On the eve of the completion of our 14th week here, I now sit in reflection on the best weekend I have yet to experience in Peru.
We kicked it off with a physically trying - yet fun nonetheless - day this past Friday. The Amarakaeri team competed against one another for fastest time on the rock-climbing wall in the morning. Following a poor lunch of rice and beans, the entire team scaled, once again, the mountain behind our camp.
After reaching the cross on top, we took turns telling stories from God's word - pretending, as we often do, that the rest of the team were members of an indigenous tribe. I practiced the stories from Moses to David before finding a small adventure at the bottom of the mountain.
Our team descended, and Chris and I went a different path than the rest. As we knew it would, our descent forced us to cross the river in order to return to the camp. Usually, such an event has all the excitement of an oil change, but Thursday night's rain had left a high, fast, deep, raging river.
We were in deep up to our waist after the first few steps. A group of Peruvian fisherman guided us from afar, pointing-out the best spots to cross from their limited view from the shore. Chris and I were pushed and moved and nearly taken downstream. Nevertheless, we arrived safely to the other side, laughing the entire way.
Challenging our bodies once more, we had a tough work-out before dinner. Then, we went to the beach. That's right, again to the beach.
Andy, Marcello, Chris, David, Allen, and I literally pilled into Andy's a-little-too-small car, and drove two hours to a beautiful beach. Once our tents were set-up, we got a fire going. Sitting in the sand, looking-out over the ocean, we played the guitar and sang in-between our laughs exchanged. Seeing how it was my first time to do so, only now can I say from experience that camping on the beach most definitely has its advantages. You go to sleep to the sound of the crashing waves and awake to the ocean-based sun rise. It only took me five minutes to get into the water after I woke-up, but it took me hours to leave.
Saturday brought many laughs - several coming after Chris ate a fish eyeball, and I the eye-socket as we accepted a dare?and ended with us all eating pizza. The pepperoni tasted much better than the slimy eye stuff.
Following our weekend in the sand, was of course today - a day of miracles! The events which transpired today are what enable me to rank this weekend "number one." God sent His Spirit to work amazing, life-changing, beautiful miracles today, and He thankfully allowed me to tag-along.
At Martin's, we shared the stories of the Passover and the Ten Commandments to a sold-out crowd. All three of Martin's sons and his wife were there, as well as his two cousins, Timoteo and Ronaldo. Martin's brother and sister-in-law came later.
In the story of the Passover, we focused on the sacrifice of the perfect substitute lamb. Ronaldo asked, "Why don't we still have to offer sacrifices today?" What a perfect bridge to the Good News! Through the story of Jesus' death on the cross, they understood and realized that Jesus' perfect sacrifice was and is sufficient to cover the sins of the entire world. The Spirit continues to plant the seed of truth in the soil of their hearts.
As we spoke more about their family continuing to meet without us, Timoteo asked, "Can we sing praises to God when we're together?" I love how the Spirit of God is putting such desires in them, so that they initiate all that takes place in their house church; lest we impose upon them any tradition. We sang joyfully together, "No Hay Dios," and then I encouraged them to try singing some of the Psalms, and to even write their own praise songs.
Later this morning, in Mira Flores, I told the stories from Jacob to Moses to Alfredo. As we spoke about his relationship with Jesus, I also shared my personal testimony. Alfredo told Chris and I that he and his family had gotten together again last week to share God's word, and that this week will find them continuing in this habit. Praise the Lord for Alfredo's faithfulness to lead his household in such a way.
Simply because Chris wanted to take some pictures of some of the antique buildings in Lima, we caught a cab to downtown after leaving Alfredo's. However, after 10 minutes in the plaza, we met the reason we were there; learning that it was God who had sent us.
I was approached by a 29-year-old man named Franco who saw me as an opportunity to practice a few words in English. Small-talk was short-lived however, for once he learned that I was a missionary, he said, "I need someone to explain to me about God." How parallel was his opening to the story of Philip and the Ethiopian in Acts 8:26-40; as was the rest of the afternoon.
Franco, Chris and I went to a near-by restaurant so that we could talk in the shade. Franco began telling us about all he's heard about God. Mormon missionaries had visited his house several times to share about Joseph Smith and "The Book of Mormon." Thankfully, God protected Franco from being misled. "I knew something wasn't right about what they were teaching," Franco said.
It was obvious that Franco was thirsty for the truth, and such a thirst can only be quenched by the Living Waters. It is this refreshing that the Spirit allowed me to pour-out over Franco through God's word (Proverbs 25:25).
Beginning with the beginning, I shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with Franco from creation to the cross. Weaving the thread of the substitute and descendents, I told stories of the fall of Satan, creation of the world, the fall of man, Cain and Abel, Seth, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the Israelites, Moses, and David. Finally, we arrived at Jesus.
We saw through God's word that Jesus was the substitute like Seth and the perfect substitute to take our place like the ram that God provided for Abraham and Isaac. It was revealed to Franco that Jesus was the descendent of Eve that was promised to crush Satan and the descendent of David that will reign as King forever. Neither because of my storying nor Franco's intelligence, but rather due to the work of the Holy Spirit, were these truths made clear to Franco.
He heard of Jesus' resurrection and His Great Commission and an example of one of the disciples that obeyed the Great Commission. After I told the story of Philip and the Ethiopian, Franco accepted Jesus as his Savior, making a bold commitment to live for Him!!!
"I believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that I need Him to forgive me of my sins," Franco said. "Only He can change my life. I want to start a new life with Jesus."
We celebrated with Franco, and then, as if it were scripted, he asked, "What's my first step in this new life?"
"What was the Ethiopian's first step after he believed in Jesus?" I asked.
"He was baptized," Franco answered.
Fifteen minutes later, we were at the beach to baptize Franco. We had already spoken much about the grand significance of baptism, answering many of Franco's questions. He said that he was ready to obey in this, identify his life with Jesus, and show others that he was a new creation. Like the Ethiopian, Franco had the attitude of, "Here's water; what's keeping me from being baptized?"
Wadding in our jeans in the midst of some huge waves, Chris and I baptized Franco in the Pacific Ocean! Franco came out of the water "refreshed," as he put it, and then prayed of prayed a prayer of praise and thanksgiving to his Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. It was pure and beautiful. I count myself wonderfully blessed to have been part of such a life change.
The three of us passed another hour together before Franco went home. I encouraged him much in his new faith, especially in sharing all that God had done in his life today with his family and friends.
"I promise to start today telling other people about God," Franco said. He even committed to tell seven people this week about Jesus.
Reflecting on this amazing afternoon, it's almost hard to believe how quickly God worked in Franco's life. How the Lord took this lost, yet searching, young man, and in but a few hours, saved him, changed him, baptized him, and commissioned him to go tell others. Do I believe in miracles? You better believe it!
To be a part of something so significant, wonderful, and Spirit-led, is not something I will soon forget. I shall forever remember well Franco and his life-change!
