Greetings from Peru!
Let me start off by thanking each and every one of you for your concern, encouragement, prayers, and support over the last several months specifically. I continue to see God working in so many different ways, and while He certainly doesn’t need us, it brings me such joy to know that He chooses to involve each of us, each of you in His work when we want to be involved. Thank you for wanting to and choosing to be involved in all He is doing here.
Over the last two months the restrictions in place to minimize the effects of the COVID-19 virus have eased some her in Peru, but not much. I am now able to use my personal vehicle and restaurants are open, as well as malls (with 40% occupancy), but many other restrictions remain in place. All types of social visits/events are still prohibited (even among extended family who don’t live together), including ministry related events. We are also still under a nightly curfew and full lockdown all day on Sundays except for medical workers.The minister of transportation announced a few days ago that the borders would provisionally open to international flights in October, but then the next day the minister of health announced that it wasn’t a sure thing. In the last week no one has actually clarified the situation.
In spite of the uncertainty and restrictions that the COVID-19 virus has brought, God still has plenty for me to do and I am enjoying every minute of it. Currently my days are full of different types of private lessons, studies, translation work, and spending time with the kids at New Life Children’s Home. Each child is so special and to love on them, letting them know they are valuable to me and even more valuable to God is such a joy. I am teaching private lessons in English to several kids three-four times a week each and I currently have five kids taking private music lessons. I am also doing one on one Bible studies with several different kids and adults weekly, some in person and others virtually in Spanish and English. Each Sunday while our older kids are in the Zoom church service with our pastor, I have a junior church lesson at the home with our younger kids.
Several years ago I wrote a twelve-week Bible study for single, college and career age women called, “The Single Priority,” and about two years worth of guided devotional journals (passages and questions), for junior-highers. I am currently editing them for use where owning a Bible isn’t a given, and then translating them into Spanish. A friend of mine here is helping me by checking to make sure the translations make sense!
I am so thankful God continues to give me work to do, people to love and teach, and different ways to plant seeds of the gospel and the love of God in the midst of this changing world, but my joy is still the greatest when I get to be a part of the moment when someone chooses to trust Christ as his/her Savior.
In early August one of the girls in the children’s home came and sat next to me on a bench in the common area and asked, “What is a testimony?” She had been asked to share a testimony with the other kids a few days later but was too embarrassed to admit in front of others that she didn’t know what one was. Normally there are a number of kids playing outside in our common area at any given moment each day, but that day for 1/2 hour no one was around and I got to share the gospel with her uninterrupted. By the end of our conversation she asked me, “Can I do that now? Can I accept that gift now?” with an anticipation in her voice. And accept the gift of salvation she did!
Now for my plea. Please, please keep praying. Please keep encouraging me. Please keep giving. I have seen God do wonders through your involvement and I beg of you not to stop. I wish I could tell you all the stories. I wish I could tell you all I have seen God do, because He does so much and it is so exciting to watch. Thank you so very, very much for you continued involvement.
~Pam Drout ~