Here is a brief video shot from our balcony. It shows a typical Christmas Eve celebration in Lima. This was taken at midnight as we started the 25th. I wish the fireworks showed up better, you can't truly capture the amount of fireworks from this video. Remember that fireworks are illegal here in Peru.
Merry Christmas!
Most of you have probably already read our annual Christmas poem. However, we do realize some of you are not on our mailing list. For your reading pleasure we now present our summary of 2007:
2007 has passed by and once more it’s time
To report on the Poe family’s year in a rhyme
In January we planned our goals for the year
That we would be busy, soon became clear
To report on the Poe family’s year in a rhyme
In January we planned our goals for the year
That we would be busy, soon became clear
We began meetings each Sunday for adults and kids too
Then two weeks of camp gave us lots more to do
Our car was too small, we bought a twelve passenger van
To fill it with visitors, family and folks is the plan
February here is summer, school’s out and it’s HOT!
We had 45 kids for VBS, now that’s a lot!
We had our first converts, Luis and Manuel, what a praise!
Easter week we had special meetings that lasted three days
We showed a Christian film near the church, open air
Over two hundred watched and heard the Gospel there
We began Wednesday night meetings, home Bible study too
A soccer tournament for teens gave them something fun to do
Many ministries were planned all through May
There were twenty Moms, plus others at church Mother’s Day
Then a medical campaign at church for the whole neighborhood
One hundred sick folks were helped, twelve were saved, God is good!
Then a tragedy struck, the August earthquake
We were safe, praise the Lord, but the ground sure did shake!
The Lima churches gathered help for those who lost all they had
We made a trip south where the damage was bad
Hours of study and visiting keeps us busy, it’s true
Meetings, clubs for kids and teens, English classes too
We squeeze in family time, walks to the park just to play
We feel it’s important to be together each day
Elizabeth’s in first grade and loves reading, school and her friends
Olivia’s two and keeps Debbie hopping until the day ends
The girls look alike, big blue eyes and curly hair
That they grow to love the Lord is our daily prayer
The year will draw to a close with more work than play
We’ll take the teens out to visit the camp for a day
There are programs for Christmas and New Year’s to plan
We want as many to come out for these services as can
Please read our blog and letters, pray for us too
We couldn’t possibly manage without help from you
So to all our friends and supporters so dear
The Poes wish you a blessed Christmas and Happy New Year!
No Safer Place
We truly believe there is no place safer than living in the center of God's will. We truly believe it is God's will for our lives that we live in Peru. We feel that God has a plan for us here and that we will accomplish much as we labor for our Lord. Yet sometimes our faith is challenged. Yesterday a fellow missionary was kidnapped here in Lima only a few miles from our home. He was forced into the trunk of a car at gunpoint. The thieves then drove across town to a secluded beach area where he escaped unharmed. He had managed to text message his wife from his cellphone in the trunk. This was especially frightening because it took place at 1:30 in the afternoon in a place we all considered safe. He apparently only lost a fake wallet that he carries containing fake credit cards.
Here are some facts to consider: Peru has one of the highest crime rates in Latin America. The Peruvian National Police report that a crime occurs in Lima every three minutes. 87 percent of Lima residents polled believe Lima is an unsafe city. Nearly every missionary we know has had their home or car burglarized. Several have been assaulted. Sadly, the problem is not improving.
Are we concerned? You bet! Are we ready to pack up and leave? No way! Time and time again God has proven Himself to be faithful. We're not always thrilled with our working and living environment but we trust the Lord for His protection. We learn to adjust, make necessary security precautions and learn to pray for safety. We still love living and working in Peru! We're thankful that the vast majority of Peruvians are kind, hard working people. When we hear about a co-worker or friend that has been robbed we often reflect and thank God for our friends back home that are praying. Thanks for praying for our safety now and in the days ahead. Your prayers are important!
Here are some facts to consider: Peru has one of the highest crime rates in Latin America. The Peruvian National Police report that a crime occurs in Lima every three minutes. 87 percent of Lima residents polled believe Lima is an unsafe city. Nearly every missionary we know has had their home or car burglarized. Several have been assaulted. Sadly, the problem is not improving.
Are we concerned? You bet! Are we ready to pack up and leave? No way! Time and time again God has proven Himself to be faithful. We're not always thrilled with our working and living environment but we trust the Lord for His protection. We learn to adjust, make necessary security precautions and learn to pray for safety. We still love living and working in Peru! We're thankful that the vast majority of Peruvians are kind, hard working people. When we hear about a co-worker or friend that has been robbed we often reflect and thank God for our friends back home that are praying. Thanks for praying for our safety now and in the days ahead. Your prayers are important!
Jesus is the Reason for the Season
Each year we read more and more of how Christ is being taken out of Christmas. It is no longer "politically correct" to mention the birth of Jesus during the "holiday season." Stores now sell "family trees" and people get time off for the "winter holiday." How sad to see the world forgetting the most important purpose of the holiday: remembering the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Thankfully here in Peru we can still celebrate "CHRISTMAS!" The city is filled with nativity scenes and reminders of Christ's birth. In the part of town where we live the local government has put up banners on the light poles that say "In La Molina Christmas IS Jesus!" The city hall has a nativity scene on display and Christ's birth is clearly remembered. If only the people knew the true story of Jesus and His gift of eternal life. We pray that God will touch the lives of many this Christmas season.
Smile!
Elizabeth with her new "look." She lost her first top tooth yesterday. "Do you think anyone will notice?" she proudly asked.
"Just make me right!"
As missionaries we always enjoy sending out reports of folks that have trusted Christ as their personal savior. It is a real joy to see a lost person come to an understanding of God and their need for a savior. Today we rejoice as parents in telling you about the salvation of Elizabeth. For many months Elizabeth has shown a real interest in spiritual things. She has asked questions about God, heaven, dying and salvation. She has always enjoyed Bible stories and learning verses. Yet, whenever we personalized the discussion she always said, "I don't want to talk about it!" We certainly didn't want her to make a false profession of faith or feel pressured. So we have never insisted or pushed in any way. For the last several months she has talked more and more about heaven and God. Several weeks ago she even commented that she would go to hell if she died because she was a sinner. We just kept praying and asking God to work in her little heart.
The news this week has been filled with tragedy. First there was the mall shooting. Then the folks killed in Colorado in the church and youth center. Here in Peru a five month old baby was killed by a bottle rocket. Elizabeth had heard bits and pieces of each of these news events and asked some important questions: "These people were killed in a church? You mean babies can die? Will those people be in heaven?" Her little mind was working and we believe the Holy Spirit was working in her life. Monday evening she went to bed normally and with a smile on her face. A few moments later she came running to the living room with tears in her eyes. "Daddy, I want to talk about getting saved now." We sat down in her room and talked about her sin, the consequences of sin, and what Jesus had done for her. She already understood because it was nothing new for her to hear. Right there on her little bed she asked if she could pray. It was a sweet moment I will never forget: "Dear God, I am sorry about my sin. I want you to help me. I want you to save me. Just make me right! Amen." I then asked, "Elizabeth will you sin tomorrow?" She grinned, "Oh yes, I'm sure I will disobey and annoy mommy tomorrow! But daddy, I'll still be saved!" She then assured me that she would be in heaven with her grandfather and with Elizabeth, John the Baptist's mother. She also commented, "Daddy now I can really hand out tracts and tell people about Jesus because I am a Christian!"
There is really no greater joy than seeing our daughter trust Christ as her savior. We've prayed every day of Elizabeth's life for her salvation. We praise the Lord for answered prayer.
The news this week has been filled with tragedy. First there was the mall shooting. Then the folks killed in Colorado in the church and youth center. Here in Peru a five month old baby was killed by a bottle rocket. Elizabeth had heard bits and pieces of each of these news events and asked some important questions: "These people were killed in a church? You mean babies can die? Will those people be in heaven?" Her little mind was working and we believe the Holy Spirit was working in her life. Monday evening she went to bed normally and with a smile on her face. A few moments later she came running to the living room with tears in her eyes. "Daddy, I want to talk about getting saved now." We sat down in her room and talked about her sin, the consequences of sin, and what Jesus had done for her. She already understood because it was nothing new for her to hear. Right there on her little bed she asked if she could pray. It was a sweet moment I will never forget: "Dear God, I am sorry about my sin. I want you to help me. I want you to save me. Just make me right! Amen." I then asked, "Elizabeth will you sin tomorrow?" She grinned, "Oh yes, I'm sure I will disobey and annoy mommy tomorrow! But daddy, I'll still be saved!" She then assured me that she would be in heaven with her grandfather and with Elizabeth, John the Baptist's mother. She also commented, "Daddy now I can really hand out tracts and tell people about Jesus because I am a Christian!"
There is really no greater joy than seeing our daughter trust Christ as her savior. We've prayed every day of Elizabeth's life for her salvation. We praise the Lord for answered prayer.
What is it?
This past Saturday we had the joy of taking 22 young people from our church on a little outing. We didn't travel far, only about 15 minutes from our church, but it was a real treat for many of these youngsters. We planned a special "field day" at Fetzer Academy, the MK school where Elizabeth attends school. We had games, activities, and a Bible lesson. We also had a campfire where we roasted hot dogs and marshmallows. We felt like the afternoon was a success when they begged to stay longer at the end of the day.
The day was filled with many "firsts" for some of the teens. Many of them had never traveled in an air-conditioned car. It was fun listening to their comments about the trip over in our new van. On the way home the evening air was cool but they insisted that the air-conditioning be blowing full blast. Only one of them had ever eaten a marshmallow, and no one ever dreamed of roasting one over a fire. They gathered around in amazement as I plunged mine into the flames. "Is it sweet? Do you eat it? What is it?" were only a few of the questions asked about the marshmallows. Next time we may have to introduce them to smores.
God has blessed us with a great group of young people. We hope that we will see many of them saved and walking with the Lord. We pray that they will be future leaders in the church that God has allowed us to start in Vina Alta.
The day was filled with many "firsts" for some of the teens. Many of them had never traveled in an air-conditioned car. It was fun listening to their comments about the trip over in our new van. On the way home the evening air was cool but they insisted that the air-conditioning be blowing full blast. Only one of them had ever eaten a marshmallow, and no one ever dreamed of roasting one over a fire. They gathered around in amazement as I plunged mine into the flames. "Is it sweet? Do you eat it? What is it?" were only a few of the questions asked about the marshmallows. Next time we may have to introduce them to smores.
God has blessed us with a great group of young people. We hope that we will see many of them saved and walking with the Lord. We pray that they will be future leaders in the church that God has allowed us to start in Vina Alta.
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