“Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.”
This is definitely what I was reminded of on Saturday morning as we went to watch a multi-church river baptism. Around twenty-five new believers were baptized! We had a time of singing praises to God, a message about our life in Christ, and the actual baptism. I’ve been to a river baptism before, but I was still excited to be part of the baptism of my new brothers and sisters in Christ! Praise God for the way He is working!
Today we went to the orphanage for the third and last time to help with their arts and crafts class. On Wednesday I met one little girl and spent the entire time with her. Throughout our conversation, I was able to share with her that I was a Christian, but I did not go much beyond that. I really struggle with how to share my faith; it should be more than just quoting the Gospel in one sitting and pushing for a response, but at the same time, there is a place for words as well as actions. I feel in this specific opportunity, I failed. I should have said more when I didn’t. I have been praying for this little girl; please pray with me. I am reminded of the passage in the Bible which basically says “They will know we are Christians by our love for one another.” As Christians, we should be known by our love, because it isn’t love that we produced by ourselves – it is Christ flowing out of us. Our actions and our words should match and should point to one thing – Christ. We are no longer our own person; we belong to God and represent Him to the world. I believe when we come to a situation with the mind set of “I will share the Gospel here point blank”, we are wrong. We’re missing the point – Christ should so consume our lives that everything we say and do just overflows with Him and His love. I am not saying that we should not share the Gospel – no, we are commanded to. I am saying that we should share it with our entire lives (words, actions, love, etc.) and not just as an agenda – we should simply be living in obedience to Christ and daily, every moment, submitting ourselves to Him. When we do this, people will see Him and hear about Him through us. Anyway, I hope what I just said makes sense. If I am wrong, then pray that God will make clear to me what I am missing so that I can serve Him and know Him more.
On Thursday we leave Chiclayo to head to Lima. We will spend the weekend there and participate in a wedding before leaving on Monday for Iquitos. Please be praying for our last couple of days here. Pray also for our travelling time, that we will use the opportunities God gives us. Pray that God will give me the understanding of how He desires for me to obey Him and that He will give me His strength to share clearly and boldly who He is. My time here in Peru has already gone by so quickly! On Thursday, I will have been here a month. Pray that I will continue to learn and serve wholeheartedly the last half of my trip.
On a side note, my family leaves for my grandma’s memorial service tomorrow. I would appreciate your prayers for them. Pray that they will be a witness to the rest of our friends and relatives who are there.
Thank you for coming along with me on this trip through your prayers and encouragement.
Keep serving the King!
Shirley Anne
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