Since last Monday, the REAPsouth team in Peru has been training 100+ college students from around the US to go out into villages as summer mission teams for sponsored church planting projects all over southern Peru. I am writing this blog on Wednesday night, but there is no internet access here so it will post later.. probably Saturday (we are at the IMB camp in Chosica and will not return to Lima until Saturday).
Much of the training is the same material that I had in January of this year. But a real treat has been learning from Dr. David Sills, who authored the book "The Missionary Call". He has been speaking to us about the "call" and sharing his expertise from the field in South America. This past fall when I was first praying about mission service (to anywhere, really) I picked up this book from the bookstore and it truly became one of those defining moments in my decision to seek out mission opportunities - it is an excellent book. The fact that Dr. Sills is here lecturing sort of blows my mind... but I am coming to expect these 'coincidences' in my life.
What's next? After the training here is over, I am heading back to Lima for more training as a Barnabas team member. The 100+ students are heading out to their towns and villages to serve. There's even a traveling soccer team that will be holding exhibition games in all the villages being served by the college teams.
I have to say a word about these young folks serving this summer. I cannot be more impressed with a group of college (and a few in high school) kids who have offered their summer to the service of the Lord. Their worship style is a bit different than 'my generation' but their genuine heart for the Lord is palpable in worship and dedication. Please pray for these young folks as they travel to the field and begin to share the gospel with southern Peru. I will be posting specific names and requests for prayer throughout my stay (through July 2), but for now just ask God that He bless and protect the REAPsouth summer misson team.
My team is still not assigned to its villages, so I will update you as soon as I find out where we are going!
Greg
-- Post From My iPhone
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
Peru-bound Again!
A warm hello to all who followed my blog earlier this year and a big welcome to all of you new visitors! I hope you'll find this continuation of my Peru blog a blessing to you.. I know that when you read it (and especially when you comment) it is a blessing to me!
Why am I resuming this blog?.. 'Cause I'm going back to Peru! A few weeks ago I felt the strong urge to look for opportunities to travel back to Lima and work with the REAPsouth program again. I can't adequately explain the change and growth in the Lord that I experienced during my first trip, but I can say that it has attached itself to my heart and won't let go. I'm still unemployed here in the states and looking for a job, but I also started looking at flights and contacted REAPsouth regarding their needs. I committed the details to prayer and everything fell into place perfectly (imagine that) and now I'm on my way back - staying through June and returning July 2.
I'm starting the blog a little early this time to share some of my pre-trip experience with prayer and faith. It's a fact that the closer you get to the Lord and service to Him, the more the evil one attacks - that's "the devil" for all you newcomers ;). Well that's been the case with me these last few days. I've really had to put on the full armor of God that Paul talks about in Ephesians 6:10-18. The flaming arrows have been a-flyin'! It's almost been comical the kind of junk being thrown at me lately, but it makes me even more anxious to get out into the field. I know the Lord is really going to move in great ways among the people of Peru this summer and I am looking forward to witnessing it! Even before I get there, I have already had the priviledge of fighting these few battles at home on my knees.
While that may sound a bit heavy for a first blog entry, I wanted to share it with you because I am really energized now for the trip and the mission - a curious by-product of the flaming arrows and the shield that blocks them!
Finally, in the next verse after Paul talks about armoring up for battle, Ephesian 6:19 says: "Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel"
No need to add to that except to ask that you please make the same prayer for me.
In Christ-
Greg
Why am I resuming this blog?.. 'Cause I'm going back to Peru! A few weeks ago I felt the strong urge to look for opportunities to travel back to Lima and work with the REAPsouth program again. I can't adequately explain the change and growth in the Lord that I experienced during my first trip, but I can say that it has attached itself to my heart and won't let go. I'm still unemployed here in the states and looking for a job, but I also started looking at flights and contacted REAPsouth regarding their needs. I committed the details to prayer and everything fell into place perfectly (imagine that) and now I'm on my way back - staying through June and returning July 2.
I'm starting the blog a little early this time to share some of my pre-trip experience with prayer and faith. It's a fact that the closer you get to the Lord and service to Him, the more the evil one attacks - that's "the devil" for all you newcomers ;). Well that's been the case with me these last few days. I've really had to put on the full armor of God that Paul talks about in Ephesians 6:10-18. The flaming arrows have been a-flyin'! It's almost been comical the kind of junk being thrown at me lately, but it makes me even more anxious to get out into the field. I know the Lord is really going to move in great ways among the people of Peru this summer and I am looking forward to witnessing it! Even before I get there, I have already had the priviledge of fighting these few battles at home on my knees.
While that may sound a bit heavy for a first blog entry, I wanted to share it with you because I am really energized now for the trip and the mission - a curious by-product of the flaming arrows and the shield that blocks them!
Finally, in the next verse after Paul talks about armoring up for battle, Ephesian 6:19 says: "Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel"
No need to add to that except to ask that you please make the same prayer for me.
In Christ-
Greg
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)