Being Awestruck
One of my new favorite songs is Amazing God by Chris Tomlin. Here is the chorus:
Indescribable, uncontainable, You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name. You are amazing God. All powerful, untameable, Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim You are amazing God.
I woke up singing this and I started to ponder the words. It really is indescribable, isn’t it? To know that I am loved and adored by my Father, that I am the apple of His eye, the salt of the earth and the light of the world. It is amazing to know that He takes people like me, with all my failures, hurts and struggles and uses that for the furthering of His Kingdom. To know that He has for plan for my life, that He has already seen all of my days, is such an incredible assurance for me.
I love the line, awestruck we fall to our knees, as we humbly proclaim You are amazing God.
When was the last time you were awestruck? Simply awestruck at the very nature of God? When was the last you fell to your knees in humility before Him?
I took a class on the miracles of Jesus and it amazed me how many people fell on their knees before Him. He healed so many people while they were at His feet.
What a great way to start the day…
Indescribable, uncontainable, You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name. You are amazing God, Incomparable, unchangeable, You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same, You are amazing God, You are amazing God.
A Changed Life-My Testimony
I have always struggled with a deep emptiness that was inside of me. I started drinking, smoking, and doing drugs when I was about thirteen years old. I chose a life of rebellion and self destructive behaviors. I thought I had nothing to live for and I just did not care what happened to me. I was going to enjoy my life and go through it feeling as little as possible. I never knew that I was created to love and to be loved. I never knew that what I was truly searching for was something to fill the big, empty void inside of me. I didn’t know that I would end up being a drug addict, an alcoholic, and an anorexic just to name a few.
On top of all my addictions, I was diagnosed as a manic depressive. The only way to describe this horrible mental illness is to compare it to a roller coaster ride. One day you are on top of the world and the next, you are in a totally debilitating depression. I have been hospitalized in various psychiatric facilities, for attempting to end my life, six times since age fourteen. Twice I have succeeded. My heart has stopped beating on several occasions and I have been resuscitated many times. My last attempt was fatal. I took a lethal dose of alcohol and pills and ended up on life support. My family was called in to say goodbye to me because the doctors felt I would not live through this. My family lived about three hours away and by the time they arrived, I had been taken off life support and was miraculously breathing on my own! I’m not sure why God chose to breathe air back into my broken body, but He did. I started to wonder if there was a God and if so, why on earth would He bring someone like me back to life. Most people would think that after a few wake up calls like that, I’d be grateful. But I wasn’t.
It didn’t take me long to sink right back down to where I was before this happened. I started drinking very heavily. To make a very long story short, I finally hit rock bottom and I knew deep down that if I didn’t surrender to God, I would end up dead. That was July 14, 2001 and I haven’t had a drink since. As a matter of fact, I have been off all medication for my manic depression since February 2002. That in itself is another miracle because many doctors told me that I, like my sister and father, would have to be on medication for the rest of my life. I really felt that the Lord wanted me to have total freedom and He wanted me to be totally dependant on Him. Being free from “mood stabilizers” has allowed me to really get to the core of my hurts, hang ups and habits that led me to my many addictions.
On that night back in July 2001, I cried out to God. I asked Him if He cared about me at all, He needed to come save me quick because I couldn’t live like this anymore. I was so full of despair and hopelessness that I cried and cried for what seemed like hours. Then a funny thing happened. I felt so calm and peaceful. I had never felt peace in my entire life. Then it hit me what I had done. I had no idea what to do now but I knew that I had to find a church and quickly. At that instant, I felt like God was telling me to go to The Church of the Redeemer. I was living in Frederick at the time and had no clue where this church was. Again, I felt a prompting by God to go look on the internet and find it. I went online and was glad when I found it and knew I wasn’t hearing voices and going crazy! I immediately saw that they had a recovery program and knew without a doubt this is where I belonged.
I will never forget the first time I walked into the church. I sat in my car in the parking lot and thought that if I walked through the doors of the church, they would see what an awful person I was. I felt that I was marked with a scarlet “S” on me that stood for sinner. I didn’t give in to my feelings though. I walked in and actually sat only a few rows back from the front. As the music began to play, I looked around and saw many people with their eyes closed and their hands lifted in the air and I thought to myself, wow, do they really love God that much? I met many people that night who took me in and prayed with me and for me. It was the first time in my life I actually felt like someone really cared about me. One of the guys in the group asked me to share my testimony and I had no idea what he was talking about so I asked him. He asked me for my story. I said I am an alcoholic and I want to change my life. He then shared his testimony with me and told me all about how he used to drink and do drugs and actually became a Christian in jail. I was kind of shocked because of how open he was with his past. I had been sober 3 days and I couldn’t ever imagine then that I would one day want to share my testimony with everyone I meet too! I entered the church that night feeling dirty and full of shame, and by the time I came home that night, I knew without a doubt that my life would never be the same.
I was always so ashamed of my past. I believed that no one could or ever would love me. I was carrying around so much guilt, shame and self hatred. I didn’t know that there was a God who knew my every thought. Who knew all my pains, my hurts, and all my sins. I have learned that I am forgiven and loved. I have also learned that I no longer have to be trapped by my old way of thinking. My recovery group, Celebrate Recovery taught me how to deal with the pains of my past so I can begin to live a life worthy of Christ. I don’t want to just be sober or have periods of abstinence, I want to have the freedom, the joy, and the peace that God wants me to have. I never thought that I could have all these things. I never thought He could love me, after all I broke all of his commandments. I had two abortions, how could He forgive that? How could He cherish me when I didn’t cherish life myself? I didn’t deserve His love.
Which is exactly my point. I don’t deserve any on it. It is a gift called grace. A gift I have finally been able to receive. God loves you and me so much that He sent His only son to die for us. Can you imagine? Someone who would take your place and die so you could be forgiven from your sins? Someone who would take away all your pain, your shame, your heartache if only you would ask Him to? All you have to ask Him. I know it can seem scary. Trust me, I have been there. I can promise you that if you trust Him, your life will never be the same either. I have learned that with Jesus Christ in my heart, there is no room for drugs, alcohol, guilt, or shame. I left all those at the foot of the cross. My favorite and first scripture I memorized is Romans 5:8, “ This is how Christ shows His love for us, That while we were STILL sinners, He died for us”! He wasn’t crucified on a cross after I surrendered my life to Him! It was while I was a drug addict and an alcoholic! He wants to love you, heal you of your hurts, encourage you, and forgive you. All you have to ask. It’s that simple. All I did was cry out to God to come and help me. And He did.
So many people I share with can’t believe how much my life has been transformed in since I gave my heart to Jesus. It’s so hard for me to even remember feeling so hopeless that the only way I thought I could handle the pain was to end my life. If I wasn’t the one living through all this, I am not sure that I would believe it!
If someone would have told me that today I would be sober, drug free, sexually pure, healed from depression, working for one of the pastors at church, teaching Bible studies, earning a degree in Theology in Bible College and living a life in abundance I would have told them they were crazy! God has blessed me and shown me mercy that is indescribable.
2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.”
Joy Robbers
Last night at church, our Pastor shared a message entitled, Made to Celebrate. One of the points really hit home in my heart and I just had to share it. He asked this question, what are some of the ways the devil steals our joy?
The first one is anxiety and worry-I am not too much of a worrier by nature so I thought I was doing pretty good on this count, then I read the Scripture he added under the point.
Philippians 4:6-7
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
The fact that Paul had to say rejoice twice should be a wake up call! I started to think about the lack of peace I had in my heart and realized that I have not brought all the concerns in my heart to the Lord. Why do I keep doing that?
The second one was anger and I thought for sure I got this one covered! I am a happy go lucky person. Then he said that all anger was the result of hurt. I cringed because I had just experienced a deep hurt that a sister in Christ caused me and when I really thought about (and the Holy Spirit opened up my eyes that I had been squinting shut!) I realized that I was very angry!
Ephesians 4:26-27
“In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”
Had to throw that one in there, yikes! I had given the devil a foothold and he was hanging on for dear life.
The third one was grumbling. Man this was beat up on Rachel night. That is all I feel like I have been doing. My heart has been grumbling so loud for the last week that it was keeping me up nights! The pastor said grumbling meant to mutter in discontent. I started to think about that one. Am I really discontent? He then threw in this Scripture that made me a feel just a little weak in the knees.
1 Corinthians 10:10
“And do not grumble, as some of them did and were killed by the destroying angel.” Hmmm.
The fourth point was ingratitude. He made a great point and one we all are very aware of, we just forget. He said that when we have ingratitude in our hearts, it’s because we have not been thanking God for everything He has given us. Not material things, mainly our salvation, the Holy Spirit, important things. I really started to get a little wiggly in my seat and I was wondering how many people were feeling as convicted as I was at this point.
Colossians 3:16
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”
It is hard to sing psalms and hymns with gratitude in your hearts if it is full of ingratitude. Ask me, I know.
The fifth point was doubt. My pastor made a great statement about this. He said, “stop doubting your doubts and start believing your faith.” He said that at one time or another we will have doubts but that is the time we need to seek God and His truth, the Word!
John 20:27
“Stop doubting and believe.”
This means that we have the ability to make a choice. Praise God I made the right one.
The sixth point was mistrust. Mistrust means lack of trust or confidence. Another pastor shared a few weeks ago about mistrust. He said that when we worry about a situation that God clearly tells us not to worry about, we are in essence saying to the Lord, Creator of the Universe, that we don’t trust Him enough to see us through whatever we are going through at the time.
That was the thought that was going through my head as my pastor shared more on lack of trust. Do I always trust Him with absolute surrender? Whew, am I glad this message is almost over. I was about shrunk down in my seat as far as I could shrink down!
Isaiah 26:3
“You will keep in perfect peace him whose heart is steadfast because he trusts in You.”
The Lord had just brought that Scripture to me a few days ago in my devotions. I really need to rethink my trust levels. I realized that this situation I am going through right now is testing me. Will I give into my hurt and my emotions and potentially not be in His will? Will I cling to my”rights” knowing in my heart I did nothing to warrant this betrayal? How can I? Did the Savior of the world cling to His rights? No He most certainly did not. I love the book of Philippians but sometimes I wished chapter 2 was not in there. Especially the part about considering others better than yourselves and following Christ’s example. It is hard work sometimes to walk the walk and not just talk the talk.
I knew when I saw the notes that our pastor was speaking directly to me. I had been avoiding dealing with my heart issue and it was eating me alive. It has been affecting my attitude, my health and my sleep. I am so thankful for pastors who speak the truth in love. I am so thankful for the Holy Spirit who opens our eyes and our hearts. I am so thankful that I don’t have to make decisions based on my feelings, which change from day to day. I am so thankful that God is the same, yesterday, tomorrow and forever! I am so thankful that when we confess our sins, He indeed is faithful to forgive me and not only that, but to also cleanse me of all unrighteousness.
Yesterday I woke up with a heavy and a sad heart. Today, after confessing and repenting and recieving my Father’s forgiveness, I am whole again. Free for Him to use me as He pleases.
I know the devil is crouching just outside my door. It never ceases to amaze me that one minute I am in the very throne room of God and the next, I have taken Him off the throne and put myself on it.
Lord, I pray that my heart will be steadfast. I am so thankful that you hold me on the palm of your hand.
Peru 06 Mission Night Video
We just posted our video on the internet, click here to see the testimonies shared and video we made from our pictures. You have to scroll down to the bottom of the page, then click on View video.
Hardened Hearts
This morning I was reading Mark 8:14-21, 14, “The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. ‘Be careful,’ Jesus warned them. ‘Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.’ They discussed this with one another and said, ‘It is because we have no bread.’ Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: ‘Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?’ ‘Twelve,’ they replied. ‘And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?’ They answered, ‘Seven.’ He said to them, ‘Do you still not understand?’”
I have read this passage many times and always focused on the yeast of the Pharisees but this morning, I was focused on the disciples’ attitudes. My thought after reading this was, those knuckleheads! They have been with Jesus, literally and physically. They watched Him feed thousands from five loaves of bread and two fish, then again with seven loaves of bread. Not only did everyone eat until they were satisfied, but there were leftovers! Both times!
They were also with Him as He healed the sick, cast out demons and rebuked the weather.
I was feeling a little prideful and judging them for their lack of faith when a thought came to me. How am I any different? Don’t I have periods of doubt that the Lord can get me out of a situation? I also have seen Jesus do so many miracles, starting with me! I have never been hungry, never been homeless, never without what I need yet I worry needlesslessly about financial provision, my future and an endless list of things of really no importance.
Jesus’ question at the end is so fitting, “Do you still not understand?” I can picture His face as He asks His close companions this question with a hint of sadness. I no longer feel prideful or judgmental towards them, I feel gratitude. I am so thankful for each disciple and thankful that they too with struggled with “stuff.” Jesus didn’t condemn them, he asked questions. He got to the heart of the matter or should I say, the matter of the heart. It always starts and ends with the heart.
This morning mine was a little hardened. Hardened by life, circumstances, annoyances, judgment, pride and utter foolishness. I confess my sin to the Lord and instantly feel the hardness melt away. I remember His promises now; my eyes, ears and heart are now open again. To live, to love, to be filled with Him.
I dreamed of Africa
My Soapbox on Africa
I have a little girl I sponsor in Swaziland, Africa through World Vision. Her name is Ntombikayise and she is 5 years old. I call her my little Tombi. She and her family live in a community severely affected by the HIV/AIDS crisis. For less than a cup of coffee a day, she is able to have her basic necessities met, clothing, food and water. Things we don’t have to even think about here in the US. Things we take for granted. Her life, as well as countless others, is being changed by Christian organizations like World Vision and Compassion International. Many people ask why we should help these children overseas when there are so many in the US we can help. My question is this, how many children are you helping right now here in the US? If your heart is in helping the many here that need help, then I will challenge you to step up and do something today.
I am not sure just when my heart started beating for Africa and more specifically, Sub- Saharan Africa. It may have started when I read a book that chronicled a little orphan’s life in Africa after the Rwandan genocide, where about a million lives were lost. This orphan walked hundreds of thousands of miles. He moved from one refugee camp to another searching for food and safety, several times being kidnapped and brutally beaten. I finished reading this book and had nightmares for months. I did a lot of research on Africa after this and the images of these orphans are seared into my mind. These images haunt me and challenge me to do something. Anything. One life at a time. It’s an incredible feat but I am not alone. The Lord Jesus Christ died not only for you and me but for every person in the world.
When I think about the day I will go to Africa, I always remember the apostle Paul’s vision of the man in Macedonia crying for him to come help him. This is what I hear when I think of all the orphans. They cry for me, sometimes so softly that I can barely hear it, but I do always hear it.
Some staggering statistics:
Many people here in the US are unaware of just how bad the AIDS pandemic is in Africa.
Sub-Saharan Africa has just over 10% of the world’s population, but is home to more than 64% of all people living with HIV/AIDS.
More than 17 million Africans have died from AIDS and about another 30 million are infected, 3 million of them are children. Every day in Africa, 6,600 people die from HIV/AIDS, 8,800 people are infected and 1,400 newborn babies are infected during childbirth or by their mothers’ milk. There are over 12 million orphans. Can you imagine that?
More than 300 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa—nearly half the population—live on less than $1 a day.
You may be asking yourself, what can I do? You can start by praying for this crisis. You can get involved with organizations like The One Campaign and DATA. You can sponsor a child through World Vision or Compassion International. Click on any of the links for more information. Is giving up a cup of coffee a day worth saving the life of one child? These children are not just getting food and shelter, they are learning about Jesus Christ. They are learning that despite their circumstances, they have a Father who is defending their cause. You can give them hope. You can show them in a tangible way the love of Jesus through your sponsorship.
James 1:27, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows…”
Can I make a difference?
This past Monday, one of our Peru team members, Scott was at work and was having alot of pain and he could not breathe. He left work and drove himself to the hospital where he was admitted. He was told he had a blot clot in his lung. I can’t even begin to imagine how scared he was or what he was thinking or feeling. I know one of the first thoughts I had was praise God this didn’t happen while we in Peru. Who knows what kind of treatment he would have recieved in the hospital there.
He has been in there for several days and has many, many visitors. I went one evening and when I left, there were still 4 people there! I know this encouraged his heart but there was another amazing thing happening in his room. Scott’s roomate was a man named Jessie (Nick), who had been there for a while. He is in alot of pain, not only physically but emotionally as well. Scott, and all of his friends, have been ministering to this man everyday and praying for him and it is incredible to watch a person as the Holy Spirit is preparing his heart to recieve Him. This man was moved to accept Jesus because of the love he saw as the body of Christ came forward to minister to Scott.
A friend of Scott’s took in a portable DVD player and showed Jessie several DVD’s. One was a Baptism service, one was of the missions night and one was The Story of Love. Jessie’s heart finally opened up and he recieved Jesus as his Lord and Savior last night! I know the angels were rejoicing in that room! He asked Scott to not forget about him when he was released.
I am not sure if Scott was thinking about Romans 8:28 (and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose) when he had to be admitted or not but it is just like the Lord to use a situation like this to draw people to Himself. Not once when I talked to Scott did he complain about having to be in the hospital or being in pain or anything. His only concern was for his roomate who did not know Jesus. I asked Scott how long Jessie would be there at the hospital because I wanted to see if we could take him a Bible. Scott had already given him his very own Bible.
I pray that our eyes would be opened and that we would see all the opportunities the Lord puts in our path. The answer to the question, can I make a difference, is a definitive YES!
Update on Nick (8/11/06)
Sue and I just got back from visiting Nick in the hospital. We took him a packet of books, etc for new believers. He was in good spirits and is looking forward to coming to church tomorrow. We met his new roomate named George who needs prayers too.
Nick shared with us that he was in there because he was in a fight and someone hit him in the back with a tire iron. He didn’t go to the hopsital or doctor then but the pain was so bad, he knew he needed treatment. He will need to be on meds for awhile and physical therapy to regain some of the muscle tissue he lost so keep praying for him. Sue ended by praying for both Nick and George so hopefully, George will open his heart to the Lord too!
Peru Mission Trip-Final Chapter
Post Trip Wrap Up
This mission trip was about so much more than visiting and ministering to the people in Peru. It was about what God can do with an open and willing heart.
In March, I had my third knee surgery and on the day I returned to work, I was asked to help Pastor Joey lead the mission trip to Peru this year. I had gone last year and since my heart is in missions, I was overjoyed. Within a few weeks, I began to wonder if I had made the right decision. I began to have some serious doubts and I met with Pastor Steve and told him I wasn’t sure if I could do this. I was still having pain in my knee and there were days that I went home and weeped because I couldn’t bear the pain. I continued to pray and seek God for several more weeks and I met with Pastor Joey on several occasions. I shared my fears with him and he prayed with me many times. I will never forget his statement to me about my decision to go or not to go. He said, “The only reason you should not go is because you know God doesn’t want you to go.” How could I argue with that? Another friend of mine asked me a few more questions that really challenged me. He said, “If your knee was not hurting you and if you did not have to lead the team, would you go?” I didn’t even have to think twice about it, of course I would go under those circumstances.
I realized that I was giving in to my fears. Fear of not doing a good job, fear of rejection, fear of failure and so many other things. I made the decision in my heart and mind to go and I praise God that I made the right decision. I would have missed out on so many blessings had I chosen to give in to my fears. Anyone who knows me knows that I don’t like Christian cliches, but this one time I need to quote one of my favorites. It goes like this, God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called. I am proof of that because if I thought for a minute that I could do what He did in and through the entire team by myself, I would have fallen flat on my face.
I can honestly say that I have never been more proud of 17 people in my life. These people gave of their lives, finances, vacation time and hearts to go and help fulfill the Great Commission. We came together with one heart, one mind and one purpose to accomplish God’s plans.
Each of our lives will never be the same. Each of us were impacted in ways we would never have imagined. Each of us has drawn closer to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is hard to think back to some of the areas we ministered in and I caught myself wondering why there is such poverty in the world, why so much hurt and pain. Then I remember the answer, sin. Because we want to be like God, knowing good and evil. Because it is so hard to submit our lives to the One who loves us beyond what we can imagine. Because what we want is more important than anything else. Because we want to live in absolute comfort. Because we want to hold on to the things of this world.
My eyes have been opened to my own heart and I pray that I will never, ever forget the images I saw. Images that have kept me up night after night since coming back. Small children with dirt on their faces and lice in their hair, pregnant women living on the streets with nothing, people sleeping under a bridge, abused women with so much hurt and pain, people who have not been outside their homes in years that received wheelchairs and freedom and the many missionaries that have given up all to follow Christ and share His love and His hope in a place that seems to have nothing. God is there, in Peru. He is working out His perfect plan in His perfect timing.
Romans 10:14-15, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”
Peru Mission Trip-Day 7
Children’s Home in Chacalacayo
This is one place we always like to visit when we come to Peru. Camino De Vida Church has 2 of these safe havens for children, one in Lima and one in Cusco.
These are not orphanages, most of these children have parents. Many, if not all of these beautiful children, have been abused and taken from their families and placed here. Not only does the home take care of their physical needs, by feeding and clothing them and giving them an education, they are also learning about the love of Jesus. These children are never without a beautiful smile and once again I found myself wondering, who is ministering to whom?
Our church, Church of the Redeemer, is known for our plastic bins that we bring on each visit. During the preparation for the trip, our team was able to collect toys, clothes, medicine, toiletries, crafts and so much more for the children here. We love to watch the children’ s faces light up when we give them presents and share our love with them. One of our team members, Charo, got a donation of hundreds of Beanie Babies and we were able to give one to each child.
Our children’s ministry at our church donated a ton of craft projects that were left over from vacation Bible school so we had a mini VBS in Peru! Linda, Charo, Nikki and Eileen helped the children make visors and paint wooden crosses.
Many of our other team members got to play ulitmate frisbee, soccer and dodge ball with the children. After that, they had a cookout for us and the food was awesome! I think it was the best meal we had while we were in Peru.
While we were there, a local television star came out and also gave the children presents and a TV set. It was hard to watch the children leave us and run to them and I know I had to check my heart. It was easy to feel like these people were cutting in on our limited time we had with the children but when it comes down to it, the bottom line is that the children reap the benefits.
The TV station finally left and the children came back to finish making their crafts and playing.
By the time we left, the children tied green bracelets around our wrists that had I love Hogar de Ninos written on them. (I love the children’s home). We didn’t give the children a giant screen TV, we gave them our hearts and our love and they reciprocated by giving us these bracelets, not the TV station.
We found out that the home was recently robbed so we took a love offering and was able to bless Pastor Christian, who runs the home, with $800. This will help them to install an alarm system and much, much more.
Peru Mission Trip-Day 6
Wheelchair Distribution in Carabayllo
This was another area hit hard by poverty. They had no running water and as you can see in the pictures, nothing green grows here. A water truck comes by every day and the people take whatever containers they have and fill them up with the water. The picture with the houses are what they all looked like. Some of the walls were made of what looked like palm branches woven together. It was amazing to see the size if them as well.
A mission team from Healing Place Church was there and we got to minister with them.
We handed out several wheelchairs and had the opportunity to share God’s love with them and also prayed with and loved on the people who got them. We had so much fun playing with the children here that day. We danced, we sang, we hugged and loved them and I was struck by how freely these children, who appear to have nothing, loved us.
Peru Mission Trip-Day 5
Fun Day!
A few of our team members went to check out the beach. Tami is breathing in some fresh air, and our very own adventurer, Lorenzoooo, is taking a quick dip. Since it is Peru’s winter, the water was freezing! After a walk on the beach in Trujillo and a nice lunch, we boarded our second home, the bus, and prepared for a 12 hour bus ride back to Lima. You learn alot about people when there are 20 people on one bus for that long. As one of the team leaders and sheriff in town, I learned that the best way to cope with the situation could be summed up in just one word… Dramamine. I wasn’t really worried about anyone really getting sick, I just wanted peace on the bus 
One of the pictures is our wonderful host going above and beyond her call of duty. If you look carefully on the right side of the picture, you can see our very spiritual leader, Pastor Joey.
I will try my best to describe the scene here.
After many hours on the road, lots of Lomo Saltado and other Peruvian dishes, all the drugs I pumped into everyone, no chemicals in the bathroom, and many other things that can’t (and shouldn’t be shared), the bathroom didn’t exactly smell as fresh as it could have. We voted for our team insomniac, Ted, to go in and open up the window in there and the third picture is of our very spirit-filled hosts locking him in the bathroom, while he is attempting this heroic feat.
I know we all made a pact that what happens in Peru stays in Peru but this was too funny not to share!
Peru Mission Trip-Days 3 & 4
Wheelchair Ministry
Camino De Vida works with many municipalities in Peru to supply wheelchairs to those in need. They have donated over 30,000 wheelchairs so far and the number is climbing! We heard so many testimonies from the recipients. Some of them had not been able to leave their homes in years because they had no way to get around. In my mind, I had pictured only elderly men and women and maybe some accident victims who were unable to walk. I was not prepared to see infants and small children who needed them as well. Because of the poverty in the nation, many treatable diseases and conditions go untreated and the results are seen in a few the pictures here.
We went to several of the towns and met several mayors who are deeply indebted to Camino De Vida for their wheelchair ministry. Pastor Joey was able to share the Gospel at each wheelchair presentation and we saw many people accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.
It was hard to watch the government officials who seemed more interested in the ‘politics’ of handing these out while we were interested in meeting not only physical needs but spiritual needs as well.
We watched the people’s faces as they were paraded around in new wheelchairs and how they were filmed so everyone could see how they are being helped by the government. Their faces looked down-trodden and sad and I wondered what they were thinking. After the presentations, our team was able to love on them and pray with them. We handed out tracts and told them about Jesus. As Pastor Joey put it, “There faces lit up when we were ministering to them.” They felt our love and the love of Jesus Christ when we hugged them and shared parts of our souls with them.
I John 4:19, “We love because He first loved us.”
Peru Mission Trip Day 2-Cont
Day 2
Nancy Cole Women’s Shelter in La Victoria
This area is also not very safe and in one the poorest neighborhoods. Pastor Lilian, who has a heart for these women and runs the shelter, does not want to leave the area. She wants to stay and minister to the local women there. An Assembly of God church is blessing them by coming in November to build them a 3 story building. It’s amazing what the church can accomplish when we let the Lord lead us.
When we arrived, they were having their worship service. To walk into this room and hear them praising the Lord was one of the most moving experiences of my life. I have never felt God’s presence more than at that moment and it was almost too overwhelming for my heart to take. To watch these women praise God in spite of their circumstances and to trust Him with their hearts encouraged me so much. Many of them come from some type of abusive background, rape and incest are very common. The picture with the baby is of one of our team members, Linda, holding the result of one of these horrific acts. He belongs to a 15 year old girl who was raped by her own father. I could not even imagine what this young lady must have felt as she felt this innocent child growing inside of her. Regardless of the event that occured, this beautiful baby’s real father is our Heavenly Father. We were able to pray with her and encourage her and she knows that the Lord has an incredible plan and purpose for her life. She is one of the most courageous women, if you can call her that, that I know.
We also prayed over each and every woman there and it was amazing. As we prayed, I felt like I was in the very throne room of God Almighty.
Philippians 4:6
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Peru Mission Trip Day 2-Church
Day 2
Camino De Vida church service. It was awesome to worship there. I actually understood some of what Pastor Robert was sharing. I know he was talking about the Israelites complaining about their continual diet of pan y agua (bread and water) and I laughed when he said [of the Israelites] Yo tengo alli de gallina y Lomo Soltaldo! I am sure I spelled all that wrong but focus on the story here…
This church is so commited to ministering to the people in Peru. They have so many ministries, I can’t even begin to mention them here. Click here to find out more. The music was so energizing and God’s presence was definitely there. It was cool to watch the worship band praising God and bouncing up and down. (I am a fellow bouncer).
There is something extraordinary that happens when worshiping in another language. It is so beautiful. I have noticed that people of other nations worship so much more freely than we do in the US. I keep asking myself why that is.
We got to see Pastor Nick and meet his new bride, Kristin. They are only a few off the many people at Camino De Vida who are making an impact in Peru. His enthusiam for Jesus pours out of him. One day on one of our long (12 hour) bus rides, I got a chance to talk to Veronica, one of our hosts from Camino De Vida. She shared her heart with me and I was so humbled by her love for the Peruvian people and her commitment to Pastor Robert and the church. Her sweet, gentle spirit is refreshing and I am so thankful for all her help while we were there.
I am also grateful for our other host, Leah, for all her help and for keeping us entertained! Her heart for children is apparent as we watched her interacting with them. She was a blessing to our team.
Peru Mission Trip- Day 1
Day 1
We began our time of ministry in Peru by going to an area that you will definitely not see in the brochures. We were told it could be dangerous and were warned ahead of time to wear old clothes, to take off any jewelry and not carry any money. We planned on meeting with Camino De Vida’s evangelism team to help minister to the street people. We had to argue with our bus driver because he did not want to drive into the area we wanted him to. He was very vocal about this and some of the team member’s looked a little nervous. The pastor heading up the team there saw our bus and jumped on and told us all that we would be safe and it was ok to enter.
This was a drug infested part of town where the homeless lived under a bridge. Pastor Nick’s evangelism team had started going to the main square that was a few blocks away. They had been ministering there for several months when they were invited into this area where no one dared to enter. The streets are filled with homeless people and the children are known as ‘piranhas’ because they would gang up on a person and rob them. Basically strip them of everything like a piranha would do. But these children did not harm us in any way. We came filled with the spirit of God and under a covering of prayer and were able to love on these children and play with them. We also cooked hotdogs and made sandwiches for them. We handed out over 100 Bibles and we signed them for them as well. We shared our lives and testimonies with them and prayed with and over them.
Pastor Nick really has a heart for them to know Christ and he and his team have been going there several times a week. They have started to clean the area by picking up trash and sweeping and washing the streets. What an incredible witness of God’s love they show. The community has been pitching in as well. Pastor Nick shared with us how they were going to paint the houses and the area they live in and when I asked him who was paying for the supplies, he said, “I am not sure but God will provide.” His faith encouraged my heart and our team took a love offering and was able to give them $300. Not only did they paint the area in 3 beautiful colors, they were able to feed the children a few more times and get them much needed supplies.
I left wondering just how much difference could 17 people make in one day when the needs are so great. When I think about how the Lord could make 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish feed over 5000 people, I understand the meaning of Matthew 19:26, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” This was one day that this community of people did not go hungry.
Peru Mission Trip
I am going to attempt to post some pictures of a mission trip to Peru that I just returned from. It was amazing! This was my second trip there and I plan on going back.
I am going to share what the Lord did there and what He did in and through our team.
Our team had 17 people on it and a few of us had been there before. We have a sister church in Lima, Peru, Camino De Vida, that we partner with while we are there. This church is amazing and is changing the lives of many people. They have over 50 ministries. They share the love of Jesus and minister to these people in practical ways by feeding, clothing and meeting real needs.
Click here to read about Pastor Robert and Karen who started the church.
Here is one of my journal entries from June 22:
I am so excited and full of anticipation about the Peru trip. It’s so cool to know that our team has been hand picked by God. He has a special plan and purpose for each of us. I pray that all of our hearts would be open to His plan for us. Bind us all together, Lord, in unity with one heart and one soul, one purpose. I pray for a fruitful harvest and that many lives would be changed, not only for those we will be ministering to in Peru, but for what God is going to do for each team member.
On the day we left, July 14, it was my 5 year anniversary of surrendering my heart and life to Jesus and the day I finally got sober. There was no where I would rather have been on that special day than to be serving my Creator and furthering His kingdom.
Finally!
I figured it was about time to start blogging! I think this will be a great way to share God’s love and what He has been doing in people’s lives, starting with mine.
