Where can a college student go to get total immersion into Latin American missions by living in nationals’ homes, getting hands-on experience in evangelism and discipleship and still receive college credit?
Our answer is ¡ARRIBA!
Among fundamental Baptist missions efforts, ¡ARRIBA! is a one-of-a-kind program that has been transforming the lives of college students since 1982. And the program is better than ever. Under the guidance of missionaries Jim and Becky Carlton, ¡ARRIBA! students experience 11 months in Peru. Students begin in a classroom setting learning Spanish, Latin American studies, and other relevant subjects. The second half transforms the students into missionaries touching the lives of local Peruvians. Students are mentored by both missionaries and strong Peruvian believers.
On May 19, 2008, Baptist Mid-Missions welcomed the ¡ARRIBA! Class of 2008-2009, six college students from Faith Baptist Bible College and Baptist Bible College of Clarks Summit. The students joined us in the Home Office for three days of orientation. Every year, each incoming student shares his or her testimony of how God called them into the program. At the end, they return with excitement to summarize how God changed their lives and the lives. Scroll down to browse through testimonies from ¡ARRIBA! 2007-2008.
Nikki Mott: Scattered seeds become a harvest.
I was part of the ¡ARRIBA! ’07-’08 program in Peru to follow the will of God for my life, and little did I know what would happen. This year was the hardest and most trying year of my whole life, but as a sweet smelling aroma, it was also the most life-changing year. It had been a challenge trying to learn a new language, new culture, a new everything! I do not even think that I had ever cried as much as I did in my whole life put into one year, but what a comfort it was to know that God was right there with me every step of the way, correcting me, teaching me, guiding me, being my great daddy.
One thing that I had come to learn is the power of prayer. Have you ever gotten to know someone in the street and forgotten the face of the person? I have. My first month in Peru I had became acquainted with four Peruvian ladies on my street who made bracelets. I barely knew the language and wanted to share the gospel with them, so I had started small chat with them and asked if they sold the bracelets (they were beautiful and hand-made). They had asked me why I was going to be in Peru for 11 months and then asked me where I was going to church. Upon answering where, one of the ladies became excited and said, “My son goes to the youth group there!”
A week later I had attended youth group. After going through names, I remember exclaiming to one young boy, “Your mom is the one who makes bracelets.” “Yes, that would be my mother,” was the thrilling remark that came from the young teenage boy. Afterwards he had asked for prayer for his family, that they may accept Christ into their lives. About one month later, I no longer saw the ladies making the bracelets. I had continued to pray for them but had no clue to what happened to them, and little by little I had forgotten their names and faces. A few months later, the young boy’s father had accepted Christ. What an answer to prayer. Our church was growing not only in numbers but spiritually also. January was now coming to an end, and the man’s wife had accepted Christ. In February, I was able to watch the baptism of the boy and his father and able to get to know his mother more. During this whole time I had forgotten that this was the lady who made bracelets.
As my time came to an end in Peru, the church gave a good-bye party, and this lady had given me a gift. Everyone was saying “Open it, open it!” So I did, and I had pulled out a beautiful hand-embroidered bracelet. She then gave me a big hug and whispered in my ear, “Remember what I said, that you would receive a bracelet before you left for home?” Wow! I stood there in disbelief, never adding two and two together. I had been praying for the young boy’s mother this whole time! She had accepted Christ and had been attending our church for the last two months. My eyes were full of tears as she was standing in front of me. I had forgotten what she looked like, her name, and all in that moment realized the power and importance of prayer.
Editor’s Note: On the day of her return to the U.S., Nikki became engaged to Josiah Leonard, a BMM MK from Brazil. They are seeking God’s will for their future ministry.
Zachary Patke: Lessons learned far away get applied at home.
I would like to start by saying that at times it is very difficult to tell everything that I have done that might affect someone’s life for eternity. In my experience I can not put my finger on one person in specific that God used me to change for Him. Although I had the opportunity to share the gospel, speak, teach, and serve God, I can not say that there is one specific story where God showed me the fruit of my labor. However, what I can say with confidence is that God used that trip to change me for Him forever.
Being back in the States has shown me how much Spanish and the trip to Peru has done to change me. God has shown me through the Peruvian culture more things about being better with families. That means my family at home as well as spending time being a guest in other people’s houses. Watching my Peruvian Brother Ronald has taught me plenty. He is so helpful to his family. He watches his baby brother. He cooks and does so much for his family in Lima. His heart for his family has shown me that family is so important. The Bible says in Ephesians 6:1: “Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right.” As the chorus says, “Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe.” So far back in the States, I have made a commitment to be obedient and helpful to my parents.
Amy Brundage: The power of one changed life.
When we first came to Peru in May, 13-yr-old Johanna came to youth meeting on Saturday nights fairly regularly with her friends. She was a very quiet, rather timid, and very sweet girl. I soon found out that of the nearly 10 girls that come regularly, 7 of them are unsaved. Johanna was one of the unsaved. We began praying for the girls' salvation and for opportunities to minister to them despite our language barrier. The Lord answered our prayers, and Johanna was saved during the first week of July! When Johanna got saved, I was excited. But now, several months later, I am even more excited to see that she has grown spiritually and evidenced Christ in her life.
Little by little, my relationship grew with Johanna, providing more avenues of discipleship. And little by little, Johanna grew. We spent a week of teen camp together and began talking more during youth meetings. Nikki, my roommate and teammate in the ministry, and I eventually began spending a couple mornings a week at her house. We would pray together and did a Bible study on prayer. We went shopping together for a notebook to use as a prayer and devotional journal. I was so thrilled to see her writing prayer requests and specific verses and how they spoke to her in her journal. She also became burdened for her unsaved family members. She would ask questions about the Bible, about seminary, and about how to prepare for becoming a Sunday School teacher, showing her interest in spiritual things. I would now consider Johanna, although younger than many in the youth group, a leader in spiritual maturity. It is exciting to think how the Lord will continue to mold her and the ways He will use her in His service in the future!
Joy Akkerman: Sowing so others can reap.
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6-7). Recently, I heard one of the ¡ARRIBA! students say that he hoped that Jim and Becky Carlton, missionaries with Baptist Mid-Missions, would be able to reap the harvest of our past ministry in Peru. (I and two other ¡ARRIBA! students had the opportunity to serve along side the Carltons in their church in Manchay, Peru during our ¡ARRIBA! internship). I believe this was a good reminder for all of us, because many times in ministry, we do not see major changes in peoples’ lives, but it does not mean that God is not working. Some times we are just planting the seed of a major change that will be evident after it has been given time to grow.
What a privilege it was to be able to work in their church and to be able to share the gospel and disciple in Peru. It was definitely one of the best years of my life! However, we may never know until we reach heaven how God used or will use our ministry in Peru to change peoples’ lives. One thing I am certain of though, is that if God changed anyone, He changed me. God taught me so many things during my time in Peru, including that I need to trust in Him. Many times, the soil of peoples’ hearts is really hard, and they are not ready to receive the Word, but we need to remember that it is not us that are going to change them. It is God. He is in control of everything; we just need to be faithful in serving Him and planting the seed.