I hope you had a great Thanksgiving! In Peru, the seasons are reversed as we are on the other side of the equator. As the end of the year approaches, the weather continues to warm up. Beach weather is coming up!
God has continued to bless the relationships within the lunch Bible study. Allen and I met with these young people as well as several other musicians November 3rd to talk about what was going on musically in Trujillo and how we could serve the city together. It was a good time of fellowship and good for me to hear their thoughts on the problems, struggles, and musical opportunities in Trujillo. This conversation led to a Bach seminar on November 22nd. The study of Bach’s life was an encouragement for me to press on and to continue to strive for excellence even if the environment doesn’t encourage or nurture excellence. My prayer was that it would challenge and motivate these young musicians to approach their studies and music with a desire to glorify God and serve others. God’s grace was evident to me that evening not only as I spoke (I had never done anything like this in English let alone Spanish!) but also in the responses of each person who shared afterword that they were uplifted and challenged to work hard in their musical studies. My prayer is that we would work hard to be excellent musicians not so that others would appreciate us but that God would be glorified by our efforts and desires to serve Him and others.
The third week of November, God worked wonders for a dear Christian family of musicians who I worked with this past year. 
Branco, a former student of mine (the son of aforementioned family) received a scholarship to study the violin in the United States. Saturday, November 26thhe was going to play a concert with the symphony to raise money for his plane ticket. Ronald, Branco’s Dad and friend of mine, asked me to play in the orchestra for the concert. We were supposed to rehearse Monday through Friday. On Wednesday morning, I arrived to rehearse only to find out that the concert was canceled due to the powers in charge of the orchestra not wanting the concert to happen. They kept the orchestra in rehearsal instead of letting us rehearse the repertoire for Saturday. I left very angry asking God why He let the wicked rein. That very afternoon was the choir practice for Sunday in which Allen and I prayed for God to work and change hearts so that this concert would be a reality. At 8:00 AM the next morning Ronald called me telling me that a miracle had happened! He ran into the conductor at 7:30 AM and he had a complete change of heart. He said we could rehearse with the orchestra half of the rehearsal time Thursday and Friday. Despite the lack of rehearsal time, God blessed the concert on Saturday night.
Thank you for your continued prayers on my behalf. Ministry starts, continues, and ends with prayer! God has graciously answered prayers about my living situation! My current roommate is moving out closer to where she works and I was going to have to move. Linda Bundy, a roommate from this past year’s internship will be moving in with me and we are staying in the same apartment! Another praise is that I am feeling better! I was sick for nearly 2 weeks with a throat infection in the beginning of the month followed by a skin rash.
The month of December has already started off crazy. Please pray for the concerts on December 6 – 7th (Starting tomorrow!). I am collaborating with several local musicians in a concert series of popular, classical, and Peruvian music. Please also pray for guidance for the coming Peruvian vacation months of January through March. Pray for God to give me wisdom of who to reach out to, teach, and disciple. Lastly, Lord willing, I will be in Jackson for around 3 weeks for Christmas! I look forward to worshiping with the Body of Christ in the States as well as catching up with family and friends. You are in my prayers.
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