The Expansion

4:54 PM



Anticipation was in the air, everyone rushed about hurriedly to be sure everything was just perfect for our first service at the new property.  The PA system needed to be set up, Hymnals placed in each seat, the baptistery set up, changing rooms prepared, ushers trained.  Today was the day!  After having several weeks and months of overflowing our old property, it was exciting to have a huge building to fill.  But would we fill it?  Would it seem huge and the people few in number?  
Our hearts were not disappointed that day as 138 people filled our new church building.  Many of our faithful church members brought a visitor or friend.  It didn't seem too big at all.  Actually, in my mind I wondered how long we would be able to fit in this new property before we would have to move again!  (I think it will be a while tho!) 

Our first service
We had a great response to the invitation that day!  We were blessed to have 24 visitors, 13 people saved and 5 baptized.  
Witnessing after our service.  Good thing we found some shade! 



Thanks for your prayers for Iglesia Bautista Internacional!  We're thrilled with what God is doing here in this place.  We know none of it would be possible without the faithful prayers of God's people!  We can't wait to see what God will do in the future!  Thanks for enjoying the journey with us. 

My Girls

10:19 AM


Our First Sunday at Pinos was a great success!!  So exciting in fact, that I am going to dedicate my whole next blog to it.  But first, I must share about two precious girls who we've been able to see God change these past two months.  For those of you who read The Chef, (my previous post) you already know Camila, and her story.  Above is a picture of her being baptized at our church on our first Sunday at our new church location.  She had told me on Saturday that she couldn't come to church because she had another class, but that she could come after 12 to be baptized.  I was shocked when she walked in to Sunday School that morning at 10:20 (really, 20 minutes late is pretty good on a Peruvian clock... they have this thing about being late here. :)) I was thrilled, because that week was my first time to teach the girls.  I enjoyed teaching them about God's love, and about how special they are to Him! 

We have about 5 girls who have become our "core" girls.  Most the time they all come for Saturdays, and then Sundays for services.  Sunday School is sometimes missed though, so you can imagine my happiness when all 5 of them showed up on the day I would get to teach them.  We had a very special time that day!  After Sunday school, we walked over for the morning service.  We had a great service and afterwards, Camila and Carmela got baptized.
Carmela getting baptized
Camila getting baptized
It was a glorious moment!  I stood at the back clapping and cheering for the both of them.  Just at that moment, one of the men from our team came over.  He and his family have just recently come to Peru to work with our team.  He looked at me and asked in English,  "Are those your girls?"
"Yes," I said, as I thought about it a moment... "Those are my girls."
Now I know it's a whole team effort to get these young ladies involved in church and having a whole team is a beautiful thing.  I don't pretend for a moment that these girls are only in church because of me.  I know it's because of the influence of many that they have come to know Christ.   But the moment he asked me, it hit me in a funny way as I thought about it.  Yup, those are my teenagers that just got baptized.  How exciting is that?  I smiled with happiness as I congratulated both of them afterwards.  The first step to following Christ is an important one.  It is my prayer and hope that in the future these girls will always have a church full of people that love them, that they will know that God loves them, and that they will remember that someone who loves them very much will always think of them fondly as "My Girls."


Carmela's on the left, and Camila on the right


The Chef

10:54 AM

Yesterday, I got to go out visiting with my husband.  While I was excited to get to go visit all the new visitors that came to our church on Sunday,  I was secretly hoping to be able to make one particular visit: to see Camila's parents.

Camila is a teenager that we met when we went caroling on our teen activity in December.  We went to sing at the local police station, and after we sang to them, we got to talk to them.  I met Camila, and chatted in "small talk" with her.  I felt horrible, because unlike every good missionary, I didn't have any tracts in my hand or purse!  Another one of my teenagers, Carmela, came up to me and said, "Could you please invite Camila to our church????"  "I don't have any tracts, I told her... but I'll do it anyways."  Right after I invited Camila to church, Carmela told her, "I'll come by your house tomorrow to pick you up."  I was shocked!  They already knew each other!  I kinda laughed to myself as I watched them converse for the next few minutes.  (They were obviously already good friends! I guess Carmela just wanted me to invite her to church.... lol)

The next day, Camila came to church with Carmela and got saved.  She's been coming to church, to pass out tracts with our teen group, and has also become involved in our youth choir.  She has a very sweet spirit, and you will almost always see her with a smile on her face.  Last week she also brought her two sisters to church with her.  She wants to get baptized this coming Sunday, but Dan and I needed to talk to her parents, which is why I wanted to go visit her family so much.

 We drove around for a while in Camila's neighborhood yesterday, but when we could not find her house (address systems are SO wacky in this third world country!) we decided to go back to the police station in hopes to find one of her parents.  Sure enough, her Dad walked out and began talking with us.  Apparently, he's the chef for the police station, and makes all the meals for those working.  We had a delightful discussion with him.  While we talked with him about Camila and her sweet sisters, we asked for permission for her to be baptized this Sunday.  He said Yes!!!!  Not only did he say yes though, my husband also had the opportunity to lead Henry, the Chef, to Christ!

Bring on the New Year!

6:40 PM


Happy New Years Everyone!!
We had one of the BEST New Year's Celebrations I've ever had.  Many of our church people labored all day long to get our brand new property ready for our New Years Eve Party. In just one day they were able to put up a tarp and hang lights. We still have a long ways to go as far as construction, but we thoroughly enjoyed being together as a church at this new property! 
This is Zach, our preacher's son, showing you how big the new property is! 
 We started the evening off in song.  Here is Zachary, leading singing, and Dan at the piano. 
 Following the singing, we jumped into the games.  Daniel worked with Preacher to set up some awesome games for a night full of fun! 



Following the games, we had a huge buffet of all kinds of Peruvian food!  I even ventured out to make a Peruvian dish called "Aji de Gallina."  I was super scared about how it would turn out, especially because the Peruvians know how their food should taste, but they said it was good- and they're a very honest people, so I think I'll believe them! 


After eating, we had a time of testimonies.  It was so neat to hear so many of our people share about the change God has made in their lives this year.  It makes any little sacrifice we may have made to come to this country totally worth it!  

These are two of the sweet families that have come to know Christ this year!  We've seen God do miracles in them! 




 After our testimonies and a short challenge from Preacher, we all counted down the seconds till the new year.  Even minutes before, firecrackers were going off!  Once it was midnight, firecrackers exploded all over the city!  We didn't know which way to look because there were so many beautiful firecrackers everywhere.  It sounded like a battlefield!  At midnight, all the Peruvians go around to each other and wish each other a Happy New Year through their customary greeting, usually a kiss on the cheek.  We greeted each one of the dear people God has put in our life this year, and then walked out to the street to watch the firecrackers for about another half hour.  It was an awesome celebration!  

I can't help but think of how blessed we have been this past year.  God brought us safely to a new country, gave us a church and a people to serve.  He's provided every single thing we've needed on this journey of faith.  As we head into the new year, we're excited with what awaits us!  Only God knows the miracles He will do in our lives this year.  

Happy New Year! 


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