"Amy in Peru" will soon be a reality, again!!

My year in Peru as an Arriba student ended April 2008. I am currently living in Blue Springs, MO where I am doing my student teaching to complete my education degree from Maranatha Baptist Bible College. After being back in the U.S. for over a year, the Lord has opened the door for me to return as a short-term missionary to Lima, Peru in February 2010!! I will be teaching at Fetzer Christian Academy, which is a school for missionary children under the direction of Missionaries Allan and Diane Frey and Baptist Mid-Missions. I am thrilled to be in God's will and to know that His will has directed me back to PERU! Proverbs 16:19 "A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps"

God is still in the life-changing business! II Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature, old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” I was so vividly reminded of this during our church’s baptismal service on Sunday, February 17. Six precious souls had made the decision to follow the Lord in believer’s baptism, including 3 men, 2 teenage boys, and one 7-year-old girl (more specifically, my Peruvian sister Yadi!). Each one gave their salvation testimony during the morning service in front of the church. During this time, I was genuinely encouraged to hear how God had worked so mightily and uniquely in each one of their lives.

Orley, one of the teenage boys who was baptized, was saved last year after a Christian teenager from our church witnessed to Orley and invited him to church. Orley found a friend in this Christian teenager from our church and even better a new best friend in Jesus. Orley began attending the church regularly, invited his family to come, and within several months his father also accepted Christ as Savior. His father was also baptized this past Sunday. On February 16, one day before the baptismal of her husband and son, Orley’s mother made the decision to be saved! This beautiful story of how a new Christian family began could solely be attributed to our awesome God. And God used a young teenage boy of our church who was faithful in his witness at his public school to begin this wonderful story of a whole family won to Christ.

Pedro, another one of the men who was baptized had been a drug addict for 17 years. Pastor began reaching out to Pedro years ago. Little by little through Pastor’s influence, the help of a drug rehabilitation center, and all through the power of God and His Word, Pedro abandoned his old, worldly life and gave his life to Christ. Since Pedro’s salvation, God has sincerely transformed his life.

After the testimonies in the morning service, the whole church boarded a public bus and traveled to a nearby Christian orphanage where they had a swimming pool. Since we do not have a baptistery in our church, the baptismal took place at the swimming pool! Temperatures were high and the pool looked inviting, so I think we all wanted to get re-baptized! This didn’t happen, but it was more than enough joy to see 6 people baptized and be reminded of their changed hearts and lives. Praise the Lord! Keep praying for the growth of these believers.