A Day in Peru

Yesterday morning at 3:30am my trip to Peru officially closed as I climbed into my own bed again for a short rest. Today marks two weeks since I left, yet the trip went by so quickly that I am still processing the right words to convey my experience.

In many ways this trip was similar to my two month trip to Peru in 2011, but this time God allowed me to focus much of my time on specifically being with the Deaf. As I continue to follow the Lord's leading in this ministry, I am both excited and grateful for opportunities like this. Perhaps more than anything else, this trip revealed how much I still have to learn - both in sign language and in how to minister and share the Gospel with the Deaf. Though sometimes the process is discouraging and difficult, my prayer is to continually see beyond this to the reward of knowing Christ more and seeing Him made known in the world.

Almost everyday of this trip was spent with the Deaf in some capacity or another. On Sundays I went to the local Deaf church and was able to see several youth who were at the Deaf school I volunteered at in 2011. Though some of the students only vaguely remembered me, I was so thankful for the opportunity to reconnect. Sundays consisted of a church service, lunch prepared by the church women, a Bible lesson, and finally a sign language class for hearing people learning sign. The first Sunday I observed, but last Sunday I taught a short lesson on Hebrews 12:1-2 during the service. Though these are some of my favorite verses, that is not the only reason I chose them as the topic. As I was praying about what to prepare for my last lesson, these verses came as a poignant reminder to follow Jesus completely - not just based on location or situation, but as a reminder in any place and all situations.

Tuesday and Thursday of each week were visitation days.  Visitations were usually informal conversations, catching up and encouraging people to come to church again. Again, some of the people we visited were students from the school in 2011, and it was always neat to see them again.  Of the 5 families we visited the first week, it was encouraging to see 2 come to church last Sunday. On my last day of visitation, we visited one house near the beginning of the afternoon only to find that both Deaf people were gone and would be back later. Because we still had other visits left, we decided to pray and hopefully see them again another day. Later, as we prepared to finish for the night, we left another house only to waved down by some Deaf people. We chatted for just a minute and were about to continue on when across the street we saw the family for which we'd prayed earlier in the afternoon! We had a short conversation and invited them to church again. God answers prayers in very tangible ways! Please join me in praying that this family will go to church this coming week and will come to follow Christ personally. 

Wednesday and Friday were Bible classes and recreation at the school, followed by individual discipleship courses at students' homes. Wednesday I shared my testimony. Friday I shared a short lesson on Jesus as the Lamb of God, tracing the significance of sheep as sacrifices throughout the Bible. Though I am still learning how to best share the Gospel and teach the Deaf, I am thankful for the opportunity to step into this type of ministry and begin learning.

More thoughts will definitely make it to a blog post sometime soon, but to sum up my thoughts for now, this trip encouraged and challenged me to see God's faithfulness in all the little opportunities all around me. As the Author of life, He puts countless lessons and opportunities into each of our lives that we may see and know Him more fully in their midst.


Whether teaching a Bible lesson, playing a game of volleyball, or just spending time with someone, God was continually orchestrating opportunities for me to know and grow in Him. It's not just for me; look around and begin to see God's faithfulness - in joy and in hardship, in the exciting and in the mundane - thank Him and keep fixing your eyes on Him as you run.

Thoughts from the Jungle

The end of my first week in Peru has come to a close, and in only a few days I will return once again to the United States. I will give a more complete update then, but as of now, so much has happened in the last week that it's difficult to put words to thoughts and experiences.

Each day has been filled with its own unique opportunities and learning experiences. God has provided an amazing opportunity to shadow a missionary to the Deaf, and I have learned a great deal by observing and participating.  Each day, I'm coming to understand and care more and more. Almost every day we either teach Bible lessons or go visit Deaf who have not been connected with the church very recently. Twice I have had the opportunity to teach Bible lessons in sign language, realizing each time how much more I have to learn. Translating what I intend to say into Spanish and then Peruvian sign language is difficult, but God has given so much grace in this process.

Yesterday we travelled down the Amazon River to two smaller river towns, visiting and teaching the Deaf who live there. Two Deaf showed up to our meeting, accompanied by several hearing people. The lesson was a comparison between the life of Joseph and the life of Jesus Christ. It is difficult to know how much is truly being understood, especially as there is a wide range in proficiency of sign language. Join me in praying that God will give understanding of His Word to the Deaf. Pray against discouragement and that the truth of the Gospel will daily compel us.

A more complete update will come later this week, but as it's late and I'm tired, I'll wrap this up for now. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. As you go through whatever this day holds, remember the Truth and Hope of the Gospel - for all who believe.

"Porque de tal manera amó Dios al mundo, que ha dado a su Hijo unigénito, para que todo aquel que en él cree, no se pierda, mas tenga vida eterna.
Porque no envoi Dios a su Hijo al mundo para condenar al mundo, sino para que el mundo sea salvo por él. El que en él cree, no es condenado; pero el que no cree, ya ha sido condenado, porque no ha creído en el nombre del unigénito Hijo de Dios."
-Juan 3:16-18 (John 3:16-18)

On Barrier and Blessing

Well, it's surreal almost - I sit here ready to board a plane back to Peru in just a few hours.

When I left Peru in 2011, I did not know when I would return. Immediately, in my own planning, I knew that I desired to go back, and so I started, mentally if nothing else, planning for the return. For me, it was not a question of "if" I would return but simply "when" that moment would arrive.

Now, I sit in the lounge awaiting the ride to the airport. I guess that moment has come after all. However, the journey has not been so simple as I first imagined. I had to first lay it down before God ever allowed me to take it up again.

You see, somewhere in between the time when I came back from Peru the second time and right now, returning to Peru had subconsciously become like an idol to me. Now, I never would have called it that, but pretty soon Peru became the thing about which I was passionate. Yeah, the ministry and sharing the Gospel there was what got me going, but my friends began to see that I had a passion for Peru. The passion for the Gospel that came along with that, though not forsaken, was somewhat of peripheral focus for me. I knew that when I returned to Peru, I would definitely share the Gospel, but getting back to the country came first.

For awhile, I tried. I tried again and again to return. My heart longed to go back to the place where God had so captured my heart and changed my life. Again and again as I tried, plans fell through; I prayed that God would, in His timing, lead me back but mostly I just waited. Then, one day last fall, a chapel speaker shared about what he called "geographic idolatry." Geographic idolatry, as he called it, was what happens when we long to follow God and He leads us somewhere that captures our heart in a way we haven't before experienced. This call and leading is good, but geographic idolatry happens when slowly, subtly we begin to long for the specific location as much as, if not more than, God Himself. We convince ourselves that once we return "there" we will be able to fully follow the plan which God has set for us.

This chapel was the beginning of the process of God breaking my heart again - not for a people or place, but for Himself. As much as it would make a good story to say I left chapel that day running to the front of the auditorium laying my idolatry aside, the actual story tool much longer. I left that morning feeling convicted and began praying that God would break my heart. Day after day, when I sought Peru, I had to repent and again seek my Father - the One who had brought me to Peru in the first place.

I did not immediately quit desiring to return to Peru. But, God did bring me to a place where I could honestly say before Him that I would be willing and obedient wherever He leads - even if that means never returning to the place for which I so desperately longed. I continued praying for Peru and was open if God should lead me back, but God began to show me the necessity of full obedience in the moment - right here, right now. Living for the moment I would return to Peru, only treating now as a "waiting grounds" for then, led to justification that half-hearted obedience now was okay, because someday soon I would be there.

While I could keep describing more of the details and process through which God has brought me, I will instead bring this post to a close with reflecting on God's faithfulness. The title of this entry is "On Barrier and Blessing." We often do not look at barriers in our plans as blessings from God, but sometimes that may be what they are. God brought many barriers into my plans of returning to Peru so that He could finally break and teach me the blessing of "living right here, right now - seeking full obedience in the moment." In just a few hours, I will return to Peru again. But, that's not how I see or measure God's faithfulness. He could never have brought me back and He would remain just as faithful. Rather, I see His faithfulness in bringing me to a point of continual surrender, drawing me closer to His heart in every step. I have no way of knowing how many more steps He has for me; it will be a refining process until the final day. Continually, God will call me to again lay down the creeping idols in my life, call me closer to Himself.

He's doing the same for you. It may take a different form than it has for me, but God is drawing and calling you to Himself. Lay aside "every hindrance" and fix your eyes on Jesus - He is faithful.

Lessons

On Sunday I had the opportunity to share my testimony of my time in Peru with our chapel service. On Sat. night my dad and I went through everything I was going to share and picked pictures to go along with each of my points. However, God had different plans. Once we arrived at the service and started preparing, my dad realized that we'd put the pictures in a wrong format, so I'd have to go without them.
I was already nervous, but I prayed about it and went ahead, just sharing some of the things God had shown me during my trip and some of the opportunities He'd given me. In the end, several people came to talk to me and one woman said that what I'd said helped her to realize how she should be daily living for God. Another man said that he thought it was better we didn't have the pictures anyway, because that way he was focusing on the words instead of being distracted. Either way, I know it was nothing I did or said. In myself, I am not a public speaker and I have trouble putting my thoughts to words. If anyone learned anything, I know it was God alone who did the teaching and Him alone who gave me the words. None of it came about by myself.

As I'm sitting here adjusting to being back in the states again, I'm reminiscing on some of the main things God taught and showed me while I was in Peru.
1. God answers prayer - from the prayer for Christian company at the airport to little things along the way, God has emphasized to me again that He always answers prayer (even if it's not the answer we want). He cares about us each beyond what we can comprehend and He always takes care of us.
2. God puts me in each specific situation so that I can honor and glorify Him - whether I am in a country miles and miles away from my family or living under the same roof as them, wherever I am, God wants me to learn, live for Him, and love Him fully.
3. God is a God of comfort - During my grandmother's death and other times when I was feeling lonely, God always comforted me and put people around me to encourage me in Him. We only need to ask, and He will always sustain us with His comfort and strength.
4. God loves each and every person SO MUCH - As Christian's we're Christ's ambassadors to spread His love and His Gospel with everyone regardless of what they look like or where they are.

There are so many other things God has been teaching me as well, but so many of them are hard to explain or describe how God taught me them personally. I am so thankful that we serve a Father who loves us with an everlasting love!
Shirley Anne

Pictures and Thoughts

I have now officially been back from Peru for one week. I am very much thankful to be spending time with my family and friends and sharing the things God has done in Peru, but I do miss being there. Just the other day I was sharing with someone about my trip and I started by saying something like "God worked in so many ways and taught me alot." Right away this lady said to me, "He's always working." She didn't say it in a rude way at all, but it was the exact reminder I needed. It's so easy to come back from a great experience - such as a mission trip or camp - and focus all on how God worked there while forgetting that He is still God and is still working here.
For me it's easy to adjust my focus either to the past or to the future instead of dwelling in the present and learning and living how God wants me to obey Him today. As a Christian, my focus should always be on Christ and not on anything else - even if that 'anything else' is a way He worked. Right now I'm back in the States and, yes, God did work in amazing ways in Peru and I will share that with others, but I will also see how He is working today and praise Him for that.
Give thanks to God for all He has done, is doing, and will continue to do!
Shirley Anne

P.S. I hope you enjoy these pictures. :)

A typical village house



Our boat (on the right)

A man sifting through the rice

Me separating the chaff from the rice

A village boy with soda

One of the little girls from a village

Typical "rush hour" in Iquitos

Overhead view of the Andes Mountain Range

Fishing boats outside of Lima

God Answers Prayer

I am officially back in the United States. I arrived home early Wednesday afternoon after travelling for many, many hours. Anyway, the trip itself went by very smoothly, and I have one story I'd like to share with you.
On Tuesday morning after flying from Iquitos to Lima, Miss Carol (the wife in my host family) asked if we could pray before she had to leave back to Iquitos and I to the States. After she left, I had another 8.5 hours layover before my flight. With this in mind, we prayed and she specifically prayed that God would bring a Christian or group of Christians I could spend my time with.
God answered this prayer more completely than anyone ever expected. As I was in line to check my bags Tuesday evening, I started talking with the people behind me. It turns out that they were just returning from a mission trip as well. As we talked more, one of the women just said to me, "If you'd like you can tag along with our group until we arrive in Miami in the morning." Our flight was the same, so I took them up on this offer. As we continued to talk and pass time, one of the ladies said after awhile, "I'm so thankful you came along with our group. If it were my daughter I'd want her to be with someone as well." At that point I shared with her that their group was actually an answer to our prayers. She told this to the whole group and we all praised God for how good He is all the time.
One more thing, God already had answered our prayer completely, but He is a God who works beyond what we can plan and expect. We were sitting waiting to board our plane and I started talking with one of the team members whom hadn't really met yet. I was telling her about my trip and about all God had done when she asked me if I knew what mission organization my host family was with. I told her and she told me that it was the same organization her daughter was with as a missionary in Ecuador. Through talking some more we realized that we knew some of the same people.
I spent over 14 hours with these people whom God provided. We were able to have some really great conversations about how God works and it was great to spend my time with some Godly brothers and sisters. I stand in awe of how God provides and answers prayer!

I'll upload some pictures and more updates soon, but for now please take some time and thank God for always being God. He takes care of us in more ways than we even know. He never abandons or leaves us. Thank and praise Him for His wisdom and grace.
Shirley Anne

River Trip

I just arrived home from a day on the river. It was awesome, so I thought I'd share some highlights. This morning we got on board a boat and headed out to visit two river villages. We went to both of the villlages with the purpose of seeing if there are any Believers living there and to offer encouragement to those who are Believers.
In the first village we met a young man who was a Christian but did not own his own Bible. We gave him a New Testament and were able to talk with him during our entire time at this village. It's hard to imagine not owning your own Bible in the U.S. - most Christians probably own more than one, but in other areas of the world, this isn't the case.  Anyway, every time I see something like this, it reminds me just how precious the Word of God is and how we should be daily living by His Word alone.
In the second village we visited, there was a man right outside the village harvesting some rice crop. He explained the process to us and let us sift through the shaft and the real kernels. It reminded all of us how Jesus talks about separating the kernel from the shaft; it was neat to see. Once we arrived in the village, some children immediately came up to us and we were able to give them some Gospel books and chalk. We spent more time at this village and got to play volleyball with some of the children for awhile.

This probably will actually be my last update before arriving in the states early next week. I just had to share how God is working - even in little village towns out in the middle of Peru's jungle. The host family I'm staying with wants to restart a river ministry among the villages to encourage Believers and strengthen churches. I am glad that I was able to go along on this primary trip. Be praying that God will continue to open opportunities along the river and that Christians there will continue to grow. There is a lot of discouragement among Christians in this area because they feel left all alone and have no one to encourage them.Thank you for your prayers regarding this.
I can't wait to share with you some more of my experiences in person soon! We serve an awesome Father!
Shirley Anne

Finish Strong

This is my last week in Peru. In five days I'll be boarding a plane back to the United States; it's so hard for me to believe that two months have passed already.
In saying this, let me give you at least one more update before I leave Peru. Tuesday was my last day to work at the deaf school, so we had a delicious fish lunch and played games of volleyball and hide & seek. It was a bittersweet day - I absolutely loved spending more time with the kids, but I also knew I had to say "goodbye" at the end. Right before everyone had to go home, I had the opportunity to give out Bibles I had for everyone. Let me share a quick story of how God worked  through this.
On Tuesday morning right before I left to go to Efata, I grabbed the bag of Bibles I had for everyone and realized I had one extra. I stuck the extra Bible in my bag and headed out the door. Near the end of the day, the sister of one of the littlest girls came by to pick her up. She'd come on a field trip with her sister before so I knew her a little bit. Immediately, I knew that I could give the extra Bible to this girl, so I gave the Bible to her and a Bible storybook to her little sister. Both of them were very grateful and kept saying "thank you" over and over. I know God provided the Bible exactly for that reason. I am so amazed at how God works and how He provides exactly what we need - even at times when we don't realize what that is. Please be praying for all of the children who received a Bible. Pray for God to give understanding.
Tomorrow we'll be going on a river trip for the morning. Plans did not work out for a longer, over-night trip, but I am thankful that I'll at least be able to do this. As we visit a couple villages, pray that we'll be witnesses of Christ in everything we say and do.
My two months here in Peru have been incredible; God has given me awesome opportunities, taught me things that I really needed to be  taught, and stretched my obedience and love for Him. This last week will go by very quickly, so please pray that I will finish strong. Pray that my focus will be on Christ alone and that my every word and action will be in obedience to my Father. Pray that I will see the opportunities He gives me to make His love known and that I will be bold in obeying Him. I'll update you when I'm back in the states (if not before).
Finish this week by growing in the love and grace of God!
Shirley Anne

Mas Fotos! (More Pictures!)

Eating mangos at Efata



Miss Patsy (the wife of the director) and I at Efata




Lis and Ivo - Efata




Getting in our excercise during P.E. - Efata




Mike, Myself, and Dick - Efata

It's hard to believe that I have less than two weeks left here in Peru. This past week has gone by with amazing speed and awesome memories! Last Sunday I was able to help out with the 1-4 year old Sunday School class at our church. We learned about Abraham obeying God. After our lesson we did coloring pages, sang songs, and memorized our memory verse. I really enjoyed helping out and interacting with the kids as they learned from God's Word.
Monday and Tuesday were holidays in Peru, so not much happened. However, on Monday night I was able to go to a chapel meeting at the Bible Institute. It was a great time of worship and studying Scripture (we studied Proverbs 4).
Lastly, Wed. - Fri. Allison and I helped out at the deaf school (Efata). This has to be one of my favorite things to do each morning! We have been helping with math lessons, teaching the ABC's, playing P.E. games, coloring pages, and learning Bible lessons.  Thursday we learned about Daniel in the lions' den and sang worship songs in Sign Language. I am so amazed at how God can still hear their praise just as much as He can hear our words - worship truly does come from our hearts and not from our mouths.
Yesterday morning we sat around after studying and ate fresh mangos from our backyard tree. Yummy! We also were able to teach the children some games like "Duck, Duck, Goose" and "Red Rover".
Next Tuesday will probably be my last day helping at Efata, because we'll spend the remaining part of the week hopefully visiting some villages on the river. Since this will be my last day, I will be giving New Testament Bibles to each of the children as a gift. Please be praying that God will give them understanding of what they read and of His love for them. In Isaiah 55:10-11 it says,
"As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My word that goes out from My mouth: it will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."
Pray that I will trust God to work according to His plan and know that He will accomplish what He wants. It's easy for me to worry and wonder how these children will use the Bibles or if they will even understand what they read, but I need to always remember that God knows what He is doing - He gives understanding, not me - and He is beyond capable of giving it to them.

Thank God for all the ways He has worked and taught me this last month and a half. Continue to pray that I will learn and obey what He wants me to do with my remaining time here. I look forward to sharing it in person with you when I return.

Chau! (pronounced Chow - Goodbye)
Shirley Anne

Pictures!

River Baptism in Chiclayo

Rebecca and I at the orphanage in Chiclayo with her paper-mache mask

Dick, Myself, and Rosa (both are kids attending the school) at the deaf school in Iquitos

Allison and I with most of the children at the deaf school in Iquitos

I was finally able to add some pictures today, so I hope you enjoy viewing them. This past week has flown by with amazing speed!
Monday morning I was able to go one a boat ride on one of the rivers around Iquitos. The trip was amazing and I loved going down the river and seeing some of God's awesome creation! At one point on the trip, we got out of our boat and walked a bit to another area. As we were walking, I had the opportunity to hand out some Spanish Gospel booklets. Please pray that the people I gave these to will read them and that God will give understanding of His awesome love.
Everyday since Tuesday, Allison (one of the daughters of the missionary family I'm staying with) and I have been able to help out at the deaf school. I absolutely love spending my mornings there and building relationships with the kids. Never did I think I'd enjoy doing relay races and playing charades as much as I do with these children. On Wednesday during art class we made Nativity scenes of Jesus' birth. As it continues to get closer to Christmas, pray for more and more opportunities to share the Gospel and story of Jesus' love in a clear way with my friends at this school. Already we've been doing this, but pray that God will give understanding beyond our words. Pray that they will come to personally love God and have life in Him.

Several other things have happened this week that have made it go by quickly, but I'll finish this up for now. In my last post I mentioned that I was going to start helping with a Sunday school class last Sunday. However, things don't always go as planned and I think God ometimes gives us unexpected turns just to teach us obedience and trust in every situation and circumstance. The church decided to have an open health clinic for the community in place of their Sunday school (we knew nothing about it), so I'll start helping out this week instead. I look forward to it very much!
That's all for now,
Chow! (Goodbye!)
Shirley Anne

"This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us."
1 John 4:9-12

 

Hot, Humid, and Loving It

As I'm writing this, it is 80 degrees outside with about 85% humidity. That's right - I am officially in Peru's jungle. We arrived in Iquitos on Monday afternoon, and I'm having a hard time believing that I'll have to leave in just over three weeks.
The wedding last weekend went very well. Have you ever been to a wedding which had a dancing guinea pig (Peruvians call it a cuyi) in attendance? I hadn't either until this one. :) Anyway, the wedding was very nice and everything went smoothly. I really enjoyed it and the Gospel was shared right in the middle of the service.

My week here in Iquitos has already gone by very quickly. I've met some of the other missionaries living here and I'll have the opportunity to work with a few of them. There is a Christian deaf school a few minutes from where I'm staying, so I'm volunteering there 3-5 times a week. On Thursday we (myself and one of the missionaries children) sat in on their Bible lesson and played volleyball with the kids. Yesterday we went again and helped with the math lesson, played volleyball, and played soccer. There are 12-16 kids attending this school ranging in age from 7-19. All of them are very nice and I absolutely love working with them and building friendships. Even though the school is run by a Christian family, not all of the kids are Believers. Please pray that we will be able to speak - or rather sign - with them about the Gospel and God's love for each individual.
Tomorrow I'll have the opportunity to help lead a children's Sunday school class. I am looking forward very, very much to doing this. Pray that my Spanish will be clear and that what God wants to teach will be clearer still.
That will be all for now,
Shirley Anne

Lima!

As of right now, I am typing this blog post from 16 stories above the ground in an apartment building in Lima, Peru. We are staying in an area just blocks from the ocean and the view is amazing!
"Come let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song. For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods. In His hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to Him. The sea is His, for He made it, and His hands formed the dry land."
Psalm 95:1-5
Just think about that! God made the seas/oceans. I can look out as far as I can see, and still there is ocean and more ocean. God made all that. He made all the mountains, and He made all the land; He made all the water, and He made each of us! Wow! God is so great and beyond our comprehension or grasp, yet He humbled Himself and came to earth to die for the things we've done wrong so that we have the opportunity to have a relationship with Him. WOW!!

On Tuesday evening we had the opportunity to go to a worship service with a pastor friend. The message was about whether Christ is prominent or preeminent in your life. There is a difference. Many things can be prominent (or important) to us - family, friends, etc. But only one thing can be preeminent (or above all else). The church answer, and the one most of us would probably spout out, is that Christ is over everything else in our life. Yet, is He really? I was just reading a few days ago in John 14 where Jesus says that our love for Him is shown by our obedience - not only in things which are easy to obey in, but all the time. It was really a good reminder and chance to examine my own relationship with Christ. It's easy to say words, but a whole lot harder to back up the words with actions. So, the question today is: Is Christ really preeminent in your life or is He just a prominent figure? As God who created the world, He alone deserves the preeminent position. The good news is, God is forgiving and loving. Ask Him for help to put Him first in all things; He will answer.

As I'm finishing up this post, I'm noticing that I'm missing something in each of these: pictures. I don't know that I'll be able to hook up my camera to download pictures (first I have to find the cord) while I'm here in Peru, but I'll for sure get some pictures up when I am home. I apologize for my wordiness and lack of "interesting photos or stories" :)
Thank you for all your prayers. The flight yesterday went without problem and our time here in Lima is going very well. Pray for the couple who is getting married. Pray for our flight to Iquitos on Monday morning. Pray for daily growth in the Lord.
Have a great weekend!
Shirley Anne 

Last Days in Chiclayo

“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

Still, I will praise You

A lot has taken place since I updated last Tuesday. On Thursday afternoon my parents called and told me that my grandma passed away that morning. She was supposed to be living with us until Christmas, so she was at our house when everything took place. She’d been having some health issues but was supposed to have surgery this week to help with some of the problems. Some of you remember that last summer while I was in Peru, my grandpa died. I don’t understand why God allowed this to happen twice in the same way; I won’t be there to help comfort my family or go to the memorial service. But, I choose to trust God. His plans and timing are way above what I can understand. I choose to still praise Him, thank Him, and trust Him for all the things He has done and is continuing to do. It doesn’t have to make sense in order for me to trust Him; I know He is in control and He is God.

Yes, right now I am hurting and I do want to be with my family, but God has me here in Peru for a reason and I want to continue to follow Him where He has me right now. It may sound like I’m being fake and like I’m just putting on a front, but I’m being honest. I believe He is preparing me and showing me what it means to “count the costs” when following Him. I don’t know for sure whether or not my grandma was a Christian. She says that she accepted Christ a long time ago, and she certainly heard and saw what it means to follow Him. It’s not our place to figure out peoples’ hearts – God knows and I’ll trust Him in that too.

On another note, yesterday we were able to go to an orphanage near where we’re staying and help out with their craft time. I absolutely enjoyed helping out and we’ll be going back today to help with basketball. Pray that we’ll have the words to say to share the Gospel and God’s love with the children and other workers. Pray also that our actions and how we love them will reflect God’s love. I am so excited for this opportunity!

Please pray for my family. Pray for comfort and peace. Pray also that they’ll be able to share God’s love with our other relatives while they’re at the memorial service and such. Pray that my focus will be on God alone and that I will rely on His strength. Thank Him for His comfort and the way that He has been holding and guiding.

Shirley Anne

We have had opportunity to speak with Shirley Anne a couple of times by phone. The last phone call was one that we wished we had not had to make, as we had to deliver the news of the death of her grandmother.  It was only a little over a year ago that she received the news of the passing of her grandfather while also in Peru.  God is gracious and good always and provided comfort through the family she is staying with - they had already been praying with/for her regarding her grandmother.
Could this be part of the cost of following Christ - being absent when a loved one passes away? Pray that Shirley Anne's faith will remain strong in Jesus and that she will continue to seek and follow His Will.    

Beep! Beep!

Beep, beep! Honk, honk! Cock-a-doodle-doo! These are just a few of the sounds that are constant companions here in Chiclayo, and I love every minute of it. More than the place, though, I love the people. There are people everywhere – in the city, on the beach, along the roads. God has showed me just how much He loves everyone and how He desires for them to become part of His family. . .

This last week one of the churches in the area was hosting a three-night youth conference for any youth in Chiclayo. We went on Thursday night, and I still can’t get over my excitement every time I look around and see my brothers and sisters praising God with me in another language! God is a God beyond any barriers or borders. Anyway, the sermon was about worshipping God and how we are His temple. It was challenging and gave me plenty to think about the rest of the night. On Friday, I had a cold and was not able to attend the meeting, but I heard that it was another great night. Saturday was the big finale and we were all going to go as group; I was really excited. However, at the last minute plans changed, and we didn’t have a ride available. I was disappointed, but then I remembered and thanked God for how He is bigger than my disappointments. One way I’ve heard it put is that our disappointments are often God’s divine appointments. Did He use the 8 chairs we would have sat in to bring another 8 youth who needed to hear the Gospel? Was His purpose for Saturday night to be a time where I was later able to talk and pray about some things that I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do had we gone? Was He simply using this as a teaching lesson on how I should praise Him regardless of whether or not things go my way? I may never know the answers to these questions, but I am content just to know that God is in control. His wisdom is far wiser than my wisdom and His ways are far higher and better than my ways.

Sunday morning brought an opportunity for us to visit the church service at the deaf school next door. They had a service for hearing people, so we attended it. Again, I loved looking through the window to the next building where the deaf people were praising Christ through their worship! In the evening we had Bible study at the house. It was another great night of worship, teaching, and fellowship. Our worship of God goes far beyond songs we sing – we worship something/someone with every part of our life, whether or not we worship God is our choice.

Every day here is not necessarily packed full with tons of stuff to do or places to go, but God is still at work. He is teaching me, allowing me to teach/disciple others, and showing me once again how everything I do is an opportunity for my life to show His Son. The opportunity is there for you too. Stand in awe of Him!

Prayer requests:

*For the Gospel to be spread like a wildfire in Chiclayo

*For everyone who attended the youth meetings – that we would take seriously what we heard and that others everywhere would see Christ

*More opportunities to use my Spanish and speak the Gospel

*Unity among God’s family – that we would stand strong in Him and be His light around the world

In Christ,

Shirley Anne