Peruvian Way

“But without Faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” -Hebrews 11:6-

Faith……..? Faith, such a small word but with great meaning and at times so hard to live by, why? I believe with the majority of us the reason’s are different; each situation, circumstance, and where were at with the Lord. As the Bible says, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) Faith as well I believe is a choice, a choice followed with actions. And that choice to believe in something we don’t yet see, and yeah at times it is hard. But as Christians that is how we are to live our lives, it is a daily life of walking by faith.

So to say, it seems to be a never ending, always learning, life challenging experience as we follow Christ; living by FAITH. Are we up for it, are we living it? For the past two months I felt like I have been challenged with walking by faith, where and who is my faith in?

At the beginning of the month we had a small group from Lima (Operation Blessings) who is apart of a ministry that goes around the world and helping churches where there is need for wells to be put in, to have clean fresh water, which in our case; Panguana. They were able to not only put in one but three and one in El Terminal. Also they came and did a huge Medical Clinic in Panguana and in Iquitos; with about 20 doctors and one dentist, and tons and tons of medicine that was given out to the people with there needs. With such a great turn-out with the Medical Clinic and seeing the need they came back a second time and went through-out the town of Iquitos in different parts teaching how to prevent from getting parasites and giving out pills that would kill whatever parasites they might have already, (which is big here with the way you see how some of the living conditions are.)

As most of you know my Spanish is not the greatest but I do get by with what I do know, by the grace of God. Well, with that I was faced this August with the challenge of teaching in Spanish while Albert went to Lima to study for two weeks. Just to note, Albert has been my translator when I teach at church, ever since I moved down here last June. So….. yeah, just me and Jesus!

I had the chance of teaching twice while Albert was gone. It was definitely challenging but rewarding at the same time as I drew closer to the Lord in my faith with Him. And even where I was at in the book of John as I have been teaching through, it was on “faith.” Funny how God does that, but what I saw was impossible but Jesus saw it differently. And funny thing now, “I’m about to do it again,” coming this November 10th, Albert is leaving for the states and I will be here by myself, so here we go. Scared? YES, but I know through and only through Him I can do it.

With a short break you could say of my faith being stretched, towards the end of the month we had a team from Calgary, Canada come and pour into the ministry here, mostly with the kids. It was such a sweet time of fellowship and to see willing hearts serve at whatever cost. The majority of the group were youth girls, some adult leaders and Pastor Quinn. They were able to do many kids programs, as well taught some of the street girls to make jewelry and later some of the guys on the team came and bought what they had made. We also had kids ministry on the blvd., many teachings at the church in El Terminal and an adventurous trip to Panguana.

After the team had left the Lord had opened the door for me to go to Lima, to visit friends, take a break from the ministry here, and run a race that I had been waiting for all year long (The Human Race, Nike+ 10k). With the sense of humor God has, not only had I been training for a race physically but I believe spiritually too. When arriving to Lima with the excitement of seeing friends and running this race, to later news finding out that there was a miss understanding and I got signed up for the wrong race, funny uh! Well at the time it really wasn’t. But crazy how in something you have been longing for so long has finally come, but yeah…….. this time it ‘s going to take a little testing, a little challenge, of……faith?

With favor from the Lord, and knowing someone at Peru Runners, who was an old student of mine from IPCNA (English program, where I had volunteered as a teacher at a conversation club, for them to learn English better). From talking to her and trying to do everything possible to run in the race, the only thing I could do is just sit and wait, yeah the number one thing most people don’t like to do, WAIT!!! So after two days of going crazy you could say and things running through my mind and at the same time the Lord teaching me what it means to trust in Him and only Him.

To be honest, my faith was little at this point, I was for sure thinking it was not going to be possible to run, and with the words of the lady at Peru Runners saying, “To be honest Jeremy, it is more likely impossible for this to happen, for you to run.” But then somewhere in the back of my head I was thinking, “yeah but the bible says, ‘nothing is impossible with God.” And with one day I had missed the finally day to sign up for this race, “go figure!” And so over and over again the Lord was speaking to me, “Jeremy, where is your faith, in Me or in man?” With anxiety, some peace, and little faith, I had finally gotten a phone call, “Jeremy call up at Peru Runners, the director of the race wants to talk to you.” “Wow, I thought, the big dude wants to talk to me, thats cool?”

And after telling him all what had happened his words were, “what size shirt to you wear?” “Large,” I said. “Well the only size I have left is XL, will that be fine?” “Yeah, I am sure that will work, (with a smile on my face.)” but really in my head I was thinking, “Heck yeah that will be fine!!!!” But trying to be as professional and calm as possible b/c I mean look at who I was talking to. And with 20 minutes to get up there before they closed, I picked up my shirt with great joy of seeing the Lord’s faithfulness in my life once again. And with the few minutes and words I had with the director of the race as I picked up my shirt, the Lord had opened a small window to share why I was in Peru and what I was doing and even what I learned just from this challenge.

From reading this, I don’t want you to think and say, “Wow, Jeremy! You da man, you did it!”

Just like all, I am a working process and there are so many more piece’s that needs worked on and put together. Someone once said, “Great faith, comes great challenges.” And this has been a prayer of mine that I would have great faith, but with that great faith comes those great challenges and with that challenge I am needing to put that faith in the One who is, “Da Man” the One who can get you through those great challenges and help you have that great faith, Jesus Christ Himself, the One who we worship and live for.

Let me put it this way, Peruvianly speaking (if that is a word), I am just a piece of rice in a bowl of chicken soup, (in regards to faith). But my prayer is that each day that my faith would grow, grow to be the size of the piece of chicken in that soup. And yes, I know what you are thinking, “What an analogy, Jeremy…..?” But hey, it sounded good at the time.

And your probably saying as well, “But the Word of God says, ‘that if we have faith as a mustard seed we can…….” But just think what we can do if we have faith the size of that chicken, Wow uhh!!!

Ok, maybe bad analogy, but it sounded good at the time. Laugh it up!!!!

But I am reminded of two words as I have been learning about faith, and that is….. “EXPECT BIG.” Why? Because we serve a BIG God!!!

May the Lord bless each and everyone of you!!!