Missionary Update: Stantons in Peru (April 2011)

Dear friends and family,

Today, April 10, is Presidential Election Day in Peru and there are no church services anywhere in Peru during the morning hours.  Elections are always on Sundays and one of their election laws prohibits any type of public meetings during voting hours, so we have church services in the evening after the polls are closed. The voting process requires that they dip the tip of their index finger into a bottle of permanent purple dye; this avoids allowing people to vote more than once (very practical) and for a week or so after the election everyone walks around with a purple finger!   Another election law is that all Peruvians of voting age must vote or pay a heavy fine.  As a result of this law the Peruvian people take their politics seriously.  Peru has numerous political parties ranging from the far left to the far right and all sorts of ideologies in between.  This also creates a lot of travel for these dear folks because they have to vote wherever they were last registered.  Since registering to vote in a new town is a bureaucratic process and takes money, the majority of the people just travel back to wherever they came from in order to vote.  The bus lines always take advantage of this and raise the price of bus tickets; so is life during election time, heavy traffic on the roads and purple fingers!  Anita and I have lived in this country for twenty-eight years and it has always been this way; life is interesting on the mission field!

Each month I ask you to continue to pray for our son, Capt. Joshua Stanton USAF.  He proudly serves our country as an Air Force pilot overseas.  He has a wife and two small, precious, little girls waiting for him back home.  We also ask you to continue to remember my father, Ralph Stanton, in your prayers; he is battling with prostate cancer, and is back in the hospital again in Dickson, Tennessee with a kidney infection.  He is also having test done for Alzheimer and dementia while being treated for the kidney infection. This ordeal has been understandably hard on my mother, she needs our prayers also.  Mom and Dad have been married for sixty-three years now, truly an example and inspiration to all of us.  Anita and I will be traveling back to the States for four weeks from the middle of May to the middle of June.  We plan to see our grand-kids (one we’ve never seen and she will soon be a year old!) but we plan to spend most of the time with my mom and dad.  Thank you so much for your prayers.

Do you all remember the young lady, twenty-three years old, Dany Luz Presentacion?  Many of you helped her financially back in the fall of last year when she was going through Chemo Therapy for ovarian cancer.  She also had open heart surgery when she was sixteen years old.  Well, she is doing great now; finished her college degree in elementary education and recently got a job teaching in a private school here in Huánuco.  Danitza is one of many young folks that are like sons and daughters to Anita and me.  She came by the house the other day to visit and show us how much her hair has grown back; so I had to take a picture and show you this radiant trophy of God’s mercy and grace!  We thank all of you again that had a part in helping us to help this fine and faithful young Christian woman.

Sufficient funds have come in to help the Cayumba Grande Baptist Mission with the purchase of their property in Tingo Maria.  Thanks to those of you that had a part in this project.

We still need more funds to help with construction for the Calvary Baptist Mission I pastor here in Huánuco.  Anita and I hope to have something built and secure by the time we leave for the States the middle of May.  This work has grown numerically and matured spiritually during this past year and it is time for us to move to a larger location.  The property has some old, adobe mud structures that will be torn down so we can build to suite or needs.  We know our heavenly Father will provide the funds; maybe He will use you to help with this project.

Another matter of prayer is the need to increase giving to the General Fund of Baptist Faith Mission.  BFM has financially aided Anita and me since 1983.  We work under the authority of our home church, Jordan Missionary Baptist Church, of Sanford, Florida, but Jordan Baptist is not large enough to support us full time, and thus, BFM helps our home church with the funds to keep us on the field in Peru.  The Mission provides excellent medical insurance, monthly stipends for housing, transportation cost and other expenditures necessary to live in a foreign country.  The directors of BFM have calculated that if each household and church that supports the General Fund of BFM could increase their giving by $10.00 more per month, the financial needs would be met.  Pray about it and give as the Lord leads you.  If you would like more details of the financial workings and situation of BFM you can go the webpage: www.baptistfaithmissions.org or the BFM blog at: www.faith-works.blogspot.com

Thanks again for all the prayers and support.  We look forward to seeing everyone next year (2012) when we come to the States for furlough.  Until next month.

In HIM by HIS grace,
Sheridan and Anita Stanton

 

Mission Update: The Stantons in Peru

April 8, 2010
Dear Friends,
          March was another hectic month for Anita and me.  First I drove to Pucallpa (a town in the central jungle where we lived for seven years), in order to hold a week-end meeting with the Jordan Baptist church of Pucallpa.  This was the first church we started in Peru twenty-two years ago.  I enjoyed the time with Pastor Daniel Gonzales and his dear wife, Bertha.  It was good to see old, familiar faces once again.  Even though I enjoyed seeing the folks there, to be honest, it was very hard to preach while there; it seemed to me that there was a “heavy” spirit hanging over the meeting.  We had several decisions for Christ in spite of the difficulty.  It was a blessing to be able to drive over the newly paved road for most of the trip.  The last time I drove to Pucallpa the road was so bad, the dash-board of my van shook loose and rested on our laps!  There are still some bad sections but I made the trip in about eight hours when it used to take fourteen.

Thirty-five pastors attended a workshop Bro. Sheridan led about using computers in the ministry.

          After returning to Huánuco on Sunday the 7^th, I began another Institute class on Tuesday morning the 9^th.  We only had 35 pastors show up for the class but we had a great time.  Instead of daily lectures I made the class more of an interactive work-shop dealing with “Computers and the Ministry”.  We spent the week teaching and practicing putting together MS PowerPoint hymn presentations; complete with accompaniment sound tracks.  They each got to return to their homes with over one hundred hymn presentations along with a lot more material.  It was a great week and Anita did all the cooking as usual.  I still think many of them come just for her cooking instead of my teaching!!

          In my last letter I mentioned the need of funds for purchasing some property for our newest mission work, the Calvary Mission Church of Huánuco.  We have rented a temporary place for three months, just down the street from where we were.  This gives us a little more time to locate the property the Lord has waiting for us.  We just haven’t found it yet!!  The need is still great to raise the funds for purchasing the property when the Lord reveals it to us.  Please pray with us about this and give as the Lord leads.  Thank you.

The Stantons and some of the people from their mission work have taken clothes, food and water several times to those affected by a landslide in a nearby town.

          On the April 1^st a huge landslide came down upon the small town of Cancejos (about one hour from Huánuco).  Seven people were killed and still some others have not been found yet.  The road (Central Highway) was blocked and traffic backed up for about five miles on both sides.  I was trying to get to Tingo Maria for a special meeting but after sitting for three hours on the road I realized I would never make it on time, so I turned around and went back home.  Friday the 2^nd I was able to make it to Tingo Maria and drive through the devastation in Cancejos.  The village has about ten displaced families living in tents set up by the Civil Defense.  Please remember these folks in your prayers as they struggle with their losses.

A massive landslide struck the nearby town of Ambo. Twenty-seven people were killed and 40 remain missing.

 While I was in Tingo Maria for the meeting at the Bethel Baptist Church, another massive landslide struck the town of Ambo (twenty minutes away on the other side of Huánuco).  Twenty-seven are known dead and close to forty are still missing.  Entire two-story homes were completely buried beneath the rock and mud.  One of the biggest tragedies in the Ambo landslide was a Christian Missionary Alliance church that was having a prayer meeting when the mudslide came upon them and buried them all alive.  The numbers vary from fifteen to twenty present in the meeting.  Anita and I, along with the folks from our mission work, have taken clothes, food and water on two occasions thus far to the temporary tent cities set up by the Civil Defense.  Ambo has about one hundred tents set up for the displaced families.  In a few more days we plan on taking personal sanitary items (soap, tooth brushes and paste, etc.) and underwear.  I am also hoping to get several boxes of bibles to distribute among those that have lost everything.  In a few more months we will try and help some of the families build a new home.  Please be in prayer for these poor people that disease will not start and spread.  The doctors are worried that any day now an epidemic might break out. 

Until next month. 

In HIM by HIS grace,
Sheridan and Anita Stanton

Mission Update: The Stantons in Peru

February 8, 2010

Sheridan and Anita Stanton, missionaries to Peru since 1983

I met a fellow from Oregon yesterday; he knocked on my door in the afternoon, here in Huánuco, Peru. He said he and his wife were missionaries to the world. They have been in the work for about as long as Anita and I have been in Peru and so far they have been in eleven countries. When I asked him to tell me of his work he proceeded to tell me he enlists local churches to plant trees in an effort for reforestation; kind of like a modern day “Johnny Appleseed.” He was a very nice fellow and very knowledgeable concerning trees and reforestation; I learned from him. Reforestation is certainly a worthwhile effort, and I have even been known to plant a tree or two in my day. To be fair to my Oregon friend he did say that his wife evangelizes while he works at tree planting. They had even started a church in Peru several years ago, but were a bit discouraged with it because they have never been able to find a pastor that would “stick” with the work; nevertheless planting trees has been a great success. I must admit that it bothered me somewhat when he told me how excited churches become, especially the teen/college age group, when they get involved with planting trees. As I said, I’m all for planting trees, but why are the Lord’s people not excited about winning lost souls to Christ and planting churches?

Building schools, medical clinics and church buildings, providing for orphans and the needy, digging wells and even planting trees are all worthwhile efforts; Anita and I have participated in all of these ministries (except the tree planting!) because it brings us joy and we know that God’s love is manifested in our actions. But may we never lose our way and forget that we are here in Peru to see men and women, boys and girls, come to know and love Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Feeding a hungry child is a moral obligation of all men and a Biblical imperative for the Christian. When works of compassion are done in selfless love, they stir a great sense of satisfaction in our souls. However having a part in the eternal salvation of a lost soul gives an eternal reward and an even greater feeling of satisfaction. I read an article this morning concerning the relief aid in Haiti. A pastor proclaimed that his church had been working in Haiti for years, digging wells, and teaching about soil erosion, then he said, “when we have time, we try to tell people about Jesus.” May God have mercy when we get so involved in our methods that we forget the goal, to “go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature”; fulfilling the great commandment (Mat 22:35-40) and the great commission (Mat. 28:19-20). One reason I have always enjoyed being associated with Baptist Faith Missions is because of the fact that the missionaries, pastors, supporting churches, and directors have always been faithful at keeping the focus of the work on preaching the gospel and planting Bible believing New Testament Baptist Churches.

Anita and I traveled to the capital city of Lima the end of January for her routine cancer exam and blood work. Her tumor marker number was up a bit but did not seem to alarm the doctor. We thank the Lord for His mercy and grace and for each of you that continue to pray for her health. She did tumble down some concrete steps while in Lima but did not break any bones; only bruised and banged up a bit. She’s tough!

Bro. Stanton ordains young Peruvian missionary Daniel Matzuda.

While in Lima I helped in the ordination of a young, Peruvian missionary, Daniel Matzuda. He will be starting a new work in the northern coastal town of Chiclayo, Peru. Daniel will be working under the supervision of our good friend, Missionary Rodney Spears, under the authority of the Southside Baptist Church of Winter Haven, Florida. Anyone interested in helping to support this young man and his family can contact me or Brother Spears.

Sunday the 31st found us with the Jordan Baptist Church of Lima. The Lord blessed the preaching of His Word and one gentleman about my age (not too old!!) trusted Christ as his Savior and others made decisions to be more diligent in their work for the Lord. This church gave half of the money necessary to build Pastor Jorge Dianderas and his wife Elvira, a wooden house on top of the newly constructed church building. Anita and I gave the other half with funds donated by so many of you, our supporters. Our funds are exhausted and they still need about $1000.00 (one thousand dollars) to finish the floor, bathroom and windows. It would be a great joy for Anita and me and a great blessing to Pastor Jorge and his family if someone would feel lead to help out in this project. Jorge is one of the most faithful Peruvian pastors I have had the privilege of working with over the years. He is worthy of the help.

Wooden house for the Pastor's family on top of the church building. They need $1000 more dollars to finish the floors, windows and bathroom.

This letter is getting too long. I must stop and get ready for my Monday night Pastor’s Bible Study. We are studying through the book of Romans and while doing so, I have been teaching them outlining techniques; alliteration, etc. They have been very faithful in their weekly attendance. Until next month.

In HIM by HIS grace,
Sheridan and Anita Stanton

Missionary Update: The Stantons in Peru

Sheridan & Anita Stanton, missionaries to Peru since 1983

December 7, 2009
Dear Friends,

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you! Anita and I wish you a blessed, joyous and peaceful Holiday Season. We pray that the Lord will bless all of you and your ministries as you remain faithful to our Heavenly Father, the almighty sovereign Creator and King of the Universe. HE has been so good to Anita and me during this past year.

However, as another year is almost behind us I have to admit that I am starting to “feel” the years; I must be getting old! My son, Joshua, turned thirty-one today! Happy birthday, Josh! He serves our country as a pilot in the US Air Force; holding the rank of captain. He is married to a wonderful young woman and they have two precious little girls. Our daughter Leah turned thirty-two in August and she is married to a fine young man and they have one amazing little boy. I have discovered though, that being a “Papaw” seems to help me feel younger. Praise the Lord for grandkids! We miss being able to see them, but we are very thankful for the ability to web-cam from time to time.

Anita and I feel our calling to Peru as missionaries just as strong today as we did when we first surrendered to come and serve here. November was another busy month in the ministry here in this beautiful country. The middle of the month we traveled to the Capital City of Lima where we helped the Iglesia Bautista Jordan (Jordan Baptist Church) celebrate its nineteenth anniversary. We helped to start this church and worked with it for six years up to its organization. My good friend, Pastor Jorge Dianderas, asked me to bring a series of messages on Christian Stewardship. We had a wonderful time with them. The photos show Pastor Jorge and his wife, Elvira; the congregation; and two of the charter members that were present with us at the very first church service we had at the beginning. It is always a blessed time when we have the opportunity to visit and minister to the several churches that the Lord has used to start in years past.

Pastor Jorge and his wife Elvira celebrate Iglesia Bautista Jordan's 19th anniversary!

The congregation of Iglesia Bautista Jordan.

Sis. Anita with two of the charter members of Iglesia Bautista Jordan.

The day after Thanksgiving, I traveled to the jungle village of Huayna Capac, a little place about four hours from Huánuco and one hour deeper into the jungle from Tingo Maria. It has been raining for weeks in the jungle and the small path to get to the village was just about washed out. It is only wide enough for one vehicle. I rejoiced again for having been blessed with the new 4×4 pick-up truck I received in June; it handled the road very well. There is no electricity in Huayna Capac so we used battery powered lights for the services. When you light up a church building in a village where there is no light, everyone attends! We had a great time with this small congregation and many decisions were made for the Lord. Please remember Pastor Miguel Gargate and his family as they faithfully work in this village as well as two other mission works he has started even deeper into the jungle.

Most of the other national missionaries have reported good attendance for the month of November and the ones I have heard from reported souls saved and baptisms during the month. I was hoping to be able to launch our Bible Institute classes online this year but it looks like that will not be a reality until March. Please remember to pray for us about this. Having the classes online will allow us to reach out and help and train so many more of God’s servants here in Peru. Happy Holidays! Until next year!

In HIM by HIS grace,
Sheridan and Anita Stanton

Missionary Update: The Stantons in Peru

Dear Friends,

Anita and I continue to be busy about the Lord’s work here in the Andean Mountain town of Huánuco, Peru. She works daily on children’s Sunday School lessons. As I have mentioned a few times in the past, these lessons are used by all of our churches and we know of several public school systems in the country using her material in their religious courses. Yes, it is the law in Peru that religion must be taught in the schools! Would it not be something great if the United States were to return to her roots and overturn laws that have taken God and prayers out of the schools? We can pray!

I continue to pastor the Calvary Baptist Mission Church here in Huánuco. Even though much of my time is spent in preparing lessons and teaching for the Bible Institute, I always enjoy working with young mission works and seeing them mature and finally become independent and organized into a new church. On average it takes about five to six years from the start of a new work to its organization and Calvary Baptist will be no exception. Please pray for us and this young work.

In last month’s letter I reported that a young medical missionary from Huánuco, Silvia Rojas, was going to be married on the the 25^th of October. Well the wedding went very well and Silvia and Benjamin are now married. It was the fourteenth wedding that I have conducted while in Huánuco. Later, after the wedding, I was told that family from both sides of the marriage had made comments about how nice it was to go to a wedding reception and not have it break out in family fights. It is a sad commentary on the culture here that most “non-Christian” weddings have a lot of drinking at the receptions and the liquor seems to take the scabs off wounds of many old perceived wrongs among family members. What a testimony it was for this young couple to share their faith in Jesus Christ before their families. Please pray for them as they start their new life together and serving the Lord at the Diospi-Suyana missionary hospital in Curahuasi, Peru.

Bro. Sheridan marries Silvia and Benjamin who will be working as medical missionaries in Peru.

The end of the month Anita and I traveled to the coastal town of Trujillo where I had been invited by the Esmirna Baptist Mission to come and preach and also teach on Baptist history. Trujillo is the third largest city in Peru with close to one million inhabitants. We had a great time with the mission work and the young pastor there, Moises Sevillano. He has been in Trujillo for two years now and has three different works; two in Trujillo and one three hours away in the city of Chiclayo, also on the coast. Please pray for Moises, he is very gifted young man with a genuine zeal to reach lost souls with the gospel of Jesus Christ. The city of Trujillo claims to be the “City of Eternal Springtime”, but after four days of humidity, Anita and I both agree that the mountain town of Huánuco where we live still has “the best climate in the world”, as the sign coming into our town claims.

From Trujillo we traveled back the capital city of Lima and spent a few days with Jason and Rebecca Reinhardt and the twins, Natali and Neomi. We had a great time taking the girls to the zoo and play park. They are now five years old and really love their Papaw and Nene (me and Anita!). We also enjoyed an afternoon with our missionary friends, Rodney and Rebecca Spears. Our new truck continues to run well and we thank the Lord for having it every time we make the long road trip from Huánuco to Lima and back.

While in Lima, Anita had her check-up with the oncologist and once again all the results of the various tests (blood work) came back with excellent numbers. We thank all of you for your continued prayers for her; I can see she continues to regain her former strength little by little as it has been almost a year since she finished her cancer treatments and was released by the doctor. God has shown HIS great mercy to us, and we praise HIM daily. Until next month.

In HIM by HIS grace,

Sheridan and Anita Stanton

ar Friends,

Anita and I continue to be busy about the Lord’s work here in the Andean Mountain town of Huánuco, Peru. She works daily on children’s Sunday School lessons. As I have mentioned a few times in the past, these lessons are used by all of our churches and we know of several public school systems in the country using her material in their religious courses. Yes, it is the law in Peru that religion must be taught in the schools! Would it not be something great if the United States were to return to her roots and overturn laws that have taken God and prayers out of the schools? We can pray!

I continue to pastor the Calvary Baptist Mission Church here in Huánuco. Even though much of my time is spent in preparing lessons and teaching for the Bible Institute, I always enjoy working with young mission works and seeing them mature and finally become independent and organized into a new church. On average it takes about five to six years from the start of a new work to its organization and Calvary Baptist will be no exception. Please pray for us and this young work.

In last month’s letter I reported that a young medical missionary from Huánuco, Silvia Rojas, was going to be married on the the 25^th of October. Well the wedding went very well and Silvia and Benjamin are now married. It was the fourteenth wedding that I have conducted while in Huánuco. Later, after the wedding, I was told that family from both sides of the marriage had made comments about how nice it was to go to a wedding reception and not have it break out in family fights. It is a sad commentary on the culture here that most “non-Christian” weddings have a lot of drinking at the receptions and the liquor seems to take the scabs off wounds of many old perceived wrongs among family members. What a testimony it was for this young couple to share their faith in Jesus Christ before their families. Please pray for them as they start their new life together and serving the Lord at the Diospi-Suyana missionary hospital in Curahuasi, Peru.

The end of the month Anita and I traveled to the coastal town of Trujillo where I had been invited by the Esmirna Baptist Mission to come and preach and also teach on Baptist history. Trujillo is the third largest city in Peru with close to one million inhabitants. We had a great time with the mission work and the young pastor there, Moises Sevillano. He has been in Trujillo for two years now and has three different works; two in Trujillo and one three hours away in the city of Chiclayo, also on the coast. Please pray for Moises, he is very gifted young man with a genuine zeal to reach lost souls with the gospel of Jesus Christ. The city of Trujillo claims to be the “City of Eternal Springtime”, but after four days of humidity, Anita and I both agree that the mountain town of Huánuco where we live still has “the best climate in the world”, as the sign coming into our town claims.

From Trujillo we traveled back the capital city of Lima and spent a few days with Jason and Rebecca Reinhardt and the twins, Natali and Neomi. We had a great time taking the girls to the zoo and play park. They are now five years old and really love their Papaw and Nene (me and Anita!). We also enjoyed an afternoon with our missionary friends, Rodney and Rebecca Spears. Our new truck continues to run well and we thank the Lord for having it every time we make the long road trip from Huánuco to Lima and back.

While in Lima, Anita had her check-up with the oncologist and once again all the results of the various tests (blood work) came back with excellent numbers. We thank all of you for your continued prayers for her; I can see she continues to regain her former strength little by little as it has been almost a year since she finished her cancer treatments and was released by the doctor. God has shown HIS great mercy to us, and we praise HIM daily. Until next month.

In HIM by HIS grace,

Sheridan and Anita Stanton

Missionary Update: The Stantons in Peru

Dear Friends,

Today is Anita’s birthday and what a joy it has been to see her receive so many phone calls and cards! God has richly blessed me with thirty-five years of marriage to her and the opportunity of sharing as many birthdays. Thank you for all that helped to make her day so special.

Since the last mission group left in August things have slowed down some for us here in Huánuco. I have had to cancel a few of my speaking and teaching engagements due to the economic downturn; but the upside is that I have had more time to devote to lesson and sermon preparation. I am hoping to have another Institute class around the first of the year for all of our pastors around the country. My Monday night Bible class for our local pastors has been on pause for the summer but will resume again in two weeks (after Anita and I return from a speaking engagement the end of October).

Anita continues to stay busy writing the Sunday School materials for all ages of our Sunday Schools here in Peru. She spends many hours daily in this. On Wednesday nights she teaches a ladies class at Calvary Baptist. She must be a much better teacher than me because she has about twice as many ladies come to her class as I have men come to mine!

We enjoyed seeing Brother Jason Minix and Pastor George Sledd the first of September. Jason returned to Peru for a few days in order to pack-up his things. He has felt led of the Lord to be a missionary with Mountain Missions out of the South Irvine Baptist Church of Irvine, Kentucky. He will be missed here by many, many of the dear Saints of God that he has impacted by his ministry here in Peru. We wish for him and Andrea God’s richest blessings upon their family and ministry.

I had to make a small cut this past month in the monthly offering that Anita and I give to fourteen of our national workers. It is the first time I have ever had to do that in twenty-six years on the mission field. But we know that the Lord is still on His throne and knows what he is doing. The economic crisis has affected so many families and churches in States and the effects of that show up on the mission field as well. But the Lord’s work goes on! We just need to look for more cost-effective methods of getting the gospel out.

Speaking of the national workers, I have heard from about eight of them so far and they all give a good report. In total about fifteen souls were saved this past month between the eight. Our only female worker, Silvia Rojas, is working as a medical missionary at the Diospi Suyana Missionary Hospital in Southern Peru. She is in charge of the laboratory and spends the weekends conducting Bible Clubs for children. She grew up here in Huánuco and I had the joy of pastoring her and her family for several years. She is getting married on the 24th of October and I will be performing the ceremony. She is marrying another young Christian man that works at the hospital. Please pray for Silvia and Benjamin as they start this new life together.

Thanks to each and every one of you that continue to give month after month for the Lord’s work here in Peru. Anita and I thank the Lord for you in our prayers. Until next month.

In HIM by HIS grace,
Sheridan and Anita Stanton
sestantonperu [at] hotmail.com

Dear Friends,

Today is Anita’s birthday and what a joy it has been to see her receive so many phone calls and cards! God has richly blessed me with thirty-five years of marriage to her and the opportunity of sharing as many birthdays. Thank you for all that helped to make her day so special.

Since the last mission group left in August things have slowed down some for us here in Huánuco. I have had to cancel a few of my speaking and teaching engagements due to the economic downturn; but the upside is that I have had more time to devote to lesson and sermon preparation. I am hoping to have another Institute class around the first of the year for all of our pastors around the country. My Monday night Bible class for our local pastors has been on pause for the summer but will resume again in two weeks (after Anita and I return from a speaking engagement the end of October).

Anita continues to stay busy writing the Sunday School materials for all ages of our Sunday Schools here in Peru. She spends many hours daily in this. On Wednesday nights she teaches a ladies class at Calvary Baptist. She must be a much better teacher than me because she has about twice as many ladies come to her class as I have men come to mine!

We enjoyed seeing Brother Jason Minix and Pastor George Sledd the first of September. Jason returned to Peru for a few days in order to pack-up his things. He has felt lead of the Lord to be a missionary with Mountain Missions out of the South Irvine Baptist Church of Irvine, Kentucky. He will be missed here by many, many of the dear Saints of God that he has impacted by his ministry here in Peru. We wish for him and Andrea God’s richest blessings upon their family and ministry.

I had to make a small cut this past month in the monthly offering that Anita and I give to fourteen of our national workers. It is the first time I have ever had to do that in twenty-six years on the mission field. But we know that the Lord is still on His throne and knows what he is doing. The economic crisis has affected so many families and churches in States and the effects of that show up on the mission field as well. But the Lord’s work goes on! We just need to look for more cost-effective methods of getting the gospel out.

Speaking of the national workers, I have heard from about eight of them so far and they all give a good report. In total about fifteen souls were saved this past month between the eight. Our only female worker, Silvia Rojas, is working as a medical missionary at the Diospi Suyana Missionary Hospital in Southern Peru. She is in charge of the laboratory and spends the weekends conducting Bible Clubs for children. She grew up here in Huánuco and I had the joy of pastoring her and her family for several years. She is getting married on the 24^th of October and I will be performing the ceremony. She is marrying another young Christian man that works at the hospital. Please pray for Silvia and Benjamin as they start this new life together.

Thanks to each and every one of you that continue to give month after month for the Lord’s work here in Peru. Anita and I thank the Lord for you in our prayers. Until next month.

In HIM by HIS grace,

Sheridan and Anita Stanton

Missionary Update: The Stantons

Dear Friends,

July was just as action packed as the month of June! In last month’s letter I reported on the visiting mission team from Hiddenite, North Carolina. The week after they left I traveled north of Lima to preach a four day meeting for the Faith Baptist Church of Huaral. We had a great time preaching and teaching on the Exchanged Life in Jesus Christ. The following week I preached in the anniversary services of the Zion Baptist Church here in Huánuco. It was a true blessing to have been in both of these meetings. One week after the anniversary services I traveled to Peru’s capital city of Lima once again to meet our second summer mission team. This group was mainly from the Grace Baptist Church of Taylor, Michigan with three joining from the Storms Creek Baptist Church of Ironton, Ohio. It was the first time for the Grace Baptist Church to take on a summer mission project and they did an outstanding job. There were fourteen of them on the team and they not only worked hard and shared God’s love everywhere they went but they also laughed a lot while having a great time. They will be missed and we hope they will come back again sometime in the future. Like the first mission team they also helped the Grace Baptist Church of Huánuco build a security wall around the property. Digging ditches with picks and shovels and then filling the ditches with concrete and rocks was exhausting work but they really seemed to enjoy it! The traditional soccer match with Americans and Peruvians playing went as expected! I’m sure you can guess the outcome! On Wednesday night Pastor Matt Brooks brought a moving message at the Central Baptist Church here in Huánuco. I had the privilege of translating for him. After the work days we goodbye to Huánuco and began our journey to Cusco and Machu Picchu.

While in Cusco we visited the Berea Baptist Mission pastored by our Baptist Missionary friends Jason and Rebecca Reinhardt. Pastor Gary Harrah preached on Sunday morning with me translating. What a blessing the service was for all present! From there the team travelled by bus and train to Machu Picchu (which is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World). Machu Picchu is an amazing place and pictures just cannot describe the experience adequately. After arriving back in Cusco we flew back to Lima then began our trip on down the Pacific coast to the town of Paracas where the group was scheduled to travel eleven miles out into the ocean to the Ballesta Islands but the sea was choppy that day and the port authority would not allow any boats out. So we had a great seafood lunch and then continued on down the coast to the Huacachina oasis. This team, like the June team, had an incredible time sand surfing and dune buggy riding in the sand dunes that stretch for as far as the eye can see.

The next day our dear friends left Peru, heading back to Michigan. They made a wonderful impression and we hope the trip challenged and excited them to do even more for missions there at home. Hosting mission teams is exhausting work but also very, very rewarding for Anita and me. We certainly enjoyed having them with us and we hope they will come back. We thank the Lord for their love and concern for the dear saints of the Lord here in Peru.

In HIM by HIS grace,

Sheridan and Anita Stanton

July was just as action packed as the month ofJune! In last month’s letter I reported on the visiting mission team from Hiddenite, North Carolina. The week after they left I traveled north of Lima to preach a four day meeting for the Faith Baptist Church of Huaral. We had a great time preaching and teaching on the Exchanged Life in Jesus Christ. The following week I preached in the anniversary services of the Zion Baptist Church here in Huánuco. It was a true blessing to have been in both of these meetings. One week after the anniversary services I traveled to Peru’s capital city of Lima once again to meet our second summer mission team. This group was mainly from the Grace Baptist Church of Taylor, Michigan with three joining from the Storms Creek Baptist Church of Ironton, Ohio. It was the first time for the Grace Baptist Church to take on a summer mission project and they did an outstanding job. There were fourteen of them on the team and they not only worked hard and shared God’s love everywhere they went but they also laughed a lot while having a great time. They will be missed and we hope they will come back again sometime in the future. Like the first mission team they also helped the Grace Baptist Church of Huánuco build a security wall around the property. Digging ditches with picks and shovels and then filling the ditches with concrete and rocks was exhausting work but they really seemed to enjoy it! The traditional soccer match with Americans and Peruvians playing went as expected! I’m sure you can guess the outcome! On Wednesday night Pastor Matt Brooks brought a moving message at the Central Baptist Church here in Huánuco. I had the privilege of translating for him. After the work days we goodbye to Huánuco and began our journey to Cusco and Machu Picchu.

While in Cusco we visited the Berea Baptist Mission pastored by our Baptist Missionary friends Jason and Rebecca Reinhardt. Pastor Gary Harrah preached on Sunday morning with me translating. What a blessing the service was for all present! From there the team travelled by bus and train to Machu Picchu (which is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World). Machu Picchu is an amazing place and pictures just cannot describe the experience adequately. After arriving back in Cusco we flew back to Lima then began our trip on down the Pacific coast to the town of Paracas where the group was scheduled to travel eleven miles out into the ocean to the Ballesta Islands but the sea was choppy that day and the port authority would not allow any boats out. So we had a great seafood lunch and then continued on down the coast to the Huacachina oasis. This team, like the June team, had an incredible time sand surfing and dune buggy riding in the sand dunes that stretch for as far as the eye can see.

The next day our dear friends left Peru, heading back to Michigan. They made a wonderful impression and we hope the trip challenged and excited them to do even more for missions there at home. Hosting mission teams is exhausting work but also very, very rewarding for Anita and me. We certainly enjoyed having them with us and we hope they will come back. We thank the Lord for their love and concern for the dear saints of the Lord here in Peru.

In HIM by HIS grace,

Sheridan and Anita Stanton

Missionary Update: The Stantons

July 9, 2009

Dear Friends,

June was a wonderful month of great blessings from the Lord.  In my last letter I spoke of Anita’s and my anniversary of thirty-five years on the seventh.  One week after our anniversary I traveled into Lima to meet our first summer mission team.  This group was from the Berea Baptist Church of Hiddenite, NC and it was their second trip to Peru. There were nine of them and they worked really hard on the mission project of helping the Grace Baptist Church of Huánuco build a security wall around the property. Digging ditches and then filling the ditches with concrete and rocks was exhausting work but they really seemed to enjoy it!  After the work days we took them to Cusco and Machu Picchu.

While in Cusco they helped to paint the newly rented mission building for our Baptist Missionary friends Jason and Rebecca Reinhardt.  The group was in Cusco on Sunday the 21^st and during the night service I had the honor of translating for our good friend Jim Miller.  At the close of the service three teenage girls accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior.  What a blessing!  That was better than the trip to Machu Picchu (which is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World).  After Cusco we traveled on down to the coastal town of Paracas where the group traveled out to the Ballesta Islands to view some thirty thousand or more sea lions.  From Paracas they traveled on down the coast to Ica, Peru to the Huacachina oasis.  This is where the sand dunes stretch for as far as the eye can see, and where they had an incredible time sand surfing and dune buggy riding.  Anita and I certainly enjoyed having them with us and we thank the Lord for their love for the Lord’s work here in Peru.

Another great blessing for the month was the purchase of our new double-cabin, four wheel drive truck!  Thanks to the Statesville Baptist Bible Institute for their generous donation of half the cost.  The other half came from the sale of my old car and the BFM car fund.  It is a rugged vehicle and should do well for many years to help get up into the mountain and jungle works.  Praise the Lord!

Last month we mentioned the passing of Brother Wallace York and Sister Betty Creiglow.  This month we were saddened again to hear of the passing of our old friend, Brother Homer Crain.  Brother Homer taught me a lot about mission work here in Peru.  He loved his Lord and he loved to preach the gospel.  He will be missed.

The greatest blessing of the month came on June 15, when our newest granddaughter, Elizabeth Claire Stanton was born to our son and daughter-in-law, Joshua and Cheri Stanton.  The baby and mother are both doing fine.  God is good!   Until next month

In HIM by HIS grace,

Sheridan and Anita Stanton
Apartado Postal 140
Huanuco, Perú, South América
sestantonperu [at] hotmail.com / arstantonperu [at] hotmail.com

Missionary Update: The Stantons

June 9, 2009
Dear Friends,

 
The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian Christians these words: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” Anita and I have been busy in the Lord’s work during the month of May. I started the month off with a revival meeting in the mountain town of Huariaca. Only the Lord knows if revival was accomplished in this small mission work we helped get started several years ago. There were many rededications, two asking for baptism and one young woman trusting Christ as her Savior. We give the Lord thanks for his graciousness to those dear saints that live high up in the Andes Mountains where the air is cold and crisp.

 The next weekend I preached two nights for the youth group of the Calvary Baptist mission church here in Huánuco. It was not as well attended as I would have liked but I did have a good time with the kids that came. Brother Enrique Castillo is our youth minister and he does a tremendous job with these young folks. We had four trust Christ as their Savior during the month and they are now in discipleship training. We had hoped to baptize these four but their parents are not in favor of their being baptized at this time. These kids come from a rough area of Huánuco and their parents do not attend church. Since these youths are between thirteen and seventeen we ask the parents for permission. This shows respect for the parents and helps keep the door open for continued witnessing to them.

On the fourth weekend I traveled to the high jungle town of Oxapampa where Brother Carlos Gonzales is the mission pastor. It takes eleven hours on the bus, over terrible roads to get to this town. But the Lord blessed and we saw the church strengthened, evidenced by the decisions made. You might remember that Carlos lost his wife to cancer a few years ago and he is now in need of an operation to remove a large gall stone. Please remember to pray for him and the work in Oxapampa.

June the fourth, Anita and I were in the capital city of Lima in order to receive, Andy Norris; a young university student from the States that has come down to work and help us for a few months. He has already been a great blessing to us. Andy has designed a template in Microsoft Access for a library data base. He is in the process of cataloging and organizing my entire library and when his is finished I will be able to search all my books, pamphlets, microfiche, and electronic books just by typing any word, topic, or author. Pastors, he is good, maybe some of you in the States would like to have him come and do the same for you!

This past Sunday, the seventh of June, Anita and I celebrated thirty-five years of marriage. We had a wonderful day rejoicing in the Lord by reminding ourselves of the many, many wonderful things HE has done for us over the years. The Calvary Church surprised us on Sunday night with a special gift and anniversary cake. Sunday morning I also had the joy of baptizing a young man, Alan, into the fellowship of the Calvary mission church.

Andy and I will be traveling to Lima this weekend to receive a mission group from the Berea Baptist Church of Hiddenite, North Carolina. The group will be coming to help us build a security wall around the property of the Grace Baptist church here in Huanuco. Anita and I are staying very busy, making the preparations for this group. They will be in Peru for two weeks and we pray the Lord will greatly bless their time here with us.

 

We were saddened this past month to hear of the passing of Brother Wallace York and Sister Betty Creiglow. They both were great examples of service to our Lord and they will be greatly missed by all who knew them. Write us or call, we always enjoy hearing from those we love.

 

In HIM by HIS grace,

Sheridan and Anita Stanton
Huanuco, Peru
South America
sestantonperu [at] hotmail.com

Mission Update: The Stantons

May 7, 2009

Dear Friends,

The month of April marked twenty-six years completed in Peru for Anita and me and thirty-one years since my being ordained into the ministry. However, the month could best be described as TRAVEL for me and TEACHING for Anita. One weekend I preached a three day meeting in the jungle town of Cayumba on the theme of marriage and family. It was a real blessing with several couples asking for baptism. One of the highlights was learning that Anita’s series of Sunday School books she has written over the years are now being used as textbooks for religious education in some of the public schools in that region. You just never know how the “small things” you do will be used of the Lord one day!

The following weekend I was out in the Central Jungle town of Pucallpa where we lived for seven years. I was asked to help coordinate the organizational services for the Hebron Baptist Mission. The organization service was very well attended with many sister churches being represented. David Olortegui is the pastor/missionary there. I had the joy of pastoring him for several years (he is from Huánuco), conducting his marriage ceremony and ordaining him to the gospel ministry a few years ago. The Lord has blessed his ministry and his hard work. The new church is now officially called “La Iglesia Bautista Monte Horeb” – the Mount Hebron Baptist Church.

I finished out the last weekend in the town of Huariaca, nearly two miles high up in the Andes Mountains. It was a three day evangelistic meeting with one of our Baptist missions and the Lord blessed with two trusting Christ as their Savior and two “cold hearted” church members repenting and asking for the church’s forgiveness.

Anita stays very busy teaching her literacy classes four afternoons each week. So many of the people in this region of Peru cannot read or write; have no math skills and are taken advantage of all the time by unscrupulous merchants. Teaching them is very slow, repetitive work (and sometimes aggravating when they don’t practice at home)! But she is dedicated to this ministry and loves the ones she teaches. It thrills her to see her students get excited over such simple things are learning to read and write their names.

Besides the literacy classes she also prepares the Sunday School lessons for our church and then teaches the teachers how to teach! This Sunday she has asked me to participate in a skit for the Sunday School children. I get to play the part of Jesus receiving all the little children. I guess having my beard helped me get the role! She continues to feel good physically; she claims she feels better than she has in years. We continue to give our gracious God all the thanks for His healing her of cancer.

We thank the Lord for all of you; for your thoughts and prayers; the cards and letter; your support and encouragement.

Until next month.

In HIM by HIS grace,
Sheridan and Anita Stanton