september-october-2016-newsletter
Hello Friends!
After two months stationed in Midland, Michigan working and training others during VBS and Youth Conference events as well as helping my church out with some projects, in the beginning of September I packed up the prophet’s chamber I was living in, sent most of my stuff to storage, and found myself on the road, living out of my car, and houseless. After the first two weeks of living on the road the novelty of traveling and meeting new people began to wear off slightly and I began to throw the term homeless around in my mind but quickly recognized that no matter what, I am not homeless, merely houseless. This world is not my home, I am just here for a little while to get to know my God better and serve Him with all I am, and then one day He will take me home. Charleston, West Virginia (where I grew up) was never my home. My apartment in Midland, Michigan, was never my home but rather I have a heavenly home still waiting for me and at the moment I am merely houseless and thankful for every place to lay my head.
I began my current stint of traveling on September 11, 2016, and since then I have visited six different states and put another 4,508 miles on my car. I have met numerous people along the way and once again I can tell you that I have had opportunities to serve and learn that I never could have imagined. My main focus for my time when I am not in services has been preparation for the field in any venue I can find. I have spent numerous hours studying Spanish, reading different biographies and writings from missionaries past and present, and preparing materials that can be used in children’s and adult ministries, however some of the greatest lessons and learning opportunities have come in other ways.
In the last two months I had the chance to work for a few days at a mission and homeless shelter, helping prepare for a big event but also asking questions and learning everything they were willing to share about the how’s and why’s of their particular ministry. I spent some time volunteering in two different public schools, helping in a library and observing how kids learn and interact with each other. I also spent a day at a Christian school, talking with the teens, teaching them about ministry, God’s will, and Peru, while listening to them talk about the issues they currently face.
I was also overjoyed at the opportunity to run a children’s ministry training program at a church which was in the process of starting a junior church. Many of the churches I go to ask me to work in their children’s classes or to run a children’s class while I am there which always fills me with joy and brings out the fun side of me, but I love the chance to explain and pass on to others why I do what I do, showing them just how kids respond, learn, and engage when they are surrounded by loving, caring and involved teens and adults.
While traveling, training and ministering in different places the last two months I read a quote in the biography of George Müller written by A.T. Pierson which has stuck with me and continues to work in my own life and ministries. “In fifty thousand cases, Mr. Müller calculated that he could trace distinct answers to definite prayers.” We were created to bring God glory, and II Corinthians 4:15 tells me the thanksgiving of many for God’s abundant grace redounds (results in) God’s glory. Am I looking for God to work? If someone asked me, could I tell them exact answers to prayer I have seen? Could I say I saw God answer my prayers? Am I sharing specific requests so that direct answers can be seen?
God’s teaching me a lot, so here are four specific requests I have for you. Please pray that I will hit my goal of having my $10,000 set up fund (includes plane tickets, storage unit payments, and home set up needs) by December 31st. I am currently 62% there. Please also pray that I will see at least 5 of the churches I have visited in September and October take me on for support before the end of the year. Please pray that God gives me the time and the aptitude to get halfway through my Spanish vocabulary textbook in the next two months. Finally, please pray that I will have the opportunity to share the gospel with someone directly each place I travel. Thank you so much for your prayers and support.
Serving Christ, Pam Drout