Prayer Letters

Hello!!!

Ministry is in full swing here in Peru at New Life Children’s Home and New Life Baptist Church as missions-group season has come upon us.  During missions-group season I not only keep up with my regular ministries in the church, school, neighborhoods and at the Home, but also jump in spending time with the groups and ministering with them as my schedule allows.  I am so very thankful to Mike and Chelene Kennedy for allowing me to work with them in the ministry here.

May started off slowly as I was just getting back on my feet after a three-week long battle with mononucleosis.  I praise God it didn’t last much longer than that, as it can affect a person for months.  The moment my energy returned, I dove head first into as much as possible (with a little bit of wisdom of course,) making up for “lost time.”  Through April I managed to be up long enough to teach my kids’ classes at the church and in Manchay, but I did not have the energy for much else.  In may I poured myself back into the people around me in ways I couldn’t while I was sick.  Oh I had missed it!

In April both my Wednesday night kids’ class and my kids’ Bible study in Manchay began a new curriculum studying through different doctrines in the Bible.  So many of my kids either go to private schools where other doctrine is taught, or attend the Bible studies held by many different churches (each group offering activities, games and cookies,) and I wanted to be sure my kids knew what they believed and had Bible verses to back it up.  In April we started with the theme of the Bible, taking ten weeks to cover ten different statements of doctrinal truth and ten of the Bible verses where we get these statements regarding God’s Words.  I had several kids who worked very diligently memorizing all ten statements of doctrine and all ten verses, so in the middle of June we had an awards night to celebrate all their hard work.

I have to praise God, I now have help with my kids’ Bible study in Manchay.  In May one of the teen girls at New Life Children’s Home asked me if she could come with me that week, and has been faithful in coming every week since.  Then at the beginning of June a young woman in the church no longer worked on Thursdays and she asked as well if she could come with us to help.  The teenager helps with crowd control (35-40 kids can get crazy!), my candy bag, and questions and then the young woman helps with songs, and then after the lesson works a little more in depth with the older kids, helping them memorize the verses and doctrinal statements as well as exploring the theme a little more.   They have both been such a blessing!

Please be praying as we are looking at starting Bible club’s in 2-3 other areas as well.   Pastor David Taza (the pastor at New Life Baptist Church) and I have been praying and talking about some of the different opportunities we have, deciding how many people we would need to help, when and where we could meet, etc.  Please, please, please pray that we could start up these other Bible clubs soon!

Thank you again so much for your prayers and support.  Without them, I KNOW I would be totally ineffective in ministry here.  Thank you so very much.

~Pam Drout~

Hello!!!
In the Treasure Hunters Bible memory program that we just completed once again at New Life Children’s Home this summer, I try to communicate how valuable, how much of a treasure God’s Words are. I know I can never do the subject justice but that won’t stop me from talking about it.

Personally, a few months ago I spent some time considering a treasure found in the book of Jeremiah, and how it relates to what is going on in my own life and ministries. Jeremiah spent many, many years prophesying about the coming judgment, the harsh earthly realities, that God would have on Judah through Babylon. But then in chapter 30 God tells Jeremiah to write down the words of God into a book, and begin to talk about the hope that Israel and Judah have for the future, that in 70 years they would come out of captivity and once again serve the LORD their God.

I consider who those words were written for, and I think of the children; the children who were taken into captivity, or suffering, all because of the sins of their parents and forefathers. These children were daily living with and suffering from the consequences of their parents’ sins, so God’s words of hope were written in a book for them. Their parents wouldn’t make it out of captivity, but they had something to hope for.

I live and serve, daily surrounded by children living with the consequences of the sins of others; their parents, grandparents, their government, the neighbor down the street, anyone. I am not here to give them hope that one day life here on earth will be easier. I know the reality, that isn’t always the case, but there is hope for them. I get to tell them they have the hope that their Savior brings, the hope of righteousness (Gal. 5:5) and the hope of glory (Col. 1:27).

Over this last summer (January – February), God has given me so many opportunities to interact with children and teens in many different ways, sharing with them the hope that they have because of Christ. I continue to teach the Wednesday night children’s class at our church, and due to the fact that it is summer vacation, we have had several visitors. Throughout the school year the pastor likes all of the children’s teachers to sit in the service one Sunday a month, so I take all the classes and we do a big junior church, but I also get the chance to lead junior church all summer. The church’s theme for the year is Reaching New Heights, so we have spent 9 weeks talking about how to have a relationship with God and then how to strengthen that relationship with Him.

I continue to teach my “treasures” (kids) in the town of Manchay each Thursday afternoon. The other week we were talking about how the Word of God can totally change a person’s life (like Josiah), and spend the rest of the time focused on the gospel. Several kids accepted Christ as their Savior and few others acknowledged that they have not done so but want someone to spend more time explaining it to them. Please pray as I focus on following-up with each of the kids from my group. I found out a few weeks ago that they have Bible club with me on Thursdays and the with the Catholic church on Saturday, and that fact is weighing heavily on my heart, so in the next few weeks we will be starting a series geared towards children but that focuses on doctrine. Prayerfully I will also be starting that series in a new kids Bible club that I will be teaching coming up next month. We are just praying right now for someone who is willing and has the time to accompany me to this neighborhood due to safety reasons.


A few other opportunities given to me this summer were the chance to teach English again in the summer school, where we spent time working with English Bible verses and applications, run the Treasure Hunters Bible memory club at New Life Children’s Home, and to be the speaker for the Vacation Bible School at a friend’s church in Manchay. It was such a privilege to be asked to help, and to get to share the stories of David, Esther and Josiah with the children, each lesson leading into the gospel. Several kids acknowledged that they accepted Christ as Savior during the VBS, so please pray as the church seeks to follow up with the children, many of whom were first time visitors.


Great news! I want to make sure you know that funds came in from churches and individuals which have allowed me to purchase the tables and chairs I need for our Bible club in Manchay, as well as to purchase a car. Thank you all so much for your help in that. Already the car has been a HUGE help in ministry, opening up doors for me to be involved in and begin other ministries. Thank you so much. And thank you so much for your faithful prayers and support. Please keep praying for the kids I minister to, and the new opportunities I have in school chapels and the neighborhood Bible club that will hopefully start up soon. It grieves my heart to see the suffering in the children around me, and yet to know they have hope, and to share that hope with them is the greatest privilege.

Hello,

Let me start off my letter by updating you regarding my long-term visa.  Upon returning from my brief trip to the States, I was given 30 days to submit my visa application.  That included several steps which took me in a number of different directions including to the Interpol and Immigrations offices.  Thankfully, we (my lawyer and I) got all the paperwork and interviews completed and submitted two days before the deadline.  Immigrations said it would take 30-60 days to process the application, and praise God we heard back just last week that my visa was approved.  Now I only need to make an appointment to go pick up the ID.  Thank you all for your your prayers regarding my visa.

Since my last letter I have been given several new opportunities to regularly teach the Bible, and I am loving it.  Currently I am still teaching my Wednesday night kids’ class and monthly Sunday junior church, but now I am also teaching a kids’ Bible club Thursday afternoons in the neighboring city of Manchay as well as teaching two chapel sessions each Friday one for the 3rd – 4th grades and the other for the 5th – 6th grades at New Life Christian School.

In our chapel sessions we have been focusing on the big theme of, “one another,” talking first about how to be a member of the body of Christ, what that means, and then how we should treat others within that body,  (authorities, friendships, forgiveness, our words, kindness, etc.).

At the beginning of September I began helping with the kids’ Bible club in Manchay.  The week after I began helping, we (New Life Baptist Church) also began a women’s Bible study that meets at the same time, so the structure, dynamic and even age group of the children’s program has shifted.  Currently on one side of a community hall each week I teach a group of 20-25 kids ranging from 2-12 years old for about an hour.

While it is a big group to handle on my own, I love each and every one of them.  We have spent time talking about prayer, our words, and obedience, but my favorite topic has been talking about the treasures of God.  I have a small wooden treasure chest that I brought to class one day.  I taught a lesson about why God created humans as well as our purpose and value to God.  At the end of the lesson I let the kids open the treasure chest to see some of God’s treasures.  They opened the chest and you could see the wonder on their faces as they discovered pictures of each one of them.  (While I love it when new kids come, God blessed that day in that I had a picture of every single child who attended.)    Three children got saved that day, but I also began to see a shift in several of the kids in how they listened and responded in future classes.  I have a group that has gotten so excited about memorizing the treasures in God’s Word, they have started the Bible memory program I wrote last year for the kids at the children’s home.  They are quickly memorizing verses and each week I am scrambling to adapt the program to work in that context.  Each and every one of the kids in Manchay are God’s treasures, but they are mine too.  

While I have seen God do some wonderful things in Manchay, the Bible club has had its share of difficulties in the last 2 months as well.  I beg of you for your prayers and help in a few areas:

1) I need help.  A few young women have expressed a desire to help with this group, but haven’t been able to come yet.  Please pray God provides me with some help, especially as the number of 2-4 years olds continually increases.  (It’s a wonderful blessing, because those are the young ones whose mothers are attending the women’s study, but it brings another dynamic with which I need help.)

2) We no longer have enough tables and chairs for everyone.  Kids are sitting on each others laps and taking turns at the tables when it is time to use them.  I am looking to raise about $500-$600 for 2 collapsable tables and 16 sturdy chairs.

3) Transportation back and forth from the Bible studies has become a bit difficult, especially as we have supplies to carry back and forth each week.  I am now ready to purchase a vehicle here in Peru to help with this ministry and a few others.  I am keeping and eye out for a gently used vehicle I can buy from missionaries going on furlough or another similar situation, but those aren’t always frequently available.  Currently I am looking to raise about $8,000 towards this vehicle, and praying God would bring a good vehicle to my attention.  Please, however you can pray or help would be greatly, greatly appreciated.

Once again, thank you so much for your continued prayers and support.  God shows me every day just how small and weak I am without them, but also shows me how powerful He is through them.  Thank you.

~Pam Drout~

September October 2018

Hi Everyone!

As most of you already know, this last summer I had to make a brief trip to the States in order to gain a new visa since my current on head expired.  While I was in the States God certainly blessed me in that there was absolutely no shortage of opportunities to serve and minister.   Before I share with you some of those opportunities, permit me to tell you a small story that lets you know me a little better.  Before I left to go to the States a friend asked me, “aren’t you excited for a chance to rest, for a little bit of down-time.”  The truth is a trip to the States is anything but down-time.  Praise God there is always something to do (just as here in Peru,) and any opportunity God will give me to do something that will impact eternity is exciting and refreshing for me.  People ask me what my hobbies are, what I do for ME and I struggle to answer.  My hobby is planning events.  (I’m insane, I know.)  My ME time is finding some way I can serve my God better.  So, yes, it is SUCH A BLESSING when God gives me opportunities to minister and impact eternity.

July began with my home church’s annual fundraiser for their teen mission trip here to Peru.  While sitting in a parking lot for hours on end in 90°-100° weather is draining, I love it.  We get to see and speak to people from all over town which provides numerous opportunities to get to know people, invite them to church, share the gospel, pray for them or talk with them about missions.  I got to see several adults who were my bus kids from 10-12 years ago.  One young man had stopped riding our church buses as a teenager, many years ago, but I found out that now he is on the pastoral staff at a church several hours away.  Such an encouragement!

During July I also helped with my home church’s Vacation Bible School and Youth Conference.  The theme for Midland Baptist’s VBS was Journey to the Jungle (missions) and we had approximately 140 kids each night.  I had the chance to teach the class time lessons about different missionaries for one of our teams as well as lead the opening and closing ceremonies.  During the Youth Conference I continued to train some of the newer workers in the areas I used to work in, games, skits, sound and videos, and was given the opportunity to speak with the teen girls, showing them that they don’t have to wait until they grow up to serve God.

Please pray for a young woman I met at Dunkin’ Donuts during that conference, Cherise.  She had just started her job at DD not 2 days before.  She couldn’t afford to take time off, and of course the job was new, but that morning both her stepfather and husband (from whom she had been separated for 1 month) died a few hours apart.  The deaths had shaken her terribly.  God was good in that I went to DD at a time where there were literally no other customers.  Cherise and I talked for several minutes about death, why God might allow these deaths to happen so suddenly and so close together, and then I got to share the gospel with her.  She told me I gave her a lot to think about, but as I was finishing a few customers walked in so the conversation got cut off.  Please pray for her salvation.

Upon returning to Peru I began the process of applying for a more long-term type of visa.  This is still in the works so please pray that we (my lawyer and I) get all of my paperwork completed and submitted before September 13th.  Otherwise I will need to wait until sometime next year to begin the process again.

I have started teaching my Wednesday Night kids’ class and junior church again.  Beginning this week I will start working with a group of about 35 kids during a Women’s Bible Study in a nearby town called Manchay.  The Bible study is a ministry of New Life Baptist where I am currently attending and serving.  I’ll find out in a few days exactly how this ministry works and meet the kids for the first time, so please pray it goes well!

It’s a joy to be back, but also such a joy to know that God has something for me to do wherever I go.  Thank you all so much for your continued prayers and support, because I know without them, I would not be able to do what I do today.  Thank you.

~Pam Drout~

July August 2018

Hello Everyone!
In 1903, Amy Carmichael wrote a book called Things as They Are, and in her book, she says that missionaries “now” are only able report generalized statements of their lives in ministry. “How can [they] do otherwise. And what can the modern missionary do in the short reports he is able to write? Fifty years ago missionary journals of immense length came home, and were duly published,” she points out. That book made me want to approach a newsletter a little differently. To somehow go beyond only a generalized statement about ministry. To let people see my heart, not just my actions. Yes, there will still be generalized statements in this letter, but I hope maybe I can give you a little bit more.

The people who know me well know that I am an avid reader. I’m always searching for new books to read, fiction and non-fiction alike. Within the first couple months of arriving here in Peru I came across a book written by a psychologist about struggles missionaries face and how to deal with them. At the time, one of the most reassuring sections was regarding expectations.

I had been warned as a rookie missionary that too many missionaries go to the field with their expectations too high, and then face extreme discouragement because those expectations were unmet. Unmet or unrealistic expectations is still one of the top 3 reasons missionaries leave the field within the first 2 terms of service.

Because of that warning, I came here to Peru with very few expectations, only hopes and goals to work towards. That doesn’t mean I came to Peru with no vision, no purpose. I had things I wanted to work towards and things to accomplish, BUT, I knew enough to know they couldn’t just be flexible, they had to be fluid.

I arrived here in Peru a year ago on April 16th. Last week I sat down and made a list of several of the things that have happened or have been accomplished in this last year, and I could do stare at it in wonder at how much God had done, what He has allowed me to do, and what He has been able to accomplish through me. I didn’t create that list to boast or say, “look at what I did.” I created that list to glorify God. I created that list to be able to say, “look at what God did and what He was willing to let me do.” 2 Corinthians 4:17 tells us that everything Paul did in ministry was so that God would gain more and more glory through the thanksgiving of many. So, please, help me in giving God glory by thanking Him for what has happened in this last year.

• –  I set up a fully functioning house. I learned to cook many new items, mostly from scratch with limited supplies. I learned to get around safely using public transportation.

• –  I have gone from knowing a small amount of Spanish vocabulary to being able to carry on conversations in Spanish without too many errors and being able to teach in Spanish. In my classes I have learned 10 of the 14 Spanish tenses.

• –  I have shared the gospel numerous times in Spanish, without notes, only a Bible or tract for help.

• –  I wrote, translated and then ran a Summer Bible Memory Program in Spanish. This included books for 3 different age groups, 16 devotions and 16 different game times.

• –  I have had so many different opportunities to teach in English and Spanish. I have taught women’s sessions at our leadership conference, several object lessons in youth group, devotions for the kids at New Life Children’s Home, junior church during the summer and then monthly during the school year, the Wednesday night children’s classes at church, English classes in during summer school, and sessions on how to share the gospel to different visiting groups and interns.

• –  I have been able to translate lessons, messages and presentations from Spanish to English for visiting groups.

• –  For 15 years the same town, the same church, and the same people have been “my life.” About 5 months in, I was able to look around and say, Midland isn’t my home, this is. My heart was finally planted in Peru.

  *Please note, I use the word, “I” in these statements, but each accomplishment is because of God’s help and the help of friends, other missionaries (especially Mike and Chelene Kennedy), my Spanish teacher (Debora), and many other people.

  There is so much more. A page like this cannot contain all God has done in anyone’s life in a single day, let alone a year. But I wanted you to see some of these, to glorify God for what He is doing and how He is working, and to say thank-you to you. Without your continual prayers and financial support none of this would have been possible either.

  Please, continue to pray. In the next several months I will be applying for a more permanent visa here in Peru, as well as working to purchase a vehicle and a guitar. I know this much, I cannot do it without you. Thank you.

  ~Pam Drout~ 

  January February 2018

January February 2018 

Hello Everyone,

Well, I can now officially say that I have my first Peruvian summer under my belt.  Most often we hear the word summer closely followed by the word break; “summer break,” but I can assure you, for me a break this summer most definitely was not.  But, for those of you who know me well, I absolutely thrived in the fast-paced, extremely busy schedule of my summer.  I had the opportunity to participate in several different ministries, and each one brought me such joy, allowed me to impact the eternity of someone, and helped me with my language skills.  

Treasure Hunters Bible Memory Club / Cazadores del Tesoro

As you may recall, I spent much of November and December developing a Bible memory club called “Treasure Hunters.”  Our club met 2 evenings a week at New Life Children’s Home throughout January and February, and the children totally surpassed my expectations.  My goal was that each child would finish their first book (15 sections) before the end of the summer.  Many children finished three books, and a few went on to memorize the book of Titus.  We had a 9 year old young man finish Titus, saying 103 verses in 53 days. In the picture to the left you see a young man who moved into the home partway through the summer saying his first ever memory verse!

Junior Church / Culto Infantil

In church this summer, we combined all the children’s classes to create one large junior church.  It is extremely helpful as the teachers like the opportunity to travel on vacation with their families.  I was asked to teach in Children’s Church and had 4 other single, college and career age people join me.  The church’s theme this year is “Rooted in Christ,” so I focused the lessons on comparing our roots (our thoughts and beliefs) to the roots of a tree.  We had anywhere from 30-45 young people in junior church consistently throughout the summer, and several made different decisions regarding their relationships with Christ. 

English Class

New Life Christian School held summer school classes in Math and Communication for any students who needed it, but then alongside those classes, NLCS offered English classes to kids in the church or school who would like to take them.  I taught 3 different classes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays to a combined total of about 33 different kids.  As they were learning English I also took one of the songs we were singing in church, taught them to sing it in English as well as Sign Language.  This opened up the doors not only to expose them to another language (which a few of the kids are interested in pursuing in the future,) but also opened up another unexpected door.  My kids were asked to sing and sign in church on a Sunday morning.  I had several kids in my classes who attended the Christian school, but did not attend any church, or attended a Catholic church with their families.  Several of these kids came to church that Sunday morning with their families and heard the gospel.  I have seen one family back a few times since then.

Thank you so much for your continued prayers and support, and please continue to pray for me here.  God has shown me in so many ways this last month now only how much your prayers are needed, but how much they really do change things.  Thank you so very much. ~Pam Drout~

Praises

~ Through the different ministries this summer, I am beginning to build relationships with the kids and teens in the church and school.

~ I am beginning to speak Spanish at times without having to think through exactly what I am going to say first!

Prayer Requests

~ Starting next week I will be regularly teaching a kid’s class in church at night.  Please pray that God will give me wisdom regarding the best material to use for this class period.

~ Please pray that he finances will become available so that I can purchase a vehicle.

September-October 2017

Here is the link to my current prayer letter.  Thanks for your continued prayers and support!

Dear Friends,

Thank you so very much for your continued prayers over the last several months.  I have truly been blessed by them and greatly appreciate them.   

The last two months have been filled with wonderful opportunities to serve God, share the gospel with others, teach, and prepare for ministry in the coming months.  September quieted down slightly as missions group season has passed here at New Life Children’s Home, but if you know me, you know that means I am going to go out hunting, finding some way to impact eternity each day.   Throughout September as I continued to focus on Spanish, God gave me understanding in a few areas of language I had been struggling with through the summer.  I am thankful for the struggle, because there is no doubt in my mind that understanding came not from my own potential and hard work, but through God’s help.  

I have been so blessed to live here at New Life Children’s Home, be a part of their ministries, and to be given the opportunity to become involved in the lives of the children here.  As my schedule freed up this month I was able to spend more time with the children and workers in the home.  I was able to help with homework, comfort tears and fears, and love on the children.  God’s not only used me in different ways in their lives, but He has used them in mine.    

Over the past few months I have also had more opportunities to minister with the children and youth at the church, and I have begun making my way around town each day, sitting in parks and areas studying, but also forming relationships and talking with people from around town.  With the seemingly quieter schedule I have also focused on developing a Bible memory program for this upcoming summer called “Treasure Hunters.”  The program is totally in Spanish, written to fit the culture and needs down here.  The plan is that the children at New Life Children’s Home will participate in the Treasure Hunters Program this coming summer (January and February).  Not only is it great experience for me in writing in Spanish, teaching in Spanish and developing a type of curriculum, but as we work through the kinks and through the program, it will allow us to use it in other areas of ministry in the area.

This past winter as I was making plans to head to the country of Peru, I mentioned that I would be in Peru for approximately 6 months as my visa allowed and then return to the States for 2 months to continue raising my needed support, and then head back down to Peru.   That is exactly what has happened.   In the beginning of October I came back to Michigan and began speaking at several different churches and events, continuing to raise my support.  During this time I have seen at least 1 more church take me on for support.  I had the opportunity to lead a young girl to Christ after church one Sunday and the opportunity to share the gospel with several people.  I was also given the chance to go on the teen fall retreat with Midland Baptist Church, to help run some games, and underground church activity (giving young people a better picture of the struggles of church and ministry in a closed country).  I also got to speak during the girls’ split session on the topic of “Stress, Anxiety, and Panic Attacks.”  So many young people and older people today struggle with these issues and rarely are they talked about.  For months I had been studying the topics out, seemingly for this moment.  God did amazing things that weekend and it was a joy to be a part of it.  

Please continue praying as I travel here in the States to raise more support and then travel back to Peru at the end of November to not only continue with the ministries I had been involved with but become involved with new areas of ministry as my Spanish has increased.                                           ~Pam Drout~

Praises

~ Another church has taken me on for support.

~The salvation of the young lady in church.

~The opportunity to speak about stress, anxiety and panic attacks, and the responses of teens who acknowledged they need help.

Prayer Requests

~ Money to come in towards a car, and my support to increase so I can minister more effectively.

~ The Treasure Hunters Program books to be finished quickly.

~ Opportunities to minister to others to abound.