“As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭27‬:‭17‬ ‭

  It is good to be back home in Cochiquinas. After spending the holidays in the states visiting family, churches and friends, we have returned to the Amazon jungle of Peru. We have a new member the Lord has added to our team. My brother Patrick has been here with us for the last month and a half. He has been a great support. Taking on construction tasks, helping wherever there is need and he has birthed a fishing ministry in the jungle. My brother is an avid fisherman and was gifted a fishing pole from Jim at 414 missions. When he got to Cochiquinas he would go out to fish the Amazon in the evening. A bunch of kids came up to him because they had never seen a rod with a reel. So they saw him casting and wanted to try it themselves. They are hooked, pun intended. We are in the process of buying 4 fishing poles with reels and are going to use it to minister to the youth through prayer and Bible study. These kids are always at our house because they love hanging out with “Patricio”.

We got off to a slow start in February as we were in Iquitos for about two weeks. While we were in Iquitos, we were purchasing equipment and material for the construction project we have undertaken, visiting churches and friends we had made the previous year, and helping with a mission’s team from Idaho.

Once we were done in Iquitos, we traveled to a place called Cushillo Cocha which is about 12 hours by boat down river, on the Amazon to be a part of a boat training for the Ticuna leaders and visit the Bible training classes at IBIETA where they not only train pastors and leaders in the word but they also have a technical training program that includes computer literacy, wood working, welding, and mechanics.

Later in the week we met up in Cushillo Cocha with the 414 missions team and did some pastoral training and helped with a team from Texas who did some medical outreaches and VBS for the kids. We are blessed to be under the banner of 414 missions, which is directed by Jim and Chrystal Booth, and our hearts are knit together with this incredible couple.

We were blessed to receive 50 pastors and leaders from the river communities and the Ticuna tribe in Peru, and Columbia during this 4 day training. We focused on the inductive Bible study method, where they learned how to observe, interpret and apply the Bible in their biblical studies and spiritual life in Christ. We graduated 10 pastors from this training and our next training will be in early August. Once the training was finished, we headed home to Cochiquinas.  

     We have 3 goals we would like to reach this year. We are looking forward to building a 1500 square foot dormitory, with a rain catching system, some solar power and about 10 rooms. The purpose for the build is to house 10-15 young adult men in March of 2026 and take them through 8 months of biblical study courses.  Right now we are in the process of drying out the wood in preparation for the build. Our build date is dependent on the level of the Amazon river. If the river comes up and covers the land in the community, we will begin in July.  If the water stops rising, we will begin in May. Please pray that the river is at its highest point.  

     The second goal we have is to plant the church in our community.  We have begun taking steps to come under the covering of Ibieta ministries, which will allow us to legally function as a church in Peru. We thought the jungle was a place without rules and we could do whatever we want, but we are learning new things every day. We have about 15 people attending the services right now and are focused on teaching book by book through the Bible. We have four men that we are training in biblical leadership and biblical counseling.  Our hope is to plant Bible teaching churches on the river, which seems to be in short supply.  

     The third goal we have is reaching  out to the local pastors and beginning a discipleship program. Many of the pastors in the river systems feel abandoned and are discouraged. The missions providing spiritual covering generally do not visit them and have little communication with them. They need to be encouraged. Our plan is to boat to these local communities, build friendships with the pastors and their congregation and offer practical, biblical care for them. They need fellowship and we are going to provide it. Please keep these things in prayer and we will continue to update you on the progress. We thank you for your continued love and support!