Peruvian Way

Pastor’s Conference II and more….

This month the Lord had open the door for us to have another Conference, for me it was a little different but was in a good way. Brad Lambert, the pastor from Calvary Chapel Living Hope (Oceanside, California) came and did a study on, “The Grace of God”. From what I heard from Albert and Brad it went good and from visiting with some of the pastor’s as I was there some of the time, it went awesome. Even river pastors from the last conference came back and with new one’s, it was cool to see the hunger for the Word of God.

For me I was only there for part of it, why? Well I got this big surprise, which I didn’t even see it coming. My friend Matt Carver had come down with the team and surprised me, and he actually pulled it off, I am proud of him for pulling it off. A little background with me and Matt, Matt every time he would want to talk to me about something or tell me something that he thought I didn’t know, well for some reason or another and some how I would already know. It drove him crazy, well maybe not crazy but always wondered how I always knew. So for him to pull this off and with me not knowing, I give him props, well done Matt.

So for the week they were here, sounds crazy but all I wanted to do was hang out. The cool thing also was that, that’s what was on Matt’s heart too, just hang out and fellowship like the good ole days. Just a little inside life of a missionary; the number one thing teams say when they come is, “I hope we are not a burden to you guys.” To be honest, yeah it does take time, sacrifices, less sleep, having to work around or change normal schedule’s, patience and etc… but in reality, at least for me, to just have the fellowship with other brother’s and sister’s in Christ who come and stay for a week or so, means the world to me.

When stepping out in faith and coming to Iquitos I knew it was going to be a challenge for me, why? B/c i was coming from a place where I was surrounded by fellowship non-stop. Not to say I don’t have fellowship here, cause I do. But with the fellowship I do have here is more like full time ministry. If I ever want to go out with friends and do something I am always the one who they look too, to pay, b/c they don’t have any money. But at times to be able to go out and not worry about that is like cherry on whip cream. Here’s an example; to just go to the movies or go out for coffee, or just hang out somewhere and not worrying about a thing, “well I can’t do this b/c… or I can do this but….” And your probably saying, “Well isn’t that what you signed up for, full time missionary?” Yes I did, and I know that the cost is great and hard at times and with it the Lord has blessed me so much, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy and that’s why I am still here, b/c of HIM! But with that, I had a great time when they were here, and always look forward to teams and people visiting, so come on down!

Not sure why I said all that, but hey there it is a daily struggle at times for a wee-little-bitty, but blessed, jungle missionary boy. Thanks Matt for the surprise, it truly was a blessing to have you and the team, as well for all the teams and prayer warriors who have come and been a blessing to us and the ministry, thanks!

Ok, now that we are all in tears, no j/k, lets move on to the next thing, Whoa, ready for this……

Once a Boy now a Man

You are probably laughing at this title but I just had to say it, so why a boy to a man. Well back in May my pastor and a few others came out to see the ministry here. Which we had such a great time of fellowship and ministry. But as my pastor being a Harley Davidson man and seeing that the main transportation here is motorcycle’s and motor car’s. Well, he told me that he had a project for me but I had to guess and that when I got it I had to give her a name. So I thought, “Ok, what could this be.” But of course after a few guesses he told me, that when going back home within two weeks and talking to the right people he could have enough money for me to get a bike.

Chevere, I thought (meaning cool in English), and sure enough the Lord had provided for me to get one. Now in all my life I always told myself that I would never get a bike, but after seeing the Lord provide and me not do a thing, I thought to myself, “Hey, if the Lord’s in it then so am I.” Well after getting my Carnet stolen (residence card) and having to wait for a new one and then after a month of just looking for the right bike, finally it came. It was like true love at first site, hahahaha j/k. But it was truly cool how for a little over a month I couldn’t do anything but wait.

And when I was going to buy the bike I thought I wanted which so many people have here, but then it was when I saw this new model that was caming out and only few people had them, I could count the people who had them on my hand, and it just happened that I had the right amount of money. But the thing was is that I had to wait another month for them to ship it, and then that month went by and found out that something went wrong with the shipment so I had to wait another month. You know they always say, “Good things come to those who wait.”

The day came when she was just sitting outside my house with the dealer that sold it to me waiting for me to return home from church, with the keys in hand. I thought to myself, “Wow, that thing is intense, and intense looking.” Someone who really has never really been a bike person, I keep thinking, “Wow” But after getting my license, insurance, and all, I began to get a feel for the bike and how to drive in a compact, fairly big, but crazy driving, island. Yeah, it never really hit me that I live pretty much on an island until I got a bike. If you ever want to just go on a ride to relax, think, cruise, well only one road to do that and its only 95 kilometers until you hit the next small city and then have to turn around b/c you are at the end.

So you are probably thinking what the name is for my bike, with picking a name of course it has to have meaning. So…….all in a nut shell, well for several years now, actually since coming back to Peru as a missionary in May of 2006, the Lord has blessed me with a great friend and not only a friend but even more now. Through much prayer, fasting, trails, and of our faith being tested, we have seen Him lead, guide and continue to as we hope for and believe one day will become more, but all in His timing. With that I decided to name my bike after Sandra’s nickname, which is “Chocolate!”

It has been such a blessing to have a ride and get to the places I need to go. And with going to church w/o having to take the over crowded buses, thats seats are to small for a white tall American, man it’s great. And of course all the boys in the youth love it and I’m always giving rides, mostly when going to from church, but I always love to help when I can.

Something I always say and joke around with the my youth boys now that I have a bike, is that, “I am becoming more Peruvian then American now,” I have a Carnet (residence card), a house, a bike, and a Peruvian motorcycle license, Wow! What next….?”

And to close with a prayer of mine , is that I would always be grateful for what the Lord has given me but as well, always use with caution what He has given me, that is of driving safe and not driving like all the other crazy people who do here.

Thanks to all for making this possible!!!

“But without Faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” -Hebrews 11:6-

Faith……..? Faith, such a small word but with great meaning and at times so hard to live by, why? I believe with the majority of us the reason’s are different; each situation, circumstance, and where were at with the Lord. As the Bible says, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) Faith as well I believe is a choice, a choice followed with actions. And that choice to believe in something we don’t yet see, and yeah at times it is hard. But as Christians that is how we are to live our lives, it is a daily life of walking by faith.

So to say, it seems to be a never ending, always learning, life challenging experience as we follow Christ; living by FAITH. Are we up for it, are we living it? For the past two months I felt like I have been challenged with walking by faith, where and who is my faith in?

At the beginning of the month we had a small group from Lima (Operation Blessings) who is apart of a ministry that goes around the world and helping churches where there is need for wells to be put in, to have clean fresh water, which in our case; Panguana. They were able to not only put in one but three and one in El Terminal. Also they came and did a huge Medical Clinic in Panguana and in Iquitos; with about 20 doctors and one dentist, and tons and tons of medicine that was given out to the people with there needs. With such a great turn-out with the Medical Clinic and seeing the need they came back a second time and went through-out the town of Iquitos in different parts teaching how to prevent from getting parasites and giving out pills that would kill whatever parasites they might have already, (which is big here with the way you see how some of the living conditions are.)

As most of you know my Spanish is not the greatest but I do get by with what I do know, by the grace of God. Well, with that I was faced this August with the challenge of teaching in Spanish while Albert went to Lima to study for two weeks. Just to note, Albert has been my translator when I teach at church, ever since I moved down here last June. So….. yeah, just me and Jesus!

I had the chance of teaching twice while Albert was gone. It was definitely challenging but rewarding at the same time as I drew closer to the Lord in my faith with Him. And even where I was at in the book of John as I have been teaching through, it was on “faith.” Funny how God does that, but what I saw was impossible but Jesus saw it differently. And funny thing now, “I’m about to do it again,” coming this November 10th, Albert is leaving for the states and I will be here by myself, so here we go. Scared? YES, but I know through and only through Him I can do it.

With a short break you could say of my faith being stretched, towards the end of the month we had a team from Calgary, Canada come and pour into the ministry here, mostly with the kids. It was such a sweet time of fellowship and to see willing hearts serve at whatever cost. The majority of the group were youth girls, some adult leaders and Pastor Quinn. They were able to do many kids programs, as well taught some of the street girls to make jewelry and later some of the guys on the team came and bought what they had made. We also had kids ministry on the blvd., many teachings at the church in El Terminal and an adventurous trip to Panguana.

After the team had left the Lord had opened the door for me to go to Lima, to visit friends, take a break from the ministry here, and run a race that I had been waiting for all year long (The Human Race, Nike+ 10k). With the sense of humor God has, not only had I been training for a race physically but I believe spiritually too. When arriving to Lima with the excitement of seeing friends and running this race, to later news finding out that there was a miss understanding and I got signed up for the wrong race, funny uh! Well at the time it really wasn’t. But crazy how in something you have been longing for so long has finally come, but yeah…….. this time it ‘s going to take a little testing, a little challenge, of……faith?

With favor from the Lord, and knowing someone at Peru Runners, who was an old student of mine from IPCNA (English program, where I had volunteered as a teacher at a conversation club, for them to learn English better). From talking to her and trying to do everything possible to run in the race, the only thing I could do is just sit and wait, yeah the number one thing most people don’t like to do, WAIT!!! So after two days of going crazy you could say and things running through my mind and at the same time the Lord teaching me what it means to trust in Him and only Him.

To be honest, my faith was little at this point, I was for sure thinking it was not going to be possible to run, and with the words of the lady at Peru Runners saying, “To be honest Jeremy, it is more likely impossible for this to happen, for you to run.” But then somewhere in the back of my head I was thinking, “yeah but the bible says, ‘nothing is impossible with God.” And with one day I had missed the finally day to sign up for this race, “go figure!” And so over and over again the Lord was speaking to me, “Jeremy, where is your faith, in Me or in man?” With anxiety, some peace, and little faith, I had finally gotten a phone call, “Jeremy call up at Peru Runners, the director of the race wants to talk to you.” “Wow, I thought, the big dude wants to talk to me, thats cool?”

And after telling him all what had happened his words were, “what size shirt to you wear?” “Large,” I said. “Well the only size I have left is XL, will that be fine?” “Yeah, I am sure that will work, (with a smile on my face.)” but really in my head I was thinking, “Heck yeah that will be fine!!!!” But trying to be as professional and calm as possible b/c I mean look at who I was talking to. And with 20 minutes to get up there before they closed, I picked up my shirt with great joy of seeing the Lord’s faithfulness in my life once again. And with the few minutes and words I had with the director of the race as I picked up my shirt, the Lord had opened a small window to share why I was in Peru and what I was doing and even what I learned just from this challenge.

From reading this, I don’t want you to think and say, “Wow, Jeremy! You da man, you did it!”

Just like all, I am a working process and there are so many more piece’s that needs worked on and put together. Someone once said, “Great faith, comes great challenges.” And this has been a prayer of mine that I would have great faith, but with that great faith comes those great challenges and with that challenge I am needing to put that faith in the One who is, “Da Man” the One who can get you through those great challenges and help you have that great faith, Jesus Christ Himself, the One who we worship and live for.

Let me put it this way, Peruvianly speaking (if that is a word), I am just a piece of rice in a bowl of chicken soup, (in regards to faith). But my prayer is that each day that my faith would grow, grow to be the size of the piece of chicken in that soup. And yes, I know what you are thinking, “What an analogy, Jeremy…..?” But hey, it sounded good at the time.

And your probably saying as well, “But the Word of God says, ‘that if we have faith as a mustard seed we can…….” But just think what we can do if we have faith the size of that chicken, Wow uhh!!!

Ok, maybe bad analogy, but it sounded good at the time. Laugh it up!!!!

But I am reminded of two words as I have been learning about faith, and that is….. “EXPECT BIG.” Why? Because we serve a BIG God!!!

May the Lord bless each and everyone of you!!!