I have been working with the Limache family off and on for a while now. Last night Bekah and I had dinner with them again. They are opening up more and more every time we meet. They are planning on coming to Sunday school this morning for the first time. The dad, Johnathan (on the left), confesses to be saved and has a clear testimony. I’m not so sure about the rest. Please keep this family in your prayers.
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We had a fantastic night last night at Church with 81 in attendance (AWESOME for a Thursday night!!)! One of our visitors was the girl, Faye Murry, in the picture above with Bekah and I. This picture was actually taken at our house about 5 hours later (1:45am). After hours of questions and talking, last night Faye was born again!! She decided that she wanted Jesus to be her Lord!!
Faye and her friend Jodie (the short girl in the pic below), as you can tell are not Peruvians. They are here from the UK. Faye is from Scotland and Jodie from England and they are here working in an orphanage for one year. Praise God for April Baker and her uncle coming down for a visit this week. If it hadn’t been for God providentially guiding them to go the “Mirador” (a touristy spot here to take some pics), and then her inviting them to a Thursday night Bible study, then quite possibly eternity would not have been changed.
Jodie was not convinced that she needed a savior just yet. Though I think she is very close. Please keep these two young ladies in your prayers. Also, Bekah and I as we start discipling Faye.
My synopsis and personal application of the book “Culture Shock.”
Introduction:
One thing mentioned in the intro that stuck out to me was, “If the new worker can maintain a healthy self-esteem, in spite of the heavy stress laid on him, he will probably make a successful cross-cultural transition.”
Well, I think I’ve failed miserably at this. In spite of the complements given by mentors and co-workers, my self esteem levels are possibly at an all time low. I believe this is mostly due to the expectations (or unmet expectations) I have placed on myself.
Chapter 1
I can relate to this whole chapter, “Stress and it’s consequences.” I can especially relate to the “flight or fight” reactions that are described when people are put under extreme amounts of stress. My personality type doesn’t much fit the “flight” style of reaction. But I have caught myself fighting and arguing over many little things, stupid things, things that I wouldn’t have allowed to affect me in the States. I’ve thought terrible things about people and struck out at them in verbal attacks, and even a couple of times come close to physically attacking them. Thank God for the Comforter who deeply convicts me when I do stupid things.
Chapter 2
I didn’t get much out of this chapter, except for this little punch below the belt. “A proud person is one who does not love himself very much and, in order to make himself feel better, acts so as to convince others and himself of his worthiness and superiority. People who are truly self-loving have no need to be conceited.”
Enough said!
Chapter 3
“Language shock is one of the biggest ingredients of culture shock.” ¡¡AMEN!! Almost all of my shock personally has been due to my inability to communicate. I know I could have avoided many arguments, saved a lot of money, and kept some of my hair a little longer 
had I walked into this country speaking Spanish. If I had it to do over, I would have studied more of the language before coming.
Chapter 4
“The mission field is no place for lazy, undisciplined people.” Or it’s the perfect place for them! No, the author is right, it is no place for them if they want to honor God with their lives, but that would be the same no matter the location. I have realized in my short time here that there is no accountability for missionaries. Even for groups like ours that are close knit and personal. One can still coast through, lazy and undisciplined. That’s why I want more than ever to stay as close as I can to Jesus. I’ve realized that others can stay on my back about things and it not affect me, but when the Holy Spirit gets a hold of me, it’s a different story. I’ve realized that He is my motivation; He is my reason to get up; He is my reason to work hard; and He is who I am accountable to.
Chapter 5
“The veterans don’t seem as spiritual as the men portrayed in the biographies of C.T. Studd and Hudson Taylor.” That’s because they weren’t as spiritual as their wives and children made them out to be. I need to remember that these bio’s that I read are bits and pieces of their lives that they wanted me to see. They can and do give false expectation. I have been guilty of holding co-laborers to a standard that is not reasonable, a standard that I myself do not meet. I have realized that the normal daily routine of a missionary looks much like the normal daily routine of a good pastor.
Chapter 6
“Fifteen Steps for Survival”
Chapter 7
“Suggestions to Senior Missionaries for Helping New Recruits”
This is an incredible little book that every person who is even considering becoming a missionary should read!
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It was one year ago yesterday when Bekah and I got off a plane in Lima, Peru.
Highlights of our first year:
There is much more that I am forgetting, but we want to praise the Lord publicly for what He has done and is going to do! We are so excited to see what our second year holds. Please pray with us that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, would be magnified in all that we do.
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Two weeks ago yesterday morning I was sitting in my office, doing my routine morning thing, Bible study, prayer, and a cup of coffee. During my prayer time I asked God for something I’d never asked him for before, a car. Well, later on that night was when my motorcycle was stolen. When it happened, honestly I thought to myself (and actually said it to a few people) “God, what a weird way to answer my prayer.”
I had intentions of selling the bike and putting that money toward a car. Praise God, his ways are not mine. If I would have sold the bike I would have only gotten around $1200 for it. After the motorcycle was stolen, God impressed upon some folks hearts to give toward a new one. Then some more folks, and then my own Dad.
Well, Friday we purchased a 2005 Nissan Expert for $7,400. Thanks again to my home church, Whitifield Baptist, who gave $1000, Faith Baptist Church (The Rock SS Class) who gave $1740, and my Dad who gave $1500. I pray God blesses each of you in a special way for your contribution to His work here in Perú!! And thank you God for your provision!!
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Today is a wonderful day! Psalms 118: 24 tell us “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Why is today wonderful?
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I returned home form teaching ESL at church tonight to find an email from my pastor, Wayne Cofield. He wrote to inform me that the church had decided to give us $1000 toward the purchase of a car. ¡Gracias a Dios! and Thank You Whitfield Baptist Church!
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February 2010
Dear Pastor and Praying Friends:
Well, we have much to be thankful for this month. At Iglesia Bautista Omega we had our first big outreach, “Día de la Foto.” We passed out thousands of flyers to advertise the day. God blessed our labors with 131 in the morning service, the most we have had yet. But the most exciting part is that there were 12 souls saved! Please pray for each of these people that they will grow in the Lord and continue coming to church.
Another unexpected blessing this month, we were able to completely finish Olivia and Brayden’s paperwork in Lima. How it came about was rather surprising. I was at the airport seeing two guys off, Bro. Paul Hutchins and Bro. Josh Rhye, who were down visiting from Faith Baptist in LaGrange, Georgia and at the last minute, they offered to pay my way to Lima so that they would have someone to show them around during their layover. I agreed and immediately thought it would be a great time to finish the kid’s paperwork. To make a long story short, even though I didn’t have original documents with me, they took pity on me, and Olivia and Brayden should have their social security cards in a few weeks. God is good!
Since our last prayer letter we have finished the third book in language school and started the fourth. We have had the last week off due to youth camp, but started back this week. Our plans are to be completely finished by the beginning of May. Please pray that we will be diligent and be able to finish as we planned.
We also had some unexpected issues this month as well. The night before our big outreach, I was at the church setting up for the morning service, when my motorcycle was stolen from inside of the church. Though, it is amazing how the Lord works, especially in situations like this. One of our supporting churches, Faith Baptist Church (the one mentioned earlier) heard our news and raised $1700 dollars towards a new motorcycle. Thank you Faith Baptist Church for your generosity!
Bekah and I have decided our smartest move now, instead of buying a new motorcycle, would be to put this money toward a car. With two kids and another on the way, it’s getting near impossible to get in and out of taxis. This money puts us that much closer to having the $6000 needed to buy a dependable car. We appreciate your prayers about this need as well.
As always thanks so much for your prayers and support. God bless.
Missionaries to Peru,
Jeremy, Rebekah, Brayden, and Olivia Hall
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This is from my good friend Mark Tolson’s blog.
This is one of the hardest posts for me to write. Today, we went to the Doctor to find out about our baby that we are expecting in 19 weeks. Because this pregnancy hasn’t gone as smoothly as our first one, we were a little worried going into the appointment, especially since we had been given no new information at our last appointment. Well, we finally received some answers today.
We were able to hear the baby’s heart beat and see it’s profile (got a picture). We were excited! Then the ultrasound technician had to get the doctor and the doctor came in to look at the rest of the baby’s body. After she was done, she took us into a different room and explained the condition of our little baby.
Our baby has what is known as “Body Stalk Anomaly.” Basically, all the organs from the mid-chest down have developed outside the body and have attached themselves to the wall of the placenta. This condition makes the baby incapable of living outside the womb. The baby has a 5% percent chance of living. If the baby does make it full term it will only live for a minute or two.
With that being said, please be in prayer for the baby, my wife, and our family. The baby is currently living, and Natasha will continue to carry the baby as long as it lives. We know the Lord is in control, and we will continue as normal to see what the Lord does. If the baby passes away before it is full term then Natasha will be induced and give labor to the baby. This could happen at anytime, so we will be going to the doctor at least every other week to check up on it.
We will love this baby as long as it lives. We will tell it of it’s Creator and the love He has for us. We will tell it how it could soon be meeting Him.
We are thankful that the Lord has given us this child. The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away; blessed be the name of the LORD. As the baby lives we will praise the Lord for everyday He has allowed us to have it, and once it passes on, we will continue to praise the Lord!
Thank your for your prayers and concern!
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Tuesday of last week I received called from Bro. Paul Hutchins from Faith Baptist Church in Lagrange, GA. You may remember his name from a previous post. He and Bro. Josh Rhye were down visiting us a couple of weeks ago. He asked if we (Bekah and I) could be Skyped in for their Sunday School class. He told me that he wanted them to meet us.
Well, long story short, Bro. Paul had informed his Sunday School class that my motorcycle had been stolen, and they took up a special offering for us (in a motorcycle helmet). They presented it to us yesterday morning. They took up enough to cover the cost of the motorcycle, $1700!! Unbelievable!! THANK YOU!!! BRO. PAUL and FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH!!
Bekah and I have decided our smartest move now, instead of buying a new motorcycle, would be to put this money toward a car. With two kids and another on the way, it’s getting near impossible to get in and out of taxis. This money puts us that much closer to having the $6000 needed to buy a dependable car. Thanks again Faith Baptist Church!
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