Peruvian Way

“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!!!

“It is when we are at the end of our own, that we can enter into the riches of God’s resources. It is when we possess nothing, that we can possess all things.” -Smith Wigglesworth-

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20

In knowing that I am crucified w/ Christ and knowing what Christ has done for me/us why is it that we seem to always let the flesh get the best of us at times. More and more the LORD is teaching me to let go of my PRIDE, to let go of MY LIFE and to let God be God in my life.

Why is it that we struggle so much with that and not just let God do His thing?

We know that the bible says in Galatians 5:17a that, “the flesh lust against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another.”

So as we see, there is a constant battle going on even though we might not see it, it is happening. Christ has conquered sin, He paid the price that no one could do, and now as His children we need to do are part, fulfill the our role, to have the mindset that Jesus had when He was a boy, “Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business.”

Just this past week one of the street boys here passed away from having pneumonia, he was only 13 years old and as we went to the viewing some of the other boys that I know had asked me, “where do you think he is at now?” My one response was that, “only God knows.” But as thoughts went on in my head of what lifestyle he was in, “a 13 yrs old boy whose parents are alcoholic’s, one who lived on the streets with one of his younger brothers, one who learned and was raised how to survive living on the streets, whether stealing, lying, fighting or whatever it might take to survive and I am sure the list goes on…

All to say are we going to let life pass by w/o giving the LIFE that was giving to us. Christ has given us all something, what are we going to do with it? Are we going to let the life (busyness of this world), sin, pride or whatever it might be reign in us or stop us or are we going to do something about it? Or better put allow the Lord through us make that difference. Physically and spiritually souls are dying. Christians or non-Christians there are ones struggling, backsliding, hurting, wanting answers, and etc…

I pray that we would all, “let go and let God,” and when the world (the flesh) pulls may we (the power of the Spirit given to us) pull back. May we stand in what Christ has done for us, take what Christ has given to us, and live as what Christ has shown us.

Not trying to pound the finger on anyone but speaking from the heart and what the Lord is showing me, and what I myself need to do. And it is only by JESUS I can do this!!!!

On another note, I have been learning and mediating on I Peter 1:2 on the word sanctification and our role in it. A favorite Pastor of mine Britt Merrick that I like to listen to on the Internet said this about sanctification; there are 2 parts in our role of Sanctification.

1. Is Passive- Allowing God to do the work He wants to do!!! Romans 6:19c “Now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.”
2. Is Active- Flee from sin, our role is to cleanse our self, God is doing it in us but we got to engage in it.

Our position is in Christ, and God’s see’s us in Christ and He only see’s us through Christ, and who is Christ; spotless Lamb, blameless, etc… God see’s it that way and we need to see it that way too.

I like this quote from Britt Merrick, “We don’t feel holy but God made us holy!”

Not saying we are perfect but God has called us to be holy, so as it says in I Peter 1:15-16 “But as He who called you is Holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, b/c it is written, ‘Be holy for I am holy.”

PURSUE SANCTIFICATION!!!!!!

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6

As of March 31th, through much prayer and waiting on the Lord, Albert and I have finally found a house. “Praise the LORD“, for almost a year now we have been looking and waiting patiently on the Lord to guide us and direct us in where to go, waiting for that perfect house you could say. And when the first time I saw it I knew in my heart that is the one the Lord has for us.

We have been in there now for little over a month and have been so blessed, just this past month we were able to have the students come for there mission trip and stay with us and break in the new house you could say. It was such a blessing to be able to bless them with what the LORD has given us. Our heart is that as the Lord has blesses us we want to return the favor to others and bless them.

It is 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, an office, Kitchen, living room, dinner room, it has two little gardens, and on the 3rd floor we have a patio to where we can see all over Iquitos.

CCBC Lima, Peru Mission Trip to Iquitos!!!

On April 18-26 the Students from the Bible College came down for a week to help us with the ministry here. It was such a blessing for them to be here and encourage us and help us with what the LORD is doing here in Iquitos.

We were busy with dramas on the boulevard, kids programs, street evangelism, work on the new house, Panguana river trip, playing and loving on the street kids, visiting Belen (floating City), youth group, womans ministry, church and as well we had our 2nd year anniversary for the church.

It was so awesome to see the students and there willing hearts to get out of there comfort zone and serve the Lord. At times reallying stepping out in faith and trusting the Lord that He would equip them for what they had to do, even in moments that were all the sudden. As well the enemy was at work and we could see that he wanted to divide us but as the LORD was and is faithful He didn’t allow him to do that. The Lord had greater plans then what we thought or had.

We Had great times of worship, fellowship, sharing our hearts and what the Lord was speaking to us in, seeing people receive the Lord, streets kids being able to play and have fun and just being kids, and not having that burden of, “I have to work.” Just a little culture info with most of the kids here they have jobs which are on the streets whether that is to help make money for there parents or for themselves, and its sad to see that them working at times b/c in a way they are missing out on what it feels like to be a kid b/c they are working. So its always great to be able to play with them and make them laugh and have a great time, always letting them know that it’s ok to be a kid.

Over all just to say that the Lord was faithful!!! It wasn’t anything that we or the Students did but it was what He did through us. As long as we were willing to be used, He used us and it was cool to see the Lord do that.

“But w/o 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

As for me personally just in these past few months the Lord has been bring me back to the importance of intimacy with Him. A great teacher I love to listen to a lot once said that, “True ministry flows from intimacy.” I see that so much in my life as the Lord has placed me here, that if I am not in true intimate fellowship w/ Him then my ministry that He has given me is effected. I pray that I am faithful to what he has called me to do and that w/ all my heart that I might do it (I Timothy 4:5,7). Not for the glory of Jeremy but for the GLORY of our KING!!!

Praise Reports:
1. We found a house
2. Student mission trip and the fruit that was planted

Prayer Request:
1. Continually purity in the Youth group and how to lead them; teaching through Proverbs w/ them.
2. Started teaching Wednesday night services at the church, going through the book of John.
3. Ministry house
4. Furniture/etc… for our house
5. The team from my church coming this week (May 13-18) to see and help out with the ministry here!!! Safe trip and a blessed time.

Well praise the Lord I am safely home and didn’t get eatin by all the mosquito’s. My time to Panguana and my time there in Panguana was a time of adventure, fun, excitement, joy, hard work, and even life threatening. I bet i got you on your toes now, uh! Well let me explain, and just to warn you it might be long.

To start out with as I said I praise the Lord that I am safely home, all to say that after we loaded all the things on the boat to head out Thursday morning, just 10-15 minutes into our trip the motor caught on fire from a cable that broke and started to spark and caused the flame’s. At first i didn’t know what was going on, “We didn’t hit anything, the boat isn’t sinking…… OH MY! The motor is on fire.” All in the few minutes that this was going on, people screaming, kids and babies crying, people running to the front away from the motor (also keep in mind the more people up front the easier the boat will tip), I thought to myself, “Wow is this the way I am going to die, if this boat explodes, which any moment I was waiting for it to and just before it did I was going to jump out the window in the water that you would not want to jump into, or right when the flame was to big to control I was going to, but then I thought to myself, “what if i am to late, how will I know when to jump.” And then would I be able to help those who needed help, what about my family and friends, I don’t want them to deal with all this.” All these things were going through my head and more as the flame got bigger and waiting. And even at one point I asked my friend who was with me are you ready to go to heaven. Then shortly after that the flame was put out and a few boat’s were near by to help and see what was going on, which one was the Marines (which we were right in front of one of there stations).

After 30 minutes or so they checked the motor and yea sure enough it was toast, but we had another one on the boat so they said we could use that. Which some people just wanted to get off and go home for the day or get another boat, but we decided to go on. So we prayed and even the lady that was sitting next to me joined us in prayer for a safe trip.

I didn’t want to tell this story to scare anyone or for you to worry about me but to tell you and ask you are you TRULY READY? At any moment something could happen, whether on the mission field or at home, or wherever. Life is short and it could end at any moment. What is it that we are going to do? Are we going to fulfill what we are called to do, “GLORIFY our Father!” Making Him known wherever we are, or just go about our regular day that we always have?

“For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” -I Corinthians 6:20-

So Panguana, the trip was great we got there all in one piece, (hahahaha). There were about 8 men to help us carry the 25 bags of cement (42 kilos a piece), the wood, water, and supply’s. While we carried our bags, food, and etc… It was cool b/c we were able to bless them and pay them the work they did, which they are always looking for that and willing to work. And even through out the week we had others help and carry sand (about 150 or so lbs. w/ 30 minute walk) b/c we were short.

The work for us was fun and hard, working from sunrise to sunset. Mixing the cement by hand (no machines), laying the concrete, getting water which our supply was about 300 yards away (small river) using 5 gallon buckets to carry the water, digging a trench around the church for when it rains, digging a big 5’5″ whole for our trash and to add dirt for where we were short for leveling the ground, and probably now that whole will turn into our bathroom. But even while working we were playing around, making jokes, and taking a swim in the river with the kids as we filled the buckets, searched for fruit to eat, and just enjoying the time.

As well it was fun playing with the kids and seeing them help us, carrying dirt, washing our dishes, getting some fruit for use to eat (since they knew all the good spots), swimming in the river with us, or just entertaining us.

The FOOD! I did survive and didn’t even have to eat fish, well when they eat it I just made something else. But it was pretty good cooking overall, mostly chicken, lots of rice, chicken soup, yuca, fruit, and good ole peanut butter jelly and some other snacks that I brought. But when in need of food, you can always count on PJ sandwiches.

So the night time, it was great got cleaned up about 6 or so, set up or mosquito nets, talked for a bit and then went to bed about 7:30-8:00, not much else you can do in the dark. Then about 5 or 6 the next morning we got ready put our bed mats and mosquito nets up and headed back to work again.

And finally on Thursday night right before the Adult service started we finished the floor of the church.

Over all was a fun trip, full of memory’s I will never forget and am glad that I was apart of.

“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ”
-I Corinthians 3:11-

Jeremy

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“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
-I Corinthians 3:11-

As of this Monday me and three other guys from our Church will be heading to Panguana (river ministry) to lay the foundation of our new church that we are building there. Praise the Lord that He has provided for us to build the Church and the ministry house.

If you could pray that the rain doesn’t hold us up, b/c right now is the rainy season and it has been raining a lot. As well we will be carrying 20 bags of concrete, concrete tools, wood for the frame, food, clothes, sleeping stuff, water, etc, etc. And for some of you who know or have been to Pangauna know that it is a 30 minute walk  from the river. As well there will be about 5 or more guys, plus us to help carry the things to the church where we will be working, and what a blessing that will be for them to help.

Are time there will be 4 days and as always we will stay and help out for the Thursday ministry that we have there every week with the kids and the adult service. We will return to Iquitos Thursday night and arrive Friday morning at about 3am.

If you could please pray for us and all the little details that the Lord might put on your heart to pray for while we are gone. As well for Albert and Pastor Jose b/c they will be staying back here in Iquitos, yea i know, “What Wimps”, “The older you get the more fragile you are”, no just joking. But yea they will be staying back and continuing the ministry here in Iquitos.

Thank you all so much for your prayers, I will update you on how things went when I get back.

Much love and blessings,
Jeremy

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