August 2009

In late July, Augusto went to Guatemala. The L.E.I. (Literacy and Evangelism) team with members from the U.S., Peru, Mexico, and Thailand, trained 11 literacy teachers, mostly young people.







The students practice in front












Augusto shows Sarita how to make a porta-sílaba












Augusto leading devotional












At the closing program

Literacy and Evangelism Int'l.

YES! After attending the International Literacy Training Institute in Ica, Peru in April 2008 and the L.E.I. Orientation in Tulsa in July 2008, Augusto and I are now OFFICIALLY LITERACY COORDINATORS for L.E.I. (Literacy and Evangelism International). We will be working primarily in Latin America, although we also have some interest and contacts in Kenya.

L.E.I. Orientation

We arrived in Tulsa on Sunday, July 13, after 36 hours on the bus. Our time in the Orientation here has been very fruitful. We have met new friends from Brazil, Ghana, India, Laos, and from the U.S. and have learned about the privileges and responsibilities of becoming members of Literacy and Evangelism International. One thing we especially like about L.E.I. is the emphasis on maintaining a vital personal relationship with God day after day. Having been involved with this organization for over seven years, we have finally applied for formal membership. This is a process and we expect to hear from them in about a month. Petition: Favor with the personnel committee of L.E.I.

From here we go on to Trinidad, Colorado and then on to Tyler, Texas, returning around August 12 to California. Petition: Safety in our travels and effective sharing with individuals and churches.

Thank you for keeping us in your prayers. In Christ, Augusto, Carolyn, and Chaska

O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. Psalm 63:1-3

International Literacy Training Institute

The ILTI (International Literacy Training Institute) in Ica, Peru was very productive. We stayed in a Pardise with fresh fruit growing on trees all around us. Fifteen literacy coordinators were trained, including Augusto and Carolyn, but the most impressive part was having six highly qualified Aguarunas (three Bible translators) together, preparing the primer in their own language the last two weeks. We found that Augusto’s trip to Amazonas was timed precisely to bring Riquilda, and her father, Tomás Dati, to help us. Four other Aguarunas attended as well. The first two weeks two Quechua brothers from the North received training in how to prepare teachers to use their primer, prepared just last year. Spanish-speakers came from Iquitos and other jungle parts of Peru. Trainers and consultants came from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and from within Peru.

Meditation

Jesus said, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal. John 4:35-36

VALLE DEL MANTARO

At the elementary school in Santa Maria, Augusto’s hometown, 43 children watch the Jesus Film on April 2, 2007. We hope to go back from time to time to show other Christian children’s films. We pray God will give saving faith to these and other children in the Valle del Mantaro.

FUTURE EVENTS

Things are shaping up for our trip to the U.S., Lord willing, in August, where we will study for four months at Christ For The Nations Institute in Dallas. Carolyn will be working also in Children’s Ministries, as part of her scholarship. Then we will go to California, Lord willing, to spend some time with Carolyn’s family and visit some of you. Then, back to Peru in late January to train VBS teachers from provinces and to go to Puno to train, hopefully, along with the young people from Ayacucho, as we did in 2005. We will also participate in the ILTI (Int’l Literacy Training Institute) for 3-4 weeks in February, Lord willing.
Please pray with us that our mighty God will give us FAVOR with the U.S. Embassy here in Lima and help us take ALL THE DOCUMENTS we should for Augusto and Chaska’s visa interviews and that he provides for our airfare.


In February 2008 Literacy and Evangelism Int’l, Lord willing, will hold its International Literacy Training Institute (ILTI) in Lima. We expect to study, along with others who see the value of and need for evangelizing in this way. In June and July 2008 L.E.I. would also like us to attend a more extensive ILTI in Tulsa to receive specialized training in primer preparation, as Augusto is interested in working on the primer in the Agua Runa language.

We’d like to involve Pastor Gaspar more in the area of literacy in Huanta. The materials L.E.I. helped prepare in Ayacucho Quechua are not being used presently, and he took the literacy training class we held in Huanta in 2004. Please pray that the Lord gives us success in this. There are so many illiterate people in that region, up to 45% of women over 45 in Huanta, according to national statistics.

Brother Isaias (Agua Runa) and Brother Alfonso (Quechua of Ayacucho) are also considering accompanying us in February. Please pray for these two key leaders and their participation in the ILTI in February 2008. Thank you!

If you would like to help us economically, you may send tax-deductible donations to:
SAMH
P.O. Box 1309
Tempe, AZ 85280-1309
Please make checks payable to Hispanic-American Missionary Support and indicate “for Augusto and Carolyn Pecho”.
SPECIAL DONATIONS to help with our trip in August, if you don’t need a receipt, may be sent to Carolyn’s parents:
Martin and Aleta Smith
638 N. Sandy Hook Ave.
La Puente, CA 91744