Newsletter 2009 May

S P E C I A L

E D I T I O N !

2009

THE CUSCO CHRONICLES

ABOVE: CUSCO LEFT: THE TEAM IN FRONT OF CUSCO AT NIGHT

Survey Trip! We returned from our survey trip on Monday, tired but excited about the nearness of the beginning of our work in Cusco. We began the trip by visiting two different mission teams in other cities in South America. Our first stop was Santiago, Chile. The mission team there consists of four families and has

JENNIFER AND CHARLA AT MACHU SKIING IN WHISTLER PICCHU

been in Santiago for 10 years. Our next stop was Asuncion, Paraguay. The Asuncion team consists of two families and two single workers, and we knew the members of this team from our time in college at Freed-Hardeman. This team has been on the field for six years. The purpose of visiting these two

PLAZA DE ARMAS IN CUSCO

works was for us to see different works at different stages of time. We were able to spend time with the teams, ask them questions, receive advice, and meet with Christians in each of these cities. It was such a blessing to be able to meet with these teams, and we left with much to think about and plan for.

US WITH CUTE QUECHUA GIRLS

Cusco, Peru: Our Future Home Our final stop was Cusco, Peru. Each couple had been to Cusco, but the Kizers and Cooks were there in 2006, and the Reaves were there in 2008, so it was wonderful to be able to go together to see our future home. While in Cusco, we toured the residential areas of the city, found a language school, searched for apartments, and visited supermarkets, furniture stores, and looked for appliances. We visited a very modern hospital and pharmacy. We were able to practice our Spanish, and thanks to Dona Sandra (our Spanish teacher here in Dallas), we did fairly well getting around the city by ourselves. The week in Cusco was full of information and encouragement, but the best part of the trip happened on

“GREAT IS THE LORD, AND GREATLY TO BE PRAISED, AND HIS GREATNESS IS UNSEARCHABLE.”-PSALM 145:3

our last Saturday afternoon while we were meeting with some of the leaders of the existing church in Cusco. The brothers and sisters there said that they will support us in any way they can, and that they want to be our family. One widow, who had been a Christian for 25 years, said that she had been praying that God would send missionaries to Cusco. They also told us to tell each of our supporters how grateful they are to you for sending missionaries to Cusco. So...from the Iglesia de Cristo Wanchaq and the Cusco Mission Team, thank you for your support and for your interest in this work. None of this is possible without you!

P IC T URES

IGUAZU FALLS

We were encouraged and uplifted by this entire trip, and we are excited to begin the work that God has given us to do. Please keep us in your prayers as we complete our training next month and prepare to move again. T HE CUSCO T EA M WITH P ER RY H A R DIN AND B RI TT N EA DY E OF THE A SUNC IO N T E AM

LE FT: MATT A ND CHARLA WI T H A Q UE CHUA L ADY AND H ER LL AM A . A BOV E: MAT T W I TH KID S FRO M T H E CH I LD R E N’S HOM E IN SA NT IAG O

A FE W P I C T U R E S . ..

TOP LEFT: CUSCO TEAM WITH SANTIAGO TEAM TOP RIGHT: MATT AND CHARLA AT MACHU PICCHU MIDDLE LEFT: DUNCAN GRANT (FROM SANTIAGO), BARTON, MATT, AND CHARLA IN FRONT OF MCDONALD’S IN CUSCO! ABOVE: HELPING THE SANTIAGO TEENS COOK SUNDAY LUNCH LEFT: THE CUSCO TEAM ABOVE THE CITY

PRAY ER REQUESTS PLEASE PRAY FOR: T GOD 1. THE LOST OF CUSCO AND THA N OPE TO IN BEG Y EAD WILL ALR S! NEW D GOO THE TO HEARTS

CONTACT INFORMATION Check out our videos and blog: http://cuscoandthecooks.wordpress.com

Matt and Charla Cook

Please send all monthly

VISION 2. THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR NT. AND STRATEGY DOCUME

3560 Country Square Dr. #811 support checks to: Estes church of Christ Carrollton TX 75006

3. OUR SPANISH LANGUAGE PREPARATION.

[email protected]

c/o Richard Taylor

[email protected]

464 Crook Ave.

731-645-0286 (Matt)

Henderson, TN 38340

4. THE ESTES CHURCH, AS THEY OVERSEE OUR WORK. AND 5. OUR TEAMMATES: THE KIZER’S . VES THE REA PARE 6. OUR FAMILIES, AS THEY PRE US. H WIT N FOR THIS TRANSITIO

731-645-0293 (Charla) OVERSEEN BY THE ESTES CHURCH OF CHRIST