http://www.peruvianway.com

My welcome home presents, but first I need to start out with how I got these wonderful presents. So on December 17, 2007 I had the opportunity to go and visit my family for the holiday’s after being in Peru for a year and a half, with excitement and nervousness I finally arrived to the US. My first stop was to Austin, Texas where some of my family and friends live. It was a great visit seeing all of them and the work that the Lord is doing there. As well seeing how much my niece and nephews have grown up and having a fun time playing with them. Also I was able to cook a Peruvian meal for them with the help of my oldest sister, which it turned out great, praise the Lord! Then

On Friday the 21st me and my brother made a road trip to Amarillo, Texas to visit the rest of my family. After an 8 hour ride we finally arrived home 2:30am. And with my first welcome home present well of course seeing my parents, and then wokiong up to snow as you can see in the picture above; I was so happy I jumped on my brother. Then another welcome home present came, my parents just moved into a new house not to long ago this year so me and my brother helped my mom move some furniture into the house, how nice of us uh, what are kids for!

Then Sunday came, the day where the Big present came. As I woke up with excitement ready to go to church and see everyone, I came across this pain in my stomach which living in Peru I am so used to so I didn’t think of anything about it. But then during the whole time while at church not being able to consentrate I was still in pain, thinking to myself, “OK this is not normal.” After talking to one of the doctors that attends our church he recommended taking medicine for parasite’s. But when getting home the pain was different from this morning and telling my mom that this is usually not how I feel when I have stomach problems. So as my parents went into doctor mode (both are nurses) they did some tests to see maybe if it was my appendix. And sure enough after waiting 7 hours or less in the hospital waiting for results to come back I found out I had appendicitis. Which just last year during this time too my brother had his taken out as well. And so at 9:00pm I had an open appendectomy (surgery). At 10pm I was in my room all drugged up and feeling like I got bet up. As the the next day came which was my Birthday, what a present uh, a day in the hospital. Anyways after waiting for the Doctor visited me to see if I was ready to go home I developed a large Hematoma (bleeding from on the inside where they did surgery) almost the size of a baseball, and yea it hurt. So waiting longer for the Doctor to come back in and reopen the incision, but this time I was await and watching him. (Might get a little detailed here) Getting stabbed several times with two different needles, getting blood sucked out of me where the bleeding was on the inside causing the hematoma, having a BBQ with my flesh, as the Doctor said (used some kind of burner to close the whole where I was bleeding from), and getting stitched up again. Yea, hello pain all over again. But praise the Lord everything went good and I finally got to go home Monday night at 8:30pm.

So all to say thanks for your prayers and all your emails I have gotten since in the hospital. As soon as get around to it I would love to email all of you back from the emails I have received. But first I just wanted to let you all know I am doing good. I did have a good Christmas, went over to my sister’s and watched some of my niece’s open there presents from Santa Claus and then had a Christmas dinner at our house and opened presents from my parents.

I am very grateful that I was able to be here for all this and not in Peru far from my family, but being able to be close to my family and to see the love they have given me through all this, and for all of you as well, Thanks.

Prayer Request:
1. My recovery
2. My time in the states
3. For the ministry in Iquitos, while Albert & I are gone

Much love to all, & hope you had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,

Jeremy

II Thessalonians 3:13
“But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.”

It has now been 6 months being in Iquitos and I have seen the Lord do amazing things in ministry here. I remember from the first day I got here, not really knowing anyone, walking around with Albert on the streets, at the plaza, the boulevard, and the church and him introducing to people and all that time wondering to myself, “What I am doing here, am I really suppose to be here.” And to now look back and see from then till now at all the friends I have made and the great times we have had. But the coolest thing is seeing the Lord work in there lives, to watch them mature in the Lord, and know Him more. Not to say that Albert and I are something but it’s neat to see the Lord work through us, and that is only by the Lord because I know the Lord loves to us the nobody’s of the world.

Well all this to say I am finally going home for Christmas and to visit family. “Praise the Lord!” It has been 1½ year now since I have been home, during my time there I will be visiting family, friends, and Lord willing going to the mission’s conference in January at the Bible College in California. I will be home for about a month and a half and back in Peru February 6. And this is my prayer for this last month here, II Thessalonians 3:13.

A couple of highlights these past few months:

1. Had a great time visiting in Lima back in September. Great fellowship and of course great food from Juanita at the Bible College and all the home cooked dinners I had. During my time there I got to share with the men on campus during there men’s meeting, I had the opportunity to teach the youth group at the church, and missions class at the Bible College, and for believers night (Sunday night service) I learned and performed a drama. Even though I was busy studying, learning a drama, and visiting friends I had a great time.

2. After coming back from the College in September we had Brian and Beth (interns at the College), and Ben and Tess (Living Hope Church) visit us for a few days. They had a great time of playing with the kids, going to Panguana, Brian teaching the youth, and Ben teaching Wednesday night service; as well they were able to be here for when we had our second Viligia (all night prayer and worship).

3. Every semester the students take a week off of school and go on a mission trip. We had a team of 16 from the Bible college come and be apart of the ministry here, and my good friend Matt who is a teacher at the Bible College lead the team. “Matt you did a good job!”

We did street evangelism, dramas, youth group, women’s ministry, kid’s ministry, a little concert for the youth with the kids on the streets, Panguana (river trip), and ministry w/ the kids in Belen (floating city, poorest city in Iquitos). For me it was a blessing to see all my friends and for them to come and see the ministry here and be apart of it for a week, and to see the Lord us them with all the different gifts that the Lord has gifted them with.

4. Charles from Tallahassee, Florida was here for a month helping in a big way with the kids. He has learned some dentistry work back in the states and for several years has been doing dentist ministry in different parts of the world. And it was blessing for him to come and work on the teeth’s of the kids at the church, Panguana, Belen, and at Pastor Javier’s church (Baptist pastor here, one of Albert’s real good friends). The one prayer of Charles with his ministry is that that love of God would be shown, and that is what we pray.

Sorry for being so long and late in updating, I pray that this finds you well and that the Lord blesses each and every one of you. Thank you so much for your prayers and support.

Praise report:

1. The Lord provided for a plane ticket home
2. For all the teams that have came these past few months and the help they have given and the seeds that they have planted.

Prayer Request:

1. To finish strong last month here
2. Youth Group-Purity and a true desire to follow the Lord
3. For the entire ministry; when Albert and I leave for the states that the work would continue.
4. My time in the states to be fruitful

With much love,

Jeremy

P.S. Check out recent pictures as well!

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing i do; Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14. (NIV)

Now as of last Saturday I finished the book of Philippians with the Youth Group. Which going through the book has been a great blessing and a growing experience. The exact thing I taught on it seemed like I went through that same week. It was like the Lord was testing me to see if I was truly living what I preached. In the context of each teaching I saw that I was going through a similar thing like Paul was going through. Even though I know it wasn’t as intense as what he went through but; the Lord was showing me how to apply it to my life personally and see Him do it through me. I have learned that no matter what, that I need to continue to run the race that is set before me. Always looking to Jesus!

Now the cool thing about this is for the past 2 1/2 weeks I have been training for a short 8k run in lima. Which I just ran on Sunday, no I didn’t win 1st place but I had a great time. It’s cool because in training and even running a race you can so easily apply it to our Christian walks. Even though it is hard and so many times you want to give up, even when you are so close to the finish line you feel you just want to stop. They say and even from experience the last mile of a marathon (Full marathon 26.2 miles) can be the hardest but when running it you always look to the finish line; the goal! And even not placing doesn’t matter to you all that matters is finishing, and what great joy there is when doing that, to say I finished, I did it, I did the best I could. And in a marathon no matter what place you get you get a medal. So enough on that what I was going to say is…….

You are probably wondering, “what are you doing in Lima, I thought you were in Iquitos.” Well Albert and I have decided to take a short break, well sort of. Albert is taking a class at the Bible College and I am just visiting friends, helping out with various things at the College and going to different ministry’s. And so far it has been a blessing being here seeing old and new faces and being apart of what is going on here. We will be here in Lima will almost 3 weeks and head back to Iquitos on the 8th of Oct. just in time to get in the routine of things again and get ready for the students to come for there mission trip.

Also one of the cool things about me leaving was that I asked two of the youthes to help take over while I was. Jesus will be teaching this Saturday for the first time with the youth, and Julio is taking over all of the Sunday night prayer meetings and leading worship for that and the youth group. As well Pastor Jose will be teaching the other two Saturdays that I will miss. But it is such a blessing to see the Lord work and raise up leaders in the youth. I know it is just a start but the Lord is going to do great things through it and even through them as they put there trust in the Lord.

Prayer Request:

1. Our time in Lima to be fruitful!

2. The ministry in general in Iquitos (We are not there for 3 weeks)

3. Continual provision for the church in Panguana

Praise Reports:

1. Veronica is out of the hospital and is doing good.

2. Soon I will be an Uncle 10 times (next year) Wow thats a lot!!!!!

PS. Don’t forget to check out my recent pictures I put new ones up.

“Pray without ceasing” I Thessalonians 5:17

From being done here in Iquitos the Lord has been teaching me about the power of prayer and how important it is to be in constent prayer and fellowship with Him. I mean He is our Father right and we should talk to Him about everything but so many times i see we/I don´t. Why is that?

All to say, the Lord has put on my heart actually about a month ago to start a prayer group with the youth group here, and for so long I put it off. My flesh got in the way, i keep saying to myself, “I don´t have time for that, i am to busy already, i don´t need anything else on my plate” Well finally after two weeks of agruing with the Lord i finally stepped out in faith and trusted Him. Which two weeks ago we started it and about half the youth have showed up and what a sweet riching time with the Lord we have had. It has blessed me so much to see them have a hunger for the Lord and even ones that i know who are struggle with the Lord show up, God is good. If only we/I would obey Him all the time, what AMAZING things we would see, Lord help us!

After a month or so of praying with them i would like to start teaching drama´s with them and give them the oppertunity to share there faith with the people around there community and all over Iquitos. I mean that is what we are here for not for us but for Him. It´s cool beacause we have been going through Philippians and that is what the book is all about, glorify Christ, preaching the gospel even in tough times, counting everything a loss to know Him, always praying, and etc… A desire of mine is that we would be “Ambassadors for Christ”

As well we are praying for direction and guidance in what the Lord has for us and for the Lord to put a deep desire i our hearts to know Him and nothing else. So many of them have said that there walks with the Lord are kind of like a rollercoaster, they are doing good at times but then other times not, but i believe through the power of prayer that God has given us we are going to see life´s transformed, and there walk´s with the Lord to be solid. This is has been my prayer for the youth group here. And you could even say it all starts with me as being the leader, if the leader is not doing it then why would the followers do it. If Jesus did it then we should do it right, He is our Example This is something the Lord has really been working on my a lot, being that example; like Christ.

Also this week we are having a vigilia (all night prayer and worship) at the church. This will be on Saturday after youth group and will last until 5am Sunday morning. If you could pray for that, for the Lord to have his way that night and for us to seek and worship Him. I believe it is going to be a night to remember.

Thank you for your prayers!

Romans 12:1-2

Ps. Picture is of us showing the Passion of the Christ to the youth group.

Prayer request:

One of the girls in the youth group is in the hospital, we just found out that she has dengue, which they say there are two types and the one she has is fatal. If you could pray for Veronica for healing and comfort in this time and as well for the family. She has real bad fever attacks, her body was real swollen but has gone down, she has been bleeding from the teeth i think, her body is real red and iches a lot and some rashes. Thank you so much for your prayers!

Just last week we were able to show the Passion of the Christ in Panguana which was a great turn out. We were all blessed by it. Because we had so much equippment we rented a boat and stayed the night out there, but we usely just stay Thursday and head back that night. As always we had the kids program (songs, story from the bible, and coloring). Also that day was a holiday and the community knew that we were showing a movie so we had more come both kids and adults. But before the Passion of the Christ we showed a kids movie which they loved and even the parents did too. Watching a movie out there is something that they don´t get to do because they don´t have electricty, so being there was a super blessing for me and seeing them enjoy it.

We were able to watch the movie on the soccer field and by doing that more people came out then usual when we have our services once a week. As far as if anyone excepted the Lord i am not sure but i know there were people touched by it. The fruit of it i am sure we will see later on down the road, which brings me to the next thing. The town just donated a piece of land to us to build a church, crazy uh. So in the near future when the Lord supplys the materials to build, we will be out there for a few weeks i am sure building a church and a small house, cool uh. I am excited about that and being able to live out there with them for some time and expeirence how they live.

So if you could continue to pray for Panguana and what the Lord is doing there. Thanks and may the Lord bless you guys.

Panguana´s professional sunflower seed eater´s. This was the first time for them eating sunflower seeds. Yea i got them hooked on them, its like candy to them. It´s funny because after a while they wont take anymore beacuse there jaw is tired from trying to break the shell open, but a couple of hours later they are ready for more.

Psalms 105:1-4

“Oh give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; talk of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord! Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face evermore!

From now being in Iquitos for 3 months i am seeing the reality of what a true missionary is like. From the high times of growing so close to the Lord, to having a hunger for His word, wanting to spend all day in prayer with Him, and learning that there is always something He is showing me that I can grow in. And then there is the low times of what am i doing here, i am of no worth here i can´t even speak the language good, at times wanting to run to where i am comfortable, missing fellowship with friends and family, and seeing what a sinner I am. But in all this i am learning sooooooo much in how much i need Him and that i can´t do anything without Him. And He is the one that has placed me here and knowing that He is working in and through me as i serve here. May Jesus be glorified in all things for He is WORTHY of it!

I am learning what it means to be a missionary in a place where i am not familiar with as apposed to home. There is not a day that goes by where i don´t learn something and see how much i need Jesus. To tell the truth at times it is hard and i just want to give up but the Lord with His Spirit and the faithfulness of His love is and will always be there to help. So not sure why i shared all this but just wanted to share from the heart.

But what i really wanted to share or ask is if you all could pray for us this week, we are going to Panguana as normal on Thursday and this time we are staying the night, because we are showing one of the Jesus movies. So i was wanting to see if you could all pray for a safe trip and a work in the hearts of the people there. We have shown one other movie i think last year so this will be the second one. As well it is a 30 minute walk from the river to the community and we have a lot of equipment to caring so pray for the strength to get it all there. As well a side not, just a few weeks ago they gave of some land to us to build a church there. Praise the Lord for that!

PS. The picture is of Panguana

Thank you all for your continual prayers and support. They mean so much to me.

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man. The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” I Corinthians 2:9

To whom it may concern:

We heard creation groaning last week in the 8.0
earthquake that hit the coast of central Peru.
Tragically, hundreds lost their lives, thousands are
wounded, and thousands more are homeless.  The Lord
has presented us with a wonderful opportunity to serve
Him at such a time as this.

  Nearly each day since the August 15th quake, we have
sent busloads of volunteers to help in the work of
evangelism and the relief effort.  We have been
concentrating in two hard hit areas: Cañete, where
pastor Jaime Inga oversees a Calvary Chapel outreach,
and Pisco, further south.  Both regions are
spiritually dark areas.  

  God has been faithfully providing for us to minister
to the physical needs of many victims.  We have
delivered much needed tents, food, water, blankets,
clothing and medicines.  We have also been able to
meet spiritual needs through works of compassion,
music, mimes, puppets, and the free distribution of
Bibles.  Dozens from the church and Bible College have
worked extremely long days, and have shared many
touching reports.

  Our hearts have been warmed by the phone calls and
letters of concern many have expressed, and also from
those wanting to help.  Several church teams have
already come to work with us, and several more have
expressed interest in helping in the weeks and months
ahead to help the people rebuild their lives.  Leo
Maestre, my assistant pastor, is helping to organize
the relief effort, and he can be reached at the
following special email:
ccbc_peru_earthquakerelief@yahoo.com.

  Thank you for your prayers at this time.  We are
extremely busy with our new semester beginning
tomorrow, and a packed house of students, interns,
staff and missionaries.  We need God's wisdom, and
super-human strength that the Spirit promises!  It is
reassuring to know you are interceding for us before
the Throne of Grace.  

  Meet You There!

  John Bonner

Ps. This is an update from the director at the Bible College.
Just to let everyone know I am not in lima but in Iquitos.
There might have been a mix up with the updates i have been sending.

Love to all,
Jeremy

“Porque para mi el vivir es Cristo y el morir es ganancia.” Filipenses 1:21

During the time I have been out here in Iquitos I have been going through the book of Philippians with the youth group. And the one thing I have learned from teaching this book or chapter one you could say is in 1:21. My life is Christ and every thing that I do is to glorify Christ. It has been so cool to see the life of Paul while in prison and his attitude in every situation he was in. I pray that I am more like Paul and the attitude he had in every thing.

In this update I wanted to  share with you the different outreaches and ministry’s we do here in Iquitos, so here we go.

Calvary Chapel El Terminal

We have a Sunday morning kids program, where about 40-50 kids show up, and then an adult service after that. As well on Wednesday we have a mid week service where Albert teaches (missionary here) and Pastor Jose teaches Sunday (Peruvian Pastor).

Youth Group

The picture you see is with the youth group, some of the church, YSOM, and the kids in the church. But what I want to share is about the youth group, it has been a blessing for me to be able to teach them and go through the book of Philippians. We have youth group  on Saturday at 7:30pm, and there is about 20-25 that come. Also one of the things that I am having them to is take a test at the end of th study to see what they are learning, and I am giving them memory verses each time we have a study, so that they are not just learning but meditating on the word as well. One thing I am learning from this is how important it is to set an example, just as we see Paul doing. To conduct myself in a manner worthy of the gospel as Paul says in verse 27.
Panguana (River Ministry- 3 hour boat ride)

This is one of my favorite ministry’s b/c i get to get outside of Iquitos and enjoy the beautiful creation that the Lord created. But not only that, I get to be apart of the work He is doing here with the kids and the adults. Every Thursday at 9am we leave on a double decker boat and head down the river  w/ our hammocks in hand for 3 hours, landing at Panguana where we have a kids program and adult service at night. Then later that night around 11 or 12 we head back to Iquitos. One of the most favorite things of mine there is the kids, every time I go they are always waiting for me and yelling my name, “Jeremias”. It brings so much joy when I see that, and through that the Lord showed me that it is the same for Him. When we wait on Him, when we call on Him, when we run to Him with open arms, when we look to Him for everything, and just have simple child like faith and love, it bring JOY to Him.
Shoe Shine Boys

This is where a lot of ministry is everyday when we leave our hostal, with these boys and others as well. They work through out the day shining shoes, selling sovereign’s and hanging out with tourist people. Something the Lord has put on my heart with them is to disciple some of these boys. Ones that i have been hanging out with most right now is Pepe and Julio, great guys and can totally see the Lord use them as they mature and know more about the Lord. As well there are so many more from what you see in the picture. Something that is in the process is the ministry house which is for them, where we will have bible studies, different activities, and more through out the week. But mainly to share the gospel of Christ with them.

One other thing, just last week we had the YSOM (Youth Summer of Missions) come and they were such a blessing to use here. As well we did a youth conference which was awesome. Check out my recent photos for that.

Prayer Request:

1. Calvary Chapel El Terminal- To grow deeper w/ the Lord

2. Building for Ministry House

3. A house to live in

4. Panguana (River Trip)- A church and house there

5. Street kids- Point them to Christ, and what living for Christ is all about

My prayers and blessings go out to all of you for all that you have done for me here.

Dios te bendiga,

Jeremy

So far so good, just wanted to let everyone know that things are going good here. I am loving the life in the jungle, from hot, humid, rainy, cloudy, green, lots of bugs, but most of all the ministry here.

Things have been good here, we have been looking at houses to rent, and hopeful soon we will find one so that living expenses will be cheaper. As well i am teaching the youth group, and just this past Saturday i started that. We will be going over the book of Philippians. Also at night we have been hanging out with the street kids, which has been cool. Such a great opportunity to ministry and share the love of Christ with them. And just hang out and have fun.

The church is doing good here, Pastor Jose has been doing a great job of feeding the sheep, and raising them up for ministry. I am excited to be working with him and Albert in the ministry here. And as well my friend from Lima, Tato which will be helping out here for one month. This has been good for me because i have been practicing my Spanish with him a lot and he has been learning English as well. Something we have been doing every night is reading a chapter in the bible for me to practice Spanish and for Tato english.

As the days go and i reflect and see what the Lord is doing and where i am at i am amazed and blessed to be here.

Some things to be praying for:

1. A house to rent

2. Youth group/the church

3. My Spanish

Thank you all for you prayers and support. As well i will be sending a more detailed update later. But i just wanted to let everyone know that things are going good.

Dios te bendiga,

Jeremias