Dear Praying Friends and Family,
The Christmas season is in full swing here in Lima! Schools are wrapping up their classes and finals before the summer break, the weather is progressively getting warmer, Christmas lights and decorations are appearing on houses and in windows, and churches are preparing for special Christmas programs and events!
This week was our final week of classes at Fetzer! For the last couple of weeks we have been celebrating the "Fetzer Twelve Days of Christmas" with a different dress-up theme or activity each day. We have seen angels, Bible characters, Christmas presents, Ebenezer Scrooge, and even the Grinch walking around the school campus! This has been enjoyable for the students as well as the teachers. Friday brought us to the last day of finals, a Christmas party for the Elementary students and the final closing Christmas program for the school in the evening. The students did a great job preparing for and presenting various instrumental specials and the musical "A Peanut Butter Christmas". It is quite unbelievable that the first half of the school year is already finished! It has been a great experience to work with the children and other teachers. Even so, everyone is excited for Christmas/summer break!
Things are also quite busy at my church, El Manantial, as we get ready for special Christmas events! Today we are holding our "Christmas party" for the jovenes (youth group) which includes a Chocolatada. This is a fellowship where everyone eats paneton (a Peruvian version of fruitcake, only much more delicious than fruitcake!) and hot chocolate! We will also have some Christmas themed games and songs. Tomorrow evening is our church Christmas program. The children's Sunday school classes are singing, the Jovenes are presenting a short drama, and the adults will be singing several choir numbers. I will be involved with singing in a couple of small group ensembles and playing for the choir.
This time of year is so joyful as we celebrate the wonder of our Savior's birth. Celebrating Christmas in the Southern Hemisphere is always a different feeling. All of the normal things we North American's associate with Christmas, like snow, cool weather, coats, hats, and scarves, etc... are replaced with sunshine, summer weather, and trips to the beach. :-) It can be easy to fall into the trap of enjoying the Christmas holiday because of all the "warm, fuzzy feelings" that we associate with this time of year. Being away from all the typical "warm fuzzies" is a great reminder to me that those feelings are not at all what Christmas is about. At Christmas I celebrate the birth of Emmanuel, God coming to earth in the flesh to die for the sins of mankind. How thankful I am for the reminder of the true reason for the season! I pray that you all take time out from the busyness of the holidays to focus on the real reason we have to celebrate!
As we enter our two months of summer break here in Peru, please keep the following items in prayer!
1. My teenage girls Sunday School class. Please pray that there would be faithful attendance and many opportunites to invest in the girls' lives and point them to Christ.
2. Camp ministry- I will have the opportunity to help at a camp near Lima for three weeks during the summer. One week counseling for Junior High camp, the second week working at a camp for national pastor's and their families, and the third helping run VBS for missionary children at the BMM missionary camp. Pray for the preparations and for fruit to come from these weeks!
3. Further opportunities for outreach and service at my church and in the community. The summer break is a great chance to spend more time investing in people's lives since more of the day is freed up for ministry opportunities. Pray that I will use my time wisely and look for the opportunities that God presents.
4. Pray for God's continued guidance and direction as I seek Him about plans for the future.
5. Pray for growth in my walk with the Lord, and that my relationship with Him would always be my top priority.
Thanks once again to each one of you for your faithful prayers and encouragement. May God bless you as you celebrate the season of our Savior's birth!
Serving the Savior,
Heidi Robbins
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Chinchil Photos!
Part of our group at the bus station, preparing to leave Lima!
Mrs. Carlton and me, seatmates for two 24 hour bus rides!
My first taste of "Caldo de Cabeza"-- Sheep's head soup!
A few samples of the indescribable beauty we witnessed in the Andes!
We hiked for hours over trails in these mountains to arrive at the village!
Nothing like living above the clouds!
Our group with Pastor Josue and his wife!
Pastor Josue Tinta, his wife Sarela, and their new daughter! What a sweet, faithful couple.
Two little girls we got to know and their adorable 3 day old baby goats!
A precious little girl at the kids club, dressed in traditional mountain woman garb.
One of the highlights of the trip for me, getting to teach a Bible lesson to the children!
Teaching about the Lamb of God
We also had the privilege of witnessing the baptism of four ladies of the church!
Looking out on a glorious display of God's grandeur. One can't help but pray, 'Come quickly, Lord."
Yet another beautiful sunset
Hiking away from Chinchil. The four hour uphill climb required much "Pressing on" and was a fitting reminder for the need to do so in the race of the Christian life.
Friday, November 12, 2010
November Update
Dear Praying Friends,
Every so often in life, God has a way of shaking us out of the ordinary and presenting us with an entirely new experience in order to teach us greater lessons about Himself, His Word, and the joy of serving Him. Last week I had the privilege of having one of those experiences. Some of you may be thinking, "But she's already in PERU, what more could there be to experience?!" Believe me, there is much. :-) I am referring to the week long missions trip with eight other members of my church to the remote mountain village of Chinchil.
Thank you to each one of you who prayed for our trip. I look forward to finding out one day in Heaven about how God used each one of your specific prayers for protection, for growth, and for spiritual fruit. Our team departed by bus from Lima at 8:30 am on Sunday, October 31st. So began a LONG trek to our destination. Twenty-four hours (and several stops later) we arrived in the town of Huacrachuco. The trip itself was fairly uneventful, but God's hand of protection was clearly evident. The last 12 hours of the trip took place on a dirt road, barely wide enough for our bus at times, over switchback mountain roads in the middle of the night. It was not until the return trip that we saw in daylight just how precarious the road was at times! :-) We have some incredible pictures of scenery!
After arriving in Huacrachuco we ate breakfast (another new experience...sheep's head soup! Which contained many more parts than just the head, I'm afraid) and set out in a van for the next leg of the trip. After traveling several hours in the van, and having to get out to walk when the road became too difficult to pass with a full load, we finally reached the last leg of the journey. After all that time sitting on a bus, a hike through the mountains would feel great, or so we thought! The final road to Chinchil involved hiking for about 4 1/2 hours over mountain roads. Thankfully, most of the rain held off until we reached the village.
Once we arrived in Chinchil on Monday evening, we began preparing for the whirlwind week of ministry. Monday evening we had our first service there in the church. A deacon from our church, Timoteo preached in each evening service, Monday through Thursday, and shared clearly with the church and numerous visitors about salvation. Our group helped in providing special music and performing several dramas throughout the week.
On Tuesday through Thursday, the majority of us participated in holding various kids clubs in the local school during the morning and outside during the afternoon. Each day's Bible lesson had a theme, Creacion, La Caida, Cordero, Cristo, and Cielo (Creation, the Fall, Lamb, Christ, and Heaven). During the club times we sang fun kids songs with the children, played games, had crafts, and many of us had the privilege of teaching a lesson. I had the opportunity to teach the lesson about "The Lamb". It was so exciting to be able to share with the kids the story of Abraham offering his only son, Isaac, as a sacrifice and how God provided a substitute so Isaac would not have to die. I was able to tell the children about the Israelites sacrifice of animals like goats, and sheep, and how this was a picture of Jesus Christ, The Lamb of God, and the only perfect sacrifice for sin. In the mountains villages everywhere you look you can see a variety of animals ranging among goats, sheep, chickens, donkeys, ducks, pigs, and guinea pigs, so the children understood the concept of sheep and killing them (since a lamb is a very common meat for them to eat). How we pray that the truths those precious children learned will plant seeds that will one day produce the fruit of salvation in their lives. Nearly every day we had close to 100 children at the clubs and in the schools, so many souls heard the message of the gospel.
On Thursday, our final day in Chinchil, our team presented a program in both the High school and Elementary school during the morning, witnessed the baptism of 4 sisters in Christ during the afternoon, wrapped up our final kids club, and had the last evening service complete with a baby dedication. It was a marathon day, but such a blessing to witness the faithfulness of this small church and the work that God is doing in this village.
Throughout the week, something that God continually kept impressing upon my heart was the privilege of serving Him, and the necessity of being a servant at all times and in whatever situations with which we are presented. There were many times throughout the week where it would have been easy to complain because of certain inconveniences or physical discomforts. However, God kept reminding me that "Life is for Service". I am not here on earth to please myself or to do what is comfortable, but I am here to sacrifice my life for the indescribable joy of serving my Savior; to point others to Him, and to encourage other believers. What a humbling reminder and a lesson I pray is not easily forgotten.
On Friday, we departed from Chinchil...another 4 1/2 hour hike UP several mountains :-), another 3 hour van ride, and another 24 hour bus ride back to Lima. God gave us safety in spite of two flat tires on the bus on the return trip. Thanks again for your heart-felt prayers. There are many other stories which could be shared, but this letter has already gotten far too long. If you are interested in more details, send me a personal note. :-) Lord-willing I will be putting up some pictures of the trip on my Peru blog http://www.perspectivesfromperu.blogspot.com/ soon so you can see some of the adventures for yourselves.
In closing, let me mention a few prayer requests:
1. Pray for Maxmiliano, a man who accepted Christ after the Monday evening service in Chinchil. Pray for his continued spiritual growth.
2. Pray that the seeds of the gospel planted in Chinchil and on the trip will take root.
3. Pray for the students and teachers at Fetzer as we finish out the last month before Christmas/Summer break!
4. Pray for the health of our students and teachers. There are several of us who have struggled with sickness over the last few weeks.
5. Pray for new opportunities for service at "El Manantial", my church in Manchay.
6. I have been approached by the administrators of Fetzer about staying on in some capacity at the school for another year (2011-2012 school year). Will you please pray with me about God's direction in this regard? My desire is to serve where the Lord wants me. Please pray that if it is His will for me to stay, that He will make it abundantly clear.
Thank you again for your prayers and encouragement. God bless each one of you for your faithfulness!
Serving the Savior,
Heidi Robbins
Every so often in life, God has a way of shaking us out of the ordinary and presenting us with an entirely new experience in order to teach us greater lessons about Himself, His Word, and the joy of serving Him. Last week I had the privilege of having one of those experiences. Some of you may be thinking, "But she's already in PERU, what more could there be to experience?!" Believe me, there is much. :-) I am referring to the week long missions trip with eight other members of my church to the remote mountain village of Chinchil.
Thank you to each one of you who prayed for our trip. I look forward to finding out one day in Heaven about how God used each one of your specific prayers for protection, for growth, and for spiritual fruit. Our team departed by bus from Lima at 8:30 am on Sunday, October 31st. So began a LONG trek to our destination. Twenty-four hours (and several stops later) we arrived in the town of Huacrachuco. The trip itself was fairly uneventful, but God's hand of protection was clearly evident. The last 12 hours of the trip took place on a dirt road, barely wide enough for our bus at times, over switchback mountain roads in the middle of the night. It was not until the return trip that we saw in daylight just how precarious the road was at times! :-) We have some incredible pictures of scenery!
After arriving in Huacrachuco we ate breakfast (another new experience...sheep's head soup! Which contained many more parts than just the head, I'm afraid) and set out in a van for the next leg of the trip. After traveling several hours in the van, and having to get out to walk when the road became too difficult to pass with a full load, we finally reached the last leg of the journey. After all that time sitting on a bus, a hike through the mountains would feel great, or so we thought! The final road to Chinchil involved hiking for about 4 1/2 hours over mountain roads. Thankfully, most of the rain held off until we reached the village.
Once we arrived in Chinchil on Monday evening, we began preparing for the whirlwind week of ministry. Monday evening we had our first service there in the church. A deacon from our church, Timoteo preached in each evening service, Monday through Thursday, and shared clearly with the church and numerous visitors about salvation. Our group helped in providing special music and performing several dramas throughout the week.
On Tuesday through Thursday, the majority of us participated in holding various kids clubs in the local school during the morning and outside during the afternoon. Each day's Bible lesson had a theme, Creacion, La Caida, Cordero, Cristo, and Cielo (Creation, the Fall, Lamb, Christ, and Heaven). During the club times we sang fun kids songs with the children, played games, had crafts, and many of us had the privilege of teaching a lesson. I had the opportunity to teach the lesson about "The Lamb". It was so exciting to be able to share with the kids the story of Abraham offering his only son, Isaac, as a sacrifice and how God provided a substitute so Isaac would not have to die. I was able to tell the children about the Israelites sacrifice of animals like goats, and sheep, and how this was a picture of Jesus Christ, The Lamb of God, and the only perfect sacrifice for sin. In the mountains villages everywhere you look you can see a variety of animals ranging among goats, sheep, chickens, donkeys, ducks, pigs, and guinea pigs, so the children understood the concept of sheep and killing them (since a lamb is a very common meat for them to eat). How we pray that the truths those precious children learned will plant seeds that will one day produce the fruit of salvation in their lives. Nearly every day we had close to 100 children at the clubs and in the schools, so many souls heard the message of the gospel.
On Thursday, our final day in Chinchil, our team presented a program in both the High school and Elementary school during the morning, witnessed the baptism of 4 sisters in Christ during the afternoon, wrapped up our final kids club, and had the last evening service complete with a baby dedication. It was a marathon day, but such a blessing to witness the faithfulness of this small church and the work that God is doing in this village.
Throughout the week, something that God continually kept impressing upon my heart was the privilege of serving Him, and the necessity of being a servant at all times and in whatever situations with which we are presented. There were many times throughout the week where it would have been easy to complain because of certain inconveniences or physical discomforts. However, God kept reminding me that "Life is for Service". I am not here on earth to please myself or to do what is comfortable, but I am here to sacrifice my life for the indescribable joy of serving my Savior; to point others to Him, and to encourage other believers. What a humbling reminder and a lesson I pray is not easily forgotten.
On Friday, we departed from Chinchil...another 4 1/2 hour hike UP several mountains :-), another 3 hour van ride, and another 24 hour bus ride back to Lima. God gave us safety in spite of two flat tires on the bus on the return trip. Thanks again for your heart-felt prayers. There are many other stories which could be shared, but this letter has already gotten far too long. If you are interested in more details, send me a personal note. :-) Lord-willing I will be putting up some pictures of the trip on my Peru blog http://www.perspectivesfromperu.blogspot.com/ soon so you can see some of the adventures for yourselves.
In closing, let me mention a few prayer requests:
1. Pray for Maxmiliano, a man who accepted Christ after the Monday evening service in Chinchil. Pray for his continued spiritual growth.
2. Pray that the seeds of the gospel planted in Chinchil and on the trip will take root.
3. Pray for the students and teachers at Fetzer as we finish out the last month before Christmas/Summer break!
4. Pray for the health of our students and teachers. There are several of us who have struggled with sickness over the last few weeks.
5. Pray for new opportunities for service at "El Manantial", my church in Manchay.
6. I have been approached by the administrators of Fetzer about staying on in some capacity at the school for another year (2011-2012 school year). Will you please pray with me about God's direction in this regard? My desire is to serve where the Lord wants me. Please pray that if it is His will for me to stay, that He will make it abundantly clear.
Thank you again for your prayers and encouragement. God bless each one of you for your faithfulness!
Serving the Savior,
Heidi Robbins
Monday, October 18, 2010
October Update!
Dear Praying Friends,
Greetings from Lima! Here in the Southern Hemisphere we are enjoying slowly warmer temperatures and increased amounts of sunshine each day. This can only mean one thing...spring has arrived! Even though this time of year brings along with it the occasional craving for a Pumpkin Spice Latte (which, alas, cannot be found here in Peru), the prospect of summer outweighs this minor loss. :-)
This weeks finds us officially starting the second half of the semester here at Fetzer. To unofficially celebrate this event we are holding a "Fetzer Family Fun Night" this Friday in which any family and/or teacher may participate with music or skits. The school choir has been working hard to prepare three songs as well, and the evening promises to be an enjoyable time for all.
God has continued to bless with many opportunities to serve, particularly at my church. I mentioned in the last letter that we have been working to start a Saturday night service for our Adolescentes and Jovenes groups at the church. This began three weeks ago and we have had an attendance of around 30 or more each week. Praise the Lord that many new teenagers have been attending. Many of these kids either do not know the Lord as their Savior or are lacking discipleship and we are grateful for the opportunity to reach out to them. Please pray for their continued attendance. Each week we have a different theme for the game time and we have already had many hilarious moments from "Candy Night", "Backwards Night", and "Crazy Hair Night."
One of the greatest upcoming opportunities, for which I greatly appreciate your prayers, is a missions trip that our church will be taking in two weeks. I have the privilege of going, along with Pastor Jim and Becky Carlton and five or six other members of our church, to Chinchil, a small village in the mountains. We will be leaving on October 31 and returning on November 7. The trip itself will be something of an adventure as it requires a bus ride of approximately 24 hours and then another 6-7 hour hike on foot through the mountains in order to arrive at this village. Once we arrive in Chinchil on November 1st we will be holding Bible Clubs two times a day for the children as well as evening services at the church. I am told we can expect around 100 children to attend the clubs. Currently we are in the middle of planning games, songs, skits, Bible lessons, and crafts to do with the children. While most of us are busy with this throughout the day, Pastor Jim will be teaching men's Bible studies. He will also preach at the evening services and the rest of us will help with special music and skits. Please be in prayer for the trip as we make the final preparations. Also pray for safety during the long hours of travel. Most of all, pray that God would work in hearts through the power of His Word and His Spirit. I look forward to sharing with you of our adventures and what God is pleased to accomplish through us in this endeavor.
In closing, I would like to share a verse that God recently brought to mind...
"He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord."
Psalm 40:3 (ESV)
It is my heartfelt prayer that my life would be a "song of praise" to God which, when seen/heard by others, would point them to Him. Thank you for your prayers to that end.
Serving the Savior,
Heidi Robbins
Greetings from Lima! Here in the Southern Hemisphere we are enjoying slowly warmer temperatures and increased amounts of sunshine each day. This can only mean one thing...spring has arrived! Even though this time of year brings along with it the occasional craving for a Pumpkin Spice Latte (which, alas, cannot be found here in Peru), the prospect of summer outweighs this minor loss. :-)
This weeks finds us officially starting the second half of the semester here at Fetzer. To unofficially celebrate this event we are holding a "Fetzer Family Fun Night" this Friday in which any family and/or teacher may participate with music or skits. The school choir has been working hard to prepare three songs as well, and the evening promises to be an enjoyable time for all.
God has continued to bless with many opportunities to serve, particularly at my church. I mentioned in the last letter that we have been working to start a Saturday night service for our Adolescentes and Jovenes groups at the church. This began three weeks ago and we have had an attendance of around 30 or more each week. Praise the Lord that many new teenagers have been attending. Many of these kids either do not know the Lord as their Savior or are lacking discipleship and we are grateful for the opportunity to reach out to them. Please pray for their continued attendance. Each week we have a different theme for the game time and we have already had many hilarious moments from "Candy Night", "Backwards Night", and "Crazy Hair Night."
One of the greatest upcoming opportunities, for which I greatly appreciate your prayers, is a missions trip that our church will be taking in two weeks. I have the privilege of going, along with Pastor Jim and Becky Carlton and five or six other members of our church, to Chinchil, a small village in the mountains. We will be leaving on October 31 and returning on November 7. The trip itself will be something of an adventure as it requires a bus ride of approximately 24 hours and then another 6-7 hour hike on foot through the mountains in order to arrive at this village. Once we arrive in Chinchil on November 1st we will be holding Bible Clubs two times a day for the children as well as evening services at the church. I am told we can expect around 100 children to attend the clubs. Currently we are in the middle of planning games, songs, skits, Bible lessons, and crafts to do with the children. While most of us are busy with this throughout the day, Pastor Jim will be teaching men's Bible studies. He will also preach at the evening services and the rest of us will help with special music and skits. Please be in prayer for the trip as we make the final preparations. Also pray for safety during the long hours of travel. Most of all, pray that God would work in hearts through the power of His Word and His Spirit. I look forward to sharing with you of our adventures and what God is pleased to accomplish through us in this endeavor.
In closing, I would like to share a verse that God recently brought to mind...
"He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord."
Psalm 40:3 (ESV)
It is my heartfelt prayer that my life would be a "song of praise" to God which, when seen/heard by others, would point them to Him. Thank you for your prayers to that end.
Serving the Savior,
Heidi Robbins
Monday, September 20, 2010
September Update
Dear Praying Friends and Family,
It seems like just a few days ago that I arrived in Peru, yet it is already time to write a new update! (And we are already figuring our students grades for the first 6 week grading period!) In the past month, life has settled into a little more of a routine. During a typical school week, my days are filled with preparing for and teaching my English class, cleaning, sorting and doing other odd jobs in the office, cataloging library books on computer, working with and reading to different classes in the library, grading ARRIBA student Spanish homework, accompanying the children's choir, teaching a flute lessons to one Junior High girl, and doing whatever other jobs may arise. I enjoy the variety and the interaction with the children! Thank you for your prayers regarding all these areas.
Thank you as well to each of you who have been praying for the Lord's will regarding my decision about which church to attend. After much prayer and deliberation I have felt the Lord leading me to attend Iglesia Bautista El Manantial (Spring Baptist Church), where Pastor Jim and Becky Carlton serve. It has already been a tremendous blessing to start getting to know the people there and look for ways to become involved. Last Saturday I had the opportunity to fill in for one of the teachers and teach Kids Club, and this coming Sunday I will be teaching Sunday School for the Primary class. Also, our church is starting a meeting on Saturday nights for Adolescentes (12-16 yr olds) at the same time as our Jovenes meetings (17-? yr olds :-) Lord willing, I will be able to help with the planning for these meetings. There are several young ladies close to my age in the church with whom I hope to develop a closer friendship and work alongside in the ministry. Please pray for these various ministries and all who are involved in planning and all who will attend. Pray for spiritual growth among our Jovenes and among the church members as a whole.
Time and again throughout the past few weeks I have been reminded of the Lord's incredible goodness and the true joy that is found in serving Him. May we all rejoice in each new day not only for the privilege of being called His children, but also for the opportunity to serve Him with our lives wherever He places us.
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him.' The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks Him." Lamentations 3:22-24 (ESV)
As the Lord brings them to mind, please keep these requests before the Throne of Grace...
Pray for...
1. Wisdom for each of the teachers and staff here at Fetzer as we seek to teach and be examples to each of the students.
2. Spiritual growth among the students at Fetzer.
3. Iglesia Bautista El Manantial- Faithfulness in attendance, spiritual growth and maturity among the members, and upcoming missions and outreach opportunities.
4. My my own walk with the Lord, that I would be faithful each day to spend time with Him, and actively be seeking ways to serve and reflect Christ's love to others!
Thanks to each one of you for your faithful encouragement and prayers! Each note I receive is an incredible blessing! I look forward to sharing with you more of what God is doing in the months ahead!
Serving in Peru,
Heidi
It seems like just a few days ago that I arrived in Peru, yet it is already time to write a new update! (And we are already figuring our students grades for the first 6 week grading period!) In the past month, life has settled into a little more of a routine. During a typical school week, my days are filled with preparing for and teaching my English class, cleaning, sorting and doing other odd jobs in the office, cataloging library books on computer, working with and reading to different classes in the library, grading ARRIBA student Spanish homework, accompanying the children's choir, teaching a flute lessons to one Junior High girl, and doing whatever other jobs may arise. I enjoy the variety and the interaction with the children! Thank you for your prayers regarding all these areas.
Thank you as well to each of you who have been praying for the Lord's will regarding my decision about which church to attend. After much prayer and deliberation I have felt the Lord leading me to attend Iglesia Bautista El Manantial (Spring Baptist Church), where Pastor Jim and Becky Carlton serve. It has already been a tremendous blessing to start getting to know the people there and look for ways to become involved. Last Saturday I had the opportunity to fill in for one of the teachers and teach Kids Club, and this coming Sunday I will be teaching Sunday School for the Primary class. Also, our church is starting a meeting on Saturday nights for Adolescentes (12-16 yr olds) at the same time as our Jovenes meetings (17-? yr olds :-) Lord willing, I will be able to help with the planning for these meetings. There are several young ladies close to my age in the church with whom I hope to develop a closer friendship and work alongside in the ministry. Please pray for these various ministries and all who are involved in planning and all who will attend. Pray for spiritual growth among our Jovenes and among the church members as a whole.
Time and again throughout the past few weeks I have been reminded of the Lord's incredible goodness and the true joy that is found in serving Him. May we all rejoice in each new day not only for the privilege of being called His children, but also for the opportunity to serve Him with our lives wherever He places us.
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him.' The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks Him." Lamentations 3:22-24 (ESV)
As the Lord brings them to mind, please keep these requests before the Throne of Grace...
Pray for...
1. Wisdom for each of the teachers and staff here at Fetzer as we seek to teach and be examples to each of the students.
2. Spiritual growth among the students at Fetzer.
3. Iglesia Bautista El Manantial- Faithfulness in attendance, spiritual growth and maturity among the members, and upcoming missions and outreach opportunities.
4. My my own walk with the Lord, that I would be faithful each day to spend time with Him, and actively be seeking ways to serve and reflect Christ's love to others!
Thanks to each one of you for your faithful encouragement and prayers! Each note I receive is an incredible blessing! I look forward to sharing with you more of what God is doing in the months ahead!
Serving in Peru,
Heidi
Monday, August 16, 2010
Update August 16th
Dear Praying Friends and Family,
Thank you so much to all of you who were praying for safety on my trip down to Peru. I arrived safely in Lima at about 4:10am last Friday. God showed His goodness in so many ways on the trip down and I am so thankful for the blessings and provision He gives. One of the biggest surprises was when I arrived at the Miami airport, found my departing gate, and discovered my roommate Becky waiting there to get on a standby flight! God worked it out for her to get on my flight, and we completed the trip to Lima together!
The past week has been busy and full of setting up our apartment, teacher meetings, getting classrooms ready, lesson planning, and the first days of school. The first few days of class have gone well and we are thankful. I am teaching one class, a combined Grammar, Literature, and Vocabulary class for the 7th and 8th graders. Beyond that, I am working with various classes in the library and fulfilling different duties as school secretary. It looks like there will also be some opportunities to teach a few private music lessons on the side. I am filled with joy to be back and serving in this country, and as the year begins I can only pray and anticipate the great things God will do.
Please continue to pray for my decision about which church to attend here in Lima. Last week I had the opportunity to visit Jim and Becky Carlton's church in Manchay, and was even asked to play for a wedding there on Saturday night! It was a blessing to meet the people there and see the work that God is doing in this very needy part of Lima. Wednesday night I went with several of the other Fetzer teachers to a church about 10 minutes from here in Musa. Saturday night and Sunday night I went back to a church I attended while in Peru as an ARRIBA student, Gethsemane Baptist Church. It was wonderful to see those brothers and sisters in Christ for the first time in several years.
Thanks again to each one of you for your faithful prayers and encouragement. You are a vital part of this ministry!
Thank you so much to all of you who were praying for safety on my trip down to Peru. I arrived safely in Lima at about 4:10am last Friday. God showed His goodness in so many ways on the trip down and I am so thankful for the blessings and provision He gives. One of the biggest surprises was when I arrived at the Miami airport, found my departing gate, and discovered my roommate Becky waiting there to get on a standby flight! God worked it out for her to get on my flight, and we completed the trip to Lima together!
The past week has been busy and full of setting up our apartment, teacher meetings, getting classrooms ready, lesson planning, and the first days of school. The first few days of class have gone well and we are thankful. I am teaching one class, a combined Grammar, Literature, and Vocabulary class for the 7th and 8th graders. Beyond that, I am working with various classes in the library and fulfilling different duties as school secretary. It looks like there will also be some opportunities to teach a few private music lessons on the side. I am filled with joy to be back and serving in this country, and as the year begins I can only pray and anticipate the great things God will do.
Please continue to pray for my decision about which church to attend here in Lima. Last week I had the opportunity to visit Jim and Becky Carlton's church in Manchay, and was even asked to play for a wedding there on Saturday night! It was a blessing to meet the people there and see the work that God is doing in this very needy part of Lima. Wednesday night I went with several of the other Fetzer teachers to a church about 10 minutes from here in Musa. Saturday night and Sunday night I went back to a church I attended while in Peru as an ARRIBA student, Gethsemane Baptist Church. It was wonderful to see those brothers and sisters in Christ for the first time in several years.
Thanks again to each one of you for your faithful prayers and encouragement. You are a vital part of this ministry!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
August Update
Dear Praying Friends,
Greetings from hot and humid Illinois! The last few days have been a blur of packing, last minute shopping trips, and special goodbyes. I wanted to send out a quick update before I leave tomorrow so that you all could be informed of the ways in which God has been working and be in prayer for my trip down to Peru and the start of ministry there!
As many of you know, my goal at the start of this process was to raise $8,000.00 necessary for support throughout the coming eleven months. I am humbled and thankful to report that God has provided $10,200 due to the prayers and generous giving of many of you. Thank you again for your sacrifice; I am so grateful.
This past Sunday evening my church had a special "send-off" service for me. (Complete with a special cupcake and dessert fellowship afterwards! :-) It was such a special time of worship, challenge, and fellowship. My pastor (and dad) gave a specific challenge from the Word to "be a servant" (Mark 9:35) He encouraged me to be a Humble Servant, a Joyful Servant, an Enthusiastic Servant, and a Faithful Servant. I am blessed to have such a loving home church behind me.
I appreciate your prayers as I fly out tomorrow (Thursday the 5th). My flight leaves from St. Louis, MO at 5:30pm. From there I fly to Miami, FL and leave Miami at 11:50pm. Lord willing, I will arrive in Lima at 4:35am on Friday. Please be in prayer that the flights go smoothly, that I make the connection, and have no loss of luggage.
I am looking forward to arriving and getting settled in to my apartment at Fetzer Memorial Christian Academy. Beki Wishart, a former ARRIBA teammate of mine, short-term teacher at Fetzer, and good friend, will be sharing the apartment with me. Just yesterday I received an e-mail from one of my missionary friends in Peru, asking if I would be willing to play the keyboard at a wedding at their church on Saturday night! I can't wait to get busy right away with ministry!
Monday we will begin orientation meetings at Fetzer and classes will begin on Wednesday! Please be in prayer for the teachers and students as we prepare for the new school year.
Thanks to all of you for your encouragement and prayers! I look forward to keeping you updated on the ministry throughout this year! God bless!
Serving the Savior,
Heidi Robbins
Prayer Request:
1. Safety in travel on Thursday, no loss of baggage, opportunities to witness.
2. Preparation for classes to begin on August 11th.
3. Re-adjustment to Peruvian culture, speaking Spanish, etc.
4. Faithful time in God's Word, and and an attitude of service.
__
"As for God, His way is perfect; the Word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him." Psalm 18:30
Greetings from hot and humid Illinois! The last few days have been a blur of packing, last minute shopping trips, and special goodbyes. I wanted to send out a quick update before I leave tomorrow so that you all could be informed of the ways in which God has been working and be in prayer for my trip down to Peru and the start of ministry there!
As many of you know, my goal at the start of this process was to raise $8,000.00 necessary for support throughout the coming eleven months. I am humbled and thankful to report that God has provided $10,200 due to the prayers and generous giving of many of you. Thank you again for your sacrifice; I am so grateful.
This past Sunday evening my church had a special "send-off" service for me. (Complete with a special cupcake and dessert fellowship afterwards! :-) It was such a special time of worship, challenge, and fellowship. My pastor (and dad) gave a specific challenge from the Word to "be a servant" (Mark 9:35) He encouraged me to be a Humble Servant, a Joyful Servant, an Enthusiastic Servant, and a Faithful Servant. I am blessed to have such a loving home church behind me.
I appreciate your prayers as I fly out tomorrow (Thursday the 5th). My flight leaves from St. Louis, MO at 5:30pm. From there I fly to Miami, FL and leave Miami at 11:50pm. Lord willing, I will arrive in Lima at 4:35am on Friday. Please be in prayer that the flights go smoothly, that I make the connection, and have no loss of luggage.
I am looking forward to arriving and getting settled in to my apartment at Fetzer Memorial Christian Academy. Beki Wishart, a former ARRIBA teammate of mine, short-term teacher at Fetzer, and good friend, will be sharing the apartment with me. Just yesterday I received an e-mail from one of my missionary friends in Peru, asking if I would be willing to play the keyboard at a wedding at their church on Saturday night! I can't wait to get busy right away with ministry!
Monday we will begin orientation meetings at Fetzer and classes will begin on Wednesday! Please be in prayer for the teachers and students as we prepare for the new school year.
Thanks to all of you for your encouragement and prayers! I look forward to keeping you updated on the ministry throughout this year! God bless!
Serving the Savior,
Heidi Robbins
Prayer Request:
1. Safety in travel on Thursday, no loss of baggage, opportunities to witness.
2. Preparation for classes to begin on August 11th.
3. Re-adjustment to Peruvian culture, speaking Spanish, etc.
4. Faithful time in God's Word, and and an attitude of service.
__
"As for God, His way is perfect; the Word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him." Psalm 18:30
Saturday, June 26, 2010
News in June
The past month has absolutely flown by and I have so much to share with you all.
June gave me several opportunities to present in churches. On June 6th I presented my ministry at First Baptist Church in Plymouth, Illinois. They were a warm, caring group of people, and had the honor of being my "guinea pigs." The youth group of Plymouth also decided to take me on as their missionary project for Vacation Bible School (June 21-25).
June 13th I was able to present at my home church, Faith Baptist Church in Camp Point, IL during Sunday School. What a blessing to share with my own church family how God has been leading in my life. The church also graciously voted to take me on for monthly support.
June 20th brought me to First Baptist Church in Littleton, IL. I had the privilege of sharing the evening service with Janae Lindow, a college student who recently returned from spending a year of studies and ministry in Peru. It was a joy to glimpse a little of what God had done in her life throughout the year and to compare stories, memories, and lessons learned.
This month has been a remarkable reminder of God's provision as He has continually answered prayer and supplied needs. It is with great thankfulness that I am able to report that my support level has reached about 3/4 of the needed $8,000 dollars.
I am deeply grateful and incredibly humbled by the sacrificial generosity of God's people. These dear brothers and sisters in Christ have been living examples of Christ to me by giving of what they possess to the Lord's work. My heartfelt prayer is that I will hold this same attitude about the resources that God chooses to give me, whether they be small or great. May I recognize that everything I possess already belongs to the Lord and may I seek to use my possessions for the furtherance of His Kingdom and His glory.
Thank you for your continued prayers. As I countdown the final 6 weeks before leaving for Peru, please remember the following requests in prayer.
1. Pray for continued opportunities to witness as I complete the final 3 weeks at my full-time job.
2. Pray that I will find the right insurance coverage to use during the year I am in Peru.
3. Pray that God will provide just the right plane tickets with a good airline and within my price range. This requires a lot of research. :-)
Thank you to all who have faithfully been praying. I will continue to keep you updated as the time for departure draws closer.
June gave me several opportunities to present in churches. On June 6th I presented my ministry at First Baptist Church in Plymouth, Illinois. They were a warm, caring group of people, and had the honor of being my "guinea pigs." The youth group of Plymouth also decided to take me on as their missionary project for Vacation Bible School (June 21-25).
June 13th I was able to present at my home church, Faith Baptist Church in Camp Point, IL during Sunday School. What a blessing to share with my own church family how God has been leading in my life. The church also graciously voted to take me on for monthly support.
June 20th brought me to First Baptist Church in Littleton, IL. I had the privilege of sharing the evening service with Janae Lindow, a college student who recently returned from spending a year of studies and ministry in Peru. It was a joy to glimpse a little of what God had done in her life throughout the year and to compare stories, memories, and lessons learned.
This month has been a remarkable reminder of God's provision as He has continually answered prayer and supplied needs. It is with great thankfulness that I am able to report that my support level has reached about 3/4 of the needed $8,000 dollars.
I am deeply grateful and incredibly humbled by the sacrificial generosity of God's people. These dear brothers and sisters in Christ have been living examples of Christ to me by giving of what they possess to the Lord's work. My heartfelt prayer is that I will hold this same attitude about the resources that God chooses to give me, whether they be small or great. May I recognize that everything I possess already belongs to the Lord and may I seek to use my possessions for the furtherance of His Kingdom and His glory.
Thank you for your continued prayers. As I countdown the final 6 weeks before leaving for Peru, please remember the following requests in prayer.
1. Pray for continued opportunities to witness as I complete the final 3 weeks at my full-time job.
2. Pray that I will find the right insurance coverage to use during the year I am in Peru.
3. Pray that God will provide just the right plane tickets with a good airline and within my price range. This requires a lot of research. :-)
Thank you to all who have faithfully been praying. I will continue to keep you updated as the time for departure draws closer.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Welcome!
Thanks for checking out "Perspectives from Peru"! The purpose of this blog is to share with you updates on my ministry on the mission field of Peru. I hope to share with you some pictures, information, stories, prayer requests, and insights into what God is doing not only in the country of Peru but in my own heart and life as He chooses to use me in this ministry.
More updates and info will be coming soon!
Hasta luego!
More updates and info will be coming soon!
Hasta luego!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
