A Life-Changing Experience

By Jen Wilson and Christina Gayle

Jen Wilson and Christina Gayle's report on their Expedition to Arequipa, Peru where missionaries John and Aimee Stiles work. Expedition is a two-week program for teens, beginning with Boot Camp in Harrisburg and ending with a ministry trip. Teams are small by design, led by qualified leaders. The team lives and works with ABWE missionaries.

In boot camp, God taught me that if I want to find His will for my life, I need to put Him first, then everything else will fall in place and He will tell His will in His time. I was challenged to pursue missions until God says, "No."

On July 3, 1999 we boarded an overnight flight to Lima, Peru, then a connecting flight to Arequipa. The next day, we had a three-hour bus trip to the church camp on the Pacific Ocean where we painted bedrooms and the dining hall.

In the central plaza of Camana-a city of 50,000 people where there are no evangelical churches-we presented the program we prepared during boot camp. We sang four praise songs in Spanish to draw a crowd. That was easy because everyone wanted to see what the gringos (foreigners) were doing. One of the six girls did a rope trick showing that God sees us as all equal. One of the two guys did a painting explaining we are all sinners and can't get to heaven by anything we do. Then John Stiles, or one of the national pastors, gave a salvation message, and we distributed literature. During the trip, we handed out 2,000 Spanish booklets of John/Romans. We actually ran out of them, but many people now have a portion of God's Word, and Isaiah 55:11 promises God's Word will not return void.

On Sunday morning we helped the Stileses set up their living room for the church among the professional people of Arequipa. After the service, a baptism was held in a kiddy pool in the yard because they have no baptismal tank.

One of the best experiences was Sunday afternoon when we went to a park with a national pastor and 16 of his congregation who had been studying evangelism. We held our program three times then presented it again in their church. FIFTY-TWO people became Christians that day. They didn't just raise their hands; they were personally talked to about their decisions, and each one gave a home address so they could be followed up. It was an awesome feeling to know that I took part in this, and it gave me confidence to share my faith even more.

I have heard missionaries speak and seen slides, but actually EXPERIENCING missions gave me a fuller picture of daily life on the mission field. I especially enjoyed spending time with the national believers; meeting brothers and sisters in Christ is incredible!

Although we were in Arequipa only a short time, God allowed us to be involved in both the sowing and reaping of His harvest. This Expedition not only opened the eyes of many Peruvians to the Lord, but also opened the eyes of our team to the needs on the mission field. Seeing missions firsthand is something we'll never forget.