Peruvian Way

Grace Church

Just before heading back to Lima were our baby will be born, we had a great time with a team from my home church in Amarillo, Texas. Not only were they blessed but Sandra and I as well were blessed and encouraged. It was cool to see a bunch of youth come to a foreign country not knowing the language yet stepping out  in faith and allowing the Lord to use them.

It was a busy week for us but all worth it. The two main events that we did were a youth camp and a marriage conference. They both were a blessing for all… For the youth camp we had 60 kids all together and 2 days of fun; teachings (taught by James Grizzle youth pastor at Grace), worship, fellowship, lots and lots of prizes, games, FOOD and etc… The youth were from 4 different churches; one from El Terminal, the other from Pastor Javier’s Baptist church, our ministry in Ucayali, and Albert’s ministry in Belen.  We all left w/ great memories and new friends…

The marriage conference we believe was life changing for lots. We had about 15 couples and some singles as well, it was a great turn out. Paul and Laura Grizzle held the conf. and taught from Ephesians 5, for many of them it was their first time seeing how to treat their husbands and wives as Christians. How to respect and love each other, how to wash your wife w/ the Word of God, how to submit, how to pray with each other, and etc. For them to hear all this was so cool, marriages were touched and changed FOREVER…!!!

We also did children ministry in Belen and Panguana, as well we had time for dramas on the blvd. And the cool thing with that was for most of them, it was their first time to evangelize. And even though they didn’t know the language the Lord still used them…. w/ faith all things are possible!

Even though it was busy for us through out the whole week, we truly were blessed by all and had such a great time of fellowship. Thank you all…..!!!!

Baby

After the team left we got to work and packed things away and stored it all in a storage and headed to lima. When getting to Limaafter a few days we had a surprise… What we thought was going to be a normal check up for Sandra and the baby ended up us staying in the hospital for 6 days due to early contractions.

We are home now, praise the Lord!!!! Sandra is good and so is the baby… but it was a bit shock for us!!! Now being home Sandra has to be on bed rest. Please pray for Sandra and Eliya (?) Nona Swan (this is the name we are thinking of), that she stays in until her due date, Sept. 18th.

We are so excited and can’t wait for this lil’ blessing, see how she looks and all the great memories we will have…

Thank you all for your prayers and support and for our soon to be baby girl…!!!

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”                -Matthew 28:19-20

For some time now the Lord has put on my heart to start a ministry more near the central area of Iquitos.But I didn’t know when, how, where, etc…. what I did know was that if the Lord wanted it to happen, He would do it….

And with that, after coming back from our honeymoon to Iquitos we saw one door was closing for me as a youth pastor at the church in El Terminal…. At the time we had no idea what we were going to do but of course He did, so we trusted and waited upon Him, and sure enough that door started to open for us to start a little ministry more in the central area.

So with giving it into prayer to the Lord, as of late January the door was opened. The Lord had put on our hearts to start a bible study and see where He would take it, right now we are meeting in someone’s house, but in the future we are hoping for a more permanent place; as the Lord leads and provides. On Friday’s we have the bible study, which I’m going through the book of John. Sunday’s, Sandra is doing a woman’s study, and as of right now she is going through the fruit’s of the spirit. And on Tuesdays we have a prayer meeting.

During the times we meet we try and make it a bit fun for them;  we have them memorize verses, play games (regarding the bible), and even dared them with the challenge of memorizing all the books of the bible. Which pretty much all of them did and through our support, we were able to take them all out to eat who did it.

As well with starting this ministry our eyes have been more opened to the needs of the people here. Where we have the ministry is in one of the poorest area’s of Iquitos. And with that we have seen lots of the needs from the people around us.And two of which I want to share with you, and how we have been able to help.

There is a huge need for education here, most of the people here have not finished school. One, either by just not caring and skipping out, or b/c they didn’t have enough money to go to school… For someone to be in school you have to have a full uniform, all your school supplies, and of course transportation. And for people who only make $5 a day (more or less), I believe all those requirements are to much. But who am I to say.

And as the Lord has given to us we have been able to give back to Him through helping others. Which two of the boys who go to our ministry wanted to go back to school and with them not having enough money for much of anything, we were able to pay for their uniforms…!!!!

Our prayer is that they would continue to have that desire to finish school and others to followtheir example in that. And for the fear of the Lord to truly be on their hearts and for that to spread to others around them.

The second thing that we have been blessed with is that of encouraging couples. What I mean by that is ones that are living together but not married. Which here in Iquitos there is a lot of, a bondage that covers this city; fornication. And even within the churches there is a lack of conviction in this area. Reasons that I have heard or seen over this is that; not enough money to get married, scared of commitment, immature, lacking of documents, lack of conviction of sin, and etc…

But little by little we have seen the Lord work and as of right now we are helping a couple who has that conviction of wanting to make things right, and get out of sin. So hopefully soon we will see a wedding….

All and all to say that the Lord is still at work… we might be nothing but He is not!!!!

If you are wondering as well how Sandra and the baby are doing, well….??? They are good, thank the Lord. Each day we are getting more excited and can’t wait to be parents. Her nauseous stage is pretty much over, and the growing stage is here, more and more, little by little it’s looking like there is a baby inside!!! If you could continue to pray for good health for them both and a smooth labor.

Just this week as well we had two teams come and help in the ministry here. One from Alberts church, CC Murrieta and the Students from Lima at the Bible College. We had a great time with them all. If you would like to see pictures go to my photos and check them out…. In the next update I will tell you how it all week.

Thank you all for your commits, prayers, and support…

“He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”  I Thess. 5:24

Faithful- one who is true, sure, worthy of trust, one who shows themselves faithful. There is no other name then He Himself, who is faithful… JESUS!!!!

In these past several months I have seen the faithfulness of the LORD in my life. Even when I haven’t been faithful He remained faithful, even in my doubt’s of wondering, “where is He,” He was faithful and will always be faithful.

He is one who is so true, so loving, one who is a Father to the fatherless, a King to who is in need of a King, a Redeemer of one who is in need of being redeemed, a Savior to one who is in need of a Savior, One who is faithful even when we aren’t. He is…. our JESUS!!!!

So with that, here is a quick view of what the Lord has been doing in the ministry here…

IBCC Student Mission Trip:In April we had some of the students from the Bible college come and help out. We saw the Lord use them in many ways. Since we had such a big group we were able to divide the team at times and allow some of them share not only at our church but at Pastor Javier’s church, (Baptist Pastor) a good friend of Albert and I’s. They were locked, loaded, and ready to go for what the Lord had. Through all the evangelism, drama’s, hanging out with street kids, visiting Belen, Panguana, and sharing at the church, I can say that seeds were planted, lives were touched, and turned around. 

El Terminal: Through thick n thin, through trails and blessings, I have seen the Lord at work in our church. Not only in the church but for me personally as well. But when the Lord is at work the enemy is always right there as well trying to destroy. When coming back from the states I saw just that, him at work… and the words that keep coming to me were, “Jeremy, tend My sheep, go after them.” And even today the enemy is still at work, but I am reminded of these words that were spoken to Judah and Jerusalem in II Chronicles 20:15,17 “Do not be afraid nor dismayed b/c of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” “You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you…. Do not fear or be dismayed…for the LORD is with you.”

One, don’t be afraid or dismayed at what we see. Two, the battle is not ours. Three, don’t fight but allow the LORD to fight for you. Four, Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you. So does that mean we are off the hook, are we free to go… Heck No!

He is still at work and so are we!!!!

Just a quick update:
Albert, continues to pour out to the kids in Belen and wherever there is a need he is always there with a willing heart to help. He’s also been on the rivers a bit inviting Pastors for our up coming conference here in June.
Jose, continues to teach on Wednesdays and Sundays, he is going through the book of Daniel and Exodus.
Raul, who is fairly new to the church here, but has been a blessing in leading worship and going to Panguana, and covering for Jose or I when needed.
For me I am still going through the book of Proverbs with the youth. With my discipleship group I am currently reading through the book, “Why grace changes everything” by Chuck Smith, as well going with Raul to Panguana.

Panguana:
But due to the river being to high, for the past 5 weeks we haven’t been to Panguana, which soon in these weeks we hope to return. Traveling in a small canoe at night time, not knowing whats looking at you or what’s praying for as they are about to eat you, doesn’t sound to fun to me. Definitely adventurous but not to fun, so we have decided to wait till it is safer to go.

But the last two times we did go we were able to paint the church and the pastoral house next to it. I was more in favor of the natural jungle look but it turned out pretty good, they love it so i love it.

Every time when going back I see the kids getting older and older and more and more I pray that as they do grow up that they would take to heart all that they have been taught and heard. That the more they mature in age the more of an understanding of who God is would mature as well.

The Youth:
If you could continually keep the youth in prayer, the enemy really has a stronghold on them here and has even gotten a hold of some in our youth group. It has been hard at times seeing this, but I know that He is FAITHFUL and knows what is going on. The battle is not over….!!!! The words reside in my head, “Jeremy, feed My sheep…”

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!!!

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” II Timothy 2:15

River Pastor’s Conference:
A team of three pastor’s from the states, one from Calvary Chapel Joshua Springs and the other two from Costa Mesa came and held a conference with about 20 river pastor’s.

The conference was 3 days of just none stop listening, learning and applying, it was so cool to see these guys who live out in the middle of nowhere, with very little or even no resources of material to study with, but the Bible. Within the three days the three pastor’s taught them IBS (Inductive Bible Study), showing them how to study the bible, applying it to there life’s and then how to teach it to there congregation; book by book, chapter by chapter, verse by verse. Then they went taught through I & II Timothy, showing them as pastor’s to lead a church through the life of Timothy and Paul. And with encouragement to continue in what the Lord has for you, to be faithful in the ministry where the Lord has you. We also went through two small books, one written by Chuck Smith and the other from a man that was discipled by Chuck.

It was such a blessing to see the face’s of the pastor’s that we had invited, to see them light up and to see how much they were into all the studies that we had, notes after notes I could see them taking, and even three boys from my youth group came out and helped with the conference but as well was sitting in on the session’s and was very cool to see them so attentive to what was being said.

After the conference the pastor’s for filled spiritually and ready to go out and share with what the Lord had shown them, they were also blessed with materials, a study bible to take back, the two books that we had read, notes upon notes, and a Matthew Henry Commentary, and a certificate saying what they had completed this curse of studies. When they saw all these things given to them, the smile and looks on there faces were amazing. It was like a miracle had happened, it was the hand of God that all this came to pass and for them to go back full not empty handed!!!

YSOM (Youth Summer of Missions):
From the being of summer and on we have been so busy with team after team, which I am not complaining b/c I love it when they come, “FELLOWSHIP here we come,” is what I say. It is always a joy to have teams and for them to be apart of the work that the LORD is doing and for them to see it first hand.

With that, each year the english pastor in Lima, Rick Heilman leads a group of youth kids from all over the states for a 6 week program here in Peru. They go all over Peru to the different Calvary Chapel’s that the LORD has started and has them come along side each missionary/pastor that is there and puts the youth to work. Whether that be doing drama’s, kids programs, street evangelism, concerts, teaching, and etc… It really is a hard work but I know from the testimony’s of it that you go back not the same!!!

From what I have seen it is a time for them to get out of there comfort zone, there daily usual routine, and let the Lord stretch, and even stretching to the point of brokenness and with open eye’s to reality and to what the LORD can do if we are only willing to surrender all.

Last year we had the YSOM here in Iquitos and we had a huge purity conference with the youth, which was awesome. This year we actually had two teams come at the same time but working together, one was the YSOM and the other was a group of youth from Rick’s church. It was the Largest team we have had, if i remember right it was about 35 I think all together. And most of them all stayed at our house, it was wild, crazy but sweet.

With so short amount of time of knowing if the team was coming or not and us planning things, it was cool to see how we all just put our wants aside and watched the Lord work through us. From doing drama’s, evangelism on the boulevard, ministry with the street kids, kids ministry in Belen, ministry at the church (kids, adult and youth), and our river trip to Panguana.

With so many of them, Me and Albert thought to our selfs, “What are we going to do?” But with the work of the Lord and His faithfulness, everyone had a part in something and was used by the Lord in some way. With many members, yet one body we all had a part, and even to see that at times some didn’t think they were able to do something but with the help of the Lord it was done.

If we only put our trust in the Lord and allow Him to have His way then I believe that is when we will start to see how the Lord can use us in mighty ways that we would never of thought. It’s that of putting our faith in the Lord, trusting that He is going to pull through, even when we don’t understand it or see it. For we walk by FAITH and not by site!!!

River Trip 2:
On our second river trip we added one more person, a friend of mine (Mike Lidinsky) that was an intern for a year at the Bible College came out for almost two months to help along with the ministry, to his surprise we had just the trip for him to break him in, our second river trip.

We were on a 14 hour boat ride back out to Requena where we would start and go further up on the Ucayali river inviting pastor’s. We now went with just a little bit more experience from the last trip but didn’t know what to expect as before, totally just walking by faith and waiting on the Lord for open door’s. It was crazy b/c we thought we would be out on the river the next day when we arrived but to our surprise we didn’t leave Requena until after 3 days of staying there. We had visited more pastor’s there and even got to share at a church, but our main focus was out on the river.

But let me tell you, waiting in a town that really had nothing exciting to it but the river, was quite the experience and Mike could tell I was ready to leave; ready to get out on the river and start the adventure. I am an outdoor person, so for me to just sit and wait in a hotel for three days was a little challenging. But I made it through and with good ole Mike teasing me about it, how I just waned to get out but couldn’t, it was like hurry up and wait. But don’t worry I got him back plenty of times when we stayed a couple of days out in the middle of nowhere and for him that was stretching b/c it was his first time in the jungle but for me and Albert we were used to it.

So after waiting to see what the Lord had us do we decided to go another day up river on a big boat to a town called Juancita and then from there cross over the Ucayali river to a little village called Berlin, out in the boondocks as us Texans would say. There Albert knew of a pastor and had not visited him for several years so we thought we would go and tell him about the conference we were having and encourage him and the church.

When arriving it was a big surprise for him to see us, him and his family welcomed us in there little hut house and that is where we stayed the night with our mats and mosquito nets. For our meals we had soup, and soup and more soup, that seemed to be the meal for the week I guess. Our time was three days, fellowshipping with the pastor and his family, some of the community, teaching at there church, playing and having a kids program for the kids. Learning truly how it is to live with nothing in the middle of nowhere, as I was there and observing how they live, it blew my mind in the faithfulness of the Lord and how they live off the land to survive; from eating to building there houses. As well me and Mike got to go fishing with some of the boys, and we caught……, well you could say bait.

The traditional friendly welcome to the jungle is of course the mosquito’s, here they were more fierce and bug spray, yeah forget about that, it seemed with some of them it didn’t even faze them. Mike had a great time with learning how to live with bugs everywhere and spiders the size of almost your hand crawling and starring you down as you get ready for bed and even so curious that one decided to crawl into is bag.

We also had the chance for us to take a little canoe to a village that was 1 1/2 hours away with paddle’s but with a motor 15-20 minutes maybe if that. It was so funny seeing three Americans rowing a canoe up a river that was pretty big and with not much experience, we were going from one side to the other but praise the Lord no one was watching. And yes we did make it to the community but that was with getting stuck once in the mud and it coming up to my thigh.

After our 3 days we decided to head back, we got on a boat at 4am from Juancita that would take as all the way back to Iquitos, (36 hour boat ride). It was a lot of sleeping in our hammocks, reading, listening to music and walking around in circle’s, I mean what else can you do.

Our plan was to visit village to village but God had other plans, but along the way back Albert was able to hand out flyer’s for the conference at every stop as they picked up more passenger’s. Not fully understanding why it went the way it did but I know it was blessing for us and the Pastor in Berlin as we were there to come along side him and encourage him in the faith. Even if we only invited one pastor it was worth it. I am reminded of the story where, “If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?” Not to say this pastor was straying, but I could tell that he needed encouragement and the Lord knew that, He knows us, He knows our needs, our weaknesses, and our strengths, His timing is always perfect.

For me these two trip’s were amazing and will never forget them, I will always treasure them and know that it was all the Lord!!! Even if at times it was hard I can still praise Him and know that He was in control the whole time.

“My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD, and all flesh shall bless His holy name forever and ever.” Psalms 145:21

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:19-20

River Trip 1:
The adventure begins, the first 3 weeks in June Albert and I heading out on the river inviting river Pastor’s to our conference that we were having in July.

Our first trip was 8 days, we started with an 1 1/2 taxi ride to a city called Nauta, which just an hour in a boat from this city is were the Amazon river begins. But we headed the opposite direction, on the Maranon river. Not knowing what to expect, or come across or even see, we just walked by faith and waited to see what doors the Lord would open for us. We didn’t have a boat to travel on the river or really didn’t know any of the villages that had churches, so the first night we stayed in town and went inviting Pastor’s and asking them if they knew of anyone that would let us borrow a boat to travel up the river on, and if they knew which villages had churches at.

All by the grace of God and His faithfulness, He provided a boat the next day for us. B/c traveling up river it took all day to get to the point were we wanted to start and then from there go down river inviting the Pastors, village by village. When arriving at our point with it already being dark with the stars so bright and beautiful, we decided to call it a night at a village that looked safe enough for us to stay the night in our boat. With our hammocks and mosquito nets set up we sleep the night away, not the best sleep or most comfortable but it was good.

Then our adventure started as we heading down river and inviting as many pastors as possible, By the end of the trip we had invited about 30 pastors maybe, even had a service at a town that didn’t even have a church but the whole town came out and listened to the word of God and then the following day we had a kids program for them before we headed out. It was such a blessing to see the hunger of the Word of God!!!

The whole time I keep thinking to myself, I can’t believe I am doing this, who would of ever thought I would be doing something like this, but only by God am I able to. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Through rainy cold days (“cold”, Yes, who would of thought in the jungle, COLD, yeah it was pretty cold), mosquitoes eating you alive, right when 6pm came around, sleeping and traveling on a boat all day, missing normal food not like canned tuna every day, sleeping but not great, missing your bed, a nice shower, not speaking of jungle bath in the river that is already dirty. But that compared to what we all experienced was nothing; doing the every thing the Lord has called us to do, watching pastors light up as they see two Americans, well one at least the other American/Peruvian (Albert) but to see the excitement, joy, and the warmth they had in welcoming us as we invited them, and learning not not to walk by faith but drink by faith as well, we were offered drinks at some of the houses as we visited them and we didn’t want to offend them so…..yeah chug, chug. And with the beauty of God’s creation, the landscape, the stars, animals and etc… it was amazing. And to know there were things He did that we don’t even know about or even saw, but He was, is, and is still working!!!

After visiting around 20 villages and 4 different rivers we ended up in a city called Requena off the Ucayali river and stayed a couple of days inviting pastors and waiting for our boat to take us back to Iquitos (Our boat- a big passenger boat that can be up to six floors) Requina-Iquitos 14 hours.

At the end of the trip I felt like I had experienced, and learned so much from the Lord. It’s funny how you think you can be so far away from things and think you can escape the things of the world, trials temptations, worry, and etc… but what I learned is “NOPE”, they will always be there, but what will I do with those things as they come my way? I have got to stand on the Word of God and know that what I go through is all for that of growing closer to the Lord.

“But we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulations produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope….”

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” Ephesians 3:20

I remember the first time the Lord gave me this verse, it was when I was praying about coming down to Peru and studying at the Bible College. All sounded good but with so many details i was short in; Passport, money, plan ticket, my acceptance letter from the college, and etc… But it was when i was praying for all these things that the Lord gave me this verse Ephesians 3:20, and as i took this verse i stepped out in faith and trusted the Lord that He would fulfill His promise to me and He did.

And now I am reminded of this verse again from the Lord as I continue to see His faithfulness in my life. Just this month the Lord gave me the opportunity to go to Lima and visit friends and to be able to take a short break from the ministry, but my main visit was to pick up my team from my home church. My pastor and 3 others came down to see the ministry and see all what I have been involved in these past 3 1/2 yrs (Pastor Bill, Scott, Patricia, and Madison).

With so little time we were able to pack in so many things, First day was a visit at the Bible College where I studied when I was a student and did a year internship and a tour around down town Lima.

Then early in the morning the next day we headed for Iquitos with a busy schedule of visiting Belen (floating city, poorest area here), teaching at church Wednesday night, leaving for Panguana the next day and staying the night there, doing a kids program and a night service with the adults. Returning the next day and having youth group/youth party at our house, and then the last day visiting our zoo (Quistachocha), a place to relax and hang out.

For me it has been a blessing to have my church here as they have supported me all these years, with so much through; the prayers, the love, and of that sending me out into the mission field, and with so many others as you yourself. But for them to see the work first hand was awesome and not only a blessing for them but for me to, having them here and being apart of the work that the Lord is doing.

It was cool to see them get a little taste of Jungle life, bugs everywhere, mosquito’s wanting that fresh sweet American blood, bats flying around, swimming in a river which you have no idea whats in it, swimming with a bunch of naked jungle kids having the time of there life as they jump on you and use you as a jungle gym, from eatting weird fruit that looks like boogers, and of course that of getting out of your comfort zone and just having to trust the Lord.

But all to say is this, Ephesians 3:20; as the Lord gave me this verse 3 1/2 yrs ago and again when my team came He reminded me of it again, “I Am still not done blessing you Jeremy.”
To my church coming out here after praying so long for it all to happen, to the fellowship we had, the fellowship they had with some of the street boys, and all the things the LORD put on there hearts to help out in the ministry here. Words can’t describe what a blessing it was, with all to say, “to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

“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

I have seen these past few months the Lord has definitely been trying my faith… showing me how and who to put my trust in. That no matter what happens, no matter what you go through, no matter how hard things get, no matter how tough the spirirtual warfare is, no matter how impossible it seems; Jeremy, “Trust in ME.”

First off, sorry for not updateing everyone in all the things that have been going on here, which soon I will get those updates out b/c the lord has done great things this summer and so much has happened that I want you all to know about,  but right now I would like to share a little bit of what the Lord has doing in me right now.

This summer has honestly been the toughest but as well some of the greatest times with the Lord personal. I have felt so much spiritual warfare, attacks from the enemy, but all along the Lord has been right by my side, His hand wide open, loving, and gracious through it all, as well with all the prayers that all of you have giving out.

Truly, “Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life…” difficult is the way that leads to life; eternally speaking. Something we don’t see but hope for and what we hope for we believe by faith. Before we hitting that end goal; eternal life, we go through things we don’t understand, we hit difficult times we don’t like, whether trials, persecutions, testings and etc… all for the better but at the moment of it all we think for the worse until afterwards we sit and say, “oh now I see why.”

It’s funny how when going through all this, it seems like you are at the end of your life you can’t go on but then right when you are at that point, God comes in and lifts us up, what we thought, He forgot about us, He was truly there but just seeing and desiring for us to put our faith and trust in Him. All God wants is our hearts and for us to believe and trust in Him; to give complete control of our lives to Him. If He is the one that created us then why can’t we trust Him in with our lives?

In these months the lord has really gotten a hold of my heart, truly in a place of brokenessbefore Him. It seems that trial after trial has come my way and as well with the enemy at my foot steps pulling me ever which way, with my thoughts, with my actions, my pride, and so forth… Really it has shown me what an ugly dude I am and how much of a SAVIOR I need and His grace.

So why was the Lord having me go through so much, why do we always go through trials…? “But may the God of all grace who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.” I Peter 5:10

For me personally, I felt He wanted to break me (Psalms 34:17-19) and allow me to see how much I need to put all my trust in Him, no matter what, and to grow spiritually in my walk with the Lord and in character.

A short story and prayer request to close with, Albert left for lima Sunday the 3rd for a class, a team of three were coming on the 4th to help out here for a week and one of them was going to help translate for when me when I teach while Albert was gone. Yeah, well that didn’t happen b/c they had missed there flight thinking it was in the afternoon when it was in the morning, and there tickets are non-refundable. 

Then that night after going to bed b/c I had to get up early to leave at six to go to Panguanafor a huge Medical Clinic that we were helping with, 20 doctors, a dentist, nurses, tons and tons of medicine to give out, and evangilism. Well the night before i got a call from Pastor Jose telling me I can’t go, there is no more space. Man was I bummed but I thought to myself, “well the Lord knows why. Maybe I need to stay back and study for Wednesday, since I am going to have to teach in Spanish for the first time, b/c Albert is in Lima and that team didn’t make it.” So I said, “Ok,” but really in my heart wanting to go. After that I went back up stairs and said to the Lord, “Why Lord, what next are you going to bring my way now, I’m waiting.”

Through the summer of getting hit hard spiritual, to now the team not coming (which it was a missionary from Lima and two others), not having someone to translate for me on Wednesday night, Saturday night and the following Wednesday night, to not going to Panguana for this huge event, and…. well so I went to bed after that and woke up to what I thought was my alarm going off at 5:30am, but was the door bell ringing, and ringing, and ringing. To find out it was Pastor Jose saying, “Jeremy you got to go with me, I need you there with me, no matter if there is space or not, we will work it out.” So told him, ”I have not idea what to do, with all that has happen lately, so you tell me what is best, should I stay back and study for church or do I need to go.” And of course his answer was, “go.”  So I went and had an awesome time, (another update on that.)

Then to my surprize when coming back that night I got a huge headache so went to bed shortly after eating dinner. But the next morning I woke up to major stomach problems, yeah the joys of being a missionary. So I toughed it out that day b/c we had another Medical Clinic but was in Iquitos and I was helping them with it, but thank the Lord I was surrounded by doctors and medicine was able to take some. I was good the whole day but still in pain at times but took it like a man, hahaha, until I got home.

Didn’t got to church which I was supose to b/c I was  teaching but Jose told me that I could stay home and rest which I really needed it b/c of my stomach and he was going to just have a time of prayer with the church which went good, but for me on my part, yeah another story. Up till 1:30am, pretty much living in the bathroom until the pain was so bad that I thought I should go to the hospital, don’t forget I am home alone. Praying, asking the Lord what to do, really couldn’t think much or even the thought of trying to get to the hospital b/c of the pain. But then all the sudden everything that I had in my stomach and what felft like my brains coming up… and out…., if you know what I mean without getting into details. And with relief I praise the Lord with only a little pain but not to much to where I couldn’t sleep, I was able to sleep till the morning.  So as I said before, ”What next Lord…” (Side not, who wants to be a missionary? hahahaha)

So as of this Saturday through all those crazy events, I am left here with one thing, that is of trusting the Lord. Why? B/c the Lord has left me with no translator but only HIM and for the first time I am having to teach in spanish by myself, of course I have shared the gospel and lived everyday living in spanish here but when coming to teaching that I haven’t done yet. Thinking to myself, “there is no way I can do this,” and that’s right I can’t but God can. So with excitement and nervousness the Lord has put me in a place to where I have to Trust in Him, my faith needs to be in Him. 

So if you could pray for me Saturday night with the youth, and as well Wednesday night with the church as I teach. With the word’s of Paul I cling to,“And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”   I Corinthtians 2:4-5

As crazy as this email might sound and everything in it, just to say that God is at work and continue’s to work no matter what. May we all allow the Lord to work in us and have His way in us, all for the glory of our KING!!!

Thanks truly for everything!!!