Recently, I was asked to look at a bunch of images and chose one that best described my life at the moment. I was drawn immediately to one that was similar to this image above. Deep jungle….incredible growth, a tree trunk where you can’t even see the branches or growth above, and no clear visible path to guide you…. As I reflected more, I thought about WHY I chose this. The truth is, we have had an incredible explosion of growth in our area of service here. One that was not expected, and not what we had envisioned for this year of 2023. But then I looked back on our last blog, at the end of the year and you know what the number ONE prayer request we had? It was for you all to pray for growth in the area of receiving people with disabilities in the church!!!!! WOW all I can say is…..GOD HEARD YOUR PRAYERS!!!! We are overwhelmed in seeing a direct answer to our prayer made just 4 months ago!!!! Thank you to each one of you for praying.
So much has happened in the last 4 months, but I’ll just be giving you the highlights. We definately would love to share more if anyone is interested in connecting over a zoom call.
In January and February we spent time building up, supporting and guiding the volunteers and leaders in each area of the children and youth ministries. We were able to provide a workshop for volunteers to help better understand and include people with disabilities into their services, and we have had a special ed teacher come in to our kids Sunday school classes to help teach us how to better connect with our kiddos while teaching about God’s love. Summer “officially” ended (even though we are still in temps of 90+) at the end of February with summer day camps for the children’s ministry and all the other youth ministries.
We were able to provide support for 2 children who needed 1 on 1 care during the summer camp which was 2 hours away from the church without parents present. It was a long day for all but the kids and the families were incredibly grateful for the opportunity that their child with special needs was able to participate.
In March we started off with a bang by providing a church wide training event to help volunteers better understand how to welcome people with disabilites into the church. It was a 3 hour long event with an attendance of over 100 people. At the end of the program, we extended an invitation to all to sign up for an 8 week intro class on sign language and training to serve people with disabilities. We are going into our 7th week with very positive results!!!! The desire of our Pastor is that we are able to provide at least 1 service each Sunday that will offer sign language interpretation. We are in the beginning stages of the formation/training of this team.
Hector
This is Hector. Hector is 23 years old and has a severe physical disability. We have known his parents Jimmy and Marissa for the past year, but just recently got to know Hector. We learned how Hector has a heart to pray for others despite HIS own limitations. He LOVES The LORD!!!!
We also learned that it is REALLY hard for him to attend church in person because his physical needs require him to stay seated in the wheelchair during transportation. That means the only way he is able to attend church is if
1. His parents walk from their home pushing him in his wheelchair to church. It is an hour and 15 minute walk one way. OR
2. An adapted taxi which allows him to sit in his chair which is very expensive to maintain on a weekly basis.
We really wanted Hector to experience a youth church service with others his age instead of being with his parents at the regular Sunday service. So a few weeks ago, we were able to organize the taxi to take him and his dad to his very first ever youth service. His dad was over come with gratitude and joy to be able to see his son with peers worshipping God. It was the first time that Jimmy could experience dropping off his son like any other parent.
We are in prayer for logistics in how we can make Hector’s visits to church a regular occurrence . Please join us in prayer for a solution.
On the Saturday before Palm Sunday, we resumed our church wide serve day. It is a day where the entire church is encouraged to serve the community, sharing God’s love. This was the first time in 3 years we have been able to serve the community in this way. We are so very thankful to be a part of this through the service of building and distributing wheelchairs. Here are just a few pictures of that day.
On a personal note, we also have a lot going on and ask for specific prayers.
Kaleb started 1st grade! He is already learning how to read!! We are delighted! Kaleb has been in school just 2 months and has already had 3 different viruses! Please pray he stays healthy the rest of the year!
Last month our landlords told us that they will not be renewing our contract for the apartment we JUST moved into in July. They have a family member who needs it so we will need to move out in June. Finding an apartment that fits our needs in a good location is like finding a needle in a haystack. But we know that HE has done it before and will do it again so we ask you to join us in believing for the best apartment for us to move into in June.
We are traveling to Costa Rica on a retreat with our missions agency TONIGHT. This is the first trip we will be taking as a family of 3 for rest, healing, and renewal. We are expectant of what God will do with our hearts in this time as we have many things to process that we have not yet been able to do. Will you join us in prayer for this time? We are asking also for specific prayers related to our vaccines (there is conflicting reports if we need yellow fever vaccine coming from Lima Peru), and also for our health, we have all been fighting something this past week or so. Please pray for traveling mercies as we will be departing Lima at 2am and arriving at panama for an hour layover at 5:30am. So basically we will have very little sleep.
We are coming to the US for the month of July!!!! We will be in Ohio, Michigan, Chicago. IL, and Charlotte NC. We would LOVE to see you!!!! Please email us so we can connect with you personally!!! And of course prayer for all the details to be in alignment. I’ll have my annual check up at Ohio State medical center-prayers appreciated that there are no surprises and it is an uneventful appointment.
Final thoughts….
We just wanted to thank each one of you for your support in prayer and financially. We could not do what we get to do here without your help. YOU are the ones who helped kids with special needs attend summer camp. YOU are the ones who helped Hector get to church. YOU are the ones who have given all the wheelchairs to those in need. YOU are the ones who are making it possible for the church to be inclusive to all disabilities. So that there is a place for every single person to feel welcomed and belong in a church. YOU are the one who is helping to change the culture and thoughts of Peruvians about people with disabilities. Thank YOU so much.
As missionaries we are not able to receive payment for any work we do here. It is only because of your generosity that we are able to continue to do what we are doing. Thank you for supporting us, for praying for us, and for believing in what God is doing through us.
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1Thessalonians 5:16-18