2024

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.