Meet my friend Hope

1.       One story of impact per team member (what is the story you tell most often as you share about your trip, what was the person or event that really impacted you the most on this trip).

To nail down a moment to share with you I feel like would give you a picture of my experiences but you would miss out on the slide show. So, instead of focusing on a point of time that was impactful (of which there were many), I want to focus on a younger brother I have in Santa Rita, Peru.

This is Hope. He is the older son of Javier and is 17 years old. He is very athletic, likes playing Volleyball (which is one of the main sports in Peru), is good at swimming, enjoys singing worships songs, helps out his home and is still in school. He was very hospitable and he hung out with us a lot while we were in the Jungle. Even though he didn’t know English, he would spend time with us and help us where he could.

We would laugh together, swim in the amazon, wrestle, he would tell me more about his life in Peru and I would tell him life in the states, he would sing worship songs and I would join in the chorus, he would point at a word in English and I would give him the meaning in Spanish and he would do the same for me. Needless to say, in a few days we became fast friends and I see him as a brother and still miss him. Actually, I got a call from him on Tuesday (11-19-13) and he told me that things were well with him and his family in Peru. Praise God.

The night where Javier was not feeling well as some of the others have already relayed to you, I had many emotions going on at one time to where it was overwhelming. One aspect of the emotional moment was the reality of the implication of Javier’s sickness for his family and specifically for Hope. That night after the team had finished praying and crying, I had the opportunity to talk with Hope and hear his fears with his Fathers condition. I prayed for God to give me words to speak … nothing came to mind. I told Hope I don’t know the outcome of his father’s condition, I don’t have the answer, but God is good and His is ultimately our Father so lets talk to Him. He prayed in Spanish then I prayed in English as brothers to our Father.

Right after that, the rest of the team prayed for Hope and it was a special time to encourage and support the family we had come to know as family.

Hope (back left), Javier (back middle), Nanita (back right), Karen (middle left), Cesi (middle right), Solomon (front left), Absolom (front right)

Greetings one and all,

I have made it out of the jungle and am now sitting in the guest room of Childcare Worldwide. So far the experience has been incredible. Seeing God move in hearts and watching leaders respond to Jesus` example has been moving. There has been a lot of prayer, teaching, more prayer, foot washing, spending time with children, worshipping Jesus in song, swimming in the Amazon, prayer, going on a walk in the jungle, and the list can go on.

I am in a rather sleep deprived state and will be waking up in 6 hours, but wanted to let you know that i am doing well and am excited for the next stage of this trip.

More details and pictures are to come when it get in the States.

Blessings,

Going on an Adventure!

Hola mis amigos y familia, I hope you are doing well and the grace in Jesus Christ evident. As the leaves are beginning to decorate the ground, I am left wondering where the summer went. It has been a whirlwind of adventures and activities these past few month making the time fly. However, I have found a moment within the shalom of my parents’ home to right you this letter while sitting in a rocking chair and enjoying a cup of tea. There have been several things I have been wanting to share and to also request your involvement through prayer.

 ¡¡¡I AM GOING TO PERU!!!

 Cornwall Church in Bellingham has organized a team of people to support a member of the church, Tom Clark, on an expedition to unite Peruvian church leaders and serve the Peruvian people in the Amazon in Jesus’ name. Tom Clark helped start an organization called JungleMasters Ministries which has been focused on developing self-sustaining Peruvian bases focused on sending Christian missionaries deep into the amazon to share Jesus and support the small community pastors (basically, build up churches and make disciples of Christ). Through Tom Clark’s 15 years of involvement in the Peruvian Amazon, he has been able to see God work in developing new leaders and brings unity amongst isolated communities.

So, what am I going to do in Peru? First we are praying for God to be working on the pastors’ hearts for a greater involvement in growing fellow leaders and reaching new jungle villages and for three specific pastors to rise up into positions of leadership where they will be taking more initiative. In the past year one of the leaders of JungleMasters who was from the Peruvian Amazon passed away and another leader found he had cancer. As a result, it was recognized there is need for more leaders. In our travels we will be carrying medical and practical supplies difficult to acquire to give to the communities. As the pastors are meeting, the Cornwall Team will be keeping the children and family members entertained and helping serve were there will be need. One of the other leaders from Cornwall Church has done a good job of communicating the plans, but also preparing us to go down with opens hand willing to do as God will lead as we take part in His mission. Ultimately, the best preparation we can do is to stay close to Jesus and to go with the heart and hands of a servant.

It is hard to put into intelligible words how I am feeling, however I can say I am excited for this team and to see how God will work, nervous for the uncertainties and challenges we will face as we step into another world, inadequate (but that is okay because God is faithful), and hopefully as God has already been doing work in the Peruvian Amazon. I had the opportunity to talk to Tom Clark last Christmas and hear of the work being done in Peru and was super excited about it. After taking time to seek God about the potential of going to Peru, I felt at peace about the opportunity even amidst uncertainty of what we would be doing and here I am writing this last minute letter to let you know of this exciting trip.

I do not want to leave this letter purely informative, but request your participation through prayer as we are on this journey (because we will certainly need it). Below are few things that if they come to mind would be great if they were covered in prayer:

Prayer:
- Vision: that there would be clarity in what were are supposed to do in the moments we are in Peru.
- Unity: Under the name of Jesus the pastors would come together as one body and there would be a sense of family between us and the family we have in Christ in Peru.
- Leadership: There would be servant leaders within pastors’ rise up and for the team that we would be able to take initiative with grace and humility.
- For the team: As our comfort-zones get invaded, and personally and physically we are challenged that we would remain gracious, patient, and understanding. Also, that we would stay united in Christ and press into relationship.
- Health: there is risk of malaria, bacteria from the water, parasites, ticks, piranhas, and other things that could make an uncomfortable situation even more so.

Schedule:
Friday – 27 September
    6:54am: Depart from Vancouver BC
    10:20pm: Arrive in Lima
Saturday – 28 September
    6:20am: Depart from Lima for Iquitos
    8:00am: Arrive at Iquitos - Do God’s work
Sunday – 06 Oct
     7:40pm: Depart from Iquitos for Lima
     9:20pm: Arrive at Lima
      - The team returns home, however i will continue my travels a little bit longer

 Ephesians 3 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Peace be the Journey

Kevin

PS: I will also be taking some additional time to meet my 7 year old sponsor kid and traveling to Cusco. I do not want these to be the focus, however if in addition to the afore mentioned prayer requests you could include this additional time I will spend in Peru that would be super fantastic. I will be returning on October 14th.