Work underway at the Seminary and the Christian School

The new soccer field with the chapel in the background.

The school buildings Mar 23rd 2016

School bathrooms 3/23/16.

Secondary classrooms under construction 3/23/16

Much happening at the Seminary & Camp

VBS

Pastors’ Camp

Westside Baptist Work crew wrapping up the big painting project

Amanda teaching

Busy tractor

VBS Class

Milka, seminary student with VBS student

Professor Juan

Muddy Camp game

Craft

Pastors’ Camp class

Pastors’ Camp

Westside Baptist Work crew wrapping up the big painting project.

Miller Milepost-October Update*

*We sent out our October update sometime ago now but wanted to add it to our website so as to have an accessible record of our activities here in Perú.

————————————————– Hello from Urubamba!  Winter is behind us, and now Fall is upon us!  Yes, you read that right.  The seasons here in the mountains are a bit different.  The seasonal cycle is Summer, Winter, Fall, and then Spring.  We should be experiencing rain right now, but because of El Niño, it is very dry.  The Sacred Valley is forecast to have 6 months of drought.  Some days we have very little water pressure at the house, making doing the dishes and washing clothes a challenge at times.  The El Niño effect is expected to be very strong this year in Peru.   Schools nationwide have revised and shortened their schedules because of expected inclement weather; some regions will have flooding and big storms.  Whatever happens, our Lord is control! There have been quite a few robberies in Urubamba.  There was one robbery not far from our home where the house was stripped of everything including the stove and refrigerator.  The Seminary and our Church have not been unscathed either.  Money and tools were stolen equalling about $2000.  Thankfully, these happened while no one was around, so there was no physical violence.  A video camera has been installed at the Seminary, and Scott is monitoring it on a daily basis.  He receives email updates when motion is detected. In September, our church celebrated its 30 year anniversary!  We had a month long celebration with a picnic, field games, a bike ride, 3 days of special services, and an all church meal of delicious lamb soup in the new, but still incomplete, school buildings.  A missionary from Trujillo was our guest speaker.  He preached and taught on distinctive elements of the Christian family.  A much needed message! Also in early September, Scott and Noah made a trip to a mountain village called Totora.  It is about a six hour drive from Urubamba.  They took part in the church anniversary, and Scott preached 7 times to about 120 people during the weekend.  Noah and Scott were housed in the town’s clinic and slept in the maternity ward.  The fellowship was sweet,and it was a blessing to spend time with these brothers and sisters in Christ.    (The church in Totora, right: folks outside listening, left: crowded meetings.) Noah with Totora behind. Scott continues his preparations for his Hebrews module that he will be teaching at the seminary in November.  He has been studying and preparing the student materials in moments between his teaching assignments at the Christian School and other Seminary responsibilities.  Amanda began teaching English a couple of times a week at the Christian School to the preschoolers.  It has been a lot of fun to work with theses little ones. Scott recently was able to pray with a man for salvation.  His name is Alfonso.  Please pray for Alfonso that his conversion would be sincere and that he would be fully reconciled to his family.  He has made a lot of mistakes that have really hurt his family.  Scott has been meeting with him weekly in a course of discipleship. On the homefront, Chloe had an accident last month and burned her little hands on the door of the oven.  The oven door was closed, but the ovens here are not well insulated. I was baking a cake to celebrate Scott & Noah’s return from Totora, and Chloe pulled herself up and put both hands on the door of the oven causing second degree burns.  So, she had little burned hands on her first birthday.  The doctor was concerned that because of how her right hand was burnt she might not be able to open and close her hand normally once it healed.  But, praise the Lord, I’m happy to report she is all better and is opening and closing both hands normally.  We all have been hit by a couple of viruses.  Last week, Jack and Amanda were sick.  This week Scott is down with it.   (Seminary const. the roof nearly on the shop)          (The youth on our bike trip.) Please pray for the following items: Scott’s Hebrews module- that it would be a blessing to the students and for Scott’s preparations. Construction of the shop building at the Seminary.  There have been some set backs that have required changing of plans in the construction of some of the walls. Construction of the Christian School.  We want to praise the Lord for a recent gift that one of our supporting churches sent in!  What a blessing! Safety and the Lord’s protection in light of all the recent robberies. El Niño’s effect on Peru.  Some areas may experience flooding, and others may have extreme drought. Alfonso and his family. We so appreciate your prayers and financial support!  We know that we can do nothing on our own, and we are so thankful to have you “holding the ropes” as we seek to serve our great God!   Love in Christ, Your Missionaries to Peru Scott, Amanda, Noah, Abby Jo, Jack, and Chloe Miller I Cor. 15:58

“Joy in the Presence of the Angels of God”

Yesterday, I was blessed to be able to pray with five children for salvation during Children’s Church!  We have been going over the wordless book for the past few Sundays.  An invitation was given to the kids, and these five threw up their hands confidently.  I talked with them to be sure they understood why they raised their hands.  After further questioning, I led them in prayer.  What a blessing to see these ones so confident in their decision!  Praise the Lord for these babes in Christ! Pray for: Fatima, Daisy, Gracia, Josue, and Rut.  “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth (Luke 15:10).”

Seminario Evangélico Bautista Independiente del Cusco

Today Introduction to Hebrews began for Scott and his students at the seminary.  This is a three week module for senior students.  Pray for Scott and the students!  It’s going to be a great three weeks.

Vida Nueva Sunday School

I had 9 kids in Sunday School class this week!  We are learning about Genesis and the creation account at this time.  They are a great group of kids.  Pray for: Rosa, Lizbet, Betsabe, Rebecca, Delfina, Luz, Joey, Willy, and David.

Vida Nueva’s Sunday School Party!

Yesterday we were able to host a Sunday School party at our home!  Fifteen kids came to the festivities for a devotional, games, and lots of Peruvian food.  Amanda co-teaches the 6-8 year old class with Hermana (Sister) Paulina.  My son, Noah, was a big help in all the preparations. The kids played “Red Rover, Red Rover” for the first time, and I think they liked it.  Our devotional was about loving God with our whole heart.  I started the devotional by asking who would like a chocolate bar.  Of course, all hands went up.  So, I offered it to a girl, but not before taking a big bite out of it.  Then I asked her if she still wanted it.  She shook her head in the negative vigorously.  The point of the devotional was that God doesn’t want just a piece of our heart, but our whole heart as Matthew 22:37 teaches.

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”  (Matthew 22:37)