New Believers - God is at work!

Although, many times this year have felt a lot slower and like nothing was happening compared to last year, it is amazing the things that God has done especially in a period of about a month this summer. We had several very solid leaders give their lives to Christ.

Two girls that are in college gave their lives to Christ with in a week of each other. I was actually taking a language lesson from one of them and we started talking about life instead and the gospel. Nancy and I had both talked to this girl a lot about Jesus before, but it just finally clicked. She was so excited after she became  a Christian. She called her older brother immediately who had become a Christian the year before. She is SUPER passionate about Jesus. She is always talking to people about Him. She is constantly reading the Bible. She challenges us. She asks all kind of deep questions and her desire is to follow after the Lord. It has been amazing watching her grow in her faith.

Then three Teenage boys that we are very close to and have been talking about Jesus to for a long long time decided to follow Jesus. I love it because at least 2 of them are serious about telling others about Jesus already and leading Bible studies with their friends. It was a beautiful night when the 2 brothers came to our house because they wanted to give their lives to Christ. These two boys are the younger brother's of one of the girls that gave her life to Christ like the week before. Now 4 of the siblings out of the 6 are belivers! The other teenage boy, whom I call my son, he is probably my favorite teenager I have ever met in Peru. I know you aren't supossed to have favorites BUT..... :) Anyway, I have been wanting him to come to know Christ for forever now, and he finally did. Wow! What a blessing.

The other college girl, we had thought was a Christian. It is SO cool how God works because she was reading some of our house church curriculum from Mission Arlington. She realized that she had believed in Jesus but had never given control of her life to Him as Lord of her life. She did that night in the room on her own after realizing her need for Jesus as Lord of her life. It is just so amazing how the Lord works! She is also SUPER passionate about sharing things she has learned from the Bible with others.

Fernando is another one that came to know Christ this summer. He was actually our waiter at the restaurant we went to in Lima on our free day with the FBC Mansfield group. A lot of times, God leads me to tell the waiter about Jesus. I always feel awkward going up after and telling them about Jesus. I shouldn't since it is the greatest and the only life changing news in the whole world. Anway, we got to talking and realized he lived actually really close to us even though he worked an hour and a half away. I gave him my number. A couple of weeks later he came over to hang out with Nancy and I. We had a serious conversation about the gospel. Then he came over like 2 weeks after that and one our Peruvian Christian friends was over and we talked about the gospel again. Fernando was steeped in some very hard issues. He decided that night to let it all go and realize his need for the Savior. He accepted Christ that night. This whole situation was an encouragement to me for so many reasons. Even when it seems weird that Christ is calling you to share the gospel with someone, he has a purpose and will bring it about to completion. Also, it was just so incredible for me to see someone with the situations and stages in life Fernando was in to just come to Christ. I was watching the Holy Spirit move in an incredible way that night and it just amazed me! Now, he always hangs out with us and comes to our discipleship class as well.

Then a little later on, Nancy had the opportunity to lead another college boy to Christ. That also reminded me of God's faithfulness because over a year ago I had a serious conversation with this same boy about the gospel, but it is like he could not even understand it. Then a year later, he accepted Christ. God did not give up on him, like he does not give up on any of us. He desires for all to be saved.

Then around September, one of our Peruvian Christian friends led a teenage girl to Christ who comes to the Huaral Bible study. Also another work of God's persisitance and faithfulness to bring someone to himself. Normally we had to BEG her to even come to Bible study. She didn't until pretty recent start coming consistently. Then she is the first one to give her life to Christ out of the whole group. I just love the way Jesus works!

Then some of the most exciting news, this past weekend, John and Nicchola went to Huaral by themselves to teach the weekly Bible study we have out there. It has been a very slow Bible study with hardly any fruit that is visible at least. They led the 3 adults that come to the Bible study to Christ. So God definitely is at work. Even when it seeems like nothing is happening, things are actually happening. The Holy Spirit is constantly drawing all of humanity to himself. All glory to God!


Please pray for all these new believers. All of them before they came to know Christ were expereiencing very tough battles. Knowing what I know about spiritual warfare and Satan not being happy about these people coming to know Christ please lift them up that they will not be discouraged but persevere in the faith and they will boldy tell all of Peru about Jesus Christ the ONLY ONE that SAVES.