Bibles for Peru

The following was shared by Tracy at the Peru benefit concert:


Library day at school was always an exciting day for me. While I think most kids look forward to library day, I don't know that all of those library books are actually read. In fact, sometimes those books are lost and have to be replaced - as my family has experienced!

In the orphanage in Ventanilla there are 20 copies of one book. This book is so popular that it is never on the shelf, never lost and never dusty! The book I refer to is the Bible.

The kids must sign out the Bible. They love to read it and they have never before been able to do that. Because of the generosity of a Sunday school class here at Southmont they can.

The children have also been given Proclaimers. These are audio Bibles that don't require electricity or batteries. Quechu, Spanish & English are the versions they currently have. You just wind them up and play.

Often when casa's misbehave, they are put under restriction. Lauren Robertson tells the story of a group of kids confined to their casa for misbehaving. They had nothing to do! What do you think they did? That's right! They listened to their proclaimer. All of it! They must have gotten into pretty big trouble!

I believe that the children are quickly learning to love the Bible. I can understand why. Can you imagine reading the story of David and Goliath for the first time? They can relate! They are David and the life they face each day is Goliath.

The loneliness they feel from losing parents to death or abandonment is probably similar to the loneliness Jonah felt in the belly of the whale!

How exciting it is for them to read about a Father who loves them and will never leave them!

They love these stories because they know they are true. The Holy Spirit tugs at them and tugs on their hearts with every word.

I wonder how many of the kids pray for their own Bible. I believe God will say yes to this request. If we become a part of this blessing I know in heaven we will meet these kids - orphans no more. And they will say "thank you." I received my first Bible because you said yes and gave me that precious gift.

We are still collecting money for Bibles for the children at the orphanage. If you are interested in making a donation it may be sent to Southmont Baptist Church at 2801 Pennsylvania Drive, Denton, TX 76205. Please designate "Peru Bibles" on your check.

Illuminate!

The Mission Peru benefit concert, Illuminate!, was a wonderful evening of music and worship. Thank you to all who attended and took part in the program. A special thanks to Kevin and Angeline for sharing their musical gifts with us, and to Wendy for coordinating the event.

Kevin and Angeline did an amazing job leading us in worship:

Larry served as MC, Josey shared scripture, Dr. Baldor shared about his call to join our team, and Jessica shared of God's provision.



Tracy shared the call to bring Bibles to the children of Sagrada Familia Orphanage, Wendy shared about the work God has already done since the trip last January, Shawn shared about his experience on our first trip to the orphanage, and Michelle shared a call to prayer.



After the concert Team Peru gathered for a group picture.

It Starts With One

The following was shared by Wendy at Illuminate!, the Peru benefit concert.

It starts with one, one salvation.

Last January, Liz accepted Christ as her Savior. She had been praying that God would send her someone to show her what she was missing. She believes that Lauren was the answer to her prayers. ONE

Carlos our lead translator prayed for Christ to walk with him. TWO

In March, five girls were led to Christ by another teenage girl at the community. SEVEN

A security guard accepted Christ in April. EIGHT

Two more teenagers accepted Christ. TEN

In July, Doris, the local dentist became a Christian. ELEVEN

Alvaro, the religion teacher made the decision to follow Christ in August. TWELVE

Since September 60 children have put their faith in the one true God.

SEVENTY TWO – 72 new believers in Jesus Christ.

Because of the work started a year ago and continuing now daily with Lauren and Nancy there is a momentum that cannot be stopped. Alvaro, the religion teacher is sharing the Good News in his classes with curriculum that teaches about Christ and salvation. Doris, the dentist is using her office as a house church each week. Liz shares her testimony and helps to prepare crafts for hundreds of kids at the public schools outside the orphanage. Lauren is becoming entrenched in the community where contacts are helping her reach many new people.

The Peruvians who have accepted Christ are excited and eager to share the Good News with the community.

What will you do to ensure this number continues to grow?

The Journey Continues!

God has clearly been at work, assembling the team for our next mission trip to Peru! December 26, 2010 - January 2, 2011 we will be traveling to Lima, Peru to work with the children at Sagrada Familia Communidad de Ninos, as well as the surrounding community.

In the next several weeks we will be posting stories of how we see God working to bring together everything necessary for this trip. We know He will provide for us and guide us and we are excited to share the process with our church family and friends. May God receive all the glory!

Please pray that God will continue to prompt those who are to go on this trip and those who are to give so that others may go. Pray that we will rely on Him to guide us each step of the way in preparing for our mission.

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

South

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...

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