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~