Yvonne Pirolo

Oh No! not me.

Adventures with God in Eastern Europe

"Sometime about the mid 1980s: The first time Yvonne and I met, she welcomed me warmly as if she had known me for ages. I was just a baby Christian. Yvonne was like a shining light, showing Jesus to me in everything she said and did. What a role model! She would regularly drive to several grocery and big box stores who donated their surplus food and supplies, load her station wagon so full there was barely room for her, then drive into Mexico and give it all to the needy. She led groups of Christians into Communist countries, which is not for the weak or faint of heart. When you add smuggling Bibles into that equation, you have a hero of faith. Those of us who are prayer partners watched in awe as God moved His hand again and again to protect Yvonne and her groups. I see Yvonne as a compass pointing true north, straight to Jesus."                                                    ~~~Wanda Miller

"For decades I have observed Yvonne's life of sacrifice. Her godly example of strength and devotion to the Lord has been inspiring to many. Her steadfast character has lived out Matthew 28:19, "Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Whether on the mission field or in her home this powerhouse woman has championed many for the kingdom of God."                                                                                                          ~~~Carmen Morales

"I have known Yvonne for over forty years. The thing that has linked us together is our faith in the Lord and our desire to serve Him. I believe she is a woman after God's own heart. She has a wonderful and warm ministry of hospitality. Their home is a resting place for many weary travelers. She is "quietly" strong, humble, caring, generous and loving. She is a good listener and has wisdom to share when asked. She and I have shared joys and sorrows, lunches and laughter, prayer requests and "girl talk". She is my friend and I treasure the times we been given for fellowship and sharing our faith walks with each other."         ~~~Lois Adams

Let me briefly mention five more major, totally out-of-my-comfort-zone experiences that I am sure helped to prepare me to lead ministry trips. Graduating from college: Our second son was born on a Monday. I had completed my first semester classes of my senior year early. I began my second semester six days after Greg was born! I graduated that spring.

Tupperware: I would “never” get in front of a group of ladies to sell this or any product. But I did, and I really enjoyed it. In fact, they wanted me to come on full time and be a regional manager. Teaching first grade: Yes, the students had run off two teachers by the end of the first semester. The church Board said, “It’s all yours!” My husband, as principal, helped a lot! A weekend in the jungles of Brazil: My husband and I were on a flight to bring supplies to two linguists. The float plane landed. I was helped onto the dock. My husband followed with a small suitcase in his hand. He calmly told me that I was staying with them for the weekend! I learned how to bathe in a dugout canoe in the river. I had to mark the trees with chalk if I wandered from the thatch-roofed hut or I would never find my way back.

Buy term and invest the difference: Yes, I also reluctantly but with the encouragement of our oldest son, began selling term life insurance. Again, though only working a few nights a month, I was soon awarded “Most Valuable Player” and asked to come on full time as a manager! It was great, until one evening God said, “This is your last appointment.”

Invited back to California by Chuck Smith, Neal started Maranatha Christian Academy, the elementary school for Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa. After two years, we are off again! We were invited to “please go and fill in an emergency education situation for Wycliffe in Brazil.” We were in Brazil within ten weeks after the invitation. During the two and a half years there, Neal was the principal, and I ran the group home where between 12-18 single people lived all the time. Was it uneventful? No! We all had hepatitis. Our son, Byron, drowned, but was miraculously healed. There was much demonic oppression, as the Macumba, "spirit-worshipers" put sacrifices at the gate of the Wycliffe center at night, in an attempt to put curses on the Wycliffe people.

Like my mother’s dream of living in one place her whole life, my husband had a dream of retiring from teaching at 65 and living out our retirement years in a sailing vessel in San Diego harbor. Well, we did get to San Diego, but it was for Neal to direct the San Diego School of Evangelism. I enjoyed teaching classes there. Later, Neal started Emmaus Road International, a missions resource agency for cross-cultural ministry. One aspect was a pre-field training program conducted in Tijuana, where we both taught. I think you are beginning to get the picture: One thing has led to another, and another! We began traveling together, visiting missionaries and then the time came for me to lead my first ministry team: “Oh no! Not me,” I yelled. You can read about my first trips, to Europe, in the book, OH NO! NOT ME.