Thankful

I am so thankful for the time that I have spent here. I have learned so much about myself and a lot of it is not what I like. Something for me that has been wonderful about Peru is that I have time to allow God to speak to me. I have time to reflect on many of the things that I have done, and God has shown me my errors and flaws. This is what happens when you don’t have a TV to spend your whole night watching it. This is what happens when you don’t have a car and you can get up and go anywhere you want at anytime. I am not promoting an Amish style life but I do think that Satan has tricked us in to thinking that the materials of this world are far more beneficial than the alone time with God. Just think about it every six months the world has to come up with something else that will entertain us when over a hundred years ago all they had was their Bible and time to meditate on it. No wonder these men did such great things for God. I am so grateful for what God has shown me and what he has taught me. Thank you all for your prayers and support.

Welcome Andrew and Holly!

Well, I am sitting here in my living room sort of talking to Andrew Pearson. Holly left and went back to her apartment, I thought that was kind of rude. Just joking she is talking to her family. Andrew and Holly plan on staying here in Arequipa for three months while working in the television station. I hope and pray that God will work in their lives like he has done in Kelli’s and mine. Andrew graduated from the Atlanta Art Institute with a degree in digital film making and video production and instead of using it for his own benefit, he wants to use the talents God has given him to spread the Gospel. I am very excited to see what God has planned for them.

Building

Well I am whipped. Yesterday Jeremy Hall, Alfredo, and myself worked all day on putting up the classrooms for language school. We got quite a bit accomplished, but it can get frustrating when you know of something that is done wrong and you can’t communicate. So I have learned a valuable lesson–keep your mouth shut and do what ever they say. It is very hard lesson, and I am still working on it but it helps keep the confusion down. Hopefully by next week they will be finished. It is pretty crazy; I’ve never had to make a door, so this is a first. These guys down here are hard workers.

Procrastination

One of the many flaws in my life is that I procrastinate. I always wait to the last minute possible. In Matthew 25:1-13, Christ is in private telling a parable to his disciples about ten virgins. Five of them were wise, and the other five were foolish. They all brought their lamps, but the difference between the wise and the foolish ones was that the wise filled their lamps with oil and the foolish didn’t. The wise ones made preparation for their coming bridegroom, while the foolish ones waited until the last possible minute. Then they has to leave to go buy oil. It was during that time that the bridegroom came, and they missed their chance. Christ told this little parable Christ to his disciples right before He was to die. The principle that sticks out to me today is that we should be prepared and not be what Christ calls foolish by waiting until the last possible minute to do what we are supposed to. Now, we can take this principle and check the church and ourselves. Christ has told us that he will return but he intentionally didn’t tell us when he would. We don’t know when he is returning, so then why do we wait to do what he has commanded us to do? I challenge you all, the believers and non-believers, whoever reads this not to procrastinate in doing your homework or a whatever you do at work, but my most important challenge is don’t procrastinate when it comes to following God’s will. Unbeliever, God is not willing that any should perish, accept him today. Believer, God is not willing that any should perish; accept that today and get to work.

Adding to Language School

Well today is going to be a little different. Jeremy, Alfredo, Juan and myself will be constructing some rooms for language school. This place is going to be booming. Within two weeks, the size of the language school is going to almost double. Rodney and Faye Holmes are missionaries that are training to go to Venezuela.

They are what you call the salt of the earth. Rodney was working construction when it was still booming and he felt called of God to go to the mission field. So he prepared and was able to get all his support in two years. His wife Faye seems to me to be a woman of faith, not many ladies (or men for that matter) are willing to take their two daughters and go to a place like Venezuela. Pray that God would use them greatly. The other couple, Andrew and Holly Pearson, is from our home church, Vision Baptist.

Andrew just recently graduated from Atlanta Art Institute. He wants to reach the world with the gospel by means of media. Andrew is a hard worker and his wife is the same way. Andrew has a huge dream wanting to get the gospel to whole world. I look forward to their arrival. Pray that God would use them in a miraculous way.

Milestone

Today marks a highlight of my stay here in Peru. I finished reading through my first book of the Bible in Spanish–1 John. Now I know that it isn’t a big book but I read it all the way through and understood about 80-90% of it. I have been dToday marks a highlight of my stay here in Peru. I finished reading through my first book of the Bible in Spanish–1 John. Now I know that it isn’t a big book but I read it all the way through and understood about 80-90% of it. I have been doing my devotions for the past week or so only in Spanish. Chris told me the only way I am going to learn how to speak this language is by doing my devotions in Spanish. It is going to force me to get something out of my devotions, and therefore it’s going to teach me to learn this language. So right now this is a milestone for me. I ask that you continue to keep praying for me; I really want to learn this language. I would like to say thanks for all your prayers and support.oing my devotions for the past week or so only in Spanish. Chris told me the only way I am going to learn how to speak this language is by doing my devotions in Spanish. It is going to force me to get something out of my devotions, and therefore it’s going to teach me to learn this language. So right now this is a milestone for me. I ask that you continue to keep praying for me; I really want to learn this language. I would like to say thanks for all your prayers and support.

Day 39

Well today was Kelli’s birthday August 1. We had a great time together, then things got pretty exciting when went to the hospital to see Jeremy and Bekah. We were there when the babies were born it was pretty exciting. They are both healthy praise the Lord. So something surprising happened when we got home.. All the bible college students that live at the Bible college and some of the ladies here too put Kelli a surprise party. It was quite an experience, the culture is different down here. They got in circle and and they told Kelli how special she was and it was all kind words. It was pretty cool. The people down here in Peru, missionaries and the Peruvians are some of the most wonderful people in the world. God is so good to us…

Day 38

Crazy day today it was the end of the youth conference. Jason left and so Chris had a taxi rented for the last couple of days to take Jason Holt, Jason Kenney, and Christian around. So when Chris left to take them to the Bus Station I followed behind them on Chris scooter. I am a cautious person and Chris is by no means cautious at all. So I ended up following the wrong car and I realized I needed some direction when I was on the Pan American Highway. I didn’t realize how far I went until, on my way back I seen this big arch saying welcome to Arequipa. So that was quite a trip. But after the Jasons left Chris, Jeremy, Andria, Robert Stover, David, Javier, Efrain and myself went to look at possible place where Omega Baptist Church might go. So please keep that in your prays. The church is going to be right next to the Catholic University. So there will be trails but are God is able.

Belated Update..

The past couple of days I have been studying the first chapter in Acts. Right now in my heart it is as full as it has ever been. It is almost mid night here and all I really can do right now is think about Acts 1:1-2. The phrase that I can’t get out of my mind is this, “of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost.” This verse tells us here that Jesus Christ has begun a work. And I believe that most Christians would attest that Christ did have a work, but where I failed to see the truth is this: I believed that after Christ was on the cross His earthly work was finished. This is true but only partially. It is true that Christ’s work is done in the redemption part of his job, but the place where I failed to realized is in Acts 1:2, and it is here that it was brought to my attention that He now works through the Holy Ghost. Christ’s visible work on this earth is finished but He has a lot more to do down here through His Spirit. Now if I were you I would be like “ok, how does this affect me?” But I think we need to take the time and think of the ramifications this truth brings to light. Think that our Savior in Heaven is still at work in the lives of not only the believers, by the process of reminding of us of scripture, but He is alive and active in the hearts of unbelievers. He convicts them of sin and shows them they are in need of a Savior. This should change everything about us, from our attitude to the enthusiasm we have about our service towards Him. Christ is not only alive but He is also at work through the Holy Ghost. It is shows me that the Lord I serve is not someone that is just up in heaven barking out orders but rather a Leader that is down in the trenches commanding us to follow His lead and this just thrills my soul….

Monday

Mondays are the days that everyone uses to recuperate from the busy week. So Kelli and I went to the Hall’s house along with the girls visiting from Vision Baptist Church. We got something to eat and then went to exchange some money. After walking around the city for a little bit, we went back to their house. Jeremy and I watched a tutorial on theology which was really interesting. Then we ate a chili dog and went home. Nothing impressive this day. Sorry!