05 February 2010
|Noél's Work with Orphans
During our 43+ years in Peru, my main ministry has been with children and youth. First, I dedicated my time to caring for our own children, both physically and spiritually. After adopting our son Joseph as an abandoned infant in 1983, I was asked to help others adopt.
Between 1984 and 1994 we cared for many needy children in our home and provided care for others for periods of months while seeking homes for them. Over 32 needy little ones were placed in loving homes, several in Christian homes both here and abroad. Some were placed in other missionary homes, and some with Peruvian believers. These are a special blessing as we see them grow up and serve Christ with us here.
During these years I taught Bible lessons to abandoned boys at a state run home for them. In 1992-1993, Christian schools began in Arequipa. For 11 years I taught in a large school in a poor area of Arequipa, run by believers with a govt. grant so parents did not need to pay fees. Here was when I began developing chronological Bible lessons, Old and New Testaments, aimed especially for 5th and 6th graders.
Noél's Work in Developing Materials
Developing these materials took long hours. In 2004, the Billy Graham Christian grade school began in a rented facility. Plus teaching in two other small Christian schools that had their own properties, I began teaching these Bible lessons and English in Billy Graham.
As in their rented building they had no room for expansion into high school, in 2008 we were able to purchase properties adjacent to our main Arequipa church, and brought this little school there, changing the name to Ebenezer Christian School. How thankful we are to have proved the founder-directors of this school to be true dedicated believers with a vision to see the students knowing and following the Lord and reaching many homes and lives for Him.
I have since dedicated my teaching to Ebenezer Christian school, which now has kindergarten through high school. I teach and develop materials for Christian formation from 4th grade up through High School, and have made a Basic English manual. Preparing materials for our Sunday schools and for the Christian school takes a large chunk of my time. Each is prayerfully done, as we feel it is a privilege to put God’s Word into many homes and hearts. This, plus teaching, is an ongoing ministry.
In the preparation of materials, I have been greatly blessed by the voluntary help of one dear sister in Christ, Juditte Melendez. She is a secretary to Arequipa’s main university and has set up, typed, and computerized most of the materials I produce. How very thankful I am for her! The photo above is Juditte helping Noél with creating materials.
Ladies Ministry
Also throughout the years, God has opened up a ministry with our believing sisters, in weekly ladies meetings, and for years in discipling and Scripture reading with individual ladies. Some of these have trusted Christ as Savior and Lord. This is a special blessing.
In the photo above, Noél reads the Bible with Ms. Sylvia.
In the photo above, Noél reads the Bible with Ms. Regina. These are only a couple of the many ladies Noél works with.
Photo Gallery: Be sure to visit Noel's Ministry photo gallery!