Prayer Letters

January – February 2022

Hello Everyone!
An incredibly full summer is coming to an end here in Peru, another school year is beginning, and I praise God that I can say it looks like kids here in Peru will be back in school in person, or semi-in person depending on the space and decision of the administration of each school.

Towards the end of December, we celebrated Christmas at the kid’s Bible club in Manchay, as well as here at New Life Children’s Home. At New Life Children’s Home I was able to fill a stocking with small gifts and goodies for each kid, sharing with them some of the family traditions from my childhood that they don’t have here. In Manchay, we were able to do a chicken dinner with the kids (as well as the ladies’ Bible study), and I was able to give them each a small Christmas gift and introduce them to candy canes. Some of my kids come from families where they cannot afford Christmas or birthday gifts. I have known many adults here who will talk about sometime as an adult being the first time they ever received a gift. I cherish the opportunity to show my kids the joy of receiving a gift and the fact that the gift does not come with conditions because it then gives them more understanding as I talk with them about the gift of God we have in salvation.


Throughout January and February I did a summer Bible-quizzing program with the kids at NLCH each Friday. Two of our older teen guys were made team captains and have been responsible for helping the younger kids and the kids that can’t read learn about the Bible stories from the Life of Christ for quizzing. These young men really stepped into their leadership roles this summer, spending time with the kids on their teams, encouraging them, and figuring out the best ways to help each individual learn and participate. This coming Friday (March 4th) we will have our final quizzing event and then an ice cream party to end the summer. Currently, the kids have been quizzing so well that I have no idea which team will have the most cumulative points for the summer. 


Since school let out in December, I have been running a summer program with the kids in the Bible club in Manchay as well. The kids have poured themselves into learning verses, completing at- home lesson sheets, and participating in everything we do on Thursdays. While I don’t like doing reward- based programs all the time, this is one way I can help the families with some very real needs and show the kids the value of hard work. Coming up on Thursday (March 3rd) the kids will be able to trade in the points they have been earning all summer for much needed school supplies, and then we will do a lesson from John 6.

Over the last few months, I have seen God do some really cool things in the lives of these kids. Two brothers sat down with me and talked with me about a choice they had to make. The municipality offers workshops for kids in their community throughout the summer, and there was a soccer workshop for these boys at the same time as our Bible study. They started out the summer by choosing to go to the workshop. They had one week off in which they came to Bible club. I don’t even remember the lesson I taught that week, but I found out from their sister that because of the lesson they chose to withdraw from soccer and continued coming to Bible club each week thereafter. There is another young man who is six years old and has special needs. He can’t really comprehend any question he is asked, unable to even respond to, “what did you do today,” with a true answer. (He tell you what he is going to do when he goes home.) This young man though can repeat anything someone tells him, and has been able to memorize several verses from the Bible word perfect, and can repeat them just as perfectly weeks later. I’m not sure what God is going to do in his life, but I can’t wait to see.

Last week I had the opportunity to help out the church of a friend here by teaching in their VBS. This is the third chance over the last five years that I’ve had to participate with their teens and adults in serving the kids of their community and I love it. This year the theme was “An Extraordinary Universe,” and we had lessons on being a new creature, obeying God with our decisions, God’s blessings and God’s promises. On the last day we had several kids and a few of the teens who raised a hand acknowledging they weren’t saved, and wanted to talk with someone. Workers spent time talking with each kid, and I know a few accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. Some of the youth workers are also following up with the teens who acknowledged they had questions and wanted to talk with someone. I know one of the girls specifically we have been praying for, for a few years.

Please also be praying for two young ladies (ages 12 and 13) that I work with. I know these young ladies are not saved, but I can clearly see God is working on them as their behavior and response to His word has been changing over the last two months. One of these young ladies asked me to explain the gospel to her a few years ago, and asked me if she could get saved. I said of course. She then admitted to someone else (who in turn told me) that it had all been a joke, and sincerely her behavior during class showed it was a joke to her. She would talk all the time during class or in church, not bothering to listen. I began to notice a couple months ago that she started listening closely, and was shushing the kids around her during the lesson so she could listen. Just a few days ago she raised her hand during an invitation, admitting that she wasn’t a Christian, but she still isn’t quite ready to say that she wants to be one. The other young lady is newer to the ministries here, only been coming for about 3 months. Over the last three weeks, any time someone (myself or anyone else) begins to talk about sin or salvation, her head goes down on a the table. Usually the look on her face before it happens isn’t one of disgust or boredom but of discomfort. I haven’t been able to figure out yet if she’s just tired of listening, or God is working on her heart, but I’m praying so much for her. Please be praying with me.

Those are only a few of the things that have been happening around here through summer break. It is such a blessing to see God continue to work in the lives of people here. I was studying the definition and etymology of the word “blessing” recently, learning that it was a gift, words, or actions demonstrating an alliance of peace, or a good relationship between two parties. Basically a friendship. You all continue to bless me through your prayers, your contact and responses to my letters and social media posts, through your and through your support. God blesses me just by being God, but also by continuing to let me serve Him, and allowing me to see the small ways in which He is continually working. 


Thank you so much for your support. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for those who have taken the time to contact me and keep up with me. It is all such an encouragement. Please keep praying as we approach another school year, and as God gives me other opportunities to care for those in need around me by showing His love, and His care (physically and spiritually) and most of all by sharing the gospel with them. I can’t wait to see what He does next!

Pam Drout

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 ~

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 ~

Hi Everyone!

Sometime in the middle of May I had an idea for the central theme of this update; I wrote down the single word, “helplessness,” on a notecard and set it to the side for later.  We were at the beginning of our third month of a very strict quarantine.   We had just lost two men very close to the ministries here (the pastor of one of the churches and our bus driver for missions group season), I personally knew or knew of 8 other pastors here in Peru who had Covid-19 and were really struggling, I was seeing physical suffering all around me as families couldn’t afford food or rent, (a few friends who were working but there wasn’t the money to fully pay them for the work they were doing had to move in with other families as they lost their homes), I couldn’t get to Manchay to check on my kids, nor did I have contact with many of the kids from my other ministries, and on top of all that I was watching my hometown flood and then dams break causing more flooding and many people I love dearly lost their homes and/or most of their belongings.  So, I jotted down the word, “helplessness,” as a reminder and kept going.

I look back at that little note now, and it was actually hard at first to figure out exactly why I wrote it.   Yes, the tragedies and situations above all happened within the last two months, (along with several others), but some amazing things have happened as well.  While yes, over the last two month my physical reach has been limited, I cannot imagine applying the term, “helplessness,” to these months at all.

Even though Peru’s strict quarantine continued through May and June, I still had several different opportunities to share the gospel one on one with people.   One of the newer kids in the children’s home came up to me one Sunday after our Bible lesson at the home and started asking questions.   Lots of questions.   Eventually we got around to what makes a person a part of the family of God and through that question I was able to share the gospel with him.  We went through the gospel point by point and he acknowledged his belief of each point, but towards the end of the conversation when I asked if he wanted to accept the gift of salvation for himself, he said he wasn’t ready.   He appeared quite distressed saying he didn’t know if he could know for sure it was all true.   I took him back through each point, and again, he said he believed them, but he wasn’t ready to apply it to himself.  Please be praying for him as he has such a hunger to learn and continues to ask me Bible questions on a daily basis.  

In May and June it was still illegal to use personal vehicles (to help the government in preventing people from going places they weren’t allowed to) so I had a government approved taxi driver taking me to the bank a few towns away when needed.  One day something came up so he called a friend of his to take me instead.  This driver knew nothing about the children’s home or our church so through the plastic sheeting separating us we talked the entire way.   As the conversation continued he began to tell me he believed in God that he believed it didn’t matter how or where he served, worshipped, or learned about God, only that he did; mentioning several places he went which taught very differing things and did not at all teach the gospel including Jehovah’s witness Bible studies and even learning from the Israelitas here in Cieneguilla.

That statement led to a conversation on authority, then God’s authority, God’s Word and then to God’s desires for His followers into the gospel.  He said I had given him a lot to consider and he is still asking questions of a common friend of ours.  I don’t mind planing seeds.   The increase is God’s responsibility and I am more than willing to lay that at His feet.  There were several other times I did get to share the gospel in the last two months, in person and virtually, and see God give the increase, but I mention specifically those situations where your prayers are most needed.

I mentioned earlier about associating the feeling of helplessness with seeing the suffering all around me, the people who are struggling to feed their families and keep a roof over their heads.  It is true, Peru is full of suffering right now as people haven’t had the chance to work, and yet somehow I focused on how great the need was discounted the things we were doing to help.   Through the Bags of Hope project Chelene Kennedy started and that many of you have given to as well, we have been able to help more than 650 families with food as they need it.   Some of these families live so far back in-between mountains that the help the government has been offering hasn’t made it to them.  Through other gifts you all have given which were not designated specifically for Bags of Hope or food relief, but for my discretion I have been able to continue helping my families in Manchay as well as a few other people I know with food, but also with other necessities such as warm clothing as winter has begun.   While there is so much more that can be done, because of God’s grace and your giving we are far from helpless.

Please keep praying for our ministries here, and the people of Peru.  Pray that we can be a light in the midst of this very dark time, and that we will be sensitive to God’s leading in where to go and who needs food – spiritually and physically.   Please also be praying as I will have to make decisions regarding a furlough I had planned for late this year and early next year to report at my supporting churches.   Pray that our international borders will open here in Peru and that I will make the right decisions regarding the timing of that furlough.   Please also pray as through the Bags of Hope God has opened my eyes to some new areas in Cieneguilla I am burdened about getting into to minister.   Thank you all. ~ Pam Drout ~

Hello!!! This month I wanted to share with you a part of a letter I was writing to a friend about some of the things which have happened here in the last month.  It is a little different than normal, but I didn’t know another way to easily express my heart with you this month.   Thank you for putting up with the strange format.

Early in April, Pastor David (from the church here in Cieneguilla) and I were talking about the families from our Bible Studies in Manchay, knowing they were seriously struggling to feed themselves, let alone pay any other bills they had.  Some of the families are made up of widows or single mothers and their children, others of women and children with husbands (fathers), who were working in other cities but now can neither work nor travel to be with their families.   Other homes have 2-3 families living together with no one or maybe 1 person working, all working together to survive.   The restrictions for the quarantine here in Peru are quite strict so getting to Manchay to truly see all the needs, to take food to people, or even connect with some of my kids who don’t have phones or parents who participate in the studies wasn’t (and still isn’t) possible.  I was concerned for these families, so Pastor David and I were able to get money to a trusted friend up in Manchay who then met several of the women at the market to, “shop at the same time but not together,” and they were able to get food to several of these families in need.   I will readily admit it wasn’t much, but it was what I had on hand at the time. At the same time, Chelene Kennedy was fervently laboring to raise money to help buy food and feed families in our church and community here in Cieneguilla.   A few days later we had the first batch of “food baskets” (bags really but every here calls them baskets), ready to go out.   Each one values between $25 and $30 and can feed a family of 4-5 for a week.  We had 34 baskets to give to families within our church, one of the bus routes (in Cieneguilla) and a few from the community we knew needed help.   Special permission was obtained from the police here in Cieneguilla to allow us to be out in a private vehicle (which currently is against the restrictions) to deliver food. The first few houses were not super close to one another so we arrived, delivered the food, and then we left without much commotion.   But then things changed.  We came to an area with 4 houses very close to each other.  People in the neighborhood began peeking out their windows because they heard a vehicle, then coming to their doors, then sitting outside all with looks of hope, hope that we would stop at their house next.   Then people began leaving their houses and approaching the van or each of us, pleading for food, telling us in tears how little they had.   The baskets of food had already been designated for specific families, each of which was struggling to survive.   Each of us had to look into the faces of people hurting to tell them that week we couldn’t help them.   As the van drove away, shoulders sagged, hope left faces, and people went back inside.  Each of us in the van fought tears.    It is so hard to describe because it was an immense blessing.  Through the support of people in the States, churches that support the Kennedys, churches that support me, the Kennedy’s friends and family, as well as my friends and family,  we were able to feed 34 families who were starving.   Seriously, I am so thankful for that.   And I knew more money was still coming in, it provided such joy; BUT, it also opened the door for great heartache.   Within the walls of the children’s home the need still existed, but I only heard about it, and I only truly heard about the need from people I knew.   Now I was seeing it, seeing the need, the hope, the relief from people who received a basket, and then the hurt, and disappointment, and hopelessness from those who didn’t receive anything.   My heart broke.   That night I cried for hours.   There were other stories.   We were in one area full of shanty homes that extended hundreds of feet up into the mountains.   We were at the home of a lady from the church and a woman high up on a mountain about 450 feet away (seriously!) saw us at the house and immediately knew what was happening.   She came running all the way down the mountain.   I had seen her as we were still at the house, but it was so far away, she looked like a child running outside to play or go to a little corner store for a parent, but as we were getting in the van to drive away we all realized, it was short, older woman coming to plead for food.   She had run so far, in hope.   Thankfully, we had an extra basket we could give her, but we then had to turn away the crowd that was gathering behind her.    We stopped at one house and as we delivered the basket the lady couldn’t even look at us, she just wept and didn’t stop.  My eyes are tearing up just thinking of her now.   It isn’t another world, she lives across the street from the children’s home.   Before the quarantine I saw her daughter every day.   

That’s my story.   I am so thankful for the work the Kennedy’s have done to raise money to help these families.   The next week we were able to take out more than 120 baskets of food, and we expect to do the same this week.  Many of my friends and family know I get horrible headaches and migraines from too much motion, especially being in a vehicle when someone else is driving.  Through different tasks related to this project, I have had several in the last few weeks.   I’ll tell you what though, I would live everyday with a migraine to be able to help others in this way and to be continually reminded of the need by seeing it.   Receiving messages from Manchay was one thing but seeing the need, the hope, the hopelessness, the relief and the tears, all of that has changed me more than I can express, and then to compound that understanding that this is just a small, physical representation of a world starving for the gospel – I wouldn’t trade it for anything.  Once again, thank you for your prayers.   Thank you for your help.   Thank you for your support.   Thank you for your friendship.  Thank you for the chance to be here and to serve. Just – Thank you.

Hello Friends!
I know this update comes a month sooner than my regularly scheduled letter, but with so much going on I decided to go ahead and let everyone know about some of the different things going on in this corner of my universe.

March began with the outlook of an extremely busy schedule. Classes began at New Life Christian School on March 5th, and for the first several days of the new school year I was helping out in the 4 & 5’s class, and then as the young kids got used to being in school and away from home I spent some time during recesses with the older kids. But, 5 class days into the new school year, on March 11th, the government suspended classes and on March 15th called for a strict nationwide quarantine; closing the borders not only to the country but between provinces and departments (like states), instituting a national curfew (currently 6pm-5am), prohibiting the use of personal vehicles, limiting the number of people who can be out and why (only groceries, banking or medical emergencies), limiting the ages of people who can be out (no one under 18 or over 60), and then recently limiting the days each gender can be out. This week for instance, the only days I can be off the children’s home property are Tuesday and Saturday. Currently these restrictions are valid through Easter, however our government will decide on the 9th whether they will be extended once again.

I certainly have been blessed in the midst of everything to be at New Life Children’s Home. Unlike many people I am close to here, I have a comfortable home, a bed, a refrigerator, and I am not worried about whether I will have water tomorrow. (On top of everything else Cieneguilla, Manchay, and La Molina have been dealing with water shortages.) Unlike many people I am close to here I have the ability to step outside the walls of my apartment to walk, exercise, enjoy the fresh air, and spend time with the 30 other people who live here. Unlike many people I am close to here, I have enough food and am not worried about what I will eat tomorrow.

In the midst of the restrictions which limit where I can go and what I can do, God has not left me bored or without work. Being at New Life Children’s Home, I have had the opportunity to do a Sunday Morning lesson for the kids and tutoras (guardians) who live here as well as devotions as different times throughout the week. The kids continue with school virtually, online or through messaging apps, so I help with homework as well, and then we spend time playing together in the afternoons. This slower pace has also allowed me to help several churches in the United States with their children’s ministries by talking with different pastors or leaders regarding curriculums or specific lessons, staffing for different kinds of programs, helping them connect with the children in their churches virtually, and planning for the future as churches are able to meet again. I have also been able to focus on writing devotions and “have at home” material for the future for my kids in Manchay and other areas where church attendance is difficult and owning a Bible is a rare privilege (especially for a child or teenager).

As April continues, most likely with an extension to our national quarantine, I have several prayer requests to mention to you all. The first is I would beg of you to be praying for those I minister to in Manchay. I know they are struggling to feed themselves. Even before the stay at home orders began, there were several families I was working to help as I could see the kids getting skinnier and skinnier each week. With the restrictions on travel and where we can go, I haven’t been able to get up there and check on them, and kids don’t have cell phones to be able to communicate with me. Pastor David and I are working on different ways we can get food to the families there through people we trust who live in the area. But please be praying as I know several families that made it through each day based on the money earned the day before in jobs that are no longer available. Please also be praying for the families in our church and school. People are doing what they can, but it isn’t much.

Finally I would ask you to be praying regarding my “future plans.” Next week will be my three year anniversary upon arriving in Peru. It is hard to believe it has been three years but I am so excited to continue. Before the quarantines hit around the world, I was making plans to be in the United States for four months between December and March for a furlough, in order to present updates to the churches that have been supporting me through the years and to raise a bit more support; however with the return to whatever the new normal will be still a few months away, I am needing to decide whether I will postpone that furlough a little bit longer. It is still somewhat early to make that decision, but many churches plan out the missionary presentations a year in advance, and no one is making any plans right now. So please be praying as I am regarding when I can visit and update my supporting churches.

Thank you all so much for you care, prayers and support. You all mean so very much to me and please know I am praying for you all in the midst of these events as well. Thank you.

Hello!
I must tell you I love the summer, I always have. Not for the heat, I admit, as I find myself looking at friends’ posts on Facebook and longing for the snow, but I love summer because of the various opportunities for service it brings. This summer here in Peru has been no exception. Various vacation Bible schools, camp, Bible memory clubs, and other events have provided no shortage of opportunities to share the gospel, teach the Bible, and love on my God’s many creations.

Treasure Hunters Bible Memory Club: The past three summers the children here at New Life Children’s Home have participated in a Bible memory club called Treasure Hunters. It is specifically written for shorter periods of time such as summer vacation when the kids don’t have as much school work, as opposed to most programs which are written for the school year. This year, due to the dates of camps, VBS and even Christmas, the program ran for 6 weeks. Each week the kids said their verses, we had a devotion, game time, and award/achievement time; and then at the end of the program we had our annual ice cream party. At the party we acknowledged each team, the Lions and Spirit, how many verses were said by each team, and then the kids who completed the most sections in their books. Sections contain 1 or 2 verses and some deep thought questions depending on the age of the child. The first place winner this year said 68 verses (52 sections) and the two children that tied for second place said 60 verses (48 sections). Overall, 20 kids said 452 verses this summer. I am so very proud of all of them!

Vacation Bible School: This summer I got the opportunity to assist with two different Vacation Bible Schools. At New Life Baptist Church we ran VBS on a Wednesday – Friday with the closing ceremony then on Sunday during junior church. The theme was Galactic travel, and throughout the program more than 75 kids learned about calling on God, responding to God, and obeying God through the story of Moses. On Sunday during junior church we reviewed what we had learned from the story from Moses through the week, what we had learned from our skits with the astronaut and robot, and then awarded prizes to all the kids as we announced the winners of the week. Because VBS closes out on a Sunday here, we had many different visitors, kids with their parents, to learn the results of the week and who heard the gospel, some for the first time. Praise God!

The last few years I have also helped out some good friends of mine with their VBS in a very small church up in the mountains of Manchay. This year their church was under construction so they have been meeting in the home of one of their church members a little over a kilometer and a half away from their church. Most of the church members were able to bring their children the distance to VBS throughout the week, and many new children from the neighborhood of their temporary location came. In a room smaller than my apartment here in Peru we were able to cram 35 different kids along with about 6 mothers and 10 workers. It was tight, but so much fun. The theme was “Conquering with God’s plan” and throughout the program I taught on Gideon, Deborah & Barak, and Saul (good examples, and not so good examples). Many kids who had never heard the gospel before, and some who had heard it once again and several accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Such a joy!

Youth Camp: This year we weren’t sure if we were going to be able to find a place to do youth camp (teens and singles), as our normal campground is under construction and other places in our area have sky-high rates. Right as we were going to have to announce that we couldn’t do camp at all this year a couple in the church mentioned friends of theirs who had a location we would be able to use close to the river. It was basic, some sleeping on mattresses on the floor in the 2 cabins, others in tents, but it had an outdoor, covered dining area where we could eat, cook, and have services, room for games and to play, and was right next to the river. It truly was a God-send. Approximately 50 teens and singles from New Life Baptist and Calvary Baptist in Pachacutec got together for camp over a Thursday – Saturday right at the end of February. We had games, contests, food, fellowship and preaching. I got the opportunity to help in the kitchen, with the games and then to teach a girls’ session. It was such a wonderful end to the week and to the summer, allowing our youth to kick of the next year with a fresh mindset and closer relationships one with another.

School has started up again at New Life and I enjoy being involved in the lives of the kids and the teachers wherever I can. Throughout the summer my regular ministries and classes continued along with these extra opportunities. Please continue praying as I seek to share the gospel, minister, serve, teach, and love on people wherever I can. I am not sure of much in this world, but I am very sure of my God, and sure that your prayers to Him on my behalf make a difference. Thank you. Thank you so very, very much.

~ Pam Drout ~

Happy New Year!

As I reflect on all that God has done in this last year, and more specifically for the purposes of this letter, all He has done in the last few months, I am overwhelmed.   I am overwhelmed with joy in the prayers that God has answered and the needs He has provided for; I am overwhelmed with excitement in the ways He continues to teach me and gives me understanding in His Word; and I am overwhelmed with grief and burden as He answers my prayers to make me more aware of the needs around me, the ones I can help alleviate, and the ones I personally can do nothing about but seek God’s grace, mercy, and intervention through prayer.  

In December I was speaking with an 8 year old boy who attends our Thursday evening Bible club faithfully and occasionally (when his father permits) rides one of our bus routes to church on Sunday mornings.  I do not remember the instigating incident for this particular conversation, but this young boy had done something that wasn’t acceptable and needed to understand that.    At one point in the conversation the following took place:

Me: Daniel, Are you a Christian?  

(Yes, I purposely asked that question in a vague way.)

Daniel:  Yes.

Me:  How do you know?

Daniel: Because I’m Peruvian.

Daniel and I continued to talk for another 5 minutes or so, but despite the fact that even in that moment he was in trouble for his actions he still did not (and to this day does not) believe he is a sinner.   His answer broke my heart, but it didn’t surprise me.  So many here in Peru equate Catholicism and Christianity not with what they believe, but with nationality, culture and identity.  As I teach in different classes and Bible studies I find most of the children I work with assume they are Christians, until they understand enough Bible to know they are not.  Please be praying for Daniel, that he will settle down long enough to hear the Bible (yes, he is an extremely active kid), and that he will understand his need for a Savior.

Another young man (11 years old) has brought me great joy in the last several months.   He came to live in the orphanage a few months ago and so he started attending several of the different kids classes that I teach.   On Wednesday nights my kids have been studying through the characteristics of God, how those characteristics can be seen in our lives, and how we ought to imitate those characteristics in our own lives.   Each week the kids are given a sheet with several memory verses for the following week.  This 11 year old boy had never memorized a Bible verse before coming to the home, yet he has shown a great hunger for God’s Word and what the Bible teaches.  Each week he diligently studies all the verses and each week he says every single verse, word perfect, without hesitation. 

I love to know that God is still working on me.  Sometimes He wallops me upside the head with something and other times He gives me gentle reminders to never take His goodness or provision for granted.  That’s one reminder I receive at this time each year in various ways.  In the last several months a few unexpected needs have arisen for different individual and within the different I am involved in.  Because of your generosity in giving over and above the norm at a time of year where giving tends to slow down, myself as well as people around me were able to see how God provides once again.  Thank you so much.

Please continue to be in prayer for Daniel, as well as all of the children touched by the ministries here.  Summer has begun which brings new children into the ministries I participate in as they stay with different family members over the summer for vacation, and starts other ministries back up again, such as Bible memory clubs and English classes.  Please be in prayer that I will have the energy to keep up with a busy (but wonderful) schedule and the words I need in each place.   Thank you so much for your support – financially, prayerfully, and relationally.   Have a wonderful new year!

~Pam Drout~