HOME IMPROVEMENTS – as a result of our involvement with many needy families small grants have been provided in both projects to improve living conditions of special cases. Collapsing homes have been replaced or improved with the help of our committees.
Special consideration is given to one parent and very large families, and where there are health problems.
TRAINING –Sponsored by supporters, Maria now in her 3rd year training as a teacher is doing well. Sarvia, has joined her at the same Christian institute and completed her first year.
Rider and Hector received help for 2 years on engineering courses and several youngsters were enabled to attend training for vacation Bible schools.
HEALTH FUND – Although medical treatment is supposed to be free for children, there are often many costs involved. Adults have to pay for all treatment required. Several special cases in both projects have been assisted. Participants contribute and are only helped if we can verify how the money is spent. Our local committees assist us. Examples are an eight year old with a hair lip, who had never gone to school, a 4 year old with a serious tumour, a boy with a club foot, a grandchild with a serious ear problem and a baby with a bad burn. Adult cases usually involve expensive X-rays or operations. Examples are a paralysed man, a mentally ill teenager, a widow with 4 children, a single parent with gallstones, a man with violent headaches and a lady with a brain tumour.
PERSONAL – we have continued to live in the SIM ground floor flat and attend an English speaking church, with periodic visits to the shantytown churches connected to our projects. We have had 3 visits from prayer partners and several enjoyable holidays. During January 2004 we prepared publicity, including a Power Point, ready for our Home Assignment. This commenced with a 2 week visit at the end of June to our prayer partners in the USA, after which we came to Britain.
We returned to our own home in Birmingham in July, where the tenant had stolen much of our furniture. Friends from our Home church helped us get it ready to live in again. After re-adjusting to English life, a health check, a useful SIM debriefing, a holiday and visiting family, we began deputation. In all we have conducted more than 50 meetings, visiting several cities, including Belfast, Liverpool, Sheffield, Bedford, London and Worthing. Jean visited the dentist 9 times! Bill managed on just two.
Continuing vision –
To see the local Christians and churches built up whilst giving practical and spiritual support. As we share the gospel and Christian teaching, as well as giving practical help, we are training nationals to carry the responsibilities, solve the problems and to reach out to their communities.
La Campina - to see the church grow whilst we continue our work of encouraging the mothers in their spiritual growth and helping to train their children in the ways of God as well as giving educational and practical support.
Huaycan - We continue with the teenager group on Saturday nights training the young people to reach out and teach others about the Lord.
Training- Help continues for 25 youngsters with two more in the pipeline. They are studying a wide range of things from teachers to engineers.
Home Improvements - We will continue to assist needy families within both projects.
Health Fund - using locals to assist us help will be given to those within our projects who have special needs.
SIM team in Lima:- We aim to support and encourage as much as we can. Being part of a multi cultural team is such a blessing.
Personal – Life continues to be busy - too busy at times. We have contact with many people and there are great needs. We just want to do whatever it is God wants us to do.
DEPENDENCY ON THE LORD
God has wonderfully supplied all our needs - personal, practical, emotional, financial & spiritual. The SIM workers in Lima & Britain have been a joy to work with. Our home church, supporters and prayer partners have faithfully played their essential part in supporting us. God has never failed. He alone is the One we wish to serve and on whom we depend. We give Him and His people our heartfelt thanks and ask your prayers that we will continue to do His will.
Bill & Jean Williamson, SIM Missionaries. SIM-Uk, Wetheringsett Manor, Wetheringsett, STOWMARKET, Suffolk IP14 5QX