True Missions Story CHILE The Million Peso Lady (Picture 1) (Picture 1) Elba Bustos had lived a difficult life. She was an unwed mother of three daughters and was suffering from cancer. With her life in despair, she decided one day to step into a brand new church in Arauco, Chile. Missionaries Rick and Laurel Ellis prayed for her, and God touched her life! Her sins were forgiven, and she was healed from cancer. She even showed the church the results of her medical examinations that proved her healing was complete. A number of years later, the new church was ready to move out of rental facilities and purchase property for a building. Rick and Laurel Ellis challenged the congregation to help raise the money that was needed. They stated that for every peso the church could raise, they would match it with money from the United States. Each person in the church filled out a faith promise card for the amount that they believed the Holy Spirit would help them raise in six months. Elba began praying and felt impressed by God to pledge 1 million pesos, which at that time was about $1,600. That may not sound like all that much, but the thing is, Elba had only one little job she cleaned a small office once a week for a salary of $50 a month. Her only other income came from making corn pies and other items to sell to a few clients. So $1,600 was WAY more than she would earn in six months, let alone have money to live on. For an entire week, Elba struggled with what she believed God was telling her, but in the end, she filled out the faith promise card, promising to give 1 million pesos for the new church. (Picture 2) (Picture 2) Over the following months, at every service, Elba put an offering in the 121
(Picture 3) basket. She filled out an envelope and placed within it her tithes, her missions giving, and her faith promise for the future church. She never kept track of what she was giving, but it never seemed like very much. Still, she was faithful to keep giving what she could. Missionaries Rick and Laurel saw what Elba was giving every week, and they became concerned. They thought perhaps she was doing without the basic necessities at home. So they went to visit her at her home. Elba happily told them that God was taking care of her and blessing her more than she ever dreamed. Not only were her needs provided, but she was able to buy a new refrigerator and a new sink. She was even able to put a bathroom in her second-story apartment. Before this, she had to go down an outside staircase to get to the outdoor bathroom. (Picture 3) When the six months were up, missionaries Rick and Laurel came to Elba with the news. She had given 1 million pesos! Elba was so surprised, all she could do was giggle. When Rick and Laurel returned to the United States, they told Elba s story wherever they went. People everywhere were challenged to step out in faith in their giving to God, especially for missions. Just before Rick and Laurel were to head back to Chile, a man approached Rick after a service. The man handed a check to Rick and said, This is for Elba. Rick thanked the man and put the check in his pocket without looking at it. Later, he opened the check and was shocked to see that it was for $1,000! This was truly a blessing from God, for when Rick and Laurel returned to Chile, they discovered that Elba was going through another physical challenge and needed expensive exams. God was continuing to provide for Elba, giving her blessing after blessing because she had shown herself faithful with the little that she had. That s not the end of Elba s story. She recently got married to a widowed pastor, and now she helps him in the ministry in the small fishing town of Tirua, Chile. Because of Elba s faithfulness, God blessed her and now is using her to bless others! Information for this story was provided by missionaries Rick and Laurel Ellis and is used with permission from Assemblies of God World Missions. 122 2009 BGMC Missions Manual, Vol. 11
Missionaries Rick and Laurel Ellis prayed for Elba, and God touched her life! 123
Over the following months, at every service, Elba put an offering in the basket. 124 2009 BGMC Missions Manual, Vol. 11
Elba was so surprised, all she could do was giggle. 125