Who am I?

The more I walk through the barrio here in the 4^th zone of Collique, the more I ask myself, “Who am I?” You might think of the song of the Casting Crowns with that same question as title, but that song has nothing to do with economic situations. My main question is: who am I, that I was born in the Netherlands in an average income family?

I asked myself the same question when I was living in working in Cameroon for Wycliffe Bible Translators. Part of my job there was maintaining the houses and apartments of the other missionaries. There I repaired things which the neighbors couldn’t dream of. Yes, it changed me. When I returned to the Netherlands, it took me a bit to adapt back. Partly, because of another culture shock I got shortly after my return, because two weeks later I flew to the USA to meet Elizabett for the first time.

I missed my connection in Chicago, so I got to spend some more time on O’Hare Airport. There I was, for the first time on US soil, excited to meet Elizabett for the first time in a couple of hours, but also overwhelmed by all. It was September 2006, and for the first time I saw a guy walking and talking aloud with nobody close to him and without cell phone. It was after the third person, that my eye caught the little black “ear cover.” Little did I know…. In these first hours in the US, there was so much more “for the first time.” Yes meeting Elizabett, but that’s not what I am talking about here.

Who am I, that I have a nice apartment on the third floor of the OSA-house here in Collique? Okay, this apartment has room for a family, like the family that lived here before us with their two little boys. But still. Back in September last year, we returned from our first visit of a family in the community. The house of the family of five is about one third of our apartment. I asked Elizabett, did you ever dream to live in a penthouse? Well, here we are in penthouse Collique. Out of our living room window we oversee the first four zones of Collique and now during the summer months we can even see the Pacific. We have running water and a boiler, washing machine en dryer, etc. Compared to so many around us, we are living in wealth.

How easy it is for a human being to complain? I can tell you, easy. If it is not the heat, it is the dust, or the cold (because we don’t have central heating), or the dogs, or the music, or problems with the water system, etc. It’s easy to forget the circumstances in which the people around us live.

One day, we visited a family, who at that time where reconstructing the house because of property issues. The master bed stood in the living room, which was also the dining room, television room, play room for the children, and whatever other room we can think of in the western world. When we asked where the two children were going to sleep, the mother said on a mattress on the floor. There was hardly room for the mattress, so we offered the children our guestroom. That night, each one slept in a bed (instead of together in a single-persons) in our guestroom, which was bigger than their house at that moment.

These weeks, we are preparing for the group that will be here in the last week of April. We are planning on helping four families with the construction team. When family’s is in a really bad shape, so we offered to construct a new. The family of five lives in a house of 16’ by 16’. That’s the size of our living room! Who am I?

At the moment, I am reading a book, which I had for several years without touching it. It is called “Revolution in World Missions” Why I didn’t pick it up before? I think that I was not ready for it. But today I am. In this book, Dr. K.P. Yohannan is teaching me what I already was thinking. It confirms that everything I do needs to go hand in hand with the Gospel. He encourages me to work harder on my Spanish to better communicate the Good News with all people. If you haven’t read it, you can order a free copy online. Or download a pdf version of the book here.

The struggle with the difference in the economic situation in which we live will continue, but I know who I am in Christ. This is the most important thing I have to share, so that soon I can sing the song of the Casting Crowns together with my neighbors!

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart

 

Not because of who I am

But because of what You’ve done

Not because of what I’ve done
But because of who You are

 

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
Vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I’m calling
Lord, You catch me when I’m falling
And You’ve told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours

 

 

That’s when the angels rejoice

Before the start of the Medical Campaign I had a choir practice with the children at OSA. The title of the song that they learned that afternoon was: “That’s when the angels rejoice”. This song talks about different inventions, such as: the light bulb, the computer, and the first car; it also talks about achievements such as: the first man on the moon and Independence Day. However the chorus of this song said: “there’s only one thing that we’re sure about that can make those angels jump and shout; it’s when a sinner heeds the Saviors voice. That’s when the angels rejoice.” (You can listen to a version of this song here)

The Medical Campaign was about to start when Kees and I sensed God was calling us to have a counseling room during the campaign. During our time at Baptist University of the Américas, we saw many students as chaplain in hospitals and campaigns like this, so we know it is important. These people need the Lord and hear the good news.

My health was not the best in the beginning of the week, but I knew how important it was to share the Gospel with these people and to have a time of prayer with them. During the week, I had the help of my mother, my cousin and on the last day a friend, who has a passion for this kind of ministry. It was an amazing week.

In July, I participated in an International Crusade in the Baptist Church of Miraflores. It was a wonderful week with brothers and sisters from Texas sharing the Gospel. They gave me an EvangeCube as a gift, which explains the plan of salvation; it is a good tool for evangelism. This last week, I used it again, and yes, it was very helpful.

God gave us 50 people to talk with. Many of them were depressed, sick, lonely and/or stressed. Others had experienced violence and/or abuse. Again others had an abortion and/or tried to commit suicide. The first day, I tried to talk with people and see if they wanted a time of prayer. The next days, doctors send us patients whom they saw in urgent need of prayer and with openness for the Gospel.

The first day, I talked with a girl of 16 years old who was pregnant; she decided to keep the baby. She accepted Christ before, but she felt far from Him now. She was not feeling well. After a time of prayer she reconciled with God. The second day, I talked with a girl of 19 years old; she had an abortion about two years ago. My cousin and I spent time talking with her and sharing Gods love for her. During our time of prayer, she was crying and showed us the scars of intended suicide on her wrists. She accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior and her face changed, she smiled. She didn’t have a father figure and she was trying to get the love of a man instead of the love of God.

I had the opportunity to talk with men too. One of them came to see a doctor because of a strong pain in his neck. When I talked with him he shared that he had family problems. After he accepted Jesus Christ into his heart, he told me: “I don’t have pain in my neck anymore. I feel free.” Praise the Lord!

Wednesday, I talk with a man who is 63 years old. His story touched me. He became an orphan at the age of 7. Since then, he slept in the streets. With a broken bottle he tried to protect himself from any kind of (sexual) abuse. Sometimes he slept in homes. He tried to find some jobs. It is amazing how God protected him. Now, he was worried about his daughters and his grandsons. He was in therapy for fear and he had sleeping problems. That day he gave his life to Jesus. On Friday he came back to thank me because for two nights he slept like he didn’t for a long time. That Friday he shared his experience about his father and his resentment to him. We shared with him the importance of forgiveness in order to have complete freedom. Thank God, he decided to forgive his father and after he prayed, his face was different, he said: “I could not smile for days, I felt miserable. I don’t know, but now I feel free and liberated. I don’t know how to express this.” Another miracle!

After these five days, I was meditating about the real meaning of these words of Jesus, when he said: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:17-19)

Only the Lord can change the life of a person. We can’t do it. These experiences showed me how many people need Jesus in their heart and life. We must help them with an integral Gospel like Jesus did, He is our example. May God send out workers into his harvest field, many people are suffering without Him.

It was an exciting week, indeed!

What is exciting for one can be boring for another. “What makes this an exciting read for all, about an exciting week for many?” I wonder. The easiest thing is to share a link to the beautiful photos and posts on Facebook, but no, not at this point in my post.

For doctors it might be exciting to know how many patients were seen, for dentists it might be exciting to know how many teeth were pulled, for constructors it might be exciting to know how many screws were screwed, for children ministry workers it might be exciting to know how many songs were taught, for pharmacists it might be exciting to know how many pills were prescribed… Statistics, for one boring for another exciting. I am a person, who loves numbers, but I want to share correct information and since I don’t have the exact numbers on all of the above I will only share the numbers we have.

But first a little bit about my part during the week. I was involved in the construction. We planned to build a bedroom on the second floor of a house, a bedroom and kitchen behind a house, and a new enclosure around an existing bathroom. First, the idea was that I was going to be part of one of the teams, but there were enough builders, so it ended up that, with Petry, I made sure the teams had the materials and equipment they needed to do the job. In a way, I enjoyed it, as I walked the streets of our community several times a day, so I got more acquainted with the area and the people. It was exciting for me to realize that I was able to answer questions and converse with the people better than two months ago.

On Friday, all three initiated projects were finished and there was time to work on some small projects that were added during the week.

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Elizabett had her own consultation room in the community center, where she talked with over 50 people during the week. They all came to see a doctor, but while they waited to be seen Elizabett started a conversation and if she sensed that they wanted to talk more she invited them to her room. Others were sent by the doctors who recognized a need for prayer/pastoral care.

Many who participated in last week’s Medical Campaign can probably share exciting stories too, but we believe that the most excitement was in heaven. The Bible clearly states: Jesus says: “I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10 (NIV). We rejoice that there were 24 fiestas in heaven the past week. We are humbled by the way God used Elizabett and others to reach these people, who we can call brother and sister now. It seems that the harvest in Collique is plentiful…

In a later post Elizabett will share some of her experiences.

Friday afternoon, we said good-bye to the group. For six days we served the people of Collique together. It was an exciting time. We believe that the Lord of the harvest will bring us more excitement as we start working with these new believers. We also want to ask you to pray to God to send out workers into His harvest field. (Matthew 9:37-38)

I hope it was an exciting read. Click on the highlighted words, if you want to see photos of the week or read posts about the experience of others.

What a week!

During my time in Peru, I didn’t expect to have a wonderful week with International Crusades in Lima. In 1998, God permitted me to participate in International Crusades in Miami. It was amazing to meet brothers and sisters in Christ from different countries. We are a big family of God. Working in missions is a blessing, however, to work in your own country and neighborhood is not the same.

The last week of July, 18 churches from Lima received 47 people from the USA, 24 from Ecuador, 2 from Chile, 2 from Argentina, and 6 from Brazil. It was wonderful to share the Gospel with brothers and sisters from these countries. I think this kind of ministry helps the local believers to lose their timidity.

Eight Americans made up the team at Evangelical Baptist Church Ebenezer in Miraflores, Lima. This is my home church and we attend here at the moment. I helped the team as interpreter. During the first sermon on Sunday morning, God spoke to my heart and showed me the importance of sharing the gospel in my own neighborhood. For me, to share the gospel in other places is easier than in my own neighborhood, because people know me and I know them. So, to feel embarrassed is easy in this circumstance. However, God calls us to share the gospel first in Jerusalem, which is in our own family, neighborhood, and city. This International Crusades taught me to do so.

On Monday, I visited my neighborhood with two of the Americans. Some of my neighbors were not at home, others were not ready for the Gospel, others didn’t want to change their religion although we didn’t preach about religion, just the message of Jesus; but God permitted that three persons in my neighborhood accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior. It was amazing!

The next days in the morning and afternoon, I was in different locations visiting families, homes, and the prison with part of the team. From Monday through Friday we also had evening services. At the end of the week, Ebenezer counted around 100 new believers and all the 18 churches in Lima together got over 1600 professions of faith. Saturday, we had a closing service with all the churches and missionaries. It was a wonderful experience to sing songs with people from other languages and cultures. It made me think of how it will be in the presence of God with people from different nations united by One Lord and Savior. Only God, our Creator can do this!

The team with some church members

Sunday morning we had to say good-bye to our new friends, which was not easy but they had to go back home, family and friends are waiting for them. We hope to see them again someday. The world is getting smaller with all the technology and new ways of communication, and maybe we can have another time sharing the Gospel together. The harvest was good and the discipleship got started. This experience is unforgettable; God blessed me that I was able to share His message of love with the people close to my home, and in my city. I believe every Christian ought to do it, although the prophet is not appreciated in his/her own region, however, God send us to do it and to share the Gospel with others. I felt very blessed, I think it was not a coincidence, God wanted to teach me that someday He will ask me for the people around me that I didn’t share the message of salvation. It is a big responsibility and we need to do it. May God help us to share His message everywhere.

Together in Lima

I am in Lima for three days now and enjoying the temperature here as I was looking forward to that like I wrote in my last blog. Friday, June 3rd, just before midnight I arrived at the airport. I thank God for a good and smooth trip. I didn’t have problems with the luggage and carry-on baggage. Actually, according to the website of AeroMéxico, I had to pay $140 for my third suitcase, but they only charged me for some overweight.

It had been my own fault if I was not in Peru by now… In the airplane from San Antonio to Mexico City I needed to go to the bathroom, but we were almost there and I had a window seat. I decided to use the bathroom at the airport, but first I wanted to pass customs and all checks, because I had only 1,5 hrs. I was glad the lines were short and the process went smooth. When I entered the terminal I saw a bathroom and took advantage of it. With my passport and ticket in one hand and my carry-on and backpack in the other I entered the bathroom. I put my passport on the wall behind the toilet and was able to put my carry-on with backpack on top against the wall. When I finished I rode my carry-on out, washed my hands and was ready for the next flight. After a walk through the whole terminal I arrived at the gate and wanted to ask for a seat at the emergence exit, but… where was my passport??? I checked my backpack, nothing. I checked my pockets, nothing. Wait a minute… the bathroom!!! I got my stuff together and ran through the whole terminal back to the bathroom. When I entered, a cleaning guy looked at me; he probably recognized that I my emergence was from another level than the regular visitor of his bathroom. When I checked the room my passport wasn’t there anymore. Then I walked up to the guy and said: “pasaporte?” He said: “Willem?” “Si,” I replied. He opened a little closet with cleaning supplies and handed me my passport and ticket. “Muchos gracias, señor!” That’s for sure going to be the happiest moment of the month!

I got in the plane tired and thirsty, but I made it! The good thing was that I had the whole row of three seats for myself and was able to rest some. As I wrote, I arrived close before midnight at Lima airport and after a green light at customs I walked through the door where a bright smiling Elizabett was waiting for me.

Today, we had our first meetings with the short term mission coordinators of Latin Link Peru and another organization here in Lima. The whole meeting was in Spanish, so I tried my best to follow the conversation. I got the overall picture and afterwards Elizabett shared the details with me. The organization seems to fit our ideas and ministries we have in mind—of which can be read more in the page ministries. After the meeting we had lunch with the missionaries from the UK. Then we spoke English. We had a good lunch and know more about Latin Link and the work they do in Peru. Again, we were amazed in what a small world we live. Also, we thank God for the many people He puts on our path. We left ‘family’ in San Antonio behind, but we knew He was going to provide new ‘family’ in Peru. Today, we already met some brothers and sisters!

Tomorrow we have a meeting with the team leader of Latin Link in the office here in Lima.

Please, pray for Gods guidance and direction during these meetings and the days ahead.