Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Buenos Dias! The trip has already been an adventure...after changing flights, waiting in Mexico City for 15+ hours, we finally made it Peru and we hit the ground running. :) Praise God we only missed the morning with the kids on Monday! Our first day of activities went so well we had more kids come last night! In addition to doing a mini-VBS in the afternoon, we've assisted Nancy and Lauren in their classes, cared for the little ones in the baby house, and started work on the new computer room/library. Thank you for all the prayers while we were traveling, we felt each one and we knew God would provide the way! Continue to pray that we continue to have unity within our group and that God grows us each day! - Jessica
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Update on the school and our missionaries at the orphanage
Praise God for His provision for the school at the orphanage, through the generosity of members and friends of Southmont!
The second floor of the school was completed in time and is being put to use. Two of our own, Lauren and Nancy, are teaching in the very school that your gifts helped to complete. God is amazing in His provision and plans!
Lauren and Nancy have now been teaching for about a month, and things are beginning to settle into a routine of sorts. Things in Peru just don’t work the same way as they do in the States, especially in regards to scheduling and time. Both Lauren and Nancy have blogs of their own; the links are posted later in this post.
Here’s an update from Nancy, excerpted from her blog:
The school indeed was finished in time for the government to pick up the teachers’ salaries, so of course that called for a celebration. Actually, it called for TWO celebrations!!! The ministry of education (education department) came out to the school and they had a fun celebration and then came back and did a formal celebration on Saturday. I got the worst sunburn of my life during that celebration. We are A LOT closer to the equator here...
The second floor of the school was completed in time and is being put to use. Two of our own, Lauren and Nancy, are teaching in the very school that your gifts helped to complete. God is amazing in His provision and plans!
Lauren and Nancy have now been teaching for about a month, and things are beginning to settle into a routine of sorts. Things in Peru just don’t work the same way as they do in the States, especially in regards to scheduling and time. Both Lauren and Nancy have blogs of their own; the links are posted later in this post.
Here’s an update from Nancy, excerpted from her blog:
The school indeed was finished in time for the government to pick up the teachers’ salaries, so of course that called for a celebration. Actually, it called for TWO celebrations!!! The ministry of education (education department) came out to the school and they had a fun celebration and then came back and did a formal celebration on Saturday. I got the worst sunburn of my life during that celebration. We are A LOT closer to the equator here...
Please pray for spiritual and emotional strength for both Lauren and I.
-That our lives would constantly be pointing to Christ and that everything we do would be glorfiying to Him
-That Satan would not distract us from the goals God has set before us, and that we will only use the energy God has given us on things that really matter.
-For continued opportunities to share the gospel.
-That peoples’ minds and hearts would be open to the Lord and that the Holy Spirit would draw them toward Himself.
-That I would be able to learn Spanish quickly.
-That the Lord will give me wisdom on how to plan my classes and most importantly, how to integrate the Bible into my classes.
Nancy's blog address: http://www.iwanttobeinperu.blogspot.com/
And here is an update from Lauren, excerpted from her blog and an email from her:
Thanks so much to everyone that cut out all of my laminated things and helped me get ready for this school year. Things were so much better because people in Denton helped me get prepared before hand.
On Wednesday of that week (their first week there) there was an official opening of the school. All of the government officials came and had a formal celebration on the soccer field. The government brought new clothes for the children and manipulatives for teaching. The community’s band played a few songs and then they officially cut the ribbon and broke a jar of wine for the school to open. A plaque was also presented that is on the wall of the school. This was I am sure a very exciting day for Miguel, the orphanage director, because now his school is a certified school and he can receive funding from the state which is very helpful when it comes to paying the bills.
Praises from the past couple weeks:
We have had great favor with the Peruvian translators, Miguel - the director of the orphanage, and all of the teachers we will be working with.
The new school is now being put into use, and all of the new materials that Southmont brought are in the principal’s office for any teacher to use at their convenience
We have had many opportunities to share the gospel from taxi drivers, to translators, to people in town, and of course to the people living in the community.
Prayer Requests:
Emotional, spiritual, and physical strength. We are in great spiritual warfare here.
For God to raise up leaders in the community of children to come to know Him that will have a catalyst effect in the rest of the community.
For Joy for me personally
For the school schedule that is still in the works that God would have us in the right places at all of the right times
Lauren's blog address: http://www.laurenservinginperu.blogspot.com/
Please also pray for the group from Southmont’s college department who will be traveling to the orphanage in May. They will be working on some projects around the orphanage as well as holding Bible studies and English classes. If you would like to support them financially, gifts can be made through Southmont Baptist Church.
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” 2 Corinthians 8:8-9
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Dick's Story
"A God-Moment" - Experience
The significance of our trip hit me on the first day as we listened to Miguel share his story. Here was a man used of God to give life, hope, security, and a future to hundreds of children who would otherwise live in extreme poverty in the existence of "street children", and we were to become a small part of this inspiring story; to share the love of Jesus by loving and giving of ourselves to the children. As Lisa said, "who knows, maybe a Peruvian Billy Graham will come from this orphanage!"
I was very impressed with the sewing, baking, woodworking, and music workshops at the children's home, but it was the musicianship of the children's (older kids, of course) band that was so impressive. We really enjoyed the live fiesta performance on Friday, but I was really surprised at excellent quality of the cd I bought from them. The musicality of the performers on all the various instruments (keyboard, guitars of all sizes, drum and percussion instruments of all kinds, various wood flutes, and ethnic "pan pipes" of every size and key you would need), and the professional level of the recording made the cd a great pleasure to listen to. Their participation in this workshop will give all the youth great satisfaction the rest of their lives, and perhaps some will be able to make music their life's vocation.
The significance of our trip hit me on the first day as we listened to Miguel share his story. Here was a man used of God to give life, hope, security, and a future to hundreds of children who would otherwise live in extreme poverty in the existence of "street children", and we were to become a small part of this inspiring story; to share the love of Jesus by loving and giving of ourselves to the children. As Lisa said, "who knows, maybe a Peruvian Billy Graham will come from this orphanage!"
I was very impressed with the sewing, baking, woodworking, and music workshops at the children's home, but it was the musicianship of the children's (older kids, of course) band that was so impressive. We really enjoyed the live fiesta performance on Friday, but I was really surprised at excellent quality of the cd I bought from them. The musicality of the performers on all the various instruments (keyboard, guitars of all sizes, drum and percussion instruments of all kinds, various wood flutes, and ethnic "pan pipes" of every size and key you would need), and the professional level of the recording made the cd a great pleasure to listen to. Their participation in this workshop will give all the youth great satisfaction the rest of their lives, and perhaps some will be able to make music their life's vocation.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Never Too Late - Carlos's Story
This was written by Carlos, who was our 24/7 translator while we were in Peru.
This is the story that I never planned to tell because I always believed there would never be the possibility of telling—as thousands of other people do—about being so close to God. Today I can say this after 9 years of being completely separated from the church and from God Himself.
I come from a family deeply rooted in the Catholic religion, so I have always been close to church and religion (terms whose meanings have been confusing), and I have grown up completing each of the Sacraments (Baptism, 1st Communion, Confirmation), and I am also conscious that I have grown up with the idea that God is our savior, and the He is always with us.
Little by little as time went by, my separation (from God) was fast, and all I did was to find excuses to not go to mass on Sundays, and the fact that my family had stopped going also helped—so much that my separation from God was just about complete. I got farther and farther away, and all I did was “pray” at night before going to bed. Of course, this was just a monotonous prayer of thanks for the day, and of asking for the same every time: waking up alive and having a better day than the one before.
After finishing secondary school, I had the opportunity to work as a translator for a medical mission that came to Peru in 2001. Since that date I have been carrying out that job together with my friends/coworkers. You probably wonder what that has to do with anything. The thing is that these medical missions have always been sponsored by people who are associated with a church in the U.S. It’s been 9 years since I started to work with them, and I am still doing that.
In spite of the fact that I always watched and listened to how they prayed before each meal, before beginning to work for the day, etc, I was indifferent and even a bit disparaging and taking it lightly, since I didn’t care at all what they were thinking or saying. But I should also confess that I still had respect for those who communicated with God through their prayers, and I still do.
Nine years have passed, and now I am more than surprised to have had the privilege of being so close to God without someone else having to ‘convince’ me or ‘talk to me’ about Him. Everything happened so fast that those nine years could be summed up in 9 days, 9 minutes, or 9 hours—I don’t know. I still don’t understand how it happened—it just happened. Everything is different now—from my way of thinking and acting to my way of communicating with God.
I met Lisa Robertson on Jan 3, 2010, since they offered me the job of being a 24-hour translator, but this time for another church. All the previous communication I had with her was through e-mail, and I never thought I would connect with her so well in such a few days. I remember that we met on Sunday at 7:12 am when I was eating breakfast in the hotel dining room, --Lisa came to the table and my friends introduced her. I had only just seen her, and I felt an energy that I had never felt. I could see in her eyes a deep inner peace, and I told myself, “I want to feel that peace, too.” That was how we started working together. Those 6 days went by so fast that we hardly had time to get to know each other, and we spent the time working with the other members of the team.
A week after the group had left for their country, I wrote a letter to Lisa, thanking her for the opportunity to work with them, and I made the comment that we had really gotten along well, and I had only felt positive energy from her. It was then that my drawing nearer to God began, and it was immediate.
The letter I received back was the best I had read in 9 years. Each word, phrase, and paragraph was more than enough to make my heart and my soul feel something I still don’t know how to explain. I only know that I would want everyone to feel what I felt and to experience the marvel of enjoying the presence of God. The next Sunday I decided to go to church, and I planned to go with a friend. But due to some circumstances, I decided to go alone. Everything was so strange that I felt like I didn’t fit in to the idea of families going to church on Sunday. I felt like they were looking at me as if I were an intruder in their territory, but little by little I started to not pay attention to them, and I dedicated myself to talking to God, asking Him to forgive me for all the bad I had done up to that moment, and asking Him to draw me closer to Him. Mass ended, and I stayed a while longer—not praying or asking for anything, just thinking—I don’t remember about what. After 20 minutes, I left without any particular destination. Since that day, I go to church on Sundays just to ‘converse’ with God.
On Thursday, Jan 28, I traveled from Cañete to Lima to meet my family on the following day. On the 2-hour trip, I decided to rest. I closed my eyes, ready for a little nap, but I couldn’t sleep. I kept waking up every 2-3 minutes. I couldn’t get to sleep. Then I decided to look out the window to pass the time, since I couldn’t go to sleep, and everything was dark. All I could see was the reflection of my body in the window, and it was then I began to pray and think about a thousand things, but above all I was able to feel that I was closer to God, and that we were really communicating. That was the second time that I received God in my heart, and now I am more that convinced that I want to share all that you’ve read.
I have realized that being alone allows me to have that closeness with God and to connect so well with Him that, unfortunately, I have to interrupt that activity to take care of the infinite other things that one must do in everyday life. But all in all, I feel that tranquility, that inner peace that I have always wanted and that I now have.
Today I don’t know what will happen in my life, or what God wants of me. The only thing I know is that now I am more than ready to receive it (His will) with all my heart, and to pursue it for my whole life. I am completely sure that this happened for a reason. . . but I am still trying to explain it.
This is the story that I never planned to tell because I always believed there would never be the possibility of telling—as thousands of other people do—about being so close to God. Today I can say this after 9 years of being completely separated from the church and from God Himself.
I come from a family deeply rooted in the Catholic religion, so I have always been close to church and religion (terms whose meanings have been confusing), and I have grown up completing each of the Sacraments (Baptism, 1st Communion, Confirmation), and I am also conscious that I have grown up with the idea that God is our savior, and the He is always with us.
Little by little as time went by, my separation (from God) was fast, and all I did was to find excuses to not go to mass on Sundays, and the fact that my family had stopped going also helped—so much that my separation from God was just about complete. I got farther and farther away, and all I did was “pray” at night before going to bed. Of course, this was just a monotonous prayer of thanks for the day, and of asking for the same every time: waking up alive and having a better day than the one before.
After finishing secondary school, I had the opportunity to work as a translator for a medical mission that came to Peru in 2001. Since that date I have been carrying out that job together with my friends/coworkers. You probably wonder what that has to do with anything. The thing is that these medical missions have always been sponsored by people who are associated with a church in the U.S. It’s been 9 years since I started to work with them, and I am still doing that.
In spite of the fact that I always watched and listened to how they prayed before each meal, before beginning to work for the day, etc, I was indifferent and even a bit disparaging and taking it lightly, since I didn’t care at all what they were thinking or saying. But I should also confess that I still had respect for those who communicated with God through their prayers, and I still do.
Nine years have passed, and now I am more than surprised to have had the privilege of being so close to God without someone else having to ‘convince’ me or ‘talk to me’ about Him. Everything happened so fast that those nine years could be summed up in 9 days, 9 minutes, or 9 hours—I don’t know. I still don’t understand how it happened—it just happened. Everything is different now—from my way of thinking and acting to my way of communicating with God.
I met Lisa Robertson on Jan 3, 2010, since they offered me the job of being a 24-hour translator, but this time for another church. All the previous communication I had with her was through e-mail, and I never thought I would connect with her so well in such a few days. I remember that we met on Sunday at 7:12 am when I was eating breakfast in the hotel dining room, --Lisa came to the table and my friends introduced her. I had only just seen her, and I felt an energy that I had never felt. I could see in her eyes a deep inner peace, and I told myself, “I want to feel that peace, too.” That was how we started working together. Those 6 days went by so fast that we hardly had time to get to know each other, and we spent the time working with the other members of the team.
A week after the group had left for their country, I wrote a letter to Lisa, thanking her for the opportunity to work with them, and I made the comment that we had really gotten along well, and I had only felt positive energy from her. It was then that my drawing nearer to God began, and it was immediate.
The letter I received back was the best I had read in 9 years. Each word, phrase, and paragraph was more than enough to make my heart and my soul feel something I still don’t know how to explain. I only know that I would want everyone to feel what I felt and to experience the marvel of enjoying the presence of God. The next Sunday I decided to go to church, and I planned to go with a friend. But due to some circumstances, I decided to go alone. Everything was so strange that I felt like I didn’t fit in to the idea of families going to church on Sunday. I felt like they were looking at me as if I were an intruder in their territory, but little by little I started to not pay attention to them, and I dedicated myself to talking to God, asking Him to forgive me for all the bad I had done up to that moment, and asking Him to draw me closer to Him. Mass ended, and I stayed a while longer—not praying or asking for anything, just thinking—I don’t remember about what. After 20 minutes, I left without any particular destination. Since that day, I go to church on Sundays just to ‘converse’ with God.
On Thursday, Jan 28, I traveled from Cañete to Lima to meet my family on the following day. On the 2-hour trip, I decided to rest. I closed my eyes, ready for a little nap, but I couldn’t sleep. I kept waking up every 2-3 minutes. I couldn’t get to sleep. Then I decided to look out the window to pass the time, since I couldn’t go to sleep, and everything was dark. All I could see was the reflection of my body in the window, and it was then I began to pray and think about a thousand things, but above all I was able to feel that I was closer to God, and that we were really communicating. That was the second time that I received God in my heart, and now I am more that convinced that I want to share all that you’ve read.
I have realized that being alone allows me to have that closeness with God and to connect so well with Him that, unfortunately, I have to interrupt that activity to take care of the infinite other things that one must do in everyday life. But all in all, I feel that tranquility, that inner peace that I have always wanted and that I now have.
Today I don’t know what will happen in my life, or what God wants of me. The only thing I know is that now I am more than ready to receive it (His will) with all my heart, and to pursue it for my whole life. I am completely sure that this happened for a reason. . . but I am still trying to explain it.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Update on Lauren
Lauren made it back safely to the orphanage after the two week walking tour. God did wonderful things during those two weeks. Liz, a young woman who is one of the house parents at the orphanage was on the tour as a chaperone. Lauren and several other team members had shared with her during our week there and on the first day of the two week tour, Liz committed her life to following Jesus Christ! Praise God!
Lauren also had the opportunity to share the gospel with the kids on the tour as well as children and adults that they met along the way. As they visited poor villages, Lauren was able to give out salvation bracelets and use them to present the message of salvation. She said that the adults and children alike were clamoring to get a piece of string and some beads; they have so little. So, Lauren was able to give them that trinket, along with something so much more valuable – the message of the hope of salvation. Pray that the message she sowed into their hearts would be tended by others who come behind her, and that God will bring a great harvest!
Lauren has been back at the orphanage for about a week and a half. She is the only American there and Liz is the only other Christian that she knows of. She is experiencing loneliness and homesickness and feels weak. Pray that the Holy Spirit will be her comforter and will give her strength.
Lauren has a huge burden for the lost and often worries she isn’t doing enough. Pray that God would transform her burden into a passion – one that brings her joy, and not guilt.
Lauren has continued building relationships with the kids and the other volunteers and house parents. One young man in particular she feels could have a great influence on the community, were he to come to know Christ. Pray that God will raise up leaders within the community to accept the gospel and share it with the others.
Lauren also had the opportunity to share the gospel with the kids on the tour as well as children and adults that they met along the way. As they visited poor villages, Lauren was able to give out salvation bracelets and use them to present the message of salvation. She said that the adults and children alike were clamoring to get a piece of string and some beads; they have so little. So, Lauren was able to give them that trinket, along with something so much more valuable – the message of the hope of salvation. Pray that the message she sowed into their hearts would be tended by others who come behind her, and that God will bring a great harvest!
Lauren has been back at the orphanage for about a week and a half. She is the only American there and Liz is the only other Christian that she knows of. She is experiencing loneliness and homesickness and feels weak. Pray that the Holy Spirit will be her comforter and will give her strength.
Lauren has a huge burden for the lost and often worries she isn’t doing enough. Pray that God would transform her burden into a passion – one that brings her joy, and not guilt.
Lauren has continued building relationships with the kids and the other volunteers and house parents. One young man in particular she feels could have a great influence on the community, were he to come to know Christ. Pray that God will raise up leaders within the community to accept the gospel and share it with the others.
This week they have started a summer program at the orphanage because the children were getting bored. Lauren has been teaching and sharing the gospel with several groups of children as part of this program. Pray that the children will understand the gospel and make the decision to follow Jesus.
Lauren will be returning to Texas on Feb. 14th. Pray for safe travel from the orphanage to Lima and on the flight home.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Lisa's Story
This is not really my story – it is the story of an amazing God who loves to show us His will one step at a time. I only tell it so He will receive all the glory. It is a testimony to the fact that He hears the cries of our hearts, He does answer prayer, He chooses the weak because He is strong, and that He can do the impossible.
In March of 2009 Lauren was at work at Dallas Baptist Univ. A friend saw her and said “Lauren, I went on a mission trip to Peru over spring break. I went to a place you would love! - an orphanage of about 800 children!, but I don’t know the name of the orphanage!” This really spoke to Lauren’s heart. She tracked down another friend who went on the same trip, but not to the orphanage. She borrowed her friend’s trip itinerary and found the name of the orphanage. Then she googled the orphanage name to get a contact name and number. She and Nancy began making plans to live in Peru at the orphanage 6 weeks during the summer of 2009.
By May, Nancy had decided not to go to Peru, we told Lauren she couldn’t go by herself and that was the end of that! Until….
Wednesday, May 13 Bruce Troy called me into his office to read me the flyleaf of a book that had mysteriously appeared in his office – The Hole in Our Gospel. We later found out that the book had been mailed to pastors across America by Rick Warren’s church. I asked Bruce if I could borrow the book. Wow! This book is about all the pressing needs of the world – poverty, disease, contaminated water, hunger. And it is about God’s great ability to use anyone to change the world. This was the kind of statement I was reading that week “What if there are children who will suffer somehow because I failed to obey God? What if my cowardice costs even one child somewhere in the world his or her life?”
Early the next Monday, May 18, I was driving to my parents’ house, praying as I drove. Suddenly it hit me to call Lauren. This is what she heard, “Lauren, it’s Mom. Listen, I need to talk to you about Peru. I know we told you that you couldn’t go this summer. What if we take a group from Southmont there at Christmas break? Those orphans who don’t know Christ keep sticking in my brain.” Lauren gasped and told me that in her very first conversation with the orphanage contact he – Scott – had asked her if she could get a large group of people together to do something big for the orphanage at Christmas. Her response to him had been “I don’t know a big group of people who have money for something like that!” That moment as I was driving to Meridian, I realized that I might be on a journey, and the destination was not my parents’ house.
Over the summer I began to share what God was doing – was He doing something? – with the college students and friends – anyone who acted remotely interested in Peru.
In October, even though it looked like Peru was off the table at Southmont, the missions committee graciously (faithfully) paid my way to Peru for a pre-trip truth-finding trip. That made no sense to me, but God had a plan.
God supernaturally revealed His will for Southmont’s involvement with the school and for VBS while I was in Peru. Here was a prayer I prayed regarding Lauren while I was there “Please prepare Lauren for this trip. Impress Your Holy Spirit on her, O Lord. ….Please give her an awesome job – just exactly the one YOU have for her…..Please bring it to her in Your perfect time.”
I could go on and on about the prayers God led me to pray, about the answers He so amazingly supplied. 17 days after hearing about the trip and how much it cost ($1880), 30 people had signed up and paid $1150, or someone had paid $1150 on their behalf. During the Thanksgiving, Christmas, end of school, college graduation craziness, God brought together crafts, curriculum, and a perfectly balanced team for 735 children. God placed it on Lori’s heart to gather a huge amount of curriculum and supplies to train the teachers – in the midst of all the holidays and a new grandbaby and a blizzard. Almost $100,000 was given for the trip in 54 days, and everyone got their passport in time!
I must confess that my biggest hope for this trip really had little to do with orphans in Peru. My main hope was expressed in this prayer: “O God, show Your mercy to this congregation at Southmont. Father, unite us for Your purpose, for Your vision, for Your great commission and great commandment. O Lord get us out of ourselves”. Certainly I and many others have prayed for this congregation over the past few years – that God would unite us and show His glory. The first day we were at the orphanage, the children greeted us in the now famous “kissing line”. After a while, I stepped out of line to take some pictures. As I stood there with tears streaming down my face watching my friends being greeted by precious children, I heard the Lord say – Lisa, all the prayers you have lifted up for Southmont have been answered today. Thank you Lord!
And that perfect job for Lauren? On Wednesday of the trip we met with Miguel. I mentioned that Lauren would be staying 5 more weeks and that she had just graduated from college. Miguel asked her major – education and Spanish. He said “Would she want to teach this coming school year – March to Dec?” I said, “Probably not. Her job is to tell people about God.” Miguel replied, “Then she could be our professor of religion!”
God reveals His will for our lives in the daily communications we have with Him; in our weak moments and in our times of praise. He will reveal Himself to us in the valleys of despair. He will send us a song, a friend, a breeze, a whisper. If you want to know God’s will, spend time with Him. Talk to Him, listen to Him, struggle with Him, tell Him how you really feel. Obey Him, move forward with whatever light He provides. II Chronicles 16:9 says “For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His;” Proverbs 3:5-6 back that up with this: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”
What appears to be a teeny tiny step of weak obedience, just may be the beginning of the most amazing journey of your life!
In March of 2009 Lauren was at work at Dallas Baptist Univ. A friend saw her and said “Lauren, I went on a mission trip to Peru over spring break. I went to a place you would love! - an orphanage of about 800 children!, but I don’t know the name of the orphanage!” This really spoke to Lauren’s heart. She tracked down another friend who went on the same trip, but not to the orphanage. She borrowed her friend’s trip itinerary and found the name of the orphanage. Then she googled the orphanage name to get a contact name and number. She and Nancy began making plans to live in Peru at the orphanage 6 weeks during the summer of 2009.
By May, Nancy had decided not to go to Peru, we told Lauren she couldn’t go by herself and that was the end of that! Until….
Wednesday, May 13 Bruce Troy called me into his office to read me the flyleaf of a book that had mysteriously appeared in his office – The Hole in Our Gospel. We later found out that the book had been mailed to pastors across America by Rick Warren’s church. I asked Bruce if I could borrow the book. Wow! This book is about all the pressing needs of the world – poverty, disease, contaminated water, hunger. And it is about God’s great ability to use anyone to change the world. This was the kind of statement I was reading that week “What if there are children who will suffer somehow because I failed to obey God? What if my cowardice costs even one child somewhere in the world his or her life?”
Early the next Monday, May 18, I was driving to my parents’ house, praying as I drove. Suddenly it hit me to call Lauren. This is what she heard, “Lauren, it’s Mom. Listen, I need to talk to you about Peru. I know we told you that you couldn’t go this summer. What if we take a group from Southmont there at Christmas break? Those orphans who don’t know Christ keep sticking in my brain.” Lauren gasped and told me that in her very first conversation with the orphanage contact he – Scott – had asked her if she could get a large group of people together to do something big for the orphanage at Christmas. Her response to him had been “I don’t know a big group of people who have money for something like that!” That moment as I was driving to Meridian, I realized that I might be on a journey, and the destination was not my parents’ house.
Over the summer I began to share what God was doing – was He doing something? – with the college students and friends – anyone who acted remotely interested in Peru.
In October, even though it looked like Peru was off the table at Southmont, the missions committee graciously (faithfully) paid my way to Peru for a pre-trip truth-finding trip. That made no sense to me, but God had a plan.
God supernaturally revealed His will for Southmont’s involvement with the school and for VBS while I was in Peru. Here was a prayer I prayed regarding Lauren while I was there “Please prepare Lauren for this trip. Impress Your Holy Spirit on her, O Lord. ….Please give her an awesome job – just exactly the one YOU have for her…..Please bring it to her in Your perfect time.”
I could go on and on about the prayers God led me to pray, about the answers He so amazingly supplied. 17 days after hearing about the trip and how much it cost ($1880), 30 people had signed up and paid $1150, or someone had paid $1150 on their behalf. During the Thanksgiving, Christmas, end of school, college graduation craziness, God brought together crafts, curriculum, and a perfectly balanced team for 735 children. God placed it on Lori’s heart to gather a huge amount of curriculum and supplies to train the teachers – in the midst of all the holidays and a new grandbaby and a blizzard. Almost $100,000 was given for the trip in 54 days, and everyone got their passport in time!
I must confess that my biggest hope for this trip really had little to do with orphans in Peru. My main hope was expressed in this prayer: “O God, show Your mercy to this congregation at Southmont. Father, unite us for Your purpose, for Your vision, for Your great commission and great commandment. O Lord get us out of ourselves”. Certainly I and many others have prayed for this congregation over the past few years – that God would unite us and show His glory. The first day we were at the orphanage, the children greeted us in the now famous “kissing line”. After a while, I stepped out of line to take some pictures. As I stood there with tears streaming down my face watching my friends being greeted by precious children, I heard the Lord say – Lisa, all the prayers you have lifted up for Southmont have been answered today. Thank you Lord!
And that perfect job for Lauren? On Wednesday of the trip we met with Miguel. I mentioned that Lauren would be staying 5 more weeks and that she had just graduated from college. Miguel asked her major – education and Spanish. He said “Would she want to teach this coming school year – March to Dec?” I said, “Probably not. Her job is to tell people about God.” Miguel replied, “Then she could be our professor of religion!”
God reveals His will for our lives in the daily communications we have with Him; in our weak moments and in our times of praise. He will reveal Himself to us in the valleys of despair. He will send us a song, a friend, a breeze, a whisper. If you want to know God’s will, spend time with Him. Talk to Him, listen to Him, struggle with Him, tell Him how you really feel. Obey Him, move forward with whatever light He provides. II Chronicles 16:9 says “For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His;” Proverbs 3:5-6 back that up with this: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”
What appears to be a teeny tiny step of weak obedience, just may be the beginning of the most amazing journey of your life!
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