Out of the Dust: Story of an Unlikely Missionary by Avis Goodhart – Interview with Collaborative Writer Marti Pieper

This week I’m privileged to interview Marti Pieper, a dear friend and collaborative writer who has put into words the story of a woman who surmounted huge obstacles in her life through a faith that grew through the challenges. By surrendering her life to God, Avis Goodhart not only became stronger herself, but eventually began to serve others and glorify God in powerful ways.

As a collaborative writer, Marti Pieper has used her passion to read, write and pray to help produce eight non-fiction books, including Out of the Dust, which received AWSA’s Golden Scroll Nonfiction Merit Award this past summer.

Linda: The title of your book intrigues me, Marti. Could you tell my readers how you came up with the title, Out of the Dust?

Marti: I wrote the book for missionary Avis Goodhart. Pacasmayo, the small city where her ministry is based, is a dusty place. Avis founded an orphanage, church, and school there, all built on top of a landfill. When I stayed there to interview Avis and others, I had to wear sunglasses whenever I went out—not because it was so sunny, but because of the constant dust in the air.

But the “dust” in the title is also a metaphor for the lives God has used Avis to bring out of brokenness. Her own background is a prime example of that. Her book also includes small stories of other lives God has brought out of the dust through her ministry.

A Faith That Overcomes

Linda: You say the author overcame personal obstacles. Could you tell us a little bit about that? How did her faith help her through them?

Marti: Some of the first obstacles Avis had to overcome began in her childhood. Her father loved her, but he suffered from PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) as a result of his service in World War II. As a result, the family made multiple moves—often with only a few minutes’ notice. Seven children and two parents traveled in one old car with all their belongings stuffed into the trunk and piled on top. One year, Avis and her siblings went to ten different schools.

Avis was also a victim of child sexual abuse and, like many in that situation, believed she was dirty and somehow at fault. But her faith in Christ helped her gain a new identity in Him and confidence in His power. Now, she reminds others that God can use them no matter what. One of her favorite sayings is, “Don’t waste your pain.”

Avis also experienced the pain of infidelity with both her marriages. Her teen marriage ended after eleven years, and she later remarried. But she soon realized her new husband struggled with alcohol and infidelity. One night, she sat on her bed, telling God she was ready to stop being a good girl. “I have the name (divorcée), why not play the game?” she thought.

But God had other plans. He showed her a movie in her mind of a woman fixing up house after house and trying to please man after man. None of those relationships worked, and Avis realized God wanted her full surrender. Once she gave Him her life and her plans, He restored her marriage in a miraculous way.

Linda: How did Avis’s background of pain lead her into mission work?

Marti: That’s another great story. Avis has dyslexia, and after she raised her children, she went to college and became a special education teacher so she could help others with disabilities. Her interest in missions began in childhood, but she didn’t follow up on it for many years. After she became a teacher, she started taking mission trips with her nieces in the summertime, traveling cross-country to tell others about Christ.

But God kept calling her to do more. She offered herself to various mission organizations, telling them she was available during summer break and would pay her own way, but she never heard back from any of them. Finally, at age fifty, she took her first mission trip with a friend and saw God use her in incredible ways. She then began taking mission trips on her own. Eventually, God led her to Peru, where she founded and built an orphanage, Casa de Paz (“House of Peace”) as well as a church and school.

A Faith That Reaches Out

Linda: How has her faith helped her in her ministry? Could you share a story from your book about this?

Marti: Avis’s strong faith is the reason she went to Peru—and all the other countries—in the first place. She’s an “unlikely missionary,” as the book’s subtitle describes her, because with her background as well as her disability, most people would not consider her a good missionary candidate. Avis not only has dyslexia but also suffered an attack of Bell’s Palsy which left permanent damage, so she had to leave the teaching profession. But God uses us as we make ourselves available to Him.

A great example of her faith and availability is told in Chapter 13, “Hurricane!” Before Avis founded the ministry in Peru, she served multiple times in Honduras. When Hurricane Mitch hit that country, she believed God wanted her to bring supplies for its victims from her hometown in Arkansas. Tyson Foods lent her a semi-truck and driver, and Avis solicited enough donations to fill the entire truck.

Despite many obstacles, she traveled on a shrimp boat to reach Honduras with the supplies during the final stages of the hurricane. First, the shrimp boat captain didn’t want her to come, but she prayed and persisted until she was signed on as a crew member. Next, she became terribly ill from the wind and waves. For three days, she lay in a cabin, almost unable to move. But once she felt better, the first thing she did was to have a praise party right there on the deck of the ship. The crew laughed at her, but Avis didn’t care. She knew she had to worship the great God who protected her.

Linda: That’s fantastic, Marti. What a a great story! I’m sure some people are wondering about your role as a “collaborative author.” Would you tell us a little about what this means and what your part was in writing Out of the Dust?

Marti: A collaborative writer is someone who writes books or other materials on behalf of others. The authors for whom I write often don’t have time or ability to write their own books. They’re usually busy running a ministry or traveling to speak. I love being the one who helps them put their messages or stories into print.

On a few of my book projects, I remain hidden—in other words, my name doesn’t appear on the cover. That’s called ghostwriting. But on this book and two others, my name is listed on the cover (“with Marti Pieper”), so I’m considered a collaborative writer.

Linda: Thank you so much, Marti, for telling us about Avis and her ministry. I pray that her story will encourage others to follow her example of faith. How can readers connect with Avis and with you?

Marti: They can connect with Avis through Facebook www.facebook.com/avis.goodhart or at her ministry’s website, www.go-yeministries.com. They can also see a video of Avis’s most recent appearance on 100 Huntley Street at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Iz9jKnGiN4.

They can find me at my website, www.martipieper.com, on Facebook, www.facebook.com/marti.pieper, or on Twitter, www.twitter.com/MartiPieper. Thanks so much for this privilege, Linda!