Psalm 46 reads "Be still, and know that I am God… I will be exalted among the nations… I will be exalted in the earth!"
Arriving in Peru on New Year’s Eve to a sky full of fireworks, I was excited for what the year would bring as a member of Mision Rescate IV. It was excitement mixed with a little fear. Being the only Irish girl on the team, and with dodgy Spanish, I knew there would be some difficulties to come, but I took courage from Psalm 46 that I could ‘be still and know’ that God, ‘our ever present help in times of trouble’ would be with me. Thinking back on the time I had with the team of 7 Peruvian young people, working alongside Luz Maria, the Morrow family and with churches across the South of Peru, it’s good to be able to say I know a little more...
I know more of the work of Baptist Missions
The main purpose of Mision Rescate is to expose young people to missions and the need to live a life which expresses the urgency of the “Great Commission”. Being part of camps and conferences, the Amazing Journey, and working alongside churches, I experienced a little of life as a missionary and realised that missionary means pastor, counsellor, mother/father, and administrator and how much wisdom and prayer is needed every day. In every church we visited pastors asked for prayer that the Lord would build strong leaders in their churches and that that church members would be committed to Christ and sharing the gospel. I felt ashamed at my lack of prayer for our missionaries; for how little I knew about the national workers and their families; and am thankful that the Lord had given me this time to know more of what He is doing in Peru.
I know more of myself
Between language learning, team life, camps, tsunami alerts, kids clubs and working with churches there were a few moments when I wondered what I had let myself in for but Iooking back, I am grateful for those times because the Lord showed me how often I try to do things in my own strength and fail. Without language or church or family I had to rely on God and found that the more I prayed the more He gave, the more I asked the more God gave His peace and strength.
I know more of God
From Psalm 46 we can know that God will be exalted among the nations and He certainly is at work in Peru with over 40 young people saved at camps alone. Yet there is so much more to be done. There are millions in Peru who do not know the Lord and there is a great need for Biblical teaching and training but we can take courage that we can ‘be still and know’ that He is God and will be ‘exalted in the earth’ as we call on His name in prayer.
Please remember the Mision Rescate team in prayer and check out the blog at irelandtoperu@blogspot.com
Article by Judith Harkness (Magherafelt - Mision Rescate IV)