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Dinner with a Missionary
Well, not exactly, but tonight we as a family started something that I hope will get our children (and us for that matter) more involved with missionaries. One night a week we plan to have an “international supper” of sorts. With whatever missionary we are learning about, we eat a dish from that country and pray for their family and talk about where they are, what they are doing and interesting facts about them or the country. I hope that these special times will burden our hearts even greater and expose our children even more to missions.
Vision Baptist Missions
We are very excited to announce that we have now been accepted by Vision Baptist Missions. We are being sent out of the Victory Baptist Church in Loganville, Ga and are church planting missionaries to the British Isles. We have just recently returned from Arequipa, Peru from a six month internship and will be starting full time deputation at the first of the year. Please pray for us as we begin to schedule meetings and raise support for what God has called us to do.
Thank You!
Words can not describe the emotions that I am going through leaving this place. After only living here for six months, I honestly feel like I have another family now. A year ago, what seemed like just a crazy idea, I decided to pack up my family and spend six months on the mission field of Arequipa, Peru to study under missionary Chris Gardner. And the experience has been one that I doubt I will ever top.
My plan was to come down and learn about missions, church planting, and leader training. While all of those things have taken place, and I have learned so much while being here, there is one thing that I will take away from here that I will never forget; the love that these people have poured out on my family.
In just a few short months we have made friends that will no doubt last a lifetime. From each one of the missionaries that are working here, to the pastors of the many churches that have been started, college students, and each person that has accepted us into their lives here. We have laughed, cried, been mad at each other, taken trips, prayed, studied the Bible, hosted events and been a part of many many more things that have help train us for the mission field.
I want to thank each one of the missionaries that have spent these past six months allowing me to question them and learn from them. They have opened their homes and their lives so that we may learn what it takes to be a missionary. The pastors here that have taken the time to talk to me, even though my spanish is horrible, they still listen to my questions and try to help me to understand what they are telling me. To friends that have made this time here so fun and memorable.
If there is one thing that I learned on this journey, it is that God has blessed me with and incredible wife. She has does an absolutely amazing job here learning the language, culture and I am so proud to stand with her for the rest of my life. I really don’t know how the rest of you men make it without Sherry, she is the best!
I want to thank all of those who prayed and gave to make this opportunity possible. I want to thank my home church, Victory Baptist Church, and my pastor Derik Lawrence for believing in me and sending me here. My family who has loved me and encouraged me all along the way.
God has been so good to us and has blessed my family more than I would ever deserve.
As I leave tomorrow morning, tears will be shed and a piece of my heart will always remain here in Arequipa, Peru. I love each and every one of you and will miss you dearly.
Goodbye Arequipa
This is a video that some of the greatest people in the world put together for our surprise going away party days before we left Peru.
Medical Clinic
We have just finished up another medical clinic here in Arequipa Peru. For the past few years, Pensacola Christian College has come down to partner with us and put on a free medical clinic for the people of Arequipa. Missionary Jeremy Hall has done a great job heading it up this year and many many hours have been poured in this week to make it happen by dozens of people.
It has been amazing to see people coming from miles to have physical treatment, and many of them leaving with a newfound trust in Jesus Christ. Tens of thousands of dollars, hundreds of man hours and the grace of God have allowed us to have a great turn-out this year, and I am so thankful to be a part of it.
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Busy Month
We have had a very busy last few weeks here in Arequipa.
In mid-April, we had our first group come down since we have been here. Several people from Vision Baptist Church were able to make a trip to be a part of the organization of Omega Baptist Church, where Chris Gardner is the pastor. We had a great time visiting with them and learned a lot about starting a church, preparing for groups and missions in general.
Immediately following that, I had the opportunity to travel to Santiago Chile for a week with Trent Cornwell and Jeremy Hall to visit the Holt’s and their ministry there. Trent was the main speaker at a conference at their church and we had a great time with the Holt family. God is doing great things in this ministry and church, and they will be starting two new churches this year. Jason is currently working with several men in the church that are training for ministry. He is doing a great job.
From Santiago, we flew home (for about 45 min) and immediately left again bound for Bolivia. Because of strikes and road blocks, lets just say we had a very interesting ride to the border. Finally we made it to Cochabamba where the White’s are working and getting ready to leave on furlough. We were their at their annual youth conference were Tony Howeth had flown in to preach. We met Chris and David Gardner and David Velke who had arrived the day before. Kevin is also doing an outstanding job, and will be able to see immediate results as he leaves the church to lead itself over the next year.
Going to these places is a real eye opener to not only the need of the gospel around the world, but the need to train leaders within the church. For without leaders, the missionary will be doing everything alone, and you don’t usually get very far that way.
We were able to take a two day trip back to Chile to get the kid’s visas renewed for the duration of our stay in Peru. We we able to take Edgar Galdos, assistant pastor of Omega, with us and we had a great time.
It is amazing to see here, and in other countries the leadership and the friendships that are built within a ministry like this. It really gives a Christian hope that the world can indeed be won for Christ!
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Happy Birthday Sherry
Today is a special day for a very special lady in my life. Over twelve years ago, barely a teenager, I met this girl at church and very quickly realized that this is someone I wanted to spend more time with. Too young to even have a learners license, we began to date (which means we sat together at church and the cafeteria at school) and would stay together all through high school and college, and soon after were married. Basically growing up together, I have been able to watch Sherry grow up to be the best wife a man could ever ask for.
Sherry has always been beside me, no matter how dumb a decision I may have made. She is my absolute best friend and I could spend every minute of every day with her. She takes care of her children, loves them, and enjoys them. Anything she sets her mind to do, she does it, and always has a smile on her face. In fact, growing up, she was know as the girl who was always smiling, I love that!
Sherry loves her children, her husband, her family, her friends, but more than that, she has a love for God that is unmatched. Her desire to put God first in her life oozes out of her and is hard to ignore.
Sherry, I absolutely love you and am so happy to spend the rest of my life with you. Thank you for putting up with all you do. Have a wonderful birthday!
Oh yeah, did I mention that she was gorgeous!? I mean, just look at her!
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First Month In The Books
One month ago we arrived here in Arequipa not knowing exactly what to expect. We knew we would enjoy it but still had thoughts of how the kids would react, what our living arrangements would be like, how we would fit in and all of the other worries you could think of before we left. But, I must say, our expectations have been exceeded more than we could have imagined.
Lawson and Linden are having a blast! They love meeting new people and exploring the new world they have been introduced to. They especially love the freedom they have to roam around the car with no car seats. Lawson has already decided that he now wants to be a missionary to both Peru and China…at the same time; of course Linden says she already is a missionary to China, so who knows!
Sherry is adapting to the culture very well, actually much better than I expected. She is picking up the language and is learning the Peruvian way of doing things. She has done an amazing job of taking care of me and the kids all while spending time with people and learning all that she can. She is absolutely amazing!
I have to be honest, I was not sure exactly what to think of the house before we came down, but the first time we walked in, I was amazed. They have built a very nice apartment here on the Bible College campus and it is actually very comfortable to live in. It is fully furnished and has wifi access, what else do you need?!
One of the greatest things about being here is the opportunity we have to watch a baby church begin to grow. I say “baby” church only because of its age, they are already averaging nearly 100 in each service, and they haven’t even official organized as a church yet. It really is a great church to be a part of that has a true heart for God and a passion for people.
Language school is going great! While we feel like helpless children at times, it really is the best way to learn. There is absolutely no English to be spoken and you just have to dive right in. You would be amazed at how much you learn in just 20 hours a week, not including all the time you spend with Spanish speaking people.
After language school, much of our day is spent with the missionaries doing what they do. If that means studying for the week’s sermon, fixing a lock at the church, discussing upcoming events or planning out the month, we are right there in the mix. In just one month we have learned so much of what it takes to make a ministry like this work. It is really an amazing place to be!
Everyone here has been very kind and have allowed us to become like family. We are constantly in their homes, invading their lives and learning them from the inside out. It is a great opportunity to see what it is really all about. The Gardner’s (both sets), the Halls, the Holmes and the Stover’s all give different perspectives of the ministry to learn from and we are able to take away so much information. But it is not just the Americans that we are able to learn from, it is everyone.
Today I sat down with Edgar Galdos and discussed the assimilation process for the church and how to effectively turn first time guest into whole-hearted followers of Christ. Two languages, two cultures, two ways of life came together today to discuss one common goal for the Kingdom of God, what a concept!
Well, we are loving it here, can’t believe we only have five months left!
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Good Friday in Arequipa
I can not think of a sadder picture than watching hundreds of people line the streets with false hope. Tonight, on the way home, we were able to witness Catholics as they hold their candles and spread their palms as the idol of the virgin Mary would pass by. They would sing and praise as she passed by in hopes that someday they would see Jesus in Heaven.
The sad thing is, these people, without putting their faith in Christ rather than idols will ultimately die and spend eternity separated from the Saviour in which they all hang around their neck.
The Bible clearly tells us in Romans that we are to call upon the name of Jesus for salvation. We have a hope!
Rom 10:9-13 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
But…it is not enough for me to just sit back and watch and say how sad it is; something must be done! The following verse tells me that I have a duty to give people the Gospel message.
Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
This Easter, as we Christians celebrate the risen Saviour Jesus Christ, may we all remember those who have not heard the truth. Would we pray that the Lord would send forth laborers that would give their life’s work to telling people of the Gospel. And more than that, would we all do our part in spreading the message of Jesus Christ.
What a great God we serve!
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