Appointments for Eternal Life
…And all who were appointed for eternal life believed.” Acts 13:48
It feels like everywhere we turn in Peru, people are giving their lives to Christ! Rosa and I can only exclaim, “Glory to God” as we experience this incredible season.
Our November trip to Peru was very good. Like every month, we were able to help the orphanage with their expenses and spend time with the children and staff, all of whom are doing well. When we return in December, we plan to bless each of the 63 boys with a brand-new t-shirt and a very special Christmas dinner.
After ministering in the Lima orphanage, we travelled on to Cusco and visited the community in Cardonpata. The indigenous people there continue to be very welcoming and eager to have us work among them. Three different offers to donate land have come forward. Whichever plot we accept will be used to build an orphanage, chapel, and school in their community. We are asking the Lord for wisdom to know which of the three proposed donations is the best location and exactly what steps to take to properly secure the land for ministerial purposes. During December’s trip, we want to begin planning for the chapel construction. There is a lot of work ahead of us.
After visiting Cardonpata, Ruth asked us to lead a Bible study in her home where the family had again invited many people (approximately 25) to attend. Several folks were attending for the first time, while others had been present during our previous Bible study, gotten saved, and were now hungry to grow in the knowledge of God. We spoke the Word of God and asked who wanted to surrender their life to Christ. Many responded! We then prayed and Rosa ministered to each person, laying hands on them and speaking as the Holy Spirit guided her. In particular, three of the salvations really confirmed how the Holy Spirit directs those appointed for eternal life, just as Acts 13:48 states. You see, Ruth’s cousin—a young girl we estimate to be around nine or ten years of age—had been hearing of our recent visits and the way that her relatives were now walking in the ways of God. She had also heard that “Mr. Tony and Mrs. Rosa” were going to be at Ruth’s house again and so she begged her parents to take her to hear us. Since the trip would involve about an hour’s ride by bus in order for them to make the meeting, and the parents were primarily disinterested altogether in the Bible study, they denied their daughter’s request, but she would not relent. Finally, the young girl burst into tears and pleaded again with her parents to please take her to the meeting. Reluctantly, they took the bus ride and arrived in time for the Bible study. Before the night was over, all three had received the Lord! How beautiful to think of the Holy Spirit’s working to bring them to that exact time and place, that they would enter into the Kingdom of God.
When that meeting was over, we left for the hotel, our hearts full of joy and our bodies ready for a good night’s rest before the big day of travel back to the United States that lay ahead of us. Here is how the Holy Spirit worked again to bring to faith those appointed for salvation.
When we awoke in the morning, I recalled a conversation that I had overheard the day before. People had been discussing one of Ruth’s uncles who lay sick in the hospital, having been diagnosed with bone cancer. The words I had overheard came flooding into my memory as I heard the Holy Spirit tell me when I woke up, “Your work here is not finished. I want you to go and pray for that man in the hospital.” Rosa and I contacted Julio and asked him to drive us to the hospital where his uncle was so that we might pray for him. We entered the hospital room and introduced ourselves. We told the uncle (Matteo) that God had sent us there to pray for him, and we began to speak to him about Jesus. Within minutes, we were able to lead him to the Lord and pray over him. His mother, who was also in the room, received the Lord when Rosa began ministering to her. After prayer, Matteo exclaimed, “I feel GOOD! I have peace in my heart!” Rosa and I then knew that our trip for that month was complete and we rejoiced in how the Holy Spirit had led us.
We return to Peru in December. We are excited for all that the Lord has in store for us, knowing that many are appointed for eternal life and will enter into that life this December. Jesus said in John 17:3, “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” We ask that you pray for their eyes and ears to be opened and for their hearts to be prepared to receive the Word of Truth.
We plan to bless the communities in Veronica Mountain and Cardonpata with Christmas gifts during our December trip. We want to give them hot chocolate, cake, candy, and toys for the children. You can be a vital part of making their Christmas a special one! We need extra finances in order to share with them these gifts and in order to provide for the Lima orphanage 63 t-shirts and a beautiful Christmas dinner. Will you help us by sending above and beyond what you may normally give for the month? What better time and means to offer back to God in response to the gift of JESUS that He gave to us that first Christmas night? He said that whatever we did for people just like these we were doing for Him. You can literally provide Jesus with a gift for His birthday.
As you celebrate Christmas this month, we pray it is a time of great joy. God’s heart is FULL of peace and good will toward you…just as He proclaimed long ago through the angels announcing Jesus’ birth. It has always been how He feels towards you. His heart towards you has not waned, no matter how you may be feeling or what you may be experiencing. Will you believe His great love for you this month? It is the true “reason for the season”. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” (John 3:16, 17)
We hope you know that we sincerely love and appreciate you. From our hearts to yours this month…
“Merry Christmas!”
Grace and peace,
Tony and Rosa Rivera
Home of Refuge International, Inc.
