Author: Pam

Hello Everyone!
The past several months have been full of new friends, new adventures, and exciting opportunities and I’m thrilled to

share some of that with you. Our “missions group season” ended the second week of August. From the last week of May through the middle of August I got to meet a whole lot of new people, several hundred from different missions groups that visited here with us, and then hundreds more from helping the groups with their outreach ministries. We went into schools and different communities to share a meal, built houses for people and ran medical clinics, all the while sharing the gospel with the adults and children in each place. I was honored to get to participate with these groups from the US who sacrificed to come and help us.

In the months since the groups have left I have continued working with my kids’ classes at New Life Baptist Church, with the various Bible studies I do in the area called Los Cedros (The Cedars) of Manchay, and Rio Seco as well as several studies I do out of my home. It has been a joy to watch as some of those I work with have chosen to follow Christ in salvation and others have chosen to eliminate the idols that have captured their hearts and have offered them escapes from this reality (alcohol, drugs, Netflix, etc). It’s been such a privilege to see God working in these people I love.

But in the last few months I have also had the privilege of returning to several of the areas where we did outreach events with the groups to do some follow up. My hope has been to reach out to people who heard the gospel at these events and have some of the one on one conversations that they may need, answer questions they may have, and help to get them plugged into a community of believers, whether it is a Bible believing church nearby or a Bible study/Bible club that meets in their area. I have been spending a couple days a week walking in the market and other areas of an area called Retamal in Manchay running into people who recognize me from the events and connecting with them again. Please be praying as God directs me to the people who are ready for Him, who desire to learn more and need the guidance of how or when or where.

I’ve also had the chance to connect with a teacher from one of the schools we visited. At school she has told several kids about the Bible Clubs (kids on Thursdays, teens on Saturdays) that we have in los Cedros Manchay and over the last few months several of her students have come to visit and check out what we are doing. We have 7 who are coming faithfully between the two studies just from her recommendations. She and I have also had the chance to visit the homes of some of her students and meet their families. From that outreach we’ve had a few ladies who have started going to the ladies’ Bible study that our pastor and a few other women from our church run in Manchay on Thursdays as well. Please be praying as we continue to work in following up with some of these kids who we got to meet with the missions groups and as we work to reach out to their families.

There’s one very special story I want to share with you from our Bible club in Rio Seco. We have a young, 5 year old girl named Valentina who comes faithfully each time. Her dad will walk her to club and then has one of the older kids walk her home. But in club she has always seemed very shy, not talking much with the other kids nor participating in the games. She knows the other kids, but has always seemed to just be a shy, timid, little girl. A few weeks ago 2 new girls her age started coming with one of their moms. The mom stayed for the ladies’ study while the 2 girls sat with, talked, played and listened with Valentina. The next club meeting they returned and both moms came. The club meeting after that the 2 mom’s (with their girls) returned along with another mom friend and her 2 kids. I sat down and had a conversation with one of the moms. It turns out Valentina, the shy, timid 5 year old had invited 2 friends from school to Bible club. They came and loved it, the mom loved learning, and the mom then invited others. There are now 4 new kids and 3 new moms coming faithfully to Bible club because of the invitation of a 5 year old girl. I love it.

Thank you all so much for you continued support – in prayer, finances, and encouragement. I get to be here as boots on the ground, but only because you sacrifice. Thank you. Please continue praying for Valentina and her friends (and their moms) as they hear and begin to understand the gospel. Please be praying for my teacher friend Diana and her outreach amongst her students. Please be praying as I visit Retamal that God would help me be what the community needs. And please be praying for our upcoming Christmas programs and the program I do with my kids over summer break, that God would provide the finances we need for these events. Thank you so much!!!!

Serving with Joy- Pam Drout

Hello Everyone!

I sincerely hope that you are all doing well, and want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you have done to make what God has privileged me to do possible; your prayers, your encouragement, your fellowship, and your support have made lots of opportunities possible and I can’t wait to find out one day how God has chosen to multiply them.

Throughout April, May and June of this year the core of the ministries I participate in have continued on with kids, teens and ladies growing closer to the Lord and learning more.  I’ve seen a couple college and career age young women slowly but surely returning to church and the things of the Lord, kids telling their friends about our Bible clubs and inviting them to come, and people in the community I’ve chatted with for years come to know Christ.  It’s been a wonderful and joyous time the last few months.

The last few months have also brought several new, exciting, and terrifying opportunities that I want to share with you.  At the end of April I travelled back to Piura (the city I visited in September) to conduct a two-day Sunday school and children’s ministry training event.  I had the privilege of working with a group of about 40 people from 6 area churches, teaching on topics including what the Bible teaches about children, what it means to “minister” or “serve,”  a survey of the stages of childhood development (physical, moral, spiritual, cognitive, and emotional) and how digital media has changed the structure and function of the brain.  We also spent time talking about classroom management, safety, visual aids, games, Bible verse memory, and music. 

While in Piura I was also given the opportunity to speak at an event for single young women.  I had been asked to speak for about an hour and 15 minutes more or less on the theme of “young Christian women in the face of feminism.”   After lots of study, and determining exactly what feminism is and isn’t, I spoke to about 120 young women from about 8 different churches on what exactly it is, our misconceptions and our responses to truth/deception, authority and identity.

To be quite honest, at first I was thrilled to be invited to both speak at the young ladies’ event and conduct the training seminar, but then fear and insecurity began to creep in.  I knew the topic I’d been asked to speak on at the ladies event was so vast it was often turned into a field of study in universities, and also that many churches had many different ideas as to what it meant.  I saw posts from a few friends attending other children’s ministry training events, and saw posts from a few organizations known for training in children’s ministry around the world and began to question what I had to bring to the table… why ask me instead of one of these professional organizations.  God quickly reminded me (like – within 10 minutes of seeing some of these posts) of the young boy who gave the bread and fish to Christ.   The young boy didn’t multiply the food himself, nor did he choose what Jesus did with it.  He just gave it, let God decide how to multiply it and let Jesus decide who would get what.  Each time I began to doubt, I remembered, my job was to give.   I may never know how God has chosen to multiply what was taught during that trip, but I do know it changed a few lives and I was asked to return next year to conduct both events again as well as invited to conduct the training in some other areas as well.

Here in Cieneguilla, I have had the opportunity to conduct the first part of the children’s ministry training seminar, and to participate in several other new ministry opportunities within the community.  Life is returning back to normal after Covid, which for us means several missions groups coming and working with Mike and Chelene Kennedy, New Life Children’s Home, and New Life Baptist Church to minister to schools, churches, and neighborhoods here in Lima.  I’ve been so blessed to be a part of the ministry team – teaching and translating – with the groups a few days a week over the last month and a half.  I’ve had the chance to translate the gospel and testimonies in several area schools, to translate lessons at church, to help build houses and feed people who struggle to get by.  I’ve also been privileged to participate as we have done ministry in a local rehab center – honestly probably one of my absolute favorite places to minister!  I have personally had the opportunity to share the gospel with several individuals, some accepting Christ, and some who have begun coming to church with us.  

Again, thank you so much for all you all do.  Without your dedication to Christ, to missions, to your church, and to those who serve I would not get to be here.  Thank you for being the resources that our great Source uses in His work.

Serving with joy – Pam Drout

So Long Summer – And Hello Everyone!

Our 2024 summer vacation has just ended and the school year has now begun so I want to update you on some of the exciting activities and events I have had the opportunity to participate in through January and February and let you know about some upcoming ministry opportunities.

New Life Baptist Church Children’s Classes:  This summer the Wednesday and Sunday night children’s classes that I teach at New Life Baptist Church have started studying different stories of God’s grace throughout the Bible, beginning with several men and women of the Old Testament.  The number of kids in class continues to increase and that is an encouragement because it means the number of adults attending services is also increasing.  Because of that I have been in desperate need of help and just last week one of the college and career aged young men in the church has stepped up to help with the Sunday evening classes. .    

Thursday & Saturday Manchay Bible Clubs:  Each year during the summer we like to help out the families in Manchay by running a program that allows the kids and teens to earn their school supplies by coming to Bible club, showing up on time, listening, learning verses with their meanings, and participating in class.  Several of the older kids and teens have gotten very competitive over the last few years, seeing who can memorize the most verses and earn the most points.  Yes, the school supplies are a motivator, but they have also enjoyed the friendly competition amongst themselves, specifically trying to beat the one young lady who has had the top score three years in a row.   No, they didn’t beat her this year but they sure came close and she got very nervous!    We had our reward night just recently on March 7th and the kids enjoyed getting to choose which supplies they wanted, and it always makes them happy to be able to help their families in that way.  In the last two months we had 3 new families move into the area and begin participating in Bible club.  Between those families there are 12 kids that will continue participating in our preschool and elementary school program on Thursdays and 3 teens who are participating in our teen program on Saturdays.  

Sunday Afternoon Río Seco Kid’s Club:  The Rio Seco Kid’s club continues to be a highlight of the week for me, but also constitutes quite a burden on my heart.   As I mentioned in my last letter, we have moved from meeting in the street to a plot of land that we have been allowed to use.   We had leveled the land by the end of the year and we now have shade, wire fencing up to keep the dogs out (and people during the week), and benches to use for class. 

This area in Rio Seco experienced some devastating flooding a year ago after heavy rains in the mountains continued downstream and then a cyclone (southern Pacific version of a hurricane) touched land in Lima and then continued to move north into those same mountains where the water returned back downstream into Lima (Rio Seco being part of Lima).  Many of the families in the area lost everything but have no where else to go and so they had no choice but to rebuild.   We have entered into another summer/fall season, and one in which Peru has been expecting heavier than normal rains with El Niño and so the families have been nervous.   As we began Bible club two weeks ago now, it was cloudy out, and as the games went on it began to drizzle and then rain.   As the rain got harder around us, the kids began to get very fearful.   Parents began to show up, also very fearful, some visibly trembling.  We cut the games and song time short and I gave a quick 3 minute lesson about Jesus showing His power over nature and about trusting Him even when we doubt.  I kept the language as something a child could understand, but I was speaking to the large group of parents that had gathered as much as to the kids.  We then dismissed everyone about 50 minutes early.   Please continue to pray for the families of Rio Seco, both the children and their parents, as they continue to heal from the trauma of the flooding last year and that those events and the need for healing would continue to push them toward Christ.

Vacation Bible Schools:  This summer God gave me the chance to help out several different churches with their vacation Bible schools.   I have been working with the VBS for one church for the last 6 years (with a year off for Covid) and this year was a new adventure for them.   They moved locations and while only 5 of the church kids showed up (out of about 10), there were approximately 20 kids from the neighborhood who came each day.  We got to share the gospel with them and 2 of them accepted Christ as Savior.  There is a group of about 8 of them who are now consistently attending that church.  

I was also given the opportunity to organize the VBS for New Life Baptist Church this year.  We saw 78 different kids come between the 3 days, averaging 50 each afternoon and we had about 15 people helping us out with the event.  The last day we had 7 kids who expressed a desire to accept Christ as Lord and Savior with several others asking great questions but who were not quite ready to make that decision yet.  Several of the kids who visited us during VBS have started coming to the kids classes at our church on Sunday and Wednesday nights, so that is a joy to see.

Upcoming Opportunities:  Please be praying as I have been given the chance to travel to Piura in April to run a 3 day children’s ministry training seminar for the churches in that area as well as speak for a single ladies evening fellowship.  I have also been given the opportunity to travel to another area called Trujillo and do a children’s ministry training conference in that area in either September or October but we are still finalizing those plans, so I do very much covet your prayers.   

Thank you all so very much for continuing to support me in prayers, fellowship and finances.  I appreciate all you do

¡Feliz Año! Happy New Year!

Among the many things I struggle with in this life, one of those is knowing just how to express my gratitude to the people who have done so much for me.  Right now, that includes you all.   Your prayers, your support, your encouragement and your fellowship have all gone such a long way in supporting myself personally and the work that God is doing here in Cieneguilla, Peru.   Thank you so very much.  Here are some of the things that have been accomplished, or that have happened in the last several months.

New Life Baptist Church Children’s Classes:  In the last several months several of the families of New Life Baptist Church have started attending Sunday Evening and/or Wednesday evening services more faithfully.  We also have 2 teachers who have started inviting several of their students to come on Wednesday evenings.   My class for 2-12 year olds on Sunday evenings has jumped from 10 to about 16 kids and we have spent the last several months talking about the lives of Peter and Paul (as many kids struggle to remember which was which).   My Wednesday evening classes have increased from about 7 kids to about 16 as well, the majority being 8 and up, and we have spent the last several months talking about the armor of God and the influences around us.  

Thursday Manchay Kid’s Club:  Our Thursday club in Manchay is still going strong.   In November the kids had a group challenge.  We challenged them to memorize 30 verses as a group in 4 weeks.  While the 15 of the regular kids didn’t hit the goal in 4 weeks (the first week all of the kids literally forgot and another week there was a school field trip so only 6 kids were in Bible club), they did finish it in 5 weeks, so we rewarded the group with french fries.   A few weeks later we had a combined Christmas dinner (Rotisserie Chicken) with the ladies Bible study and then a few days before Christmas I met with the kids to give them gifts and Paneton.  Two new families moved to the area recently and have started attending the kid’s club, ladies study and my teen study so we are now running about 23 kids on Thursdays during the school year and 30ish during summer break.

Saturday Manchay Teen Study:  In October one of the teens in the girl’s Bible study suddenly asked if she could invite a friend.   I readily agreed, somewhat surprised since I am constantly telling them at the end they can invite friends if they want.  To make a long story short, she brought her friend, who brought her boyfriend, and those two plus one regular attender accepted Christ as Savior.  Then suddenly we were down to 1-2 people attending each week because of school events and the teens had rehearsals for class competitions every Saturday for most of November.  But in December the 7 regular girls plus the 2 visitors came back and were attending faithfully.  On December 2nd there were 4 teen boys sitting in the meeting space with a huge sound system set up, just hanging out until later that afternoon where they were doing the music for a party.  I invited them over to Bible study and 2 ran the opposite direction and 2 got really interested and joined us.  And then they joined us the following 2 weeks.  And as school break began the 6th graders moving up into secondary were invited to join us.   Last week we had 15 teens (girls and guys) participating in our study on the grace of God through the lives of men and women in the Old Testament, and how it relates to God’s grace today.  It is so thrilling to watch these teens get excited about coming and bringing friends.

Sunday Afternoon Río Seco Kid’s Club:  As we enter summer here, weather has been getting warmer and the sun seems to be getting stronger.  Meeting in front of a house in the street, with the kids playing in the dust and sun and then sitting on a concrete curb with no shade has been difficult.   We began running into problems with neighborhood dogs coming around as well (many follow their kids) and getting into fights amongst the kids.  In November a couple people in Río Seco began to offer us plots of land that we could use to meet on (no shade, not cleared of rocks,) but many were about 10 streets away from where we were currently meeting.   We were ready to move to begin to clear one and put up shade when the owner decided not to allow us to use it.  And I thank God for that intervention, because a week later we were offered a plot of land to use about 30 feet from where we were currently meeting, on the same street.   My sending church, Midland Baptist Church, sent the money we needed and we have cleared the land, put up shade, built benches (items that can’t easily disappear) and are now meeting on the cleared land.   Being in the shade and away from the dogs and distractions, the kids listen better and participate more.   Several have declared they have accepted Christ in the last several months and it is such a joy to see.  

Thank you all so very much for your participation in the work God is doing here through your prayers, support and encouragement.   I would not be able to continue here without you all.  

Hello Everyone!

There is an idea that was repeated several times over the years while I was in Bible college: the idea that in the ministry you can’t just be flexible but you must be fluid, able to fit into any container (situation) presented.  I’ve thought about that idea many times over the years but it came to mind and was frequently put into use throughout July and August.   

Piura Trip

In my last letter I mentioned a trip to another part of Peru that some friends and I were going to take at the end of July.   The plan was to participate in some youth events that would occur during the 2 week winter break here, and get the chance to know another part of Peru.   Well, that plan changed, and changed, and then changed again.  My friend was unable to make the trip in July so the plan was then the 2nd week of August, and then the last week of August, and then the first week of September.   The trip has been “solidified” and planned for September 18th… plane tickets purchased, housing arrangements made, and events planned.   For a person who likes to plan ahead for activities and lessons and events for the ministries here having the date so unknown was quite a stretch, but we made it!  (Prayerfully!   As I write this it is still a week away from the trip and God does have a wonderful sense of humor.)

Rio Seco

As I also mentioned in my last letter, several months ago a Bible club (for kids) and Bible study (for moms) was started up in an area called Rio Seco, meeting every other Sunday afternoon.   A church located several hours away had been running the Bible club with our church.  At the end of June power was restored in the area of Rio Seco, and while attendance began to dwindle a little bit because tv’s were back on and kids weren’t as bored, it quickly rose again and we have been averaging about 25-30 kids and 7 women each event.  Sunday, August 20th was International Children’s Day – a big day of celebration here in Peru.   We started off with a few games and then I got to do a 20 minute lesson focused solely on the gospel.  Throughout the activities of the afternoon we had 11 kids and 3 parents acknowledge accepting Christ as Savior and we have been working to follow up with them.  The afternoon ended with a big program of songs, more games, Bible memorization, snacks, and gifts for the kids.  A youth group in WV had donated a bunch of school supplies which came back with me in June.  The church a few hours away then took those supplies and were motivated to add to them, and gift bags of school supplies were handed out to all the kids there that day – approximately 40!

In the weeks since, the church several hours away has turned the Bible club and study over solely to our church.   The kids have stayed faithful even in noticing about half the workers aren’t there anymore, which was a concern.  Please be praying as we continue to minister in Rio Seco and are searching for a safer and more permanent locale where we can meet.   We have been meeting at the end of a street, in front of a house which has a cement curb to sit on, but are looking for a place where we won’t be in the street, can bring in shade, places to sit, and minimize distractions.  

Manchay Teens

In July I finally got the chance to start meeting with my teen girls in Manchay again.  We did have to keep it fluid as school schedules were changing, tutoring and make up classes were being scheduled on weekends and the local school had a Saturday field trip for the teens that kept getting postponed week after week (it would mean no Bible club whatever day it finally happened).   We also found the local soup kitchen we used added new locks on some of the doors but forgot to leave us the keys, so a very enterprising young 5 year old put his small frame to use in burrowing under doors for us to get in the building and unlock it from inside!  (With permission from the caretaker when we called her that first week and then the 2 times it happened afterwards).   The girls and I have enjoyed getting to spend time together, and several of the girls have invited friends who have been faithful to join us each week as we study how to read the Bible for ourselves.   

Thank you all so much for your continued prayers as ministry opportunities about in these areas as well as in the many other areas you have given me the privilege to serve.  

Hello Everyone!

Furlough:           

For years I have been interested in missions.  I read biographies and autobiographies, learned what I could about different parts of the world and read a lot of different prayer or news letters from missionaries past and present. Still, as much as I have read and researched, I struggle in giving just a straight forward report – I like stories more than numbers.  But, I’m going to try and see what kind of story the numbers of furlough creates:

16,060 Miles flown 24 Different beds

8,879 Miles driven 20 Different churches/meetings

94 Days in the U.S. 2 Major injuries

If I look at the numbers (and share them with you) only a very small portion of the story is told… the whirlwind that was furlough.  The blessings, the joys, the love, the relationships, the serious conversations and the fun ones – none of that is seen in the numbers, and that is more important.   Yes, my furlough (March 7 – June 7) was a whirlwind of travel and busyness, but it was also jam packed with time with friends and family, meeting new people, chances to minister, counsel and teach, the opportunity to pray with like-minded people, and the chance to communicate the opportunities in ministry that God has privileged me with.  So the last three months of furlough were wonderful.  Thank you all for making my trip wonderful and taking such good care of me.

Return:

On June 8th I arrived back in Peru and began the process of jumping back into some of the ministries I was working in before my furlough, turning some of those ministries over to the people who ran them while I was away, and starting in new areas.  

I have returned to New Life Baptist Church in Cieneguilla to teach their children’s ministry classes on Sunday and Wednesday evenings, and have started helping more with the youth/teens as well.  Upon returning I took about half an hour one day to visit New Life Christian School and received excited greetings from many of the students and teachers there.  (I had substituted for the English teacher for 2 months in the prior school year.). Several of the students have asked if I will come back and teach, and while I told them I did not have plans to, they did get excited when I mentioned I would be talking with the school director about spending time at the school to teach some chapels again and other workshops.  While we haven’t set any firm dates, I am excited to get back involved in the lives of the students in the school in some way.

Two weeks ago I got to head back into Manchay, see the kids from the Bible study there, and start working with them again.  While I was gone there was a 17 year old young man from the church who has expressed an interest in going into missions, and he began to work with the kids some, and has asked to stay on, help me, and learn as we go forward.  I was thrilled to see my kids again and to hear about how things have been going the last 3 months, but I am also thrilled that God has provided help, and someone who not only wants to help, but learn how to do it on his own.  

Unfortunately I haven’t had the chance to see my teen girls yet as their school schedule changed this year, dismissing at 6:30pm instead of 6:00pm.  However, we have spoken via WhatsApp messaging and in the next week will begin Saturday Bible study again.  The current struggle is half want to meet in the morning and half in the afternoon (some have tutoring in the morning, the others the afternoon), so we are trying to figure out the best way to make sure everyone has the chance to be involved as much as possible.   Please be praying as we try to work through this.

I am so excited to let you know that there is now a kid’s club (and requests for a few others) in Rio Seco.  It is an area I have been burdened for, for 3 years now and each time I was a week or two away from getting something started some obstacle got in the way.  One of the biggest obstacles is that I was alone in being available to work in a ministry there.  But during the flooding several months ago about 5 people from a church a few hours away joined up with about 3 from ours to begin a kids club.  The people involved from both churches has increased and the number of people in Rio Seco asking us to come near their homes to do a club has increased as well.  In August the other church will turn the ministry completely over to us and head to a new area.   I am so excited to be a part of this ministry in Rio Seco.   Please be praying that God gives us a smooth transition in the coming months. 

Hello Everyone!

            Sometime in October I was taking part in a Bible study with a group of friends and we were talking about ministering to others.  We had been talking about some of the hinderances in ministry I think and one person commented that we must remember we aren’t in a battle against physical circumstances, but it is a spiritual battle.  It’s one of those things we all know and consider, but that day it struck me as something I needed to focus on.   The topic came up again in other conversations that week, or in books I was reading, or in other ways – and I couldn’t get it out of my head.  

            The last time that I was in the U.S. I had bought several Bible studies for future use including one on the Armor of God.  I dug the workbook out and began to study through it.  As I was studying through it several of the women at the rehab center where I was doing a weekly Bible study and teen girls in the Bible club Manchay began asking about topics clearly related to the spiritual battles we face – things regarding the influence of media in our lives and culture, the influences that different substances have on our bodies and minds, and how to discern truth.   It was clear to me that studying the spiritual battles we face and the armor of God would be helpful in both situations, so through November, December and January we did just that.  

Through our studies there were a couple of ladies who accepted Christ as Savior – recognizing the price of their sin and need of a Savior.  Several others grew in incredible ways; some learning that just as counterfeit money looks like the real thing and not Monopoly money, the lies of Satan will look like truth or will look good and not like outright lies.  Two of the ladies began questioning some of the Buddhist teachings they were being taught at the rehab center and chose to work with a trained Christian psychologist instead (and are doing well).  

            The topic of spiritual battles and the armor of God became very real to me in other ways throughout the last few months as well.  Throughout November and December I was asked to fill in for the last two months of the school year for a teacher in our school who needed to leave.  I was going non-stop each day from 4am until 10pm between teaching and preparing lessons as well as continuing to teach the Bible 6 times a week in different Bible studies and my other responsibilities in the orphanage and my own home.   Throughout November and December I faced battles several battles – from managing expectations (my own as well as those of others), motivation, drive, and exhaustion.   By the end of December when the school year was over my brain shut down.  

            I begged God throughout that time for the energy and focus to study and teach my Bible studies (which had been reduced to 4 a week due to ministries combining for summer break) and He was gracious in giving the ability to, but the moments in between I couldn’t focus on anything.  Reading my Bible was hard. Praying was hard.  I kept at it, but it was hard.  I share this with you because you are my “supporters” – my support, I want you to know I am not a machine and I tire out, but God is gracious and gave me the rest I needed through January to jump back into the battle fully charged.

            But – the theme of the spiritual battle didn’t end.   In February a friend of mine called asking if I would come to his church and help them do VBS, the theme – Christ is my superhero.  He gave me the topics of lessons he wanted, and so the last full week of February I spent my time with kids in another sector of Manchay, several miles from where my Bible club is, talking about the villains we battle in this life including loneliness, anger and fear, and how Christ is always willing to help us when we call upon Him – Cristo Ayudame!  (Christ Help me!)

            The church was under construction so VBS was held a few miles away where the church has been temporarily meeting for awhile.  Because of that the majority of the kids who came were from the neighborhood and were not part of their church or any church.   We fought battles with loud traffic and music, but at the end of the week we saw 14 kids and 2 moms accept Christ as Savior.  A few of the kids showed up for church the next Sunday.

            Thank you all so much for your patience as it has been 4 months since my last news/prayer letter.  Thank you for your continual support and prayers, they really do make a difference.  Please continue praying as next week I travel to the US for a short furlough to update some of the supporting churches I haven’t been to in six years and visit with family.   Be praying also for the rehab center ministry specifically.   They moved locations a few weeks ago to an area over an hour away and we are working to figure out a way to continue working with them.  It is a ministry that has been so very close to my heart and while maybe God only had me in their lives for a short time and a specific purpose, I would still love to continue sharing God’s Word with them.  Thank you.

Greetings!

A few days ago I showed up to teach a Bible study and I found myself helping 2 ladies corral an

escaped horse first. (I found out later there are pictures!) I didn’t have to help, in fact 15 other women

stood by and watched, but I did it to continue strengthening my relationship with these women.

The whole scenario has caused me to stop and think of the unexpected, unanticipated, or just plain

crazy things that people will do just to minister, serve, or help in some way. I looked back over my journal

of events from the last two months and just smiled – and have chosen to share a few.

I think the biggest, “unexpected,” for me has been teaching English. I keep busy enough with the

Bible classes I teach (including studying, preparing activities, learning Spanish songs, etc.), errands for the

children’s home, and investing time with the kids at the home and the church that I purposely chose, for

now, not to teach English. I get 2-3 requests a week, some from serious students and others not so

serious, but teaching English isn’t really a passion or focus of mine. *(Disclaimer – I don’t believe it is

wrong or a waste of time. It is often a great ministry opportunity and opens many doors.)

But – I have a Bible study for teen girls in Manchay on Saturday mornings from 11:00-12:00. Ashley,

a 16 year-old young lady with cerebral palsy has started coming regularly over the last few months and

because of issues with mobility on the dirt hills with her wheelchair, she has to wait for someone to come

and take her home. Often she is with me until 12:45 and so we have started working on English. Her

pronunciation is amazing and she learns very quickly. We were talking the other week about a possible

future for her in teaching English via Zoom, or interpreting via the internet (which is done frequently now in

medical situations) and she began to cry. To know she has a skill to possibly develop and use to support

herself in the future has made a big difference in her outlook and motivation to continue homeschooling.

Working with Ashley caused me to stop and think through an order of what to teach, or different

topics to teach until she is capable of doing accredited classes. Little did I know, (pssst – secret – God

knew), that partway through October the English teacher at our Christian school would leave unexpectedly

and I would be asked to fill in and teach 11 grades, 25 classes a week, for the last two months of the

school year. (With one days notice and no curriculum.). Sometimes we find ourselves doing unexpected

things.

I have a list of several more; from driving friends to the ER, in an area I’ve never been, in the middle

of the night, to substituting as “family” for a few ladies during Family Day at the women’s rehab center. But

I want to tell you about a few huge blessings that have happened over the last two months as well.

• My visa was renewed for another year.

• A teen in my Bible study told me she wants to teach the Bible one day like I do.

• I got to share the gospel with a mom during parent’s meeting at the school and she accepted Christ as

her Savior.

• Our mask laws, vaccine laws, and travel restrictions were lifted.

• We’ve seen 4 kids from the children’s home placed with families in the last few months.

Thank you so much for your continued prayers, support, and friendship. They mean so much to

me and none of this would be possible without them. Please continue praying as I work to plan my

upcoming furlough next year. I will be working on scheduling as well as trying to find a vehicle to use for a

few months. I also beg your prayers for my energy and wisdom over the next few months as I continue

with my regular ministries and responsibilities but continue to cover the English classes in our Christian

school as well. Thank you so much.

Hello!
Let’s jump right into it! July and August have full of NEW! New ministry opportunities, new friends, new kids, new plans and some new stuff (but also a lot of the “older” as well).

July started off with an opportunity to test my Spanish in a way I hadn’t before. A friend of mine from a camp where we worked years ago came to Peru as part of a medical missions team, and I got the opportunity to interpret for several of the doctors and medics and well as fill in here and there on the evangelism team for the three days they were in Manchay. It was a wonderful chance to gauge my Spanish abilities, and stretch them (and myself) in new ways. It has also been a wonderful reminder of what it is like to not be my own. Years ago I looked at one of our summer interpreters here at the orphanage and told her, “thank you for giving up your voice this summer to be the voice of others.” There were a few times in conversations I found myself wanting to interject something, but had to remember, I wasn’t there to be Pam, but to be the voice of someone else. It’s a small, but powerful illustration of what it means to be the hands and feet of Jesus. There are times the flesh of Pam wants to rise up and do something, but I have to remember I was bought with a price and I am not my own. It was a wonderful reminder, but the 3 days were also encouraging in letting me know I am doing well in comprehending and communicating in Spanish (in areas of medicine, directions, and the gospel), but also to see several thousand faces come through and be helped in areas physical and spiritual in such a short time was exhilarating. I was very much encouraged.

Throughout the summer I had a few different churches communicate with me in regards to VBS offerings, and I cannot tell you how timely and encouraging that has been as well. One church raised enough money to purchase nice Bibles (study or devotional Bibles as opposed to dollar store style gift Bibles) for my teens in Manchay as well as the older kids in several ministries I work with. Throughout June, July and August, the kids have been memorizing Bible verses and doing devotional pages to show they will use and care for the Bibles, and have been learning a lot. Six of the teens and three kids have earned their Bibles and another ten are set to get theirs in the next two weeks. I have started receiving texts from some of the kids throughout the week with questions regarding what the verses mean, or how a particular person fits into the historical timeline of the Bible – questions I haven’t prompted. It tells me they are exploring the Bible for themselves and willing to reach out for answers.


Another two churches sent me some money to use in any way that was needed, and I cannot express the blessing that those funds have been as well. I began noticing some issues with my car and ended up spending approximately $1520 to replace my tires, windshield, brakes and the majority of my door handles. (They were literally falling off in people’s hands!). While it isn’t always the easiest thing to promote to kids in a VBS, these funds have literally made it possible to travel to a new Bible study that got started a few weeks ago, and made it possible to get in and out of my car without having to climb in from the backseat (because of the inability to open some doors)!

In August I received a message from Mike Kennedy letting me know there was a women’s rehab center wanting someone to come teach a Bible study. The study has been going for three weeks now and has been a huge blessing. A friend of mine I used to disciple is coming with me each week, and we travel about 30 minutes into the middle of nowhere to meet with 20 ladies ranging from 14-50 who struggle with substance abuse or eating disorders. We spend about an hour and a half with them each week, playing games, singing, studying the Bible, and then enjoying a snack. We have so far been studying what it means to give glory to God, to be made in His image, and why we need a Savior. Several have been very responsive to the gospel, others a bit unsure. Please be praying as this ministry is continuing to form that we can be a blessing to the ladies there and above all that they would come to a saving understanding of the gospel.

Approximately every two years I head back to the US to report to 1/2 of my supporting churches. This upcoming March – May I will be back in the US, so please be praying as I try to schedule meetings with churches, places to stay, and figure out transportation. I am looking forward to being able to catch up with so many of you in person! Thank you again for your communication, support, and prayers. They are all so very needed and a big encouragement.

Pam Drout