July 2007 - Southern Adventist University

Southern Union FeaturePeruvian BlessingsBy Paul OppOne thing that I never wantedto be when I grew up was a missionary.I couldn’t understand whysomeone would give up the comfortsand security of this country and goto a place where everything is moredifficult, where creature comforts aregone, where great distance separatesthem from their loved ones, andwhere at every turn you are overwhelmedwith need.be more than just a glorified vacation).And, send someone to mentorthat individual so they won’t fallthrough the cracks.God answered all three requestsas an entire family heard the Gospelfor the very first time. With thisamazing outcome I promised to comeback, and one year later I returned toIquitos alone.My new Peruvian friends andGod gives you a love for a specificwork, many of life’s other prioritiesget rearranged, and our family’s focusturned toward full time ministry inPeru...but how? We owned a smalllogging company in eastern Washingtonand all the financial burdens thatgo along with it. We had two daughtersin academy and no obvious wayto transition into the ministry that wefelt God was calling us to. Then cameCandy and Martha were hanging outin the streets the night Paul Opp foundthem.In 2000, I went on an UpperColumbia Academy mission trip withmy daughter, Risha. We were supportstaff to Dwayne McKee, who dida series of meetings in Iquitos, Peru.I thought this would be a great timeto do some father-daughter bondingwhile being involved in some meaningfulministry work. Little did I know!Before we left for Peru I askedGod for three simple things: I wanta God-given love for the people inPeru. I knew that my ability to lovepeople unconditionally was limited.Let me be instrumental in bringingone person to Jesus (this needed to26 T IDINGS • J u l y 2 0 0 7Paul and Sandi Opp stand with their daughters,Risha and Kristen, and their adopted Peruviandaughters, Candy and Martha.I found 150 people that neededmedical attention, whole villages thatneeded food and parasite medicine,and countless opportunities to preachand teach in the poor communities.All of these efforts were supported bypeople back home who got excitedabout saving lives as we took peopleto the Ana Stahl hospital, paid fortheir exams, lab work, medicines,and surgeries. God used our effortson that trip to literally save the livesof some dying people, and to bringthe Gospel to those who had neverheard.I became a man possessed! WhenThirteen-year-old Steffenie was the firstgirl in the crisis center long before it wasready. Paul Opp holds her one-year-oldbaby, Nicole. You can read her storyon the web site story section; it’s titled,“Come to My Father’s House.”the third trip.Late one night after feeding streetchildren on the plaza, I met two littlegirls that changed my life. Martha andCandy were eight and 10 years oldand had been living on the streetsalone for two years, since the deathof their mother. They were filthy dirty,hungry, filled with parasites, andcovered with lice. As I knelt on thesidewalk and listened to their story,something happened in my heart thatI still can’t explain.