Friday, August 02, 2019
How a Peru orphanage, a ladies Bible class, and a mission committee helped Destiny find her destiny
We knew Patty because she grew up with my wife at Southern Hills. So we eventually got to know her husband Joe. And that is how we met their granddaughter Destiny. They were raising their grands so we would see them at church. Destiny was sweet, shy, and quiet.
Life wasn't always for this family, and it got worse. Patty died of heart complications. But Joe hung in there. Kept coming to church. Kept raising those grands.
Life is hard all over this world. It is hard in Peru. Which is why a bunch of Christians started supporting an orphanage there. Not just money. Christians would make trips down there to love on those kids and to talk about Jesus. As those kids grew up, many of them became Christians. Eventually a church was started there.
Christians from Southern Hills got involved. You have to love a Mission Committee that doesn't just raise money to support missions, but that encourages church members to go do missions. So a group started going to Peru every summer. Parents, kids, couples. The church provided some support but those going were responsible for raising at least half.
My favorite Bible class in the world has met for years together. I have never taught it, tho my wife has on occasion. I have never even attended that class. It is a Ladies Bible class made up mostly of "older" women who are single, widowed, divorced, or church widows (you know, they come but not their husbands). They study the Bible with great intensity. They support each other. They even do mission trips together. How cool is that.
So Destiny heard about the Peru mission trip when she was 14. She loved kids and wanted to go. Pretty young to go overseas without family support. And Joe didn't have the money to send her. But we all encouraged her to apply to the mission committee. So she did.
They prayed about it. Arranged so a couple of families would "adopt" Destiny for these trips. Our awesome Ladies class had helped Destiny some on other projects and they took it on themselves to raise the money to cover her part of the trip.
So Destiny started going to Peru every year. Loving on those kids, hanging out with Christian families, watching a church be planted. Came home every year so excited and happy. Joe kept right on bringing her to church.
And this summer, in the ocean off the coast of Peru, Destiny found her destiny. She was baptized into Christ by one of her mission trip Dads.
Great God story.
Took a mission place where Christians were committed to share the love of Jesus. And a mission committee that wasn't afraid to think outside the box. A Ladies class that was real serious about their faith. And a granddad who did the best he could do to let Destiny see and experience Jesus.
Now Destiny will never be the same. Neither will this world.
So thanks God for showing us how you weave us into the lives of those who need you. Bless Destiny always. And thanks for your people who care.
Life wasn't always for this family, and it got worse. Patty died of heart complications. But Joe hung in there. Kept coming to church. Kept raising those grands.
Life is hard all over this world. It is hard in Peru. Which is why a bunch of Christians started supporting an orphanage there. Not just money. Christians would make trips down there to love on those kids and to talk about Jesus. As those kids grew up, many of them became Christians. Eventually a church was started there.
Christians from Southern Hills got involved. You have to love a Mission Committee that doesn't just raise money to support missions, but that encourages church members to go do missions. So a group started going to Peru every summer. Parents, kids, couples. The church provided some support but those going were responsible for raising at least half.
My favorite Bible class in the world has met for years together. I have never taught it, tho my wife has on occasion. I have never even attended that class. It is a Ladies Bible class made up mostly of "older" women who are single, widowed, divorced, or church widows (you know, they come but not their husbands). They study the Bible with great intensity. They support each other. They even do mission trips together. How cool is that.
So Destiny heard about the Peru mission trip when she was 14. She loved kids and wanted to go. Pretty young to go overseas without family support. And Joe didn't have the money to send her. But we all encouraged her to apply to the mission committee. So she did.
They prayed about it. Arranged so a couple of families would "adopt" Destiny for these trips. Our awesome Ladies class had helped Destiny some on other projects and they took it on themselves to raise the money to cover her part of the trip.
So Destiny started going to Peru every year. Loving on those kids, hanging out with Christian families, watching a church be planted. Came home every year so excited and happy. Joe kept right on bringing her to church.
And this summer, in the ocean off the coast of Peru, Destiny found her destiny. She was baptized into Christ by one of her mission trip Dads.
Great God story.
Took a mission place where Christians were committed to share the love of Jesus. And a mission committee that wasn't afraid to think outside the box. A Ladies class that was real serious about their faith. And a granddad who did the best he could do to let Destiny see and experience Jesus.
Now Destiny will never be the same. Neither will this world.
So thanks God for showing us how you weave us into the lives of those who need you. Bless Destiny always. And thanks for your people who care.
