The Poes in Peru!

The Great Puzzle

noreply@blogger.com (John and Debbie Poe) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:35:00 +0000

Yesterday afternoon I took Olivia on a little "daddy date." We went out for a special snack and then spent some time at the local library. We always enjoying picking out a half dozen books and sitting in the children's section reading together. Our favorite book yesterday was "T is for Tarheel" a book about good old North Carolina! After a good time of reading we decided to finish our time playing with some puzzles. Olivia has always enjoyed puzzles and the library has a nice collection to challenge young minds. We worked puzzles of every variety but one was especially challenging. Olivia finally looked to me for a little help. Her eyes lit up as I showed her where to place the first piece.

As I helped my little daughter with the puzzles I realized how much our life is like a puzzle. God, our loving heavenly Father, knows exactly what has and will take place in our lives. He knows every detail and He works out the details for His glory and our good. We just need to look to our Father for a little help to get started on this great puzzle of life. At this point in time our lives feel like a very challenging puzzle. It is nearly time to return to Peru but there are so many details yet to be determined. We have final medical appointments, new medications to try, airline tickets to purchase, and international documents to secure. We know all the pieces are on the table but it is sometimes hard to see how they'll all come together! Each day we're learning that we need to do our part to sort and analyze every piece of life's puzzle. More importantly, we're leaning that we need to stop more often and just look to our Father for a little help along the way.

1 Chronicles 16:11 reminds us, "Seek the Lord and His strength, seek His face continually." Psalm 37:23 tells us, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way." Finally, Proverbs 3:5-6 is a favorite reminder, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

Yesterday I was once again reminded that I need to constantly look to my heavenly Father for help in this great puzzle of life!

Safe and Secure

noreply@blogger.com (John and Debbie Poe) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:54:00 +0000

I love this humorous picture from Peru. It shows a typical store front door locked up after business hours. Apparently the owner feels safe knowing he has secured his property. A Peruvian friend once told me that locks, alarms and window bars only keep the "honest criminals" out. He assured me that burglars can get in any place they choose. The locks just slow them down and persuade them to move on to the next location because they're too lazy to do the hard work of breaking in.

Perhaps this picture could represent the lives of the majority of the people on earth today. They try to make plans, doing everything in their power to find peace and security in a troubling world. Yet, without God they are miserable and probably don't even know why. Psalm 27:4-5 speaks of security with God, "For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock." The only true security in this life is found in a relationship with Jesus Christ! May God bless us as we share this message of safety and security with the millions in Peru.

What do I miss the most?

noreply@blogger.com (John and Debbie Poe) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 09:25:00 +0000

The other day a Bible college student stopped by our house to do an interview with us for his Introduction to Missions class. It was an interesting visit for us because this young man was actually a little boy in our first-ever "children's mission conference" that we directed years ago. It's exciting for us to see him now preparing to serve the Lord with his life. We enjoyed chatting about missions and life overseas. One of his questions was "When you are in Peru what do you miss most about the United States?" I actually had to pause and ponder his question for a moment. Nothing immediately jumped into my mind. Sure, we greatly miss family and friends. We also miss fellowship with our local church and hearing someone else preach in English. In the end I decided to give him a very spiritual answer: "I miss Lexington-style Barbecue the most!"

Last week marked the tenth anniversary of our arrival in Peru. We'll never forget that sunny fall day when we loaded up all of our possessions and headed to the airport for the start of a remarkable journey with the Lord. On that first trip we spent months carefully making lists, assembling, and packing our bags. We had to decide what was most important and what we "couldn't live without." We managed to board the plane with 8, 70 pound bags and 3 jam packed carry-on bags. It seemed we were leaving so much behind. Favorite books, photo albums, nick-knacks and more had to be left behind. In the early years each time a visitor would come for a visit we'd send a list of things we "just had to have." They'd bring cans of soup, special spices and even Little Debbie Cakes. We'd think of things that we missed so much. Then something interesting happened: We stopped missing things from the states.

You see, I believe that God gives us a love for the people, places and culture where He calls us to go. He helps us to adapt and feel at home even in a land far from where we grew up. We began to love the Peruvian people more and more each day. The longer we lived in Peru the more we appreciated the Peruvians and their way of life. We started to love their food, their language, even how they drive! When a visitor would come from the states we had a harder time thinking of things we wanted them to bring. Things left behind at home seemed just like a distant memory. God grew our love for Peru and her people! Now we realize we didn't have to leave anything behind but we gained so very much. We gave up a few worthless worldly possessions and God gave us something better.

Sure, we still miss things from the states. Don't worry-we are still proud, patriotic Americans. We still enjoy receiving a care-package with Little Debbie Cakes or some grits. You'll just have to understand that we love Peru too! Hudson Taylor, well known missionary statesmen in China once said, "If I had a thousand lives , I'd give them all for China!" Apparently a love for a new homeland is a gift that God gives all missionaries. I'm thankful for that.

It Pays to Serve God

noreply@blogger.com (John and Debbie Poe) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 16:19:00 +0000

I am the treasure finder in our home. For some unknown reason I am always finding things lying around on the ground. A number of years ago I found a like-new fishing pole on an open beach. I am constantly finding loose change on the sidewalk. You may have even read about the glorious diamond I recently discovered. In the last two days I have found a grand total of 29 cents on the ground during my daily walks. I know that doesn't sound like much but my discoveries always amaze my daughters who never find anything. I have been encouraging them to exercise more by saying, "You see it pays to walk!" They don't seem too motivated considering I've walked over 30 miles this week and have only found enough money for a gumball. Good health is my real motivation for walking of course. I do believe it pays to walk.

Over the years I have also learned that it pays to serve God. I don't minister for the Lord because of what I get paid. In the past I've been asked some interesting questions: "So, you're a missionary, Is there any money in that?" or "Why would you want to go to college for that? You'll never make any money!" One unsaved neighbor even told us, "You two could do so much more, you will starve to death trying to be missionaries!" You see the world doesn't understand God's economy. Since we surrendered for full time Christian service we have never lacked anything. We have never had debt. We are content and we have purpose in our lives. We have basically never had to ask anyone to loan us money. Every need has always been met. As an added bonus we are very happy people! We've learned it really does pay to serve God. We have blessings that money can't buy!

Now if you are one of our faithful supporters please don't take this as an excuse to cut our support! (We are currently a little under-supported!) You see God has taught us to be happy with the things that we have. We've learning more and more each day to place value in eternal things. Consider the words of Matthew 6:19-21, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Matthew 6:33 then sums up why it pays to serve God: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" God will teach us what has eternal value and He will bless us with eternal riches far beyond what we can ever imagine.

This week I've learned it "pays to walk!" More importantly I've been reminded that it "pays to serve God!"

Faith...Even When You Can't See!

noreply@blogger.com (John and Debbie Poe) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 17:28:00 +0000

Today, I find myself sitting on the 8th floor of Brenner Children's Hospital in Winston-Salem, NC. Even though the facility is beautiful and the staff is wonderful, I'd rather not be here. No parent enjoys watching their children suffering to recover from surgery. It's been a troubling 5 months since Olivia started having seizures. Each day brings different anxieties. Other days it gets a little easier. The good news is that God has used it to bring us closer to Him.

We've enjoyed the view from Olivia's room. We can see the city skyline in the distance and the huge construction project right below us. We've watched with amazement as two huge cranes operate just outside our window. They are constantly moving huge beams, construction materials, even once a porta-potty! It didn't take me long to realize that the operator, who is perched high above the ground, can often not see the area where he moves the materials. He has to depend on the crew working below to guide him using radio equipment. That has to be one good working relationship considering the massive size of some of the materials they are moving!

I believe we can see a similar principal in our relationship with God. Often, He guides us and directs us in the decisions we have to make in life. Like a master architect, He has a perfect plan for our lives. He always knows best and always has our best in mind. Many times we can't see what He has planned for us. He just directs us one step at a time. We can't see the final destination but we can trust His guiding words! As I look out the window today I can't imagine why God allowed Olivia to have these health issues. But I rejoice in knowing He has a perfect reason for them. He allowed this to happen during a furlough when we were living close to a world-class children's hospital. He knew we would have family and friends nearby to lend a hand. He'll use this in a way we can't now imagine.

I also watched in horror yesterday as the crane operators made their way down the huge ladder that runs down the frame of the crane. My hands were actually sweating as I watched the descent. I would never want to find myself in that situation. It was once again a reminder that God wants us to leave our comfort zone. He may place us in situations we would have never chosen. In the end we'll see that He was always in control and there was no reason to fear. We just have to listen for His voice and trust His words. Now Lord help me to trust you more today!

Is it Real?

noreply@blogger.com (John and Debbie Poe) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 01:41:00 +0000

Not long ago, while going in the front door of the local "Dollar General" store I found an enormous diamond laying on the ground. I chuckled as I picked it up, expecting that it came from a piece of toy jewelry. As I rolled it around in my hand I was amazed by how real it actually looked. So, I stuffed it in my pocket for safe keeping. When I got home I secretly headed to the bedroom where I found an old mirror. I gently rubbed the diamond against the glass and was surprised to find that it actually cut the glass! I then headed to the computer where I looked up "tests you can do at home to see if a diamond is real."   There wasn't a lot of information but my diamond seemed to sparkle even more as I read about the precious stone. Later that day, while running some errands, I placed my precious stone in our car ashtray for safe keeping. Was it real? Was it a fake?

So many times in Peru we've seen new visitors that came to church with the same attitude.   There are so many religious groups setting up shop. New churches are popping up on every corner and they all claim to have their own way to peace, satisfaction and eternal security with God. By stepping foot into our church many believe that they run the risk of being cheated, misled, or even turning their back on their own family's religious background. No wonder so many people walk past our church, look in the door with a thirst for truth in their eyes, before passing by. They too wonder, is it real? Is it fake?

One of the greatest joys of working in a new church plant is seeing people begin to ask questions and test the Bible on their own. This has been so very evident in the lives of our teens. They come every week with questions. As they read their Bible they come back with a hunger to learn more. What a joy to see their faces when they see that the Bible that we teach and preach from is the truth!   The message we are spreading is true! What are you doing to share it with others? By the way, I still have my special diamond. One of these days I may just take it into a jewelry store to see if its real! Either way I'm happy that the God I serve, and the Word He left for us is real. I'm also glad that He's allowed me to share that truth with those in Peru.

Learning to Trust

noreply@blogger.com (John and Debbie Poe) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 21:06:00 +0000

We've been especially "homesick" for Peru lately. We miss our co-workers, we miss our church people, we miss our neighbors.   We miss the great Peruvian food. We even miss driving in Lima's crazy traffic! Originally, we had planned to return to Peru on August 9th. We have so many things we want and need to accomplish. We have ministry plans that we're ready to start working on. Yet, God has been teaching us lately that we have to trust His direction and leading in our lives.

Until March 30th our furlough had gone exactly according to plan.   We had a finely-tuned schedule with seemingly every minute planned. I have to admit we were pretty proud that all of OUR plans were working perfectly. We had planned a perfect furlough and it was going great! Then God saw fit to allow Olivia to have her first seizure. It set into motion a chain of events that changed all of our plans. Now less than a week from our original departure date we find ourselves relying on God more everyday. Scripture is filled with stories of people that had to learn about God's sovereign, guiding hand. I'm reminded of Proverbs 16:9, which says "A man's heart deviseth his way, but the LORD directeth his steps." We may not know exactly what God has planned for us, but it is always for our good and His glory. I once again find myself thinking of that old saying, "I may not know what the future holds, but I know who holds my future!" We are thankful that Olivia is doing well. Plans for her treatment are coming together and it looks like we should be able to return to Peru just a couple of months late. The events of the last four months were never part of our plans. God used it to bring us closer to Him!

Today, Debbie brought home a wonderful surprise for the family. At the local Food Lion she found a six pack of Peru's famous "Inca Kola". As an added bonus it was on sale for 99 cents! That's cheaper than Peru! Imagine finding Inca Kola at a Food Lion in Lexington, NC! Perhaps it was just another little way that God can show us He is control of everything. It will have to help hold us over until we can return to Peru!

OK, OK...I Give Up...I'll Do It!

noreply@blogger.com (John and Debbie Poe) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 02:38:00 +0000

For several years I have rejected the idea of jumping on the "Social Network" bandwagon. I guess I just saw it all as a huge waste of time. I tried to convince myself that it was mostly for teenagers, college students and only the hippest of urban professionals. I had some friends ridicule me for not connecting on Facebook. Others even threatened to sign up a Facebook account in my name. I often commented that "I hope to be the last human on earth without a Facebook account!" Then a pastor friend made a comment that got me thinking. He said, "Saying you're not going to use Facebook today is like saying you're not going to use a telephone." Why was I not taking advantage of this huge communication tool?

Consider these statistics: There are now more than 500,000,000 Facebook users. That means 1 in every 13 people on earth have a Facebook account! More than 70% of American internet users use Facebook. 48% of 18-34 year old users check Facebook as soon as they wake up. 28% check Facebook on their smart phone before they even get out of bed. 57% of people talk to people more online than they do face-to-face in real life. 48% of young Americans find out about news through Facebook. 25% of all American internet traffic is on Facebook.

So, all of you Facebook fans win! I've set up an account for our family. I hope its a way to communicate with all of the people that faithfully pray for our family. We'll post pictures from Peru. We'll post prayer requests and updates. We'll use it as a tool to communicate quickly and efficiently with those of you who care to "Like" us. We will continue to update our blog, and the girl's blog. We'll also continue to send out our monthly prayer updates by email. Please look up our page. You can find it at: www.facebook.com/poefolks

Oh, and don't forget to "Like" us!

Peruvian Bodegas

noreply@blogger.com (John and Debbie Poe) — Fri, 20 May 2011 13:37:00 +0000

There are many aspects of Peruvian lifestyle that we miss when we are on furlough in the states. One of the things we miss most is the convenience of the local corner store. From our apartment in Lima, we can walk to more than a dozen tiny stores in just a couple of minutes. Most of these stores, called "Bodegas," are smaller than our bedroom, yet the walls are packed with grocery items, fresh produce, medications and toiletries. The prices are always lower than the larger chain stores and the service is usually friendly. There are an estimated 65,000 corner grocery stores in Peru making up 70 percent of the market. In 2010 more than 150 modern American-style grocery stores opened up in Peru. Still, the average Peruvian does most of their shopping in their little neighborhood bodega. As missionaries we can learn from the success of these corner stores.

The stores are popular for several reasons: First, they offer what people are looking for. They typically only stock the most common items making shopping quick and efficient. In a similar way, we try to limit our church programs, only offering ministries that will impact lives for eternity. All of our programs are Bible-based and are designed to help people come to a saving knowledge of Christ and then grow in their walk with Him. We limit what we offer so that we can concentrate on the things that matter the most! (Evangelism and Discipleship)

Second, the stores are very convenient. Peruvians don't like to go far from home. Peruvians aren't going to travel far to visit a church. Some families rarely ever leave their own neighborhood. As church-planters it's important for us to notice this part of the culture. To be successful we'll need to start churches in nearly every neighborhood. For now, we focus all of our outreach in the tiny area just around our church. Lima may have nearly 10 million residents, but we concentrate our efforts in Viña Alta with its 4000 residents. When the work is done in Viña Alta, we'll take a few faithful church members with us to the next neighborhood where we'll begin reaching the next area with the Gospel. It works with corner stores and it will work for church-planters! We have to focus close-to-home.

Finally, its easy to see that the corner stores
are the center of social life in Peru. People gather in the stores to chat and discuss daily life. They post important notices in the stores. Peruvians visit the corner stores several times, every day. It's the place they run to if they have a need. Studies show that the average Peruvian enters the corner store several times everyday. If only Christians were so faithful to their church! As a church we'd like to become the center of social-life for new believers. When life brings along challenges, we hope to show new Christians how they can turn to God's Word and find all they need for successful living. They can share their burdens with other believers and find hope in the church as we all grow together.

We're not planning to start a corner store. But, we are starting churches that will impact lives not only for a day but for eternity! Imagine how Peru would be transformed if there were 65,000 corner churches?

Pray for Peru's Elections

noreply@blogger.com (John and Debbie Poe) — Thu, 19 May 2011 23:21:00 +0000

Recent government studies show continued good news for Peru. By late 2010 the poverty rate had dropped to 31.3 percent. At this time, about 9 million people in Peru are still living in poverty. This may be disheartening, but the number living below the poverty line was 54 percent when we arrived in 2001. Last year Peru's economy grew by 9 percent making it the second fastest growing economy on the globe. The outlook is strong for Peru's economic future.

All of this could change on June 5th when Peru holds second round voting for the presidency. The two candidates have extremely different views on how to direct the growing nation. Please be praying that God's will be done in the upcoming elections. Pray that the change of power will not close the door to evangelism in the country.

Watch that Last Step!

noreply@blogger.com (John and Debbie Poe) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 12:23:00 +0000

Life in Lima is never dull! With nearly 10 million people living in one city there are always interesting things to see. I once saw this tiny apartment for rent. The owners can proudly note that the unit has its own independent private entrance! (Just watch that last step, its a doozy!) I pity the renter that plans on using that front door.

When I saw this odd scene I was reminded of the sad condition of many in the world today. There are many people offering a plan for getting into heaven. Some believe you can work your way into God's presence. Others are counting on religious tradition and sacraments. Some are even teaching that we are all God's children and everyone ends up in heaven in the end. Yet, the message of John 14:6 shows us real spiritual truth: Only Christ can give us access to heaven. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Try to enter heaven any other way, and you'll sadly fall short.

Do you know for sure that you have a home in Heaven? If so, what are you doing to share Christ's Gospel message with the world around you?

Amazing Discovery in Peru

noreply@blogger.com (John and Debbie Poe) — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Recently paleontologists in Peru discovered the ancient fossil of a previously unknown squid. The specimen is over a foot long and more than 2 inches in diameter. The scientists claim the animal lived over 85 million years ago. The most interesting fact is that the fossil was found hundreds of miles from the ocean at over 13,000 feet in the high jungle of Peru. One paleontologist said, "At the site a sort of salt water lake had formed that allowed these creatures to evolve independently." They claim this squid would have existed in the final days of the dinosaurs.

I am reminded of something our pastor used to always say, "When the plain sense makes common sense, seek no other sense." Paleontologists will spend years trying to explain how a sea-squid ended up hundreds of miles from the ocean on top of a mountain. They'll assume an unknown salt sea just happened to flow over this part of Peru. As a Bible-believer I think there is an easier explanation. Genesis 7:20 describes how the flood waters were so great that even the world's mountains were covered. Wouldn't it be possible that this sea squid made it to this little corner of Peru during the flood? Fossils of every imaginable shape and size can be found throughout Peru's mountainous regions. I personally have found ocean-life fossils at high altitudes many miles from the ocean in Peru. It just seems to be more proof of what Christians already believe.

Happy Birthday Lima!

noreply@blogger.com (John and Debbie Poe) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 18:03:00 +0000

Today, January 18, 2011 marks 476 years since the founding of Lima. The city was founded by Francisco Pizzaro and his Spanish conquistadors. It was originally named "The City of the Kings." The city has grown tremendously from its humble beginnings as a desert fortification. It is now the fifth largest city in South America and the 18th largest city on earth. In 2010 the city grew by more than 130,000 people and the population will soon reach 9 million. (Even more if you count the surrounding areas.) Nearly a third of Peru's population live in this one city.

For missionaries, Lima is an exciting place to live. There are always opportunities to share God's love with this growing people group.

Now We're Homeless!

noreply@blogger.com (John and Debbie Poe) — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 11:15:00 +0000

Today, we have officially been out of Peru for 183 days. Perhaps you're wondering why that number is significant. It means we are no longer legal residents of Peru. For the last nine years we have been legal non-immigrant residents. However, Peruvian immigration laws prohibit us from being out of Peru for more than 183 days in any given year. That means starting today our immigration documents are no longer valid. If we returned to Peru today, we'd only be tourists not residents.

I couldn't help but think of the old Gospel song, "This world is not my home, I'm just passing through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckon me from Heaven's open door. And I can't feel at home in this world anymore." For now, Peru is no longer our home. Thankfully we still have a home in America. More importantly as Christians we need to remember that ultimately no place on the planet is home. Christ noted that his kingdom was not of this world. (John 18:36) He promises to come someday so we can live with Him. (John 14:1-6) We must be mindful that we are just pilgrims passing through on our way to an eternity with the Lord. (Hebrews 11:13-16) We might have lost our residency in Peru, but I'm glad I'll be a citizen of Heaven for eternity!

Oh, and don't worry. We shouldn't have any problem gaining our residency visas when its time to return to Peru!

Christians as God Sees It...

noreply@blogger.com (John and Debbie Poe) — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 03:19:00 +0000

I have always been a fan of National Geographic Magazine. I grew up reading about exotic places and interesting people groups. I always loved studying the maps and discovering new places. I learned about amazing and often endangered animals. I don't believe I can ever remember a copy of the magazine without the long running campaign by Canon called, "Wildlife as Canon Sees It." The campaign features a different endangered animal each month. Today, my November edition of the magazine arrived and I read about the endangered "Giant Antipitta," a rare bird from Ecuador. After reading the ad I decided to write about an increasingly endangered species in today's world:

The Christian

Today we feature one of the rarest human forms on earth-The Christian. Christians are known for being different than other similar species in their area. These now rare humans often gather on Sunday mornings, Sunday evenings and Wednesday evenings for Bible studies. Some extremely rare versions of the Christians actually meet even more frequently. Christians often dress differently and groom themselves differently than other humans. Their appearance is often called "conservative." Strangely enough, devoted Christians participate in "tithing" where they give 10 percent or more of their income to their church. Christians often refrain from activities considered common to other humans. They are monogamous, even promoting purity before and during marriage. Christians even use a different form of language, refraining from obscenities. Christians seem to base their lives on a book they call "The Bible." Devoted Christians work hard to share their beliefs with other humans. They were once found among many of the world's people groups. Today, the Christians, once a huge population group, is no longer a major influence on its environment. How long before this once large population group is extinct?

I often wonder if there is any noticeable difference between the average Christian today and the rest of the world. I'm reminded of a great truth found in 1 John 2:15, Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. I hope as Christians we haven't fallen in love with the world so much that we forget about our walk with God. I hope we stand out as a rare species in an ever-changing world. Let's save an endangered species by telling others about the life-changing story of Jesus Christ!

Go Ahead...Take the Plunge!

noreply@blogger.com (John and Debbie Poe) — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 15:47:00 +0000

As furloughing missionaries we are always traveling! We recently stayed the night in a lovely hotel with an indoor swimming pool. The girls were so excited and couldn't wait to check in, change clothes and dive in. Only problem was, as soon as we headed into the pool area, the girls were immediately filled with fear and refused to get in. "It's too deep... It's too dark in here... Is it safe? Daddy, is it over our head?" They spent several fearful minutes sitting on the edge with only their feet dangling in the warm water. They finally agreed to get in if we'd hold them and show them how deep it was. At one point, Olivia was in my arms, in water that would only come to her shoulders. Yet, she refused to extend her foot and stand on her own. They finally relaxed and before long they were playing, leaving all their fears behind. When it was time to dry off and head back to the room Elizabeth commented, "I wish we had just jumped in, we wasted a lot of time."

I wonder how many of us will look back in our lives and regret that we didn't take the plunge sooner. Perhaps our life is a lot like that pool. We have anxieties and doubts. Our loving heavenly Father wants us to jump in and trust him but we refuse. We'd rather hang on to the edge of the pool, counting on our own strength to keep us afloat. I love Psalm 37:5, "Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass." Let us not get to the end of our lives and wish we had just jumped in and not wasted a lot of time! Take the plunge!

Wrong Number

noreply@blogger.com (John and Debbie Poe) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 21:37:00 +0000

Did you know that an average of 3 billion phone calls are made everyday in the United States. That comes to about 34,722 phone calls per second! I probably don't want to know how many of those calls are from telemarketers. I would imagine with that many calls being placed everyday there is a good number of wrong numbers dialed. Today I received such a call. I answered with a simple, "Hello!" There was a brief pause and a nervous voice responded, "I need to talk to someone, I have some questions about God." The caller went on to ask many questions and listened well to the Gospel. She has lived a troubled life and she felt like she needed someone to talk to. I'm not sure why she dialed our number but I was sure glad I was able to share some Bible truth with a troubled soul. She is just another lost soul in need of a Savior. I took down her contact information and will follow up in the days ahead. She may think she dialed the wrong number, but perhaps it wasn't an accident but a divine appointment from God.
Dr. Jack Hyles once said, "If I and a need meet, God must have had in mind my filling it." May we all be faithful to do our part in meeting needs and seizing opportunities that come our way.

Here's a great tool you can use, even on the phone, to share the Gospel with others:
The Good Test

Updated: See the Amazing Difference?

noreply@blogger.com (John and Debbie Poe) — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 12:24:00 +0000

It's time for a little contest. There have been some incredible changes taking place in Peru since we arrived. Here you'll see a pair of "Before and After" pictures. Take a careful look and see if you can note the difference. Pay close attention to details! (You can click on either picture for a larger view.) Leave a comment if you think you can see the change. After a few days I'll let you know who was the first to identify the real change.

The Answer:
I was pleased by the good number of people that looked at the blog, sent an email, or posted a response. The answers varied greatly from person to person. Some responded by accusing me of cheating. They claimed there was no difference. Others thought they saw something, but they were just not sure. I imagine some people didn't really care to take the time to examine both photos. Some of you were right, the truth is, there is no difference between the two photos!

Why would I do such a thing? Well, I wanted to prove a point. Scripture tells us that when we trust Christ as our Savior we are a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17) When we repent we should noticeably change in our attempt to be more like Christ. Sadly, today there are many people that claim to be Christians that don't look any different. I recently heard a friend ask a pointed question: "Are we as Christians today any different than the world around us?" Are we unique enough to stand out in the world today? Above you see two pictures, there's no noticeable difference between the two. Has there been a noticeable difference in your life since you started your personal relationship with Christ? How sad when we live in a time when the world would have a hard time noticing who is and who isn't a Christian. How sad when "church going folks" look just like their unsaved neighbors. Let's remember the truth of Romans 12:1-2, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

I sure hope that my life has been transformed so much by relationship with Christ that people see a huge difference. Let's make sure we are living as "AFTER" pictures for our Lord.

(By the way, I have to give credit to Sara, from Draper, Virginia. She guessed that the difference in the picture was all the Peruvians that had trusted Christ over the last number of years. I liked her answer! The only difference is that our church folks are truly living as "after" pictures. The community has really noticed the change in the lives of many after they trusted Christ. The change isn't something you can show in a picture but a change that truly brings honor to our Lord. )

Coke, Candy Corn and Colonel Sanders

noreply@blogger.com (John and Debbie Poe) — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 01:35:00 +0000

This week I have found myself convicted by some classic elements of American culture: Coke, Candy Corn and Colonel Sanders.

It started when I read an article about the influence of the Coca-Cola Company in the world. The company is the most recognized brand in the world, selling more than 18,000 servings of its beverages every second! The company makes about 15 million dollars a day in profits with operations in more than 200 countries. Studies show that about 94 percent of the world's population easily recognizes the famous Coca-Cola logo.

Then I was convicted again while I enjoyed an afternoon snack. On the back of my Brach's Candy Corn bag I read that "Each year Americans consume enough Brach's Candy Corn that if laid end-to-end, would circle the earth 4.25 times..." That my friends is a lot of Candy Corn! It shouldn't be a surprise because Americans spent about 1.9 billion dollars buying nearly 600 million pounds of candy last Halloween.

Then last night I was convicted a third time when I watched the last few minutes of a documentary about Colonel Sanders. His life story was actually very interesting. He really didn't find fame or success until he had retired. At age 65 his "finger lickin' good chicken" became famous and helped start the Kentucky Fried Chicken craze. Today, there are over 16,000 KFC locations in more than 100 countries. (Including about 50 locations in the city of Lima, Peru alone!) About 12 million people eat at KFC everyday.

Why did I find all of this useless information convicting? Because in less than 100 years all three of these products have managed to have a big influence in our world culture. These companies have managed to promote and sell their products to countless masses of people. As Christians we've had about 2000 years to promote the cause of Christ, yet, so many have still never heard. Some studies indicate that as many as 3.8 billion people on earth have never even heard the name of Jesus. You better believe most of them have heard of Coca-Cola. I was indeed moved to conviction when I considered our failure as a church in reaching the world with the life-changing good news of the Gospel. What's more important to us today? Coke, Candy Corn, Colonel Sanders, or Christ?

Peace and Security

noreply@blogger.com (John and Debbie Poe) — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 13:45:00 +0000

The girls have had a hard time with the lack of "security" here in America. Our home in Peru is in a gated community with security guards. Our home has a security system, bars over the windows and many locks. It takes 7 keys to get into our apartment! Even our car has an alarm system and security laminates on the windows. We don't live in fear in Peru but we do take precautions.

When we arrived in North Carolina and moved into the church mission house the girls immediately noticed something was different. They had many questions: "Why is there only one key to the front door? How come nobody has a wall around their house? Is it safe to sleep here since there are no bars over the windows? Where are the guards?" We could understand their anxieties but we wanted them to feel safe in their new home. We talked about how this area is much safer and the extra security isn't necessary. We showed them how our room was just across the hall, and that everyone would be safe and sound in the house. We talked about how God ultimately keeps us safe. They listened but seemed a little nervous. Then they noticed something that made them feel totally safe. The house we now live in has a separate entrance for the church guest room that is attached to the end of the house. The guest room is right beside the girl's bedroom. The church has a new youth pastor and he and his wife are living in the guest room until they can buy a home in the area. The youth pastor's wife just so happens to be Olivia's teacher's aid. As soon as the girls heard this news they immediately felt safe. "Oh, that's great! Now we are safe because they are sleeping right there in the next room!" Now, they glance out the window before going to sleep to make sure the neighbors are at home. When they are, they go right to sleep feeling safe and secure. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me but they truly feel safe knowing that guest room is being used. Elizabeth said, "It's because we just know they are there."

God promises that same kind of peace to His children: Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (Isaiah 26:3) The world doesn't understand the peace that we have as believers. We often try to create a peaceful and safe environment. This will never work apart from God. By watching our girls we've been reminded once again of a valuable lesson. True peace comes from keeping our focus on God. Life might sometimes be a little scary but we can find true peace in Him. We just need to remember we can have that same peace, "Because we just know He is there."

Promoting the Work?

noreply@blogger.com (John and Debbie Poe) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:54:00 +0000

We are always looking for ideas for updating our blog. With a busy travel schedule it's been hard to take the time to be creative and write regular entries. While vacationing at the beach I realized I needed to update the site and came up with an idea for some shameless self promotion! We got a lot of strange glances as people walked down the beach. (You can't see in the picture that the "dot" in dot com was a big seashell.) I guess you can say we'll do anything to get people to look at our website. The Bible teaches us the importance of promoting the Gospel in a similar way. We're asked to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15) We're told to go into the highways and hedges and to compel them to come in. (Luke 14:23) Are we doing our best to promote Christ?

Back Online!

noreply@blogger.com (John and Debbie Poe) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:46:00 +0000

Sorry for the delay in updating our blog. We've been busy on the road and our access to the
internet has been a bit limited. We are now settled into our home and have easy access to the internet,
In the days ahead we'll be filling you in on our travels as we visit churches and promote missions here in the United States. We'll also keep you up-to-date on what is happening in Peru. Check back often!

We hope to speak in about 50 churches this year. So far we have 42 churches scheduled. If you'd like us to visit your church please let us know. You can contact us by using the box on the left side of this blog. Hope to hear from you soon.

Here we are at the arch in St. Louis.

That was Real Sacrifice

noreply@blogger.com (John and Debbie Poe) — Tue, 25 May 2010 22:22:00 +0000

We recently had the wonderful experience of going to Lima's port of Callao to see 12 beautiful tall ships. They were part of a regatta sailing to many of the major ports of South America. It was a beautiful day that we will not soon forget. (Our memories well be enhanced by the huge collection of pictures we took!) I couldn't help but think of all of the early missionaries that traveled to the field by boat. I remember reading how Hudson Taylor took nearly four months to travel to China. He even had to endure two typhoons where the ship nearly wrecked. Reading about the travels of early missionaries sounds fascinating and adventureous, but it was certainly never comfortable.

Now as we plan for our upcoming furlough I need to remember how truly blessed we are. Once we board the plane we'll be back in the United States in less than six hours. I guess we'll never really know the sacrifice those early missionaries made.

Are we lost?

noreply@blogger.com (John and Debbie Poe) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 19:40:00 +0000

Last night I had the priviledge of taking the 2010 ARRIBA students to the airport. I was asked to take the Pan-American Highway to the airport. This is not my usual route and I haven't gone that way in years. Major road construction is taking place on the Pan-Am and many signs have been removed. Well needless to say I missed the turnoff and we continued on through town. It wouldn't have been so bad if we weren't traveling at rush hour. Traffic was at a complete stand-still and we sat for nearly 30 minutes at one intersection. We nervously watched the clock as it became dangerously close to our required airport arrival time. I was still calm until my cellphone chimed with a text message: "Are you at the airport? We can't find you..." Then I realized something was wrong. We called and found out that we were way off course. We had actually gone about 10 miles out of the way. Thankfully we spotted another airport sign and made our way, the scenic route, back to the airport. The students' luggage was already there so they jumped out of the van before we even pulled into a parking space. They rushed in to find the ticket counter, ready for this, CLOSED! Their flight actually left an hour early so they had to wait 24 hours for the next outgoing flight.

Perhaps the most notable part of this story is that for the longest time we didn't even know we were lost. (I know you're thinking, "haven't you lived in Lima for over 8 years?" Yes, its a massive city with many ways to the airport!) As we sat in traffic we were content thinking that we were "just going with the flow." The thought came to my mind last night that our trip to the airport is like many people's lives. Their wandering around in their meaningless life and they don't even know that their lost. Proverbs 14:12 talks about this reality when it says, "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Are we pointing our friends and neighbors to Christ? Are we asking them the important questions so that they realize they're lost? Are we sharing the truth that there is only one way to heaven? My trip to the airport last night reminded me anew of why we are in Peru: Millions of people here are lost without Christ.

Faint Not

noreply@blogger.com (John and Debbie Poe) — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 23:38:00 +0000

The Fields are White unto Harvest

We had big hopes for Easter Sunday. We invited lots of people and we were hoping that some of our regular attenders would bring their family members. We had a good film to show and we wanted people to see it. When it was time to start we had a good group, but no visitors. I was a bit disappointed. Later, while reflecting on the day, a verse came to mind. Galatians 6:9, And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

I believe God has big plans for Viña Alta. It's our job to just keep laboring away with and in His perfect timing there will be a great harvest to reap. Have you grown weary in well doing? If so, faint not, keep plugging away for the Lord. He promises a great reward.