Americo's Family
Americo's testimony:
Hello my name is Américo Saavedra Romaní
I was born into a divided home, when I was born my parents were separated,
My grandparents raised me until I was 5 years old. At That time they
gave me over to my Aunt from my father side of the family, who had
another family. I lived with them until I was 12 years old. These years
were very difficult for me. I then lived on the streets until I was 17
years old. When an Uncle on my mother side of the family picked me up
off the street, I lived with them from then until the age of 24.
Many many things very
disagreeable and horrible happened in my life .I was a young man without
goals in my life. It was at the point of becoming an alcoholic, I drank
every single day, and was full of resentment and hatred in my heart
towards my father. It was in the middle of these circumstances that I
found Jesus. On Tuesday January 15th 1990, On this day something
happened that I did not
understand. I had a desire to go to the local Christian church. by my on
will. When evening came I was excited to go to the church service.
When I arrived one of the Elders was just stating to preach on II
Corinthians 5:17 I remember it as if it happened yesterday. God spoke
to my heart in a very special way. This night I had a personal
encounter with Jesus. It was the first time I felt loved by someone.
Some one who took me in their arms and said they loved me, and took a
great weight off my shoulders that night and I confessed my sins and
my sufferings. and I said If you heal me and save me I will serve you
all of my life. And He healed me and saved me that evening..
A month and a half after my conversion, the church organized a youth retreat
and I signed up to go. This retreat was held at a Bible Institute and
these days were a great blessing to me with much spiritual growth in
my life.. But I did not know that God had something special for me.
The last afternoon of our camp all the young people went to play
basketball on the courts of the Bible Institute. While I was running I
heard a voice that called me by name, I turned around thinking
someone had called me from the second floor balcony but their was no
one their when I turned back around He spoke to me saying Americo I am
going to bring you back to this Institute to prepare you to serve me. I
remembered the promise I made the day I gave my life to the Lord and I
kneeled down their and said I was willing and open to obey his will.
Until this time I did not know how I was to serve the Lord. From this
moment I let go of all doubts and knew exactly how I was to serve Him.
In April of that same year just three months after being saved I
was accepted into the Bible Institute Betania. Where I studied for 4
year . Preparing to serve Him.
In 1995 I was a Youth Pastor in Philadelphia church.of the Assemby of
God. Of Peru. Where because of ministry jealousy from the Señior
Pastor I was invited to resign my position. He put all kinds of
obstacles in my path for future pastoral work. It was then that I
decided to take a full time seculer job , at this time I was married
with a 1 year old son. We then moved to Lima to live. We had been
living in Satipo. In Lima where I went to work I left the Lord for a
period of 2 years.These were very difficult times for me. During this
time I worked for my brother in law. Collecting fares on a bus. It was
during this time in the month of October early in the morning as I
was going to work on my route there was a Christian church which I
always looked at with a sad heart
we always passed this church, this early morning though we returned to
this same place at 6:00 am. In the morning and the church was on fire.
The fire was coming out in all direccions. When the Lord spoke to me
again saying: Americo what are you doing their on the bus? Did I not
call you to serve me? Look at my house? Did I not call you to guard my
house? At that very instant crying I decided to reconcile with the
Lord I asked Him to forgive me for not enduring the test and told
Him I was in His hands though I had quit serving. That same day I quit
my job and went home and told my wife what had happened. That day
was a Sunday and we went to church and spoke with the Pastor of the
church and repented. From that day on I have been in the service of
the Lord. Though there have been many difficult tests I have been able
to endure them. And with the help of the Lord I Hill continue serving
Him until He comes or He calls me into His presence