Volunteer Profile

Back to Bussiness
June & July have been a very busy months--between weddings, birthday parties, & work I haven’t had much time to myself. But as usual God continues to teach me new things—mainly how to stay dependent on him.

Thoughts from my Journal 7/22/1 My New Vision of God
When I was younger I saw God as a mighty warrior who did something for me, but after all these years of valleys & painful trials, Jesus has become an ever-present friend- who is with me all the time. He has gone from being an historical God to being a living God to me today. I’ve fallen short many times during the hard times but he has always been faithful. Whenever I’ve asked him to help me he always has—Jesus is everything & we are nothing.

The last three weeks of June I was blessed to spend in Arequipa to help out with the ministry being done there. During these three weeks (event called Love Extreme) hundreds of people’s lives where touched by our Lord. Our main event consisted of Nick V. (an individual born without arms or legs) sharing his testimony. Corresponding with this event where other speakers, medical clinics, activities for kids, & concerts. When the main event ended in Arequipa many individuals (from the states) spent the following week doing impact in the other 6 communities (Pucallpa being one of these). Unfortunately I f was unable to travel back for our short term project in Pucallpa. During the week and ½ I was involved in the follow-up team or consolidation team. Where we took the 500 or more names or new believers & began follow up to start our discipleship process.

It is very hard to celebrate many holidays in another country. But I feel like 4th of July was one of the easiest. It was a traditional 4th of July party. We spent the time resting & relaxing (after months of hard work—this time were deserved) at the beach. The weather at the beach during this time of the year is very similar to the Oregon coast. So we were not surprised when most of us froze—due to the fact that we are from the Jungle & are used to 90 degree weather every day. We even had a beach bon fire, devotions, & fire works for this celebration. Other activities included soccer, volleyball, swimming & walking the beach.




But as I returned back to Pucallpa I realized how much my heart is with these people, with these people, with my home. We are now having church service twice a week--with an average of 12-15 people per week. This past week we celebrated the birth of Leidy—we are disciplining her mom Lleni. We had snacks, played games, prayed for the family, & dedicated her life to God.

We have also started having Sunday school for young females. This last Sunday was our third reunion and each week we have has over 6 girls attend each time. We not only do lesson pertaining to their lives but also have some fun doing manicures or pedicures, making jewelry, & of course eating sweets.

These people have taken a piece of my heart. I feel at ease, I feel at home, as hard as it is to be away from my family I know I’m suppose to be here. Please continue to pray for the people of Peru, of Pucallpa, of Laura Bozo that they may encounter God like we have.

What makes this place like home (besides the individuals of Laura Bozo) is my family here in Pucallpa. This past weekend we celebrated the birthday of Isa (6 yrs. Old) & Landon (4 yrs. Old) Foster. I don’t know if you have ever spent time with a missionary kid—but they are the most courageous, nicest, precious kids I have ever met. They had a pirate party. We spent Saturday decorating, singing, laughing, & acting as pirates. We even had a treasure hunt—in which we went through the desert, Ice Land, Amazon Jungle, & swamp land. Mean while we were being attacked by monkeys, snakes, quick sand, mud, ect. You know you want to try it!! We know how to have fun in the jungle!!!

Though Others May Mock Me
1 Peter 4:12-14-- Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the suffereings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rest on you.

"No! Don't be afraid! Don't trust in man, trust only in Jesus"

Things have been a little tough here in Arequipa. I know I am doing the Lords work & that I am suppose to be here. It is just hard hearing all these amazing things happening in my home city & not being able to be a part of it.

Along with this I have been made a fool this week, mocked, broken, torn down. But I will be glad in my Lord. What I am suffering is only a small portion of what my Lod suffered for me. I know this is my call...that God called me by name. I will endure this hardship in order to seek the loss, to bring light into the dark, to bring laugther where there is saddnes....I have a passion for my God & I want to share that with a world that I suffering.

Since the day I left home I carried my cross
Running to the ends of the earth for Jesus
I've shared in the suffering of my God
Proclaiming the gospel through eyes of tears
Many times through the wind and rain
Tears have fallen down my cheeks
Many things burden my heart
But Jesus' love keeps leading me
His love and grace encourages me
Keeping me perfectly from day to day

I will Love the Lord
As long as I live,
I will love the Lord
With all my heart, strength, mind,
I will love the Lord
Regardless of what happens,
I will only love my Lord
In all my actions and words,
I will only love my Lord

In times of humility and learning,
I will only love my Lord
In times of joy and gladness,
I will only love my Lord
Whether I face hunger or if I'm full,
I will only love my Lord
I am his in life or death,
I will only love my Lord

The Lord has sacrificed his life for me
my deep sin has been pardened
I have dedicated all my life to him
I WILL ONLY LOVE THE LORD

Touching Hearts; Healing Lives
My life & heart has been changed in so many ways through this experience. God continues to show his presence…through the good & the bad. I find myself at lost for words to describe this experience. So in the words of Brother Yun

Since the day I left home I carried my cross
Running to the ends of the earth for Jesus
I’ve shared in the suffering of my God
Proclaiming the gospel through eyes of tears
Many times through the wind and rain
Tears have fallen down my cheeks
Many things burden my heart
But Jesus love keeps leading me
His love and grace encourages me
Keeping me perfectly from day to day

I have also been inspired greatly from our Lord words…below is a just a few verses that I have been meditating on and that have touched my soul
Jeremiah 1:5-8
Isaiah 49:1
1 Peter 2:21
Isaiah 30: 20-21
Hebrews 10:32-34

Even though I have been at this whole missionary thing for a while God continues to show me his power. We are so lucky to serve such an amazing, loving, merciful God. And I am blessed to be a part of this experience. Yes, I still have my off days when I find myself asking “why the heck am I here” or still being caught by culture shock. But this is the life God has chosen for me. I may not know why…but I do know that each new day in his presence is better than a million days elsewhere.

Over the past two weeks God has been open up door left and right. Even despite missing days for sickness God works on his clock not ours. Nancy & I can have a million things planned in one day and they can all go out the window in a second. Yes, this make me frustrated but then I watch and I still become shocked how God changes our plans to his & our days are filled.

For example, earlier this week Nancy & I where suppose to visit this couple to start their discipleship lessons. But they happen to be on vacation for this whole week. So many Nancy & I started walking around trying to find something to do because we had an 1 ½ hours until our next meeting. A little girl (Marly) from our Sunday School class ran out and greeted us with hugs. She called to her mom (llenni) that her friends where here to visit. We sat down with llenni (pronounced Jenni in English) & asked if she wanted to study the Bible with us. We ended up doing two lesson with her that day & she invited us to come back the follow weeks to continue with the lesson.
We have started church services in Laura Bozo, these take place Thursday & Sunday nights. This week was our fourth service and we had over 15 people there. This week Nancy & I lead the service. Of course Nancy preached & sang the songs but I opened the service, explained new news, did the exercise, and closed the service in prayer.
Early this week I eve lead my first discipleship lesson. And to much to my surprise I was not nervous at all. Yes, I did struggle with my words but I could feel Gods hands upon me…so why should I be worried.

These are just a few of the remarkable things God is doing in my life & in the life of the people in Pucallpa and in Peru. As we head down to Arequipa in the next few days (for Love Extreme—the big project) please be in prayer for travel safety, the health of my team & I, and for God’s presence and glory through this project. So that through this experience many (millions) may come to know the love and compassion that God gives unconditionally. May it bring glory & honor to our father!

Breaking Bounds!



5/25/10—We started out the morning with meetings. But there were no devotions with Pastor because it was raining. Everything is cancelled in Pucallpa when is down pours. This is because of poor transportation. After lunch Nancy & I went to visit 2 families (Roci & Gorge and Francisco). Both Roci and Francisco accepted Christ last Thursday after we showed the movie. So we talked about what that prayer meant and set up a time next week to start disciplining them. At one point during these meetings we got into discussion on the Old Testament and its value. For some reason (out of everything in the Old Testament) Nancy brought up circumcision and how the meaning in the Old Testament does not apply today. That is why we no longer practice circumcision on boys. Well, of course Nancy wanted me to explain this procedure. It wasn’t possible. I sat there looking at her like a dumb. I don’t know that kind of vocabulary in Spanish. And I do not feeling comfortable explaining it to other people. Later I found out that this concept of circumcision is very odd to Peruvians because they do not circumcise their boys. I came home and told Katie all about this humiliating situation. So Katie & I became intrigued. We googled it and found out the 90% of men in the stated are circumcised while only 20% of men in Peru are. There is a difference in culture. Mostly, this is because it is not a needed procedure so it is not covered by insurance thus it comes out of your own pocket and cost around $200. Families in Peru do not have this money. I guess I am still learning how to laugh at myself and continue to grow everyday with knowledge and acceptance of other cultures. Ok back to Monday events-- We then went in search for two new families that we had met at the movie. While we were searching for their houses I got attacked my ant. I now know where the saying “I got ants in pants” came from. When you are trying to talk to an elderly women, while having biting ants climb up your legs and into yours shorts—needless to say it was very uncomfortable and I’m sure it was not a very pretty site.
5/26/10—This morning was a rather quick visit. No one seems to be home in the mornings. Afternoons/ Evenings seem to be better to catch up with people. We meet with Esteban to discuss tomorrow night & our first church service!! We then invited everyone we have been visiting to come. Today was our first day of English class—but no one showed up. Oh well God will work in other ways! We plan on holding another class next week to see if we get any other people interested. We continue to meet more people & our schedule is filling up. God is definitely at work here—it is nice to be in the middle of it.

5/28/10 --Last night we had our first church service. We had 9 adults and 6 kids attend. Not too bad! Pastor Dario preached & Nancy sang. Next week we should have more people because this week there was a lot of rain. Laura Bozo was covered with mud and that made it difficult to walk around, especially for the older generations. God is at work here in Pucallpa. I am just truly grateful to be able to share the love of God. Today we had many plans but most them changed. I have learned that it is not my work but Gods—and Nancy & I can plan everything out but in the end it is his plans. We were supposed to meet up with an elderly man. But when we got to his house his daughter said he was asleep and it would be best for us to come back another time. So we started walking & ended up at Nysie’s house. Her sister (21 years old) is dying. And the family actually let us go in this time to pray for her. Thankfully, she has already accepted Christ and was living a life with him. It is a very sad and hard time for the family right now. I can’t even imagine losing my sisters right now. But God is at work in their heart and they seem at ease that her life is in God’s hands. We spent 2 hours with this family and ended up missing our appt. with Louisa. We did however, meet up with Yolanda & her daughter and started the 2nd lesson of discipleship. The daughter was ready the accept God when she got called away to an emergency. All in God’s timing. The next visit was the Katie’s house. She was busy working her little store so we sat and talked for a little bit to see how she was doing. It turned out her uncle has gotten worse. She asked if we would be willing to go to his house and pray for him. So later that night Nancy & I went to this man’s house—we only had direction, didn’t know him personally, and didn’t know the family. We walked up to the house and explained we where friends of Katie. They opened their home to us. As I sat there I was taken by sadness. But why should I be sad this man said he lived his life for God. That he was not afraid to go home to his father. He was just ready for the pain of this world to past. We prayed for him and his physical pain and then talked to the family a little bit. We are scheduled to go back and visit them next week.

5/29/10—Today was a rough day for me. I have been sick for the past two days. Stomach problems…I am feeling better but my body is so tired. For Sunday school Nancy went with our cluster support family (The Fosters) she said that we had 12 kids show up this Sunday.—and that it was the same from the past two weeks and of the families we have been disciplining!She then went to go visit Estaban because we were suppose to start discipleship classes with him and his friends. She rescheduled if for next week and gave him the material to prepare for next week. In this group we have 10 people who want to learn more about the Church of the Nazarene. This group attended another Christian Church. But since then the Church closed and they haven’t found another to attend. So we will start the process with them—probably moving at a faster pace because they are already Christians. But it is important to do the whole discipleship process with them so that when they finish they may equipped to disciple others as well. Tonight we have a celebration at the mother Church (Central). We have invited many individuals from Laura Bozo to be a part of this. It is more of a welcoming party for new members and believers!! It should be a pretty good time and it will be nice to see how much work God has been doing in all Pucallpa!

Sunday School in Laura Bozo
God is doing some amazing things in Pucallpa. These kids are so enthuastic and Loving!!! They are teaching me more eachday to love like a child!!!

Jungle Entertainment

So one raining afternoon here in Pucallpa there wasn't much to do. That is becuase most of my family was sleeping. So I sat in my bed reading a book...during this time I watched a group of ants take a dead spirder to their home. But the couldn't fit it through the whole in our roof....so I watched these ants take this spider up and down our wall for 3-4 hours.

God is faithful….oh so faithful!!! 5/10-5/15
It has been one busy week. Monday &Tuesday Nancy & I went to our site to understand & know the place & people better. We were able to map out the area & made 3 contacts that wanted us to come back to talk some more.

On Wednesday & Thursday we had meetings, for team building. It wasn’t as bad as other workshops I have taken. But I have learned (which I am working on right now) that I need to watch my attitude & what I say…..& to be grateful for what I have. These things really hit home for me. So I’m trying daily to watch this & to change…b/c I don’t want to offend anyone. God is teaching me so much about him & the person he wants me to be. I need to start each morning with the big man & take up my cross daily for him.

On Friday we had a meeting with the president of our district. Who have us information about the area, needs, how many people, & where we could have our meetings. Later that day we met with Luisa who was baptized in the Mormon Church 4 years ago. But since she met us she burnt her Mormon Bible & wants to start a bible study with her & her family. Praise the Lord!
On Saturday we passed out invitations for Sunday school and began to prepare things for Sunday morning and for the weeks to come. Sunday school went great we had over 30 kids & made some more contacts. We plan to do this again next Sunday.

As I rest up for the upcoming week my heart is at rest (finally) & I know I’m supposed to be here doing this….Lord continue to prepare the way- prepare me for you plans ahead.

Final destination....Pucallpa, Peru
Last Monday, I was thrilled to finally make it to Pucallpa. Where I will be living for the next year and a half (18 months). Nancy & I arrived by plan late Monday morning. Ryan and the two boys (Isaiah and Landon) meet us at the airport to greet us...while Sarah had a wonderful home cooked meal waiting for us at our new home.



The first morning Sarah called me to wake us up for breakfast...as I lifted my feet off my bed to place them on the floor I realized our whole room was flooded with water! At least 6 inches deep. The Fosters rushed over to help us salvage what twe could. All of our things had been on the floor, but thankfully nothing was ruined beyond repair. All our clothes had to be rewashed and my 2 week old computer got wet but is still functional. (Sidenote: the water is brown from the dirt, not from sewage!)



Wednesday afternoon we got the call we had been waiting for - the other 3 pairs who were coming by boat were arriving in port! We all rushed down to the port to greet them and arrived just as their boat was docking. What was supposed to be a 4-day trip had turned into nearly 6 days! They were thrilled to get on dry land and take clean showers :)




Thursday morning we went with Pastor Dario to the first 4 sites where we will be working in the next 6 months. We have begun formulating evangelism and church-planting plans and will begin door-to-door evangelism on Monday.



Big things are in store for Pucallpa and Daniel and Tim, Samuel and Kevin, Emperatriz and Katie, and Nancy & I are all very excited to begin the work. Please join us in prayer as we begin God's great plan for Pucallpa.

“Things are bound to change”
As I head off to Pucallpa I pray that God is forever present in my life and through my work. I no longer live for myself but for you Lord. I put my trust and faith in the one that I know will never leave my side. I continue to pray that you will forever be present in my life Lord. Teach me each day to be more like you.
This past week was our last days of classes’ .Which I am really excited about!!!! I finally did it!! I no longer have to use the term “student” or “Extremie in training” but rather a MISSIONARY. It is weird to look back at these last 8 months. To see how far we have come. All the schooling, all the changes, and all the good times we had. On Thursday night we had a graduation ceremony. Everyone dressed up, we had speeches, and we got certificates….the whole shindig. After the service all the 40/40’s of Pucallpa & Iquitos, the Simpsons (cluster support of Iquitos), the Fosters (cluster support of Pucallpa), and many friends went out to a fancy dinner. We spent time in fellowship and laughing.
As we had graduation it reminded me of the Dr. Seuss books my mom used to read me. Especially “Oh the places you will go.” Little did I know that this was the first experience or time that sparked the love of traveling and learning about other cultures. It just makes me think of all the adventures I can one day tell my kids and encourage them to seek adventure in whatever they do.
I am very sad to be leaving so many people that have touched my heart and have changed my life. But I am very excited to start working and to see the miracles that God has planned in Pucallpa.
Please continue to pray for me & my partner Nancy. That God may use us & that we may see miracles through him. I know this experience is changing my life in so many ways and I hope that some of my stories may touch your heart at well.