December Update

Dear Praying Friends and Family,

As I sit down to write my last update of 2011, I can’t help but reflect on the Lord’s goodness and faithfulness in so many ways. Standing on the brink of a new year is both exciting and a bit unnerving. Exciting, because I know God has many good things in store, yet unnerving because I don’t know what all those things may be. I rest in the fact that He has a perfect plan and I will follow Him where the journey leads. Thank you for your prayers as I seek Him about the future!

December was full of activity around here! The last two or three weekends have been full of Christmas programs and activities. Our school Christmas musical, “Christmas Comes to Lone Star Gulch” was a success, and I was very proud of my students who worked hard and performed well for the Lord’s glory. Our church Christmas activities also went well and I trust were an encouragement to those who attended. I also had the opportunity to play the piano for another Christmas program and ladies’ banquet at a church here in Lima. It was a blessing to be able to serve and help out another church in need.

With my Peruvian “mom” at a Ladies Christmas banquet.

The last weeks of school were filled with grading, writing exams, grading book reports, giving exams, and more grading. Praise the Lord for always giving the

strength and energy that is needed for each day. He brought us through to the end

of the semester and both teachers and students celebrated the coming of Christmas/summer break. (Yes, we get to combine the two here. There are many benefits to living in South America). :-) I thank the Lord for my students and the families with whom I am privileged to work here. Each one is special and is completing a unique ministry which the Lord has given them in this country. It was sad to say goodbye to three of our families this semester: One family returned to the States, another is moving away from Lima to minister in the jungle, and yet another is going on furlough. I have been reminded to take each opportunity to invest in the lives of people the Lord has placed in my life. Sometimes we are only given a short while to have an impact on someone; we never know how the Lord might use our lives, words, and examples to have a lasting impact.

Oh, yes, Christmas! :-) We enjoyed some special times over the Christmas weekend including: a trip to the beach on Christmas “Adam” (the day before Christmas Eve, of course!), a cookout with the teachers and the Freys on Christmas Eve, a special church service on Christmas evening, and a big Christmas dinner with all the BMM missionaries on the 26^th. There was much fellowship and laughter. Praise the Lord for the good gifts He gives to us.

The Lord has already given some great opportunities to reach out to people during break. My roommate and I enjoyed have a Peruvian pastor’s wife and her daughter who is a missionary over to our home the other afternoon. It was an encouragement to talk and fellowship with them. Yesterday I was able to visit Karina, the girl who I am discipling, and meet several of her neighborhood friends who stopped by. The Lord opened the door to share the gospel with them and some other truths from the Bible. They are all coming over to my home in a couple weeks, and I am praying for future opportunities.

As I write this update my parents are in the air flying from the U. S. to Lima! They will be spending two weeks here in Peru. I am thrilled at the opportunity to share with them the ministry here, letting them see first-hand the Peruvian culture, meet people in various churches and ministries, and experience life as I now know it. I must admit I am a bit excited to be their “tour guide” and “translator”. :-) Please pray that our time would be a blessing to others. Both they and I desire to minister while they are here.

Next month I will have more stories to share and plenty of pictures!

Please keep the following requests before the throne of grace...

1. Pray for Karina’s growth and her friends’ growth (and salvation if some of them are not yet saved). Pray that I will have opportunities to be a witness.

2. Pray for my parents’ ministry while here. Pray for safety as we travel and for opportunities to encourage others. Pray for my dad as he has several opportunities to preach and for my mom as she teaches my Sunday school class.

3. Pray for one of the Fetzer teachers, Melissa, who is having surgery on her knee January 3^rd. Pray for a swift recovery and that we can be an encouragement to her.

4. Pray for physical and spiritual rest for the teachers during break.

5. Pray that I will be completely focused on my relationship with Christ and will make knowing Him and growing in holiness my top priority.

Thank you for your faithful part in this ministry!

Serving the Savior,

Heidi Robbins