2021

Hello Everyone!

A few months ago I was watching a church service online and heard a testimony from a veteran missionary about something he had learned after many years on the field.  I found myself in awe of that missionary for his willingness to be so publicly transparent.  The next day while reading John 3 and a few other passages, God reminded me that when we allow others to see who we really are, then HE can get the glory for the fruit.  He’s such a faithful God, continually reminding me that it is not my personal name that matters but His.

The last several months have been FULL of lessons, learning, small and great victories, friends and answers to very specific prayers.

Visa –  Thank you to all who prayed or encouraged me regarding the annual extension of my visa.   The process ended up going fairly smoothly and everything was approved.  I ask for prayers in advance of next year’s renewal (not just an extension, but a much more involved process) because with the changes the current president has made it may require a trip to the US for some new legal documents and paperwork.  Please pray as I work through those decisions.

Car – Cars have always been a “stressful” issue for me as they often tend to break down in the most inconvenient (and costly) ways and at the worst times.   I began to notice an issue with my car here so we had a mechanic come and look at it.  (Yes, he came to the Home, one blessing of MANY!). As I went to hear the diagnosis I saw my entire engine out of the car, open all over the ground and my heart sunk.  But God.  What would have cost thousands of dollars to fix in the US only cost me about $400 AND the car was ready to drive literally 2 minutes before I needed it for a special event in Manchay.  I did get a flat tire the next morning, but that was also a very easy fix, with wonderful help from the guys who work here at the orphanage, and only $5!

Manchay – Attendance at both the ladies’ Bible study and the kids’ Bible club in Manchay continues to steadily increase.  We had a celebration for the first day spring (big here in Peru), a month late, but wonderful just the same.  The women have been studying through the characteristics of a godly woman, and ended up doing a princess night including electing a queen, a woman actively demonstrating those characteristics.   The kids and I had a pizza party, where they they once again demonstrated their selflessness and caring for their families and I got to spoil them and love on them in a way that they rarely experience… more pizza than they could eat.  Several new kids came that night and have consistently attended since, some having accepted Christ as Savior in the weeks following.  

Please be praying as I consider a few more ways to minister to these kids and their families including devotional materials and other possibilities.   Most of these kids will not receive any gifts for Christmas and their families will struggle to come up with the money for basic school supplies in March.  Two years ago I ran a program in our Bible club where the kids earned points by attending, showing up on time, memorizing verses, participating, etc. and they used those points to “buy” school supplies.  Many felt so proud to be able to help their families in that way and were careful to choose only the more practical, needed items over some of the fun additions.  Funds permitting, I would love to be able to do that again this upcoming summer (end of December through first of March).

More – There is so much more to tell, and so little space.  My fridge has been acting up for a few months but God keeps it going.  I had been praying about a specific lesson series for my Sunday AM class but was very unsure, and the week prior to the new series God used a 6-year old in the class to reassure me – during the activity time he asked questions for 10 minutes non-stop regarding that exact topic.  God gave me the opportunity to begin learning Peruvian Sign Language from a visiting missions team and then a way to continue studying after they leave.  I was provided with some much needed space that I will be able to use for ministry storage, piano lessons, discipleship, and as a gathering place for small groups of people, etc.  I’m looking forward to slowly but surely put it all together.   I’ve begun teaching a Sunday night kids class at the church again and the intelligent questions the kids ask every week keep me on my toes and continually studying.

Thank you all so much for your prayers, support, and encouragement.  I LOVE getting to see the small and great things God does all around me – and He uses you all to do them.  Thank You.

Dear Friends,
The last few months, once again, have been a very stark reminder of my two, very different worlds.

February & March

In February and March I finished up my four-month furlough by:
~ visiting and updating several supporting churches in several different states,
~ participating in or leading several virtual and in-person Bible studies,
~ purchasing several items I need or would be helpful in Peru (which aren’t available there),
~ purchasing small gifts for the children of New Life Children’s Home (NLCH),
~ visiting with immediate family (after vaccinations) for the first time in several years,
~ enjoying the snow (sledding!!!) for the last time for a while,
~ navigating the world of travel during COVID; tests, timing, quarantines, closed rest areas, etc., ~ PACKING

There are a lot of other things, big and little, I could include in that list, but it is overwhelming trying to determine what is worth including in a one-page letter.

I do want to specifically thank those of you who were praying regarding the timing and results of the COVID testing I needed to enter Peru. It seemed as though things kept going wrong including the timing of the testing being off, typos (on the lab’s end) on the time of the test on the results page, no one answering phones, needed results never arriving, etc. Upon arrival in Peru I had a document showing a negative result 75 hours before arrival (72 hours or less was required for entry), but the results of the 2nd test I took 68 hours before arrival still had not come in. The lab’s website said the test still hadn’t been processed. (I received them 2 weeks later.) BUT GOD. God worked it out in a way only He could and I am convinced it was because of your prayers. Thank you.

April

I arrived back in Peru the night of March 30th and began my required two-week quarantine. I could see the kids and the workers of New Life Children’s Home, and even talk with them from quite a distance, but two weeks later I finally got to hug them, give them their gifts, and catch up.

I went from snow and sweatshirts to sun, flip-flops, and sunscreen (oh yeah, bug-spray too). I went from being in church services and Bible studies, most like before COVID, back to obligatory curfew all day Sundays, no in person services (legally), and only virtual services. I went rom being outside with no mask and inside where about 70% of people used a mask to being required to use ONE outside and TWO masks with a face shield inside. I went from a world tired of the regulations, ready to get back to normal, where the vaccine (at least in Michigan) was recently available to anyone who wanted it to a world still in the midst of the pandemic, just declared to have an excess death rate 20% higher than the 2nd highest in the world, where vaccines are only available to those 80 or older, and people are leaving the country to get a vaccine then coming back.

Two very different worlds, but the same God, and He gives me opportunities to share the gospel and teach His Word in both worlds. In the last three weeks I’ve started teaching junior church on Sundays at NLCH again, stepped back into helping with bank runs for the Home, started working on weekly lessons to deliver to my kids in Manchay and other areas as soon as is allowed, and spent some time with a friend here in Peru talking through different things we can do and creative ways we can minister here in the coming weeks and months while restrictions are still fairly strict.

In the midst of all that, I celebrated four years here in Peru on April 16th. I cannot celebrate without taking time to remember you all and to thank you. It’s your continued support that has allowed me to live and serve here in Peru. It’s your prayers that give me the strength, boldness, opportunity and encouragement to serve, and to keep serving in both worlds, the US, and Peru. I am nothing without God, but I am also nothing without you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

~Pam Drout ~