January Update

Dear Praying Friends and Family,

Summertime has officially arrived here in Peru! And while summer means warm temperatures, trips to the beach, and the start of camp season, it also means that the bug population is has begun to wage an all-out attack on humanity, and that the "close to the equator" sun is shining at full brilliance. For this reason, I am arming myself with plenty of bug spray and sunscreen as we continue on in the summer months! :-)

Quite a few things have been happening around here since my last update in mid-December. We finished out the school semester at Fetzer with a special musical Christmas program. It was a nice end to the first half of the school year. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were spent celebrating with the BMM missionaries here in Lima. On Christmas Eve at midnight, the tradition in Peru is to shoot off LOTS of fireworks. The five of us Fetzer teachers climbed on the roof of one of our buildings and enjoyed the luminous (and loud) show in all directions as people celebrated in the streets all over Lima.

The week after Christmas, the Fetzer teachers, along with the Freys and their son Christopher, were able to take a 4 day vacation to the mountain town of Huaraz. We enjoyed the time away from Lima, seeing some of God's creation, and fellowshipping with one another. We returned to Lima in time to celebrate New Years Eve at our various churches. At El Manantial we had an evening service with songs, preaching, and a movie, and brought in the New Year with a chocolatada (Peruvian fruitcake and hot chocolate). It was a special time of fellowship as a church family.

I continue to praise the Lord for the opportunity to be involved at my church, Iglesia Bautista El Manantial, in Manchay. Last weekend we celebrated the church's 13th anniversary. We had special meetings Friday through Sunday evenings filled with the preaching of God's Word, special music, and of course, lots of food! Our speaker challenged us about being a church after God's own heart, a church that recognizes the sovereignty of God in all things, and a church with a passion for God.

Please continue to pray for my Sunday school class of teen girls. I have 3-5 girls in my class every week. We have been going through the book A Young Woman After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George. Pray that these girls' hearts will be tender, and that they will desire to grow in their walk with the Lord. Pray that I would be led by the Spirit in teaching them, and show them Christ's love. Lord willing, I will also be starting a discipleship with a girl that has recently begun attending our church. Pray for Rut and her spiritual growth.

This past week a Medical and missions team from Origins church in Ohio came to Lima to hold a medical campaign in four different area churches. At each church people were offered free medical care (foot, dental, general health), medicine, as well as haircuts, fingernail painting, and face painting for the kids. A special team from one of the churches did nothing but witness to people as they waited in lines throughout the day. Each person who came received a New Testament, tracts, and various Biblical literature. Every afternoon a kids club was also held for the many children in attendance. I had the privilege of helping out for two of the days as a translator or doing odd jobs. Translating for the American podiatrists was a fun challenge. My medical vocabulary has certainly increased, especially if the words have to do with feet. I will spare you further details. :-) It was exciting to see and hear about how God was at work throughout the week. Many people made decisions for salvation, and many good contacts were made for further follow-up in the churches. Praise the Lord!

This brings us to the next four weeks before school starts. For the next three weeks I will be working at the BMM camp about 2 hours away from Lima. Next week, January 24-29th, I will be counseling for Adolescents week. The following week, Jan. 31-Feb. 5th I will be helping with children's classes at Pastor's camp. The final week Feb. 7-12th is our Baptist Mid-Missions missionary camp where all the BMM missionaries in Peru gather to have their annual meetings and a week of fellowship. During the mornings the five Fetzer teachers and two ARRIBA students will be holding a VBS for the children! Please pray for everyone involved in these various weeks of ministry. As you remember these weeks in prayer, I would appreciate prayer for physical strength and energy, spiritual focus and growth, and a heart prepared to serve.

That brings me to my final news. In my last couple of prayer letters, I have asked prayer about the Lord's will for me regarding future ministry. Through much prayer and godly counsel, I feel that God is leading me to stay here in Peru for another year to continue working at Fetzer and increasingly get involved in missions ministry and outreach through my local church! God has given me a deep desire to serve Him here for this time and an incredible joy in knowing that this is where He has placed me for this stage of life. Please be in prayer as there are still many details to be worked out.I will need to raise enough support to provide my living expenses and airfare for another year. Also, please pray about how God might have you be a part of this ministry, whether through prayer support or financial giving.

It has been a joy recently to be reminded of the truth of these verses, "Delight yourself in the Lord; and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act." Psalm 37:4-5

I thank the Lord for each one of you and the vital part you play in my ministry here in Peru.


Serving the Savior,
Heidi Robbins