January February 2017 Prayer Letter
Hi Everyone!
Several months ago I mentioned in a prayer-letter how God was using the story of George Müller and II Corinthians 4:15 to impress upon my heart and cause me to be more active in praying for specific items instead of praying in generalities, but then also to look for the small graces and answers to prayer all around me and communicate them to others in an effort to increase the glory I bring to God. Over and over again in the last two months as I changed the habits I had built in prayer and the way I prayed, and actively looked for the small things God did each day I was increasingly encouraged by His active presence, but also overwhelmed at the thought of trying to communicate all He has done.
The first big piece of news I have to share comes as a direct result of these prayers, the prayers of friends, and several sermons I heard when dropping in on a few different churches. In January I began praying about the specific date that I would be leaving to go to Peru. I was beginning to believe it was time not only to talk about when I would be going, but to make the plans to go, purchase tickets, and actually get to Peru. I have always struggled with big decisions, especially when they are something I fervently desire, because I get nervous I am making the decision based on my own desires and not God’s desires for me.
To make a very long story short, God placed a timeframe of two weeks on my heart and then put me in a place to hear a sermon about the actions of faith. I had what I believed to be the right decision, and a friend challenged me to pray about it for 21 days. I did so, begging that in those 21 days, God would give me peace about the decision, not through feelings, not through a calm demeanor, but peace through His Word, showing me a passage or a verse which would help me know I was going in the right direction, but also that the authorities He has placed in my life, and those I am accountable to would help affirm this decision. As each day went by, verse after verse assured me of the decision, and those people to whom I am accountable and hold authority in my life ALL agreed it was a good decision. So, on April 15, 2017 I will be leaving for the mission field. I will be in Peru until the fall sometime, finish a few meetings I have scheduled, schedule a few more if my financial situation shows the need, and then at the end of November head back to Peru.
Not only did God provide peace through His Word, and through my authorities, but He also gave me another gift. I had been praying that before my tickets were purchased, the money would come in, over and above my normal support, to cover those tickets. Praise God, that very thing happened, I was told by a good friend my ticket was being paid for.
There have been so many other answers to prayer in the last few months. A close friend who had walked away from God years ago asked me to help her find a church and started going just last month. A young woman I had been talking with through a tough decision ended up with a health scare, that turned out okay, but brought her to a point of finally settling on the answer she believed was what God wanted. There was a young lady visiting a church I was at for a missions emphasis day and I got the chance to speak to her before the evening service and led her to Christ. And so much more.
So many things have happened in the last two months, I can in no way do them justice here, but thank you for praying. Please, please continue to pray now as I finish up meetings and make the preparations to move to Peru in April. I am still somewhat short on regular finances and want to set up a few more meetings for the fall, and need still $1800 more to make sure my transition/set-up fund is fully funded. Please continue to pray as I try to focus on wrapping things up to go to Peru, and work on learning as much Spanish as possible before I get there. In the midst of the busyness and chaos I cannot wait to see what God is going to do the next two months.
Thank You!
Pam Drout