Out of This World Experience

Today was the first day of Elizabeth's "winter" break. She'll be out of school until August 12th when she heads back to start third grade. To celebrate the day we headed to a new park about a mile from our home. Peruvian children are still in school and so the park was nearly empty. After a few minutes of family play time a little five-year old boy came up to chat. He was quite interested in our family and had lots of questions. "Do you speak two languages? Why did you come to Peru? Do your girls go to school?" His questions came one right after the other. When he found out we were from the United States he was especially excited, and said: "Really! I've never met someone from another planet!"

What Happened?

Several have asked how our special Father's Day event went. I am pleased to let you know that we had good attendance, with several first time visitors. The best part was that a total of 7 fathers came. This might not sound like a remarkable number but it is a huge number compared to the last couple of years. We are happy to have a good group of new people to contact as a result of the event.

Please be praying. In a couple of weeks our next ministry team arrives. We will be targeting a new area a couple minutes walk from the church. We are hoping for a huge crowd of kids.

Trip Summary

We just enjoyed a wonderful ten days with a group from Union Grove Baptist Church in Lexington, NC. God used them in a variety of ministry opportunities. They were a huge help to both our church and family. The highlight of their trip was seeing two young ladies trust Christ as their Savior. We hope you'll enjoy this brief presentation of photos from their trip.

What could I do?

Have you ever considered taking a short-term missions trip? It could be a life-changing experience for you as you see how God can use ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Often folks hesitate taking a trip because they don't know how they might be used. They also worry about the language barrier. But you can be used on a trip right here in Peru!

As our regular blog readers know, we are currently hosting a ministry team. Not a single member of the team speaks Spanish, yet, they've been able to be a big help to our ministry. What could I do on a missions trip to Peru? Here are just a few ideas:

• Puppet shows- Our group used a pre-recorded story today and the children were able to hear a very clear presentation of the Gospel. The children were attentive as they listened. As an added bonus the kids think the puppets are great!
• Object Lessons- Each member of our current team came prepared with a brief object lesson. These lessons use an ordinary object to teach a spiritual truth or lesson. Of course they speak and we translate for them. It is an easy way that anyone can teach and the kids enjoy seeing new people stand before them in a teaching environment.
  
• Games- Games might not sound real spiritual, but they can be used as a way to draw children into the church. Our groups often come prepared with games. We will use these games at the beginning of a Bible club to draw attention and gather a crowd. The kids also enjoy the added attention they receive. Most of the kids around our church aren't able to spend much time with their parents. They crave attention, and group members can really show the love of Christ by simply playing, interacting, and sharing some time with the youngsters.
  
• Special Projects- There is always work to be done. During down-times we greatly appreciate the assistance of our groups. Our current group has helped us clean the church and scrub all of our chairs. They helped make illustrated choruses that we use with our children. They have also stamped information on a huge number of tracts. Some might consider this "busy work" but it is work that is necessary in our ministry. There is always work to be done!
  
• Tract Distribution- Visiting groups can do a great job of distributing literature. Many seeds have been planted using Gospel Tracts. Our groups can be taught a few simple phrases so that they can go out and hand out tracts to people in the streets. Often we use groups to pass out information about upcoming special events. It is certainly true that "many hands make light work" when handing out tracts.
  
• Testimonies- It is a real blessing to have people come and share their testimony. Our new converts need to hear about how God has worked in the lives of others. Visitors can share their testimony and be an encouragement to many. Of course, this requires a translator, but is simple since the time frame is usually short.
  
• Use of Special Talents or Skills- We've seen visitors that could juggle, paint faces, make balloon animals, dress up like clowns, and do magic tricks. We've had musicans play their instruments to attract attention. Even an artist that draws to teach a Bible message. God can use your unusual talent or skill on the mission field. Often language is not a barrier.
• Sports- We've seen were sports can help bring others to Christ. Often, teens will approach a group of visitors to play soccer that they otherwise wouldn't have spoken with. We've seen young men brought to Christ because of the godly testimony of visitors willing to take time to play a quick game.
  

Nearly every time we have a group we see folks saved. Perhaps you think you can't be used on the mission field. We think you can be used! Pray and ask God what He might have you to do. Perhaps you might consider planning a visit to work with us in Peru. As you can see we've got lots for you to do.

Heard of other mission trip ideas? Leave a comment. We'd love to hear your ideas on how short-termers can be used for the Lord!

Locked Out

Today was yet another good day of ministry with our visitors. We had a bit of a challenge today. When we arrived at the church our key would not work and we were locked out. Thankfully, after working for several minutes we managed to forcefully turn the key to get in. Next, we had to get a locksmith to come and work on the doors. One man said, "It looks like the devil doesn't want us going in the church!" We held much of our kids club outside at the park while the locksmith worked. Our group participated during our kids club by playing with the kids, sharing object lessons, and making a craft. During our adult service they did another chalk drawing, shared their testimonies and one man did a great job preaching with John interpreting. Today's highlight was seeing two adolescents trust Christ! It seemed today that each time we came to an important part of the service there would be lots of noise outside. The room was filled with many distractions. Yet, God stilled worked and we were happy with the results. Maybe the devil didn't want us to go in the church today. I'm sure glad we did.

Good Day of Ministry

Several months ago a neighborhood lady mentioned to us that we could use the small community center in the area for our church ministries. She is not a Christian, but she was interested in what we are doing in the community. Today we conducted a children's club in the center. We arrived and started with no prior promotion of the club. With the help of our visiting team we conducted a program for the 35 children that came. We were especially blessed that a good number of the parents came over to see what we were doing. Before we were finished several people asked us to please come back and begin holding clubs every week. We will definetly be taking advantage of these opportunities in the days ahead. About 25 of the children present were first-timers for our ministry. If we can begin to draw these youngsters to our church we will be at full capacity! Even though this center is located only a five minute walk from the church, most of these children have never visited with us before.

Our afternoon children's outreach was followed by our regular Saturday evening youth meeting. We had a good number of young people. They were happy to play games with the group, listen to translated testimonies, and make a craft. The highlight of the evening was when they watched a chalk-art demonstration by one of the men in the group. He drew a picture of the story of Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus. Of course the teens once again heard a clear presentation of the Gospel.

We are again impressed with the attention that a visiting team can attract. It is amazing that even with the language barrier God allows the visitors to minister and work for Him. Continue to pray for our group this week as they work hard promoting the work!

This community center makes a good second meeting place for our church. As an added bonus its rent-free and much bigger than our actual church location. (Notice the sheep on the steep slope behind the building-Click for a larger view...)

Children making a stained-glass window craft.

Barry Sizemore, our visiting chalk-artist begins his Bible story drawing.

They're Here!

Last night our second ministry team of the year arrived. This group of 12 is from Union Grove Baptist Church in Lexington, NC. They will help us conduct Bible clubs for children, youth meetings, open-air evangelism, and tract distribution. We're looking forward to a fruitful week with this fine group of young people. Pray with us that God will use the team to reach new people, encourage our church people, and to promote missions.

As an added bonus most of the team members are originally from North Carolina. They talk like us! We'll look forward to posting news on how God blesses the ministry this week.

Happy Mother's Day!

We had a wonderful Mother's Day celebration at our church yesterday. We had at least 25 mothers in attendance. Several of them were attending the church for the first time. An added bonus was that several fathers came with their children. All total we had 66 people squeezed into our tiny little church building. The children participated in a special program that included poems, music and special presentations for each mother. Of course we took the opportunity to share the Gospel with all those attending.

We took a picture of every mother with her children. In the days ahead we will be visiting all of the families that visited giving them the photo and offering them the chance to hear the Gospel or to participate in a home Bible study. Pray that the Lord will use yesterday's good attendance to reach many with the good news!

We're Rich!

In the last 14 days we have received offers of cash donations for our ministry totalling 79.4 million dollars! Just think about what we could do with our ministry if we had 80 million dollars to invest in ministry resources. We could build new buildings, purchase literature, expand outreaches and have special campaigns! Unfortunately we will never be able to spend one dime of this huge promised fortune.

I have always been humored by the huge number of scam emails I receive on a weekly basis. Two weeks ago, I quickly set up a special folder in my email program and decided to keep track of all of the emails I received in a 14 day period. Most of these emails came from Nigeria, or the Ivory Coast. They contain tragic stoires about the death of a once great saint of God. The widow that is left behind desires to give the remaining family fortune to a needy charity or missionary. Of course there is no widow, there is no fortune and there certainly never was a godly saint involved. It is just one of a growing number of SPAM email scams that circulates over the web. Those that respond for more information are usually decieved into sending money in advance to insure that the proper paperwork is completed. An investigation over a decade ago showed where more than 100 million dollars had been stolen using variations of the scam.

Even though we didn't receive 80 million dollars in donations during the last 2 weeks we are still so very rich. Psalm 50:10 reminds us that our Heavenly Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He is always provided for our needs and He has eternal blessings ready for those that follow Him. Don't be scammed by the offerings of this world, seek heaven first and you'll be truly rich!

Disney Peru

A new and interesting rumor is quickly spreading across Peru. El Comercio, Lima's leading newspaper has reported that the Walt Disney Corporation is in the process of purchasing land just south of Lima for a Disneyland style theme park. Last year Disney attempted to purchase Lima's largest zoo located in one of Lima's most crowded districts. It will be interesting to see if the rumor becomes a reality.

Peru does seem like a good place for an investment of this type. Last year Peru's ecomomy grew by 9.8%. Economists are prediciting the economy to grow another 5% this year even during the global recession. Once again we see another confirmation that God has placed us in a strategic area for winning many with the Gospel message.

UPDATE: It didn't take long for this story to make its way around the globe. Just hours after the story was posted on El Comercio's website a represenative for Disney made a statement that claims the company is not making plans to build in Peru or anywhere in Latin America. A Colombian investment company is supposedly investigating a theme park for Lima. It's unfortunate that true and good news doesn't always spread as fast as rumors! I suppose we are just as guilty for spreading the rumor. Our website had a massive jump in hits yesterday as people came to read about Disney in Peru.

Do you hear what I hear?

Over the years we have grown accustomed to life in Peru. Things that used to seem strange seem normal now. Sites, sounds and smells that used to attract our attention are now just part of our lives. Just the other day we were talking and we realized that we don't even feel like we live in a foreign country anymore. We're thankful that God has allowed us to truly enjoy living here in Peru. Yet, we still experience new things as we live here.

On Saturday we experienced a first for us here in Lima: a thunderstorm! After spending the majority of our lives in the southern United States we are used to spring and summer thunderstorms. We sometimes miss the smell of rain. We miss the darkened sky and the rush of wind that comes moments before a thunderstorm. For the first time I was almost alarmed by the sound of thunder. I was walking on the street a few block from our home. The sky looked dark and the breeze was picking up. I chuckled thinking to myself, "It never rains in Lima!" Then "BOOM!" A massive clap of thunder that caused me to jump. I was humored to see all the children running home from the nearby park. Moments later windows appeared at every window and people peered into the sky. Thunder in Lima is very rare. Later that evening I talked with our church's landlord. He informed me that it was the first time he had heard thunder in 39 years! It was even mentioned on the news and in the local newspaper.

I never thought I would see the day when a thunderstorm caused such alarm! Just part of the joy of living in coastal Peru!

God's Word is described like rain in Isaiah 55:10-11 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Thanks for praying as we continue to take the "water of Life to the deserts of Peru."

Our First Podcast

In our last email update we asked if anyone would be interested in a monthly podcast about Peru and our ministry. We received lots of good responses. Today, we have posted our first attempt at a podcast. You'll notice we have lots of room for improvement! Thanks for your patience as we learn about this new form of communication. We'll be working on sound quality, and volume levels in the days ahead! Remember you don't need to have an I-pod to listen. The podcast should start here automatically. If not, just click on the "play button" (the blue arrow box) below to listen.

We hope this will encourage you to pray for Peru!

Click Here to Hear our PODCAST!

PoeKids Update

Take a moment and visit our kids blog. We've posted some pictures of the girls. Thanks for letting us be proud parents for a few minutes! Click here to visit the girls blog!

Christmas 2008!

Thanks to all of you that have been praying for our church planting ministry. We praise the Lord for the great turn-out on Sunday. We had lots of first time visitors. It was a blessing to interact with the parents of many of our regular attending kids. Best of all, a lot of people heard a clear presentation of the Gospel!

Hope you enjoy a few pictures from yesterday's service:

We praise the Lord for a full house!

"Navidad" spells "Christmas" in Spanish. The kids read a special acrostic about the meaning of Christmas.

Some of our regular kids waiting to sing outside the church.

Here our live nativity participants wait for their entrance.

These were the "early birds" anxiously awaiting the start of the program.

Little Cielo enjoyed the Christmas program!

Welcome to the Family

Last night John had the priviledge of leading this young man, Jared, to the Lord. Jared has been attending our church since the very beginning. He regularly attended our children's clubs and then moved up to the youth group when it was started. He had lots of questions last night and came ready to make a decision. We praise the Lord for working in the life of this young man. He left last night content and secure that he has a home in heaven. We continue to be blessed seeing God working in the lives of so many young people in Vina Alta.

Something Fishy...

This is just one of dozens of containers that made up the "World's Largest Ceviche."

In a recent post I described a variety of special honors that Peru is famous for. Today we can add another achievement to the list: The world's largest dish of Ceviche! Ceviche is perhaps the most popular dish in Peru. It is made up of fish or shellfish mixed with red onion, yellow chilli peppers all marinated in lemon juice. It is interesting to note that the fish is raw!

This past weekend a group of nearly 450 people gathered in a local stadium to prepare the dish. It weighed in at an incredible 6.8 tons! During the preparation a crowd of neighbors gathered and hundreds flooded in to eat all they wanted of the national dish.

Perhaps your curious and would like to sample this delicacy. Here is a simple recipe to try:

Ingredients:
1 Kilo (2.2 pounds) of founder or other white fish cut into small pieces
2 red onions, pealed and cut long
4 yellow chillies with seeds and veins removed
2 crushed garlic cloves
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon salt
1/2 tablespoon pepper
1/2 cup chopped parsley

Preparation:
Combine all the ingredients carefully. Leave the mixture to marinate for 30 minutes to 1 hour in the refrigerator. Mix once more before serving. (That's right it is uncooked...) Enjoy!

Maybe someday i'll take the time to tell you the story of the first time I ate Ceviche.

Election 2008

Tonight I was humbled to hear that a group of Peruvian pastors and their church members are planning an all night prayer meeting tomorrow evening. They will be praying that God's will be done on election day. They realize that this election is important and will have far reaching consequences. I was humbled because I haven't really been faithful to pray for this election. With the elections upon us, I wonder what percentage of American Christians are participating in a prayer meeting tomorrow night?

Peruvians are amazed when they find out that we are not required to vote. Here, a sticker is placed on the back of your national identification card when you vote. If you miss out on election day you have to pay a hefty fine. Without the sticker you cannot proceed with any paperwork and your fine begins to grow as interest is added.

Here are some quotes about politics that I have found interesting:

• Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first. (Ronald Reagan)

• We need a president who's fluent in at least one language.

• In America, anybody can be president. That's one of the risks you take. (Adlai Stevenson)

• Don't blame me! I voted for the other guy. (Bumper sticker)

• What luck for the rulers that men do not think. (Adolf Hitler)

• Democracy encourages the majority to decide things about which the majority is ignorant.

Introducing...an Answer to Prayer

It is with great joy that I present to you Will and Erika Gibson. This fine young couple are the newest appointees with Baptist Mid-Missions to Lima, Peru. They'll be joining us here in Peru as we work together to reach this massive city with the Gospel. They are not only good friends but they are also from our home church! Please take a few moments to watch their presentation video. Then help speed them to Peru by adding them to your prayer list and asking your pastor to consider scheduling them for a meeting!

Soon we'll be introducing a new email option for folks truly interested in praying for our ministry. In addition to our monthly email updates we will soon be sending out frequent prayer reminders called "Pause: & Pray for Peru." These will be mini 30 second updates that keep you informed with prayer requests from the field. They will be sent out any time we have a special prayer request from the field. We've seen the power of prayer so many times before. Now we want to make it easier than ever for you to pray for the Poe family and Peru.

Are you willing to pause for 30 seconds and pray for Peru? Look for details soon!

This Month's Trivia Question

Many of you have found your way here because of a link on our new email update. Thanks for stopping by! We have some great things to post in the days ahead. Check in often.

Here is the promised trivia question: What is Lima, Peru's nickname? It may have more than one! If you know the answer, post a comment with the answer!

Did you know...

• Peru is home to the driest desert on earth. The Atacama desert in southern Peru has not received significant rainfall in centuries.
  
• Peru is also home to one of the wettest rain forests on the planet. One place in Peru received over 49 feet of rain in a 12 month period making it the second wettest place on earth.
  
• Peru is home to Cotahuasi Canyon. This canyon is twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. It is considered by many as the deepest canyon on earth at 11,488 feet deep.
• Lake Titicaca in southern Peru is the highest navigable lake on earth. It is located at about 12, 500 feet.
  
• Mount Huascaran is the highest peak in the tropical world at 22, 205 feet.
• Lima, Peru is home to the world's tallest water fountain (at 250 feet!) which is located in the world's largest water fountain park. (This is an amazing fact considering Lima is the largest metropolitan area on earth actually located in a desert!)
• Peru is home to the world's largest river, the Amazon. This river discharges a volume of 7 million cubic feet of water per second.)
• Peru is also home to the world' s highest railway pass, and the world's highest railway station.
  
• Peru has the second most number of bird species in the world. The most number of bird species ever spotted in one day took place in Peru.
  
• The world's largest rain forest is located in Peru.
• Peru is the original home of the domesticated potato. Over 2000 species of potato are raised in Peru. In fact, 2008 has been named the "International year of the Potato!"
• It wouldn't be fair to conclude without mentioning that Lima, Peru is also home to the world's largest roll of toilet paper. It's true! The roll is so large it contains enough tissue to last the average person 100 years!
  

These are just a few of the amazing facts that we've discovered about Peru. But as you know we didn't move to Peru because it is an amazing country. We came here because of Peru's great need. How about a few more things to consider that are much more important:

• About 88 percent of Peruvians claim to be members of the Roman Catholic Church.
• Only about 15 percent of Peruvian Catholics actually participate or attend church.
• The Mormons consider Peru one of their most successful mission fields. Lima is the second largest Mormon metropolitan area outside of the United States.
• Many people in Peru have never heard a clear presentation of the Gospel.

Peru is in indeed an amazing country. A country with an amazing need! Pray for us as we work to share the good news here in Peru!

One Year Later

This church was nearly destroyed by the Earthquake of August 15, 2007.

Today flags fly at half-staff in remembrance of the 595 people that were killed one year ago today when a massive earthquake struck coastal Peru. For our family it was an event that we will never forget and hope to never experience again! Even after 12 months, the suffering continues to our south where thousands of people are still living in tents and temporary shelters. The government has promised on-going aid, but the region will probably require years to recover fully. This weekend several evangelistic events are scheduled for our neighbors to the south. The earthquake has made many people open to hearing the Gospel. Pray for our co-laborers in the south as they seek to minister to these hurting families. Pray that people all over Peru will be receptive to hearing the truth as they reflect on this terrible day in Peru's history.

You can visit our September 2007 Archives to watch a brief video and read a summary of our relief trip to the epicenter.

Do Dreams Really Come True?

Peru has one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Peru's poverty rate has been decreasing every year and some estimates believe the poverty rate will drop to less than 20 percent by 2025. Unfortunately more than 50 percent of Peruvians still live below the poverty line today. With the fast growing economy banks and businesses are begining to offer credit cards and loans. People with very low incomes are able to get credit equal to 10 times their monthly salary. The banks are charging unbelievably high rates and some families are already feeling the "credit crunch."

We recently received an advertisement in the mail. (You can see the front cover above.) It basically says "It's time to make your dreams come true!" The clock seems to be showing all of the things people are dreaming to accomplish or acquire in life. When I opened up this advertisement and read the banking offer I was saddened. How many people are looking for happiness in life by searching for the items shown on that clock: A big screen television, a new computer, an education, or an exotic trip. Because of Peru's growing economy materialistic possessions are increasingly easier to get here. Yet, they offer no happiness, no contentment, no peace in the hearts of Peru's people.

Thankfully, as Christians, God allows us to have our "dreams come true!" God gives us happiness as we serve Him! God has personally blessed our family with opportunities far greater than those offered by a credit-card company. Psalm 37:4 is a favorite verse for our family: "Delight thyself also in the Lord and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart." That's an offer you can't refuse!

Fiestas Patrias

A roadside vendor displays flags during Peru's Independence Day celebrations.

Today is a special day in Peru. Each July 28th and 29th the people of Peru celebrate "Fiestas Patrias." This two-day event honors Peru's military heros and celebrates Peru's independence. General Jose de San Martin actually proclaimed Peru's independence on July 28, 1821. The celebration is a major holiday event in the country. Starting early in the month patriotic banner's and Peruvian flags begin to appear on nearly every building. There are parades and special events almost non-stop for the two days. Many families travel or make special plans for the holiday. Fiestas Patrias generates nearly as much interest as the Christmas holidays.

Today as we celebrate with our Peruvian brethren, we can be thankful for the freedoms that Peru has. God has left this country open and free for evangelism. ¡Viva Perú!

The View from Peru: Missions Trip

For several months we asked you to pray for a visiting team we would have the privilege of hosting in July. Here are just a few snapshots of their visit. Maybe your church would like to bring a group to Peru to minister with us! It is a life-changing experience that can make a difference for eternity.

The kids enjoyed crafts each day during Bible school.

This couple received a Gospel tract from the group. During their visit they were able to hand-out thousands of tracts. Even if you can't speak the language you can still communicate the truth of God's Word.

Jon, one of our visitors, uses an "Evangecube" to share the Gospel with some teens.

There's nothing like a good ole' game of "Duck, Duck, Goose" to start off Bible school!

Most of our church kids go to this public school just a few blocks from the church. We were able to clearly present the Gospel message to hundreds of school kids.

Our group was able to sing, do a skit, and a Bible-based object lesson. We concluded the program with a clear presentation of the Gospel and an invitation to come visit our church.

Finally, an Update!

First, I'll begin by apologizing. We've been so busy lately that the Blog hasn't been updated. It seems I find myself saying that more and more these days. I don't really feel bad though, because this busy schedule is an evidence of the open doors the Lord has been bringing our way. Thanks for all of you that faithful, and patiently, check in on our Blog!

We just finished an amazing ten days of ministry. We feel blessed that we were able to host a group of 17 young adults. These young people came down with a desire to help our ministry and get a glimpse of what life is like for a missionary family. They came with a positive attitude, true servant hearts, and lots of energy. God used them in a powerful way during their brief stay.

The group begin by helping us conduct Bible school. We had as many as 45 kids each afternoon. The group really bonded with the children and the group was really able to show God's love to these needy kids. They participated with games, crafts, object lessons and songs. They also spent a lot of time with the adolescents and teens near the church. Several mornings they were able to play soccer and use there sportsmanship to encourage the teens to come to church later in the day. One of the highlights of the week was when we went into the public school a few blocks from the church. We were able to clearly present the Gospel in a 30 minute program in front of a group of about 800 students. It was a truly amazing thing to see hundreds of school kids sitting there as they heard the Gospel in a public school! Later we were able to distribute Gospel tracts to 700 students as they left another school. The group also participated in our regular church services by singing and sharing testimonies.

Early in the week we met a 23 year old young man named Miguel. He started hanging around the church because he wanted to play soccer with a group of Americans. The group really worked hard to make him and his friends feel welcome. Several of the young men started praying that they would be able to lead him to the Lord before they left. I am thrilled to say that on Tuesday Miguel trusted Christ as his personal Savior. Later that day he stood up in front of the group, and his friends, and thanked God for the group. He commented that he was ready to change and that he wanted to learn to serve the Lord like these young people. He said "Thank you for coming and helping me see the need to change my life!"

Lots of tears were shed yesterday when the group said "goodbye" to their new Peruvian friends. I think God used these last ten days in a special way. I asked the group to fill out a simple survey about their trip. Everyone of them said that they were more open to missions now after their visit to Peru. Everyone in the group also said that they felt the trip was a "life-changing experience." That is exciting news for a missionary! Last night as we begin to finish up our time together I heard a comment that thrilled my soul. One member of the group commented: "I've got the missions bug and I've got it bad!" Several others nodded their heads in agreement. I went on to explain that once you've got the missions bug it never goes away. It's a burden for souls that becomes a passion to serve God. It leads you into a life of service and leaves you with satisfaction and joy for living. I'm sure glad I got the "missions bug!"

When it rains it pours....

Most of you are probably aware that Lima is located in one of the driest regions in the world. On average Lima receives about 3/10 of an inch of rain per year. (That's 0.7 cm for those of you using the Metric system!) That makes Lima the driest metropolitan area in the world. Recently we have had unusually damp weather. We almost never have actual rain but during the winter we do have early morning mist that will occasionally coat the ground with a slight dampness. We were humored recently when Elizabeth looked out the window and shouted, "Hey y'all look! It's pouring down rain, the ground is almost wet!" I guess that's a good sign she has grown up in a desert!

If you have a moment visit the updated PoeKids BLOG!

This area, about fifteen minutes from our home, shows how dry Lima really is. (Remember you can always click the picture for a larger view.)

This area, about 5 minutes from our house shows the difference irrigation can make in the desert.

The Real Thing

Today I read an article in a Lima newspaper. The article talked about the major problem of counterfeit prescription drugs in Peru. Local authorities held a news conference and a crowd gathered as they destroyed more than one ton of adulterated medications. The article went on to describe the major problems that pharmacies and medical facilities are having with illegal and counterfeit drugs. We've personally been warned by several doctors to avoid generic prescriptions in Peru. Others have warned that we should only purchase drugs from a handful of certified pharmacies. Counterfeit drugs are a dangerous problem in Peru.

We've realized that these fake drugs aren't the most dangerous counterfeits in the country. Millions of Peruvians are being deceived by false teachers and preachers. Many churches are preaching messages contrary to the Gospel found in the Bible. Peruvians are caught up in lots of ancient religious traditions, yet they have no personal relationship with God. They never trusted Christ for His redeeming offer of salvation. How sad that these evil preachers are dragging millions of lost souls with them into eternity without God.

We've experienced this counterfeit Christianity first hand recently. Our church was the only church located in our target neighborhood. We have made an influence among the neighbors and people are starting to take notice that we are there. A couple of months ago we started noticing people standing outside of church watching our children's and youth meetings. They've been taking notes and observing all of our programs. Then a couple of weeks ago we saw that another group has started holding meetings during our regularly scheduled meetings. They've done their best to mimic our services and activities. They've gone to the children and started pulling them away from our church. They claim to be Christians but their reputation and testimony in Peru says differently. They are a religious group. They can even claim to be a church, but they are not teaching the Gospel. They are not leading others to a personal walk with Christ. They are dangerous counterfeiters and they are misleading many, starting with our church kids. Thankfully many of our children and teens have already seen the difference. One young girl came to us and apologized that she had attended one service at the new church. She had already noticed that what they were teaching is not the truth of the Bible. The counterfeit religions will keep offering their way. Counterfeit drugs and counterfeit religion will always be a problem for Peru and the world. May God give us wisdom as we continue to offer the "Real Thing."

Not "Rookies" Anymore

We spent the last week helping to orientate a new missionary family that will soon be arriving to Peru. Bruce Maddux came down to Peru early to help find housing, look for a vehicle and make arrangements for language training for his family. It was a busy but rewarding week, knowing that God has sent another family to minister in Peru. This will be the first new missionary family to come to Peru with Baptist Mid-Missions since our arrival in 2001. The Lord has also blessed our field with a new single lady, Rachel Tarvin who just arrived a few weeks ago. This summer several families will begin raising their support to join us here in Peru. These are exciting days for the ministry in Peru. Our team of workers is growing!

We are always excited to know that God is sending more laborers to our needy mission field. Yet, it seems a bit strange to be orientating new families. It seems just like yesterday that we arrived here in Peru for the first time. I think we need another 30 years of experience before we could be considered veteran missionaries!

Please be praying for all of our new co-workers. The Maddux family will be busy the next two months as they pack, sell their home, and say goodbye to friends and loved ones. Pray for Will and Erika Gibson, a couple from our own home church that have recently joined BMM and will be attending our missions candidate school next month. Pray that God will continue to send more laborers to Peru!

What's our homework?

We just completed another good weekend of ministry. God continues to open up doors of opportunity, for which we are thankful. Perhaps one of the most exciting ministries we have is with adolescents. Each Saturday evening we have a group of 10-20 young teens that meet together. We sing choruses, play a few games, have a quiz competition and finally a Bible study. We are currently studying the book of Revelation. About a month ago a young man named Jason came for the first time. From day one he was very interested to learn more about God and the Bible. He obviously has a real thirst for spiritual things. Near the end of his first meeting he raised his hand and asked, "What is our homework for this week?" We were a bit taken back, and explained that it would be good if he would read the next two chapters of Revelation. Most kids don't come to church looking for more homework! The next week when he returned he had hand-copied a quarter of the book of Revelation. He had studied it, and memorized many of the future key events. As we study together he has an incredible knowledge of the book he has picked up studying on his own. Jason has since publicly acknowledged that he is a Christian and wants to serve the Lord. Since he started coming the other young people have noticed his diligence and several others are starting to study on their own during the week.

I once heard a speaker say "Prophecy isn't profitable if it doesn't prod us to tell others." As we study the book of Revelation and reflect on the future events that will take place in the world it should move us to action. There are billions of lost souls in the world that haven't heard the truth of the Gospel. Thankfully there are some young people like Jason that are hearing, taking action and doing their homework for the Lord. What's your homework assignment today from God?

All good things must come to an end...

Today was one of those great days. We woke up this morning to beautiful sunshine. That is a treat this time of year since many days are foggy and cold. We were able to get a lot accomplished this morning at home and even had some time to play with the girls. Then tonight at church we had a great turn out of young people. We have been studying the book of Revelation with them and they are so excited to learn. I was especially pleased to see a 14 year old boy stay afterwards. He wanted to know how to be saved. I sat and watched as he prayed to trust Christ as his personal savior. When he finished praying he looked up and said, "This makes me your brother now, right?" It was great to see God working in his young life. After church tonight I headed home, had a quick supper and looked forward to watching a kids show with the girls in our bedroom. I was relaxing and feeling great. Suddenly, Olivia looks up and throws up all over the entire family. That's right, no one was spared! I will spare you the details, but it was a rough ordeal for us all. It wasn't the relaxing end to a great day I had anticipated.

I am always so filled with pity when I see one of my girls sick. Nobody seems more helpless than a sick child. Tonight, while cleaning up a rather disgusting mess I couldn't help but thank God for the grace He gives us parents when we have to clean up after our little ones. All moms and dads out there are always ready to help their sick or needy child. Even if it means cleaning up after them. The thought crossed my mind tonight that many times God our heavenly Father does the same for us. We make some disgusting messes in our lives, yet He is always there to show His grace and mercy and help us clean our lives up. Having my own children gives me a tiny glimpse of that incredible love that our heavenly Father has for us. What a blessing to be a child of the King!

A "Mobile" Youth Group

Several years ago some of our co-workers founded the Good News Baptist church located in a part of Lima called Musa. The church has experienced growth over the years and they have totally outgrown their church building. In order to expand their facilities they have demolished the original church building and are in the middle of constructing a new meeting place. The only problem is they have no place to meet during the five months of construction. The leadership of their youth group came up with a unique solution to the problem: They've temporarily formed a mobile youth ministry. Each Saturday, in place of their normal meeting schedule, they travel to a sister church and help conduct the youth meeting with the other church. It requires a bit of planning, and can be challenging since they have to depend on public transportation. Last night they came to conduct our church's youth meeting. We had a huge crowd of young people and the meeting went great. It was a real example to our teens. They were able to see how these kids worked together to serve the Lord. They had planned special music, games, activities and a Bible message. It was also good for our young people to see that there are other Christians scattered throughout the city. Everyone really enjoyed the fellowship. Next month we hope to have them return and our group will direct the meeting.

We also have challenges as a church because of our small meeting place. Yet, it reminds us that the church is much more than a building. A truly strong church is not made up of four walls and a ceiling. It's a group of godly people bonding together to serve the Lord and grow together. It looks like there's one mobile youth group out there that's already learned that lesson!

Birthday Party turned Bible Study

Yesterday was an especially busy day. There were Bible lessons to prepare, a sermon to finish up, choruses to type into PowerPoint for church, and paper work to finish. There was also a program and afternoon picnic at Elizabeth's school. Then there was a planning meeting with our national pastor, not to mention an appointment to have the non-working fan on our computer replaced. It was one of those days with lots of necessary busy work but nothing real exciting on the docket. I was on the go from sunrise until 9:00 p.m. About 2 minutes after kicking my shoes off and reclining in the den for the evening the doorbell rang. It was our neighbor from the first floor. They were inviting us to a birthday party that would be starting in a few minutes. So I helped tuck the girls into bed and headed downstairs. Within a few minutes I had been introduced to a room full of strangers. I was a bit of a novelty as the only foreigner present. Everyone in the room stopped talking and wanted to know all about the American neighbor that lives upstairs. Within a minute everyone knew I was a missionary and then the questions started coming. "Why did you choose to move to Peru when we all want to go to the United States? What do you believe about the Bible? Do you believe that Mary was really a virgin? What do you all actually teach at your church?" The questions went on and on. Then like music to a missionary's ears one man asked, "So how do you believe man can make it to heaven?" I was able to clearly present the Gospel to those present. They were very attentive and polite. It was interesting to see God turn an ordinary adult birthday party into a Bible study! I hope I was able to plant a seed in the lives of the folks there last night.

I couldn't help but realize how God had opened up yet another opportunity for us here in Peru. These particular neighbors are rarely at home. We've never been able to talk to them clearly about why we are in Peru. Now they know! Earlier I had dreaded going down for the last minute birthday party. It sure wasn't what I had planned for my evening. In the end I see it was just another divine appointment planned by God.

Faithful for Fifty

Perhaps the hardest part of being a missionary is having to say goodbye. On Tuesday night we made the trip out to Lima's airport to say goodbye to our friends and co-workers Bob and Betty Whatley. The Whatley Family has served in Peru for nearly fifty years. Over the years they have had a tremendous impact on Peru, especially the mountain regions in central Peru. The Whatleys' main work in Peru has been church planting, but they also helped start several radio stations and two seminaries. Bob also helped develop the successful ARRIBA program. This is a one-year internship giving college students an all-out missionary experience in Peru. Bob and Betty helped train dozens of college students, many of whom have returned to Peru as missionaries. In recent years Bob and Betty have begin work on a Creation museum composed of fossils discovered in the mountains of Peru.

Perhaps my fondest memory of Bob came our second year in Peru. We had gathered with our other Baptist Mid-Missions coworkers at camp for our annual field conference. This annual meeting is where we make plans and set goals for the coming year. Usually we are in intense "business meetings" for many hours over a five day period. After the second day I saw Bob loading their car with their belongings. I approached him and asked where they were headed, "Oh I'm an old man now son. I don't really have time to sit around in these boring meetings. I have to much to do! We're heading out of here in a few minutes you all let me know how you vote on any upcoming issues...." A few minutes later there car sped out of the campground and headed back to the mountains where their work would continue. Who was going to tell Bob they couldn't leave? In the end he probably did get more accomplished that week then the rest of us did!

Tuesday evening was indeed a bittersweet moment for us all. We were happy to see Bob and Betty heading home to spend some well deserved rest with family and friends. They were glad to go home. Yet, in the end, I know their hearts will always be in Peru. They've left a true heritage of godliness here in Peru. They impacted countless lives for Christ. May we all be so faithful when we finish fifty years of service for our Lord.

We're Still Here!

We want to thank all of our loyal blog readers for your patience! You have probably noticed that we haven't been updating the blog recently. We have had visitors in our home for the last 12 weeks and an extra busy schedule. It seems that the blog didn't make it to the top of the priorities list. We hope to keep updates coming regularly once again! Thanks for checking in often.

A New MK

There is a new MK to tell you about! Daniel and Julie Aguilar, our Peruvian co-workers are the proud parents of Cielo Vania. Cielo was born on May 7 and weighed 7 pounds 4 ounces. Here's a picture of the happy family!

Happy Birthday Elizabeth!

It's hard to believe that 7 years ago today our precious Elizabeth was born! (Actually, this post was made exactly 7 years to the minute!) I can still remember the excitement that filled our hearts that day when we saw our little girl for the first time. It has been such a joy to watch her grow and develop into the little lady that she is today.

The picture above shows how little she was starting out! Her tiny head would fit into the palm of my hand. That first day she only took in a quarter once of milk. It's fun to remember changing the first diaper, her first solid food, those first steps. Wow, how she's grown. Thanks for letting us reminisce on this special day. We thank the Lord for the joy that our two girls bring into our home.

All Circuits Busy

Yesterday at 7:51 a.m. our house began to shake. Pictures crashed to the floor and windows rattled. Our neighbors ran into the street and we heard the sound of children crying. The shaking lasted for less than a minute but was enough to get our hearts racing. We had just experienced an earthquake centered only 9 miles from Lima. In the coming hours we heard news of a few houses that had collapsed and buildings that were damaged. Along the coast one road was closed because of fallen rocks. It was just another reminder of God's omnipotent control of the world.

Immediately after the earthquake all of the phone lines were dead. This is to be expected since nearly everyone in the city attempts to call and check on friends and loved ones. The telephone company reported that over 6 million phone calls were attempted in the minutes following the tremor. The system was simply overwhelmed.

We are reminded of the power of prayer during moments like this. As Christians we often cry out to God when we are distressed or in need. God promises to provide His guiding hand during life's difficulties. Isn't it a blessing to know that when problems arise, like an earthquake, that God is always there to listen? Our line of communication with Him is always open and His system will never fail. May we be faithful to keep our communication open with God during the good times and the bad.

Only One Life

Today we are grieving the loss of a dear friend and co-worker in the Lord, Barbara Stuart. Barbara had a tremendous impact in my life and in the life of many young people. I have so many fond memories of Barbara. She always had a big smile and a servants heart. During my teen years she was a vital part of our church youth group working as a leader alongside her husband Warren. They were by my side on six youth missions trips. Barbara was there when I nervously took my first airplane flight and gave my testimony for the first time in front of a large group. I remember her being there on my graduation days from High School and then College. She was there when we finished deputation and started our journey to Peru. Barbara was always there pushing us to grow and served as an example of a godly servant.

I am reminded of the saying: "Only one life will soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last!" Barbara's life was far too short. Her time with us is now over. Yet, the heritage of humble service she left behind will not soon be forgotten. I can only imagine the number of young people she influenced in her nearly 20 years of service with church teens. Barbara had many friends. She accomplished a lot in her life. Her work for Christ will now live on in the lives of so many that she influenced.

Now we begin to search for a much needed replacement. Who will take over where she used to minister? Who will strive to impact teens in their local church? Who will promote missions and pray daily for a great harvest of souls around the globe? Who will work to be a servant like Barbara? Our lives are short. Let's get to work for our Lord!

Difficult Questions

Today while out visiting around the church we met a friendly neighbor. He was very thankful to receive a Gospel tract and wanted to know if we had time to talk. (This is always music to the ears of a missionary or pastor!) He said he had an important Bible question if we would be willing to wait while he went inside for his personal Bible. We of course agreed and stood in front of his house as he disappeared inside. He returned with a compact Bible. I was wondering what tough doctrine he might want to discuss. He then asked, "Why are some Bibles smaller than others? Are they all the same? My Bible seems small, has someone tried to alter God's Word?" It turned out to be an easy question to answer. He was not speaking about different Bible versions or various translations of the Bible. He simply wanted to know why his copy was thinner than ours. We explained that some Bibles are larger than others because they are printed on thicker paper or perhaps have a larger font. Others are designed to be compact so they can easily be carried about. He was content with our answer and was pleased to know he didn't have an adulterated copy of the Bible!

We often meet people in the streets that have difficult questions. Many want help for serious problems that have come their way. We are thankful that we have the answers as we study and learn more of God's Word. Each day we see so many people that are lost and looking for hope for their lives. How sad that most haven't heard the true message of the Gospel. May we be faithful to share God's message with those around us.

VBS Report

On Sunday we finished a very successful Vacation Bible School. We had a total of 38 children that took part in the activities. Most of the kids already attend our church on a weekly basis, but we did have several first-time visitors. Each lesson during the week had an evangelistic emphasis with the theme being "fishers of men." The children enjoyed games, stories, crafts and verse memorization.

We were really happy with the good number of parents that came to the closing program. For most, it was their first time in the church. We pray that they will feel welcome to return in the future.

These two children received a Bible for their excellent attitude and participation.

Elizabeth was also proud of her certificate!

Peru BBQ?

Nothing like a little free advertising! Thanks for taking time to read our blog!

Back to School VBS

The kids proudly show their "door hanger" craft they made on day one of Bible school.

Yesterday was a big day here in Peru. Many of Peru's school children headed back to school. The schools got an unusually early start to the school year. Some years the schools start as late as April and we were caught a little off guard! You see, yesterday was also the scheduled first day for our "Vacation Bible School!" When we found out about the school calendar it was too late to make a change. We decided to make our VBS late in the afternoon and pray for a good turnout. I guess we could call it "After Vacation Bible School."

We were pleased with a strong attendance for the first day of 25 kids. They were happy to be at the church, and even happier to hear we'd be there every day this week. Several commented that it was great to get to go to school and Bible school in the same day! It's a blessing to see their excitement. Please pray that we can continue to impact the lives of these children. We hope to win this neighborhood for Christ, starting with the youngsters. We'll let you know how the week goes.

¿Hablas Español?

Today I had an interesting phone conversation. My sister, who supervises the cleaning staff of a hotel in Virginia, needed help speaking to the other staff members. Most of the other employees are from Mexico or other Latin American countries. She needed to pass along some important information and there was nobody to translate. What do you do? Call your Spanish-speaking brother in Peru! After a few moments everything was communicated and hopefully the rooms will be a little cleaner and finished a little quicker than before!

Did you know that that Spanish is spoken by more than 400 million people in the world? It is the primary language of 21 countries and is considered by many as the third most influential language in the world. In the United States alone there are 44 million Hispanics with 34 million Hispanics using Spanish in the home.

It sure is beneficial being able to communicate in two languages! My sister would probably never have imagined that someday her little brother would live in Peru, speak Spanish, and help her translate for a group of Mexican co-workers. Plus who would have imagined that she could call Peru free with a local telephone number? The world sure is changing! So the only question I have now is, "¿Puedes hablar Español?"

No Place Like Home

After an especially long break we are now back to blogging! Thanks for your patience. We returned recently from our two weeks of camp in the tiny village of Aucallama. We sure are glad to be home. It would be safe to say that we are "city folks." We've grown accustomed to life in the mega-city of Lima. Camp presented us with several unique challenges. In Lima we awake to the sounds of buses and honking horns. At camp we were able to wake up to several special sounds. On one side of the camp there is a huge duck farm with over 10,000 ducks. On the other side there is a pig farm with thousands of pigs. It really is humorous to hear countless pigs snorting at 5:00 a.m. when their food arrives. Plus you haven't lived until you've heard that many ducks "quacking!" Then of course our next challenge is the special smells at camp. What is more noticeable than the snorting of thousands of pigs? You guessed it! The smell of a thousand pigs! We won't go into details but you can imagine the smell of the camp's "dairy air!" Then there are the minor challenges of living in a tent for two weeks and early morning cold showers. We returned home extra thankful for the great apartment the Lord has provided for us.

Perhaps the greatest challenge of the last week was our health. All four of us came down with a nasty stomach virus. Our poor girls were sick nearly the entire week. We weren't alone. About a third of the other campers came down with the same virus. Thankfully we are all doing better and back to normal. Despite the challenges we had some great times at camp. We were able to make plans as a mission for the coming year. We had many great challenges from our guest speaker Pastor Maynard Belt. Plus we enjoyed the great fellowship with our other missionary co-workers. Perhaps the highlight of the week came when we celebrated the 50th anniversary of service for Bob and Betty Whatley. They will soon retire from Peru but left us with many great memories and stories. It was their last week at the Baptist Mid-Missions camp.

So now we are back home relieved that we survived another year at camp! Look for regular updates now on the blog. Thanks for your prayers now and in the days ahead.

Off to Camp

Tomorrow we will pack our van and head out of town for a couple of weeks of camp. Our first week will be spent with Peruvian pastors and their families. The second week will be our Baptist Mid-Missions Peru Ministry Team meetings. The camp has cabins but they are really packed for pastor's camp. We always stay in a tent. It is fun for the girls and their are no bugs that way! We'll actually be home on the weekend to take care of services at our church. When we return we will be ready for hot showers and soft beds once again!

The picture above is from several years ago, you'll notice Elizabeth has grown some since that time! Please excuse our absence from the blog through at least this week. We'll be back to posting real soon!

Today's View from Peru....Traffic

Lima has some of the worst traffic and craziest driving in the world. We've told you in previous posts that Peru statistically has the most dangerous roads in the world. I have often tried to take a picture that would truly show how bad the traffic can get. I've never been successful in capturing the true congestion in the streets. However, I did run across this picture recently published by a local newspaper. I hope it will convince you that we do have a bit of a traffic problem! Be sure to click on the picture for the incredible (albeit not terribly sharp) view! Remember only 8 percent of Peruvians own their own vehicle the rest rely on public transportation. When we are at a stand-still in traffic it makes me glad that vehicle ownership isn't common!

Elizabeth's First Bike

Here is a quick video of Elizabeth's first bike ride! Now she's ready to cruise the roads! Hope you enjoy! Be sure the check out the latest update on our girls on their BLOG.