Peru Earthquake Update - August 23rd

This letter was sent to Oakseed Ministries’ Director, Dr. Edward Bradley. We invite you to read this letter to better understand the needs in Peru at this moment.

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Dear Dr. Bradley

As you well know, here in Perú we have been living hard times since we had an earthquake whose magnitude was estimated at 7.9 and we have counted more than 140 aftershocks, we thank God we have not had any personal damage or any major injuries among the people we work with or our staff.

In Lima the most damaged areas have been the old multifamily house buildings located in the downtown of the City and in the periphery zones, where the house buildings are not built with concrete. Our Child Center in San Genaro located in the south of the city, in Chorrillos district, was blacked out because power lines were down. It remained without electricity in the first days. In the Center the computer equipment fell to the floor, but there is no reported damage in the building.

We are still surveying the condition of houses were the children we work with live, primarily in the unprotected zones of San Genaro.

In the Child Center in Socosccocha there are some cracked in the classrooms, the kitchen, and the bathroom. We are in the process of calculating how many damages we are going to have to repair in this structure; as well as gathering information about the earthquake damage in the houses of the children we work with all around the zone.

The zones that have been mainly affected are in the south of Lima in the Department of Ica, Pisco and Huancavelica, where we estimate in some areas there are almost 70 percent of the houses are destroyed, where the hospitals did collapse, and the people are sleeping in the middle of the street with a temperature of 8 degrees at night.

In the present time there are an estimated 500 deaths, more than 30,000 homes collapsed, and more than 90,000 people left homeless.

Facing this reality MISIUR is developing a plan of intervention like in previous disasters with the target to develop a project of Reconstruction of Homes. This project will mainly focus on the zones far away from Ica and Huancavelica that would not have access to Government help or public charity.

We are now gathering all the possible information that would give us an exact description of the most damaged and devastated areas. We NEED financial support to prepare this study and to send structural engineers to make feasibility study for the rebuilding project.

For this main reason we are developing a Plan of Action with the cooperation of other institutions, and MISIUR will keep you informed as we move forward. We thank you for all the prayers pf the Oakseed family, and for the support that you will send to us.

Sincerely in the love of Christ,

Miguel Torres Vela
Director de Proyectos
MISIUR

Upper Loft Meditation - Matthew 5

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” - Matthew 5:6

Never go to the grocery store when you are hungry. Why, because you will buy that which looks good, but may not be good for you. It is usually wrap-around food. (It wraps around your belly!)

The blessing in this beatitude is not about filling, but about seeking a righteousness that will meet all your needs. Jesus said, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” - Matt 6:33.

In the pursuit of righteousness, here are some spiritual health guidance and warnings:

• Righteousness is to be pursued intentionally with all the energy and enthusiasm you can muster. It is like a feast set before you and you have not eaten for days.
• Recognize that it is in our sinful nature to substitute imitations for His righteousness in our attempt to fill ourselves. It is only His righteousness that will give you peace. Accept no substitutes!
• “To hunger and thirst for righteousness” builds on knowing your poverty of spirit (3) and mourning over the consequences of your sin (4). This creates the hunger that cries out to be satisfied.
• To best understand what is righteousness, one must look at the life of Jesus, the righteous one.
• The journey of Christian faith is to become like Jesus. “But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him.” - 1 John 3:2

Are you hungry today?

Update from the Peru Earthquake

In 1992, I visited the relief efforts of Misiur in their response to the earthquakes of 1990 and 1991 in Moyobamba, Peru. Misiur purchased a tract of land and divided it. They hired staff and purchased building materials. Then they partnered with several churches to select those that were the “poorest of the poor”. Then they taught the families how to build an earthquake resistant home - and helped them to build a new community.

I visited the Canaan neighborhood and did a survey to evaluate two things:

- Had Misiur selected the poorest of the poor?
- Had Misiur taught them anti-seismic construction techniques?

I discovered that “yes”, Misiur had accomplished both goals. I fully support Misiur’s efforts to develop, teach, build and care for the homeless again - now in 2007.

Jack Derrico
Lancaster, PA
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Oakseed seeks financial support to assist Mision Integral Urbano Rural (MISIUR) in both immediate relief efforts and longer term development projects among the poorest of the poor in the devastated areas of Peru.

Dr. Edward Bradley
President – Oakseed Ministries International

If you would like to contribute to the Peru Earthquake Fund please donate by clicking on the donation button below or going here. All funds (100%) will be sent down to MISIUR in Peru to support their relief efforts.

All donations are tax-deductible. Oakseed Ministries International is a registered 501(c)3 Non-Profit

Urgent Earthquake Update from Peru

Rebecca, the director of MISIUR, our Oakseed Ministries partner in Peru, reports that efforts are being made for MISIUR to provide urgently needed blankets, water, and soap in the earthquake affected areas.

If you would like to contribute to the Peru Earthquake Fund please donate by clicking on the donation button below or going here. All funds (100%) will be sent down to MISIUR in Peru to support their relief efforts.

All donations are tax-deductible. Oakseed Ministries International is a registered 501(c)3 Non-Profit

Upper Loft Meditation - Matthew 5

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” - Matthew 5:5

To be meek is not an exhortation to weakness, or submissiveness to others. This beatitude amplifies (3) “poor in spirit” as it sets forth the attitude we should have toward God, people, and circumstances. The meekness of a follower of Jesus is one that recognizes that the salvation of our physical and spiritual life is all from the grace and mercy of God.

Therefore, we are not swayed by the promises of the world, or rattled by events gone badly. To be meek is to trust God for what you do not understand and to be confidant that his will will be done.

Meekness has an underlying strength in the power of God and a passion to see His glory made manifest. A good example of this is when Jesus is being arrested in the garden of Gethsemane.

Jesus said, “Put your sword back where it belongs… Don’t you realize that I am able right now to call to my Father, and twelve companies – more, if I want them – of fighting angels would be here, battle-ready? But if I did that, how would the Scriptures come true that say this is the way it has to be?” Matthew 26:52-54(The Message)

To be meek is not to seek retaliation, to hold a grudge, or harbor inner resentment, but seeks the presence of the peace of Christ. This is a peace that dwells in the heart and flows out freely to all around. It is like a fragrant flower rooted in the mercy and grace of God.

NPR interviews Jember Teffera from Ethiopia

NPR’s Jason Beaubien reports on a former political prisoner who has spent most of the past three decades working to improve the slums of Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital. Activist Jember Teffera is trying to alleviate poverty by rebuilding infrastructure and changing self-defeating attitudes among residents.

If you didn’t hear this report about two years ago, this is a great chance to hear more about this ministry and the work that is taking place in the slums. Listen to the seven minute interview. Let us know what you think?

Upper Loft Meditation - 1 Corinthians 10

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” - 1 Corinthians 10:31

The secular world is all about first impressions. After the initial impact, people’s impressions are set. What matters is the first time event.

Paul clearly states that everything we do should be for the glory of God, even the small details. Life is far more than one event.

The great composer Bach said, “All music should have no other end and aim than the glory of God and the soul’s refreshment.” He always ended is compositions with the letters “S.D.G.” which stood for “Soli Dei Gratia” which means “to God alone be the praise.”

What does it mean for you to honor God in the small details of your life? Bringing glory to God is done in relationship to others. Here are three areas to reflect upon:

• Do you intentionally speak to others for the purpose of edifying, encouraging and giving a blessing?
• Is the joy of the Lord that is in your heart visible on the outside?
• Giving glory to God means returning to God what he has given to you. If you do not spend time in God’s presence, you will not have much to return to him. This means reading His word, worshiping Him, and joyfully celebrating His righteous holy rule.

What small things have you given to the Lord today through blessing and encouraging others?

Upper Loft Meditation - Matthew 5

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” - Matthew 5:5

This verse is often misunderstood because it is miss interpreted. It appears to say that those who are the wimps in this world, the pushovers, the weak, and those who are afraid to speak out will receive the greatest reward. In our world this is shouted from every corner. Possessions, power, control, and winning are espoused as key ingredients for the formula to capture the great prize.

The quality of “poor in Spirit” (3) and “mourning” (4) leads to meekness (5). Meekness is based on knowing that you bring no value to God and you mourn because you fall so far short of God’s standard. Out of this posture you come to know God’s power and blessing which is a work of the Spirit of the Spirit in and through you.

Lloyd-Jones has defined meekness as “a true view of oneself, expressing itself in attitude and conduct with respect to other.” God is at work in you and through you to bring His blessings to others.

Look at the example of meekness that Jesus sets in Matthew 11. “Come unto me and I will give you rest for I am meek and lowly of heart.”

To inherit is to infer that you are part of the family. Adopted into the family of God is a work that God has done through His son Jesus. The meek are those who live as part of God’s family and are committed to the family business.