it over us.

It was so refreshing to worship in the light of the camp, where the enemies darkness did not rule (as it had in the mountains). We worshipped for an hour or two last night, and then commenced with games for a late free night. This team loves each other, and will miss each other intensely! They come from Indiana, Washington, Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Arkansas (I think I covered all of the states). They are already busy planning a reunion at Awe Star´s Mission´s conference, called ¨I Go¨in November.

Anyway, thank you so much for your continued prayers, and comments. The team is strong and ready to soar through the finish! Don´t let up in your prayer efforts though, as we are strong due to your intercession! We praise Him with you, for keeping us safe and well!

More pics will be up soon, but my battery charger broke, so I haven´t been able to take near as many. I am sorry for this.

Dios Le Bendiga!

Deanna and Brent, CCs

Wow! Our last day in Huamachuco and what a day it was! We were able to talk to many people today in the market, at a playground area (several concrete courts) and the main plaza here (it is the most beautiful I have seen with well landscaped plants and flowers all around.) The team is continuing to do a fantastic job on the drama, even though we were sprinkled on a little today. We were spared a downpour! A man we met several days ago offered to have church at his house. He said he had a very big house and talked with Tito more in depth about it! We are so excited to see this young family step up. I know you will pray for them expectantly as the new believers here get connected and join together for worship!

The students are having some free time this afternoon before our last dinner here at the hotel. We are off tomorrow to a camp in Trujillo for some relaxation and the next day we travel to Chimbote for our final days of ministry. We can’t believe it’s drawing to a close. We are tired but very full of hope in what God is doing! We look forward to a study in the Word tonight that Hughey and Kristin will bring to us.

Pray for strength in these final days. Thank God for being so faithful to us and the new souls here that have been awakened. We are so enjoying each other but continue to pray for unity, love and patience to abound more in our next few days of travel and rest. Thank you so much for persevering in prayer for us. We love you and thank God so much for your influence and support in our lives!

Deanna and Brent, CCs

Yesterday afternoon, we finished with two ministry sites, and continued to see people flood to Jesus! We praise God!

We had chicken and fries for dinner last night, and then returned for a time of worship and team building.

Today, after breakfast, we headed out to three sites, where the Lord drew many to Himself. God is moving in amazing ways here, and people continue to ask where the church will be and when it will begin. They are hungry for what only the Lord can bring! We are so thankful for this!

After lunch, we spent time in teaching and continued discipleship. This was followed by small group discussion time.

Next, we headed out to two more drama sites, and watched our Lord continue to reap a plentiful harvest! Once again, we have had to get more copies of our response cards made, as we have used all that we brought. We have not even handed them out at schools. We estimate that somewhere over 2500 to 3000 people thus far, have made decisions for Jesus!

At dinner, we had our first taste of a Peruvian dish that few in the United States are willing to try…guinea pig! Most everyone tried it, and most liked it…of course, it tastes like chicken, but with far less meat. After trying it, the real dinner came to the table of beef, fries and rice.

After dinner, the group headed to the TV station to be interviewed. Unfortunately, we were postponed by a womens program. We were invited to return tomorrow night at 7:30 on Channel 13 in Huamachuco, Peru.

We will do three ministry sites in the morning, and then the team will have free time to explore the village here in the afternoon. They do not know this yet, but will be very excited to do so.

Thank you for your ongoing prayer support, we definately feel it! We see an unbelievable harvest, and know your prayers are largely influencing our ministry!

Please pray for focus over the last week or so of ministry. This is typically the time it gets hard for students who are excited to come home and tell all of their stories, to remain plugged in. This team is unique and we believe they will handle this well!

I know you are still thinking about the taste of guinea pig…so you may want to reread the paragraphs following that statement.

God Bless!

Deanna and Brent, CCs

Yesterday afternoon we finished the day with two dramas. We saw significant sums of people come to Jesus!. The final one was at the Plaza de Armas, and there were a couple of hundred people present. Close to half or more accepted Christ as their Savior!!!
Afterwards, we had dinner at a Chifa Restaurant (Chinese…yeah in Peru). It is cold here in the mountains, so we have been having hot tea with dinner to warm us up. Some are learning to drink it.
This morning, after breakfast of fruit and bread and jam, we headed out to do three dramas. The Lord poured out His blessing, and we saw tons of people come to Christ! Saying this comes with a bit of a darker side. We are experiencing significant spiritual warfare. The enemy is not pleased that we are snatching the captives from the fire, and is demonstrating his displeasure. This team is strong and is responding to your prayers! We praise God for His continuous provision for us, and for the people of Haumachuco!
The past two afternoons, we have worshipped on the roof (see todays pics) of the hotel. We have a panoramic view of our city, and can lift our praises before Him with full view of the mountains and the people!

Please continue to pray for our battles, for health, for continued unity, and for lives to be changed…both on the team and in this land!

We will be here until Wednesday morning, at which time we will return to a camp near Trujillo, for a day of relaxation. Then we will be off to Chimbote, our final city for ministry. The time is flying by, and we LOVE this team!
Thank you for lifting us up and for letting your loved ones go to serve their Savior!
Deanna and Brent, CCs

Buenos tardes!  We have had an amazing start to our ministry here in Huamachuco.  The students filled up on bananas, rolls and juice this morning. We shared the drama in three different areas and found the people very responsive and eager to know more.  As we set up for our last one before lunch, not many were stopping along the brick walkway.  So, we decided it was time to do the drama for an audience of one.  We worshiped a while, then began.  By the end of the drama, many were waiting to hear more about a relationship with Jesus!  Also, we were approached by a local TV station! They talked with Brent and asked many questions.  One of our students who is fluent in Spanish helped translate and she did an amazing job. They would like to interview more of the students Monday night.  They really were sincere in getting all the details of what we are doing here right.  Tito developed a tract with BJ’s picture and story on the front that we’ve been using in ministry today, and the station’s interest was piqued as they heard and read about him.

Pray that the truth of our Savior will be communicated well and with clarity. Pray that the station will follow up with student interviews and that the message of salvation can reach many here in Huamachuco who will be watching.  We are so very thankful for this incredible opportunity and we are praising God for the work He is orchestrating.

Thank you for your diligence in prayer,

Deanna and Brent, CCs

We arrived in Huamachuco (another mountain city but about twice as big as Santiago de Chuco) a few hours ago.  The students had lunch and are resting - we will be prayer walking later on this afternoon, then have dinner here at the hotel.

Our two days in the beautiful mountains of Santiago de Chuco were well spent!  We started with a prayer walk the evening we arrived.  We were able to  share the drama and the message of Jesus in the main plaza, on many village streets and in one school.  We saw once again an incredible harvest!  We found the people to  be extremely friendly and polite, eager to talk with us and eager to hear truth.  Many were asking about a church and we did learn that there are a few churches there, but much darkness.  Hopefully, with the follow up work they will be able to plant another church.  We met a few believers and one Mennonite man that was from there and visiting but had made his home in Pennsylvania.  We had some rain while we were there so we used that time to share as a team, have a Bible study and pray for each other individually.  Our prayer time ran in to the dinner hour and many did not want to stop until each person had prayed for each team member.  It was incredibly encouraging for each of us.  The love continues!

We are excited about our work now here in Huamachuco.   Pray for us as we prepare, pray for the new believers in Santiago de Chuco, pray for continued health (praise the Lord!) and the strength and endurance to stay focused and alert for what God has for us here to accomplish.

We are thankful to be able to get internet again. Thank you and we love you!

Brent and Deanna, CCs

Brent Higgins, Peru CC, has sent another text message to the Awe Star office:

“Many salvations but an equal amount of warfare.”

Thank you for all the comments (which will be so encouraging to the team members once they have Internet access again) and prayers (which are holding them up and eternally discouraging to the enemy!).  We are rejoicing in the battle because we know these warriors are making a Kingdom difference!

Thank you again for your participation in the ministry of Jesus Christ; we are grateful for your faithful intercession.

And so we keep on praying for you, that our God will make you worthy of the life to which he called you. And we pray that God, by his power, will fulfill all your good intentions and faithful deeds. Then everyone will give honor to the name of our Lord Jesus because of you, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the undeserved favor of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ (2 Thess 1:11-12, NLT).

gratefully,

Marti Pieper

Director of Prayer/Publication, Awe Star Ministries