At the end of a 24-hour day in airplanes and airports, we arrived in Iquitos, Peru, where we were greeted by Bruce Unterschuetz,

Bruce and Gail have been in Peru for 20 years. They came because the Lord called, not knowing what He had for them. God told Bruce that if he would care for the poor, God would take care of the rest of their ministry. Following this vision, they have established a central church with many other churches throughout the city and region. He launched a camp ministry along with a Bible school for pastors. They have mentored young people, helped the poor, and never failed to answer a call for help at the front door.  

One vivid example of this was Gail's visit to the local hospital. Although she had several guests from the USA and a sports ministry team from Texas (with 68 youth coming to Christ on one day), Gail took time one afternoon to visit children in the hospital. Toting a large bag filled with gifts and Scripture booklets, she went from bed to bed. Gail never goes anywhere without her supply of WMP booklets, stamped with the name of their church on the back. It is her goal to introduce people to Jesus Christ as Savior and to follow through with them via the local church.

Here we met little Ruth, a beautiful Peruvian 4-year-old who had been badly burned in a fire. Ruth's mother had left her other children in their jungle home in order to stay at the hospital. Ruth glowed as Gail entered the room, sensing the genuine love and care Gail brought. Other children and family members, sitting for hours on a single cot, each received a Spanish Scripture booklet as Gail spoke of God's love.

In a meeting of over 40 WMP distributors, it was clear that these pastors know first-hand the value of WMP Scripture booklets. They use them one-to-one, through their businesses, and to start churches in new neighborhoods. With 50-percent unemployment in Peru, resources for outreach are few, and the free Scripture booklets are a wonderful blessing. Several spoke excitedly of how they had been able to use the booklets.

As WMP's national coordinator, Bruce supplies booklets to those in Peru who request them. However, it is difficult and expensive to send them from Iquitos throughout the country. And to receive boxes directly from WMP via the post office, Peruvian distributors often must pay considerable charges, if they get the boxes at all. Harold and Bruce discussed the situation earnestly, knowing that God desires to reach many hearts in Peru and that WMP Scripture booklets are a vital part of seeing this accomplished. They agreed that the key is getting large freight shipments into Lima, from where pallets can readily be sent by road to major population centers in the country.

Lima is a city of more than 8 million people, a city with much movement and little progress. Work is hard to find, and people coming from the mountains and surrounding areas to seek work find only a different environment with no help for their needs.

We visited a humble, needy area close to where Kids Alive has established a daycare center. The contrast was heart-touching. At Kids Alive, the children were fed and cared for in a brightly colored, clean environment by smiling, loving teachers and helpers. They laughed and ran and played, experiencing childhood in its most carefree way.

Then they would travel across the highway, climb the stark, barren, gray hills to their homes among the rocks. Here there was no color, in most cases no electricity. Drinking water is brought daily in large trucks. The houses had dirt floors, open windows, and few furnishings. And the homes went on and on up the mountain, countless little buildings with countless needy souls.  

At the meeting of distributors the next day, it was clear that Peruvians have a burden for their people. One traveled 16 hours by bus from the extreme north. Several have used WMP booklets for years and are concerned over the difficulty in obtaining the quantities they need to do the work. Some were newer to the work, having just discovered the powerful impact that the booklets can have.

As Harold shared the concern of WMP for Peru and that he came to Peru to seek leading from the Lord to get more major shipments to them through Lima, we could feel a oneness of spirit come over the room. They realized the restrictions WMP faces, and they sensed that we carry the same burden for Peru that they do. Harold asked that each one pray, right then and there, that God would open the door. What a memorable moment as people prayed earnestly in groups of two or three for God to open the way for more of His Word to reach Peru!

At a small luncheon after the meeting, many came with individual thanks and requests. Though the post office in Peru may charge them for the boxes, they are willing to ask their church to take up an offering to get the booklets. One man, a former police officer, had given booklets to his fellow officers and asked for another 12,000 booklets to reach the rest of the police force. Another distributor has the opportunity to travel to Cuba to preach and asked for boxes for the trip. As in Iquitos, we found a deep appreciation for the booklets and a new sense of partnership in reaching the lost in Peru.  

Thankful in Buenos Aires, Argentina

On our first morning in Buenos Aires, we were privileged to travel with two distributors to a poor part of the city to distribute WMP booklets. At a neighborhood grocery How to Know God booklets and He Is Risen! coloring books were received gratefully. We then visited a daycare center and feeding program run by a local church. The small children in this humble setting were so pleased to see us. The ladies who cared for them also appreciated the booklets, our visit, and particularly our prayer on behalf of the children. It was a moving time for all of us.  

Brother Rino and his staff did a wonderful job in preparing for the distributors' meeting. Almost 70 people came to share how they use the booklets in hospitals, jail ministries, and evangelism. Each one was so genuinely thankful for the booklets they had received. One man reported that he was a drug addict in prison when he read a WMP booklet and accepted the Lord. Now he actively shares God's Word with others. One lady described how she and other women made small bags to carry booklets in their purses so they would always have a supply.

In his ministry with EHC, Brother Rino has used WMP booklets to systematically cover the southern region of Argentina. A new outreach is planned for five northern provinces, but Rino has no WMP materials left. He will need a ship container of WMP booklets to begin this EHC outreach and to supply requests from other WMP distributors.  

Argentina is open to the gospel, and God has planted a burden in many hearts to reach this country for Christ. WMP is willing to help as God provides financial support through friends whose hearts are tender toward His work.

[Major shipments of Scripture booklets will be needed for Peru and Argentina. Every donated dollar will provide booklets for 25 people. A $50 gift will reach 1,250 readers; $100 will touch 2,500 lives; and $1,000 will provide 25,000 people with the gospel.]