Hello Everyone:
Each time I write I try to find an easy theme to summarize the past two months and
the farther I travel down this road of deputation and missions the harder that becomes. Let me just say in the last two months God has shifted my focus from, “go, go, go, do, do,
do” (which I love), to, “slow down and let me teach you something.”
While I did continue to present the ministry opportunities I have in a few local churches, much of July and August I have been at Midland Baptist training others to step into the ministries I have previously worked with, learning how to let go and trust others to carry them on, and then learning new skills I will need to minister in Peru.
In July our church ran ourVacation Bible School, “Come See the Sea of Galilee.” Throughout the week we saw 224 different kids, 3 years old – 8th grade, pass through our doors. Praise God we saw 26 kids accept Christ as their Savior, and several others gained assurance of their salvation.
For me week was a bit of a challenge, learning to train others in what I love doing while I watched, but then it was also encouraging in many ways. I saw people step into positions dear to my heart, learning to write curriculum, teach, place volunteers in roles where they will thrive and minister best and more. I saw the members of my church step in, excel and fall in love with these ministries themselves. Each year at our VBS we do a penny offering for a missionary. This year we taught the kids how 1 child’s sacrifice can go far, like the child who gave his fish and bread to Christ to feed the 5,000. Our kids learned how 4 pennies will purchase 1 tract and 1 piece of candy, allowing us to share the gospel with 1 child in one of the schools in Peru. In the penny offering that week, our kids raised $1,900 towards sharing the gospel in Peru, the equivalent of 47,500 children. While it is such a joy to see such a large number and consider the opportunity of sharing the gospel with so many children, it is humbling to realize that is less than 1% of the school children in Lima. Still, praise God for what a child’s sacrifice can do.
For the last 6 years our church has run our own youth conference for our kids, and my joy has been to plan the week, as well as work with some of the programming, chaperone, and participate with the teens. During this week away the teens walls begin to drop and they begin acknowledging and dealing with the sin and struggles in their lives. This year I attended and helped train the people taking my place with these ministries and I had to learn how to step away and let others do what I enjoy and miss doing. God was gracious in teaching me how to let go.
This year we had about 92 people there and we saw the teens and the chaperones make many decisions to turn away from sins they deal with, a few young men surrender to be willing to preach, one young lady gain assurance of her salvation and one young lady get saved. God is so good.
Please continue to pray as God teaches me new ways to minister and I continue training to minister in Peru. In September I will be back on the road, traveling to different churches and ministries between IL, IN, OH, WV, VA, NC and KY, not returning to Michigan for several months. I’m excited at the chance to travel, meet fellow believers and find new ways to minister, while nervous at being on my own for so long. Please pray for safety as I travel, a focus as I continue to study Spanish and that God would touch hearts to pray and to give.
Serving as an Ambassador for Christ
Pam Drout