Fun

Caroling for Christmas

3:16 PM




"We wish you a Merry Christmas, We wish you a Merry Christmas, We Wish you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New year."  Our carolers sang with enthusiasm!  Wait, you might be thinking, but that's in English!  Yes, it is :)  It might have been the only carol we sang in English, but we sang it just the same!  Last Saturday, we took our teenagers Christmas Caroling around the neighborhood of our church.  We stopped at several elder members homes, as well as the local Police Station.
At our first stop, pictured above, Miguel was SO excited we were coming that he begged Daniel to bring the piano so he could hear all the music together.  He loved having us come sing, and said it was the first time in 65 years that he'd heard of someone caroling.  He thanked us for bringing the tradition back!  We were more than happy to! One of the culture differences here, is that, at almost every home, the people invited us inside and insisted of giving us something to drink and sometimes a snack!  By the time we were finished, we were full!  Another odd thing for me this year, was that it was hot and humid outside!  I don't ever remember sweating while Christmas caroling, but this time- we did!  We were hot, and grateful for the pop and drinks our kind members offered us.  


This is at another member's home.  As you can tell, many of us had drinks in hand because of their gracious hospitality!


This is Hermana Alison's home.  She has just had a recent battle in cancer.  She was thrilled to see the teenagers singing to her.  I think the kids liked it too! 

Our last stop, was the police station.  Our preacher suggested we go honor the police officers with songs, and thank them for the job they do.  We had a great meeting with them.  The next day, one of the girls who was at the police station with her mom came to church and got saved!  We're excited about the other opportunities God will open as we develop a relationship with them.  

Cecilia's Story

2:00 PM

Preacher and Mrs. Christy, their baby Joshua, and Cecilia
On one of our first Saturdays here, my preacher's wife, Mrs. Christy Hubbard was witnessing on the street corner of our church.  I noticed her because she was standing there for quite a while sweetly talking to one lady.  Her name was Cecilia.  That Saturday morning Cecilia got saved.  We soon found out that Cecilia had just been hired to work for a friend of our church, Mr. Robinson, who owns a construction business.  


Cecilia began coming to our services as often as she could, and soon she brought her mom and sister with her.  Her mom's name is Olga, and her sister's Katy.  Ogla's husband soon became outraged that Olga and Katy were coming to church.  He made it very clear to our Pastor that he was NOT happy with what was going on in our church.  Olga was only allowed to come to church on Wednesday nights after that, because her husband wanted her home on Sundays.  She wisely honored his request.  

Our preacher went visiting at their house not long after, and was able to meet both of Cecilia's brothers. Both of them had hard looks on their faces when Preacher walked in the door that day.  But by the time preacher left, they both had shed a few tears and accepted Jesus into their hearts.  The next day Julio, the younger brother, brought his girlfriend and their daughter to church with him.  That day Julianna got saved as well!  Cecilia has become a great soul winner, and many of her family have come to know Christ.  Sabino, however; was still lost.  Julio, her brother had also gone back to the world, and the ways of the world. 

Unbeknownst to our church family, Cecilia started a daily prayer time with her mom and several coworkers and friends.  Daily at 10pm they would get down on their knees (each in their own houses) and pray.  When they first began, they were praying for four things.  1.) For Sabino, Olga's husband, to get saved.  2.) For Julio to come back to church.  3.) For Mr. Robinson's daughter, who is deaf and has a growing tumor in her ear.  4.) For Cecilia's other brother Cesar, to come to church.

That next Sunday, to all of our surprise, Sabino walked into church (yes, on a Sunday!) with his wife and daughter!  I was working in the nursery that morning, and couldn't have been happier to see Julio bringing his little girl to the nursery!   At the end of the service, Sabino got saved!!  It was an awesome day for all!  

Several days later, I found out about Cecilia's new prayer group.  They invited me to join them praying every night at 10.  It was then that I realized that 2 out of 4 of their prayers had already been answered!  We serve a miracle working God, and I know it was God's delight to answer these new believer's requests! 




From left to right: Sabino, Olga, Cecilia, Katy, Julianna, Fabianna, and Julio

No Reserves, No Regrets, No Retreats

5:34 AM



It all started Sunday night in church.  I love IBI and I love the way Pastor Daniel Hubbard observes and celebrates the Lord's supper.  We celebrate about once a month, and each time, God touches my heart, and teaches me something new.  Last night Pastor was preaching about Jesus, how He left everything in heaven to come to this earth.  Immediately, I started thinking about the things we left in the States to come here and live.  (Honestly, there really isn't much we left.  True, I haven't set foot in a Wal-Mart in almost 6 months, but there are other stores.  Traffic here is a wreck- literally, I pray for safety much more now than I used to, and sometimes I face fears of being robbed.)  Compared to what Jesus left in heaven though, what we did was NOTHING! 

Then Pastor talked about how Jesus went all the way to the cross for us.  He held nothing back, absolutely nothing.  He was totally all about His Father's business!  Nothing was too much for Him to give up; nothing!  I looked up the passage He was preaching from later in English, and this verse caught my attention:  John 19:28- "After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished...." Conviction sinks deep into my soul as I read this.  There is no "I" in Jesus.  There is no "what I want" in Him.  He was completely surrendered to the will of God with His life, with no reserves. 

Bear with me a minute, as I very frankly and honestly share with you from the past few weeks of my life.  These past few weeks and months have been totally different for me.  I grew up in a family with a working father, and a mom who was always home for us.  Dad worked his hours faithfully at work, and then came home to us.  Dad worked a few nights overtime every once in a LONG while, but whenever he came home, he was always HOME.  I had no idea going into the ministry that it would mean my husband was "on call" 24/7.  (I give every Pastor's wife permission to LOL right now :))  From getting phone calls all hours of the day and night, I have felt like "my time"(with my husband) has been invaded.  I have wondered how in the world anyone has a personal life like this!  There have been no "weekends" as I remember as a child, and some weeks no days off.  I think the worst was when we were very busy around Thanksgiving and it hardly felt like it was a Holiday. (I didn't even get to go Black Friday shopping at Midnight... but wait- they don't celebrate Black Friday here! :( )  I have been frustrated to the hilt with not knowing in "advance" about emergencies that would call my husband away from home in the evenings or any time of day.  (Please don't feel sorry for me, I am not writing this to get sympathy.)

Then I hear about Jesus.  He was all about His Father's business.  He didn't come to the earth to spend time with an earthly "family", to enjoy life, or to do whatever He wanted.  He came to earth to save the world!  So I begin evaluating my own life.  I didn't come to Peru to have a gorgeous home.  (Although I think I do :))  I didn't come to Peru to enjoy long weekends of sleeping in and grilling out. (Not that either of these are wrong) I didn't come to Peru to vacation and take it easy, (although it only takes about 100 feet to get to the ocean from my front door.  Yes, I know I'm spoiled!)  I didn't come to Peru to enjoy myself, and make myself happy.  I came to Peru because there is a whole nation of people who have not yet heard the Gospel.  I came to Peru because there are hungry souls, who are literally dying to know that there is a Savior, that there is hope.  I came to Peru because in my city alone, there are 9 million people who need to know that Jesus loves them.  They need to know the truth; that Christ died to save them from their sins.  They need to know that it's not about the "virgins" and "idols" they worship, it's about the cross.  It's about how He came to save their souls and give them eternal life.  They need to know that they personally must accept the free gift Jesus offers, and that no one can do it for them.  That's why we came.

And while we are working on our schedule, and hoping that things won't be quite that bad again, what if they didn't ever get better?  Am I content to give all like Jesus did?  Am I willing to let Jesus have everything?  We sing "All to Jesus I surrender" but is that what we really mean?  What if I never had another Holiday?  Would that be ok?  Would I be willing to give it all up for Christ? I'd like to say Yes, I would.  But in doing so I must remember that we are to daily pick up our cross and follow Christ.  Because it's a daily surrender to Him.  It's a daily, "All to Jesus, I surrender."

 And so, I continue my journey, ever hoping to become a little more like my Jesus.  Less of me; more of my King.  The reset button is being pushed and it starts now. No regrets, no reserves, no retreats. 

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