Here is a very strange story I read today for any of you interested!!  Here is another article and a video of it crater.

In the Operation World prayer guide, September 13-14 are special prayer days for Peru.  To read about Peru and some things to pray about then check out the Operation World site!

Since some of you have asked generally about Peru, here are some interesting and fun links about Peru, Cotahuasi etc incase you are bored at work!  Have fun!

SIM Peru Country Profile

Deep Need in Cotahuasi

CIA World Factbook – Perú

Perú Tour Virtual 360°

Wikipedia – Perú

Peruvian Cuisine/La Gastronomía del Perú 

El Portal de la Provincia de La Unión

By the way, I want to offer my apologies for my lack of regular posting.  Life gets busy but I would like to keep it more current and post more regularly going forward!  Enjoy!

Dear Family and Friends,

I am writing you to tell you about some very exciting news about big changes coming in my life! As many of you know, the past few years I have gone on several short-term mission trips to places like Macedonia and Nicaragua. These trips were a huge blessing and challenge to me and strengthened my desire to serve the Lord.  I felt a call on my life to pursue missionary service for a longer time and began praying and seeking the Lord’s wisdom and direction about that. Well, I am excited to tell you that, thanks to the Lord’s graciousness and guiding, I am planning on going to Peru for two years as a missionary with Serving in Mission (SIM)!!

I am so pumped to be going and very excited about the work I will be doing there! God willing, I will be going to Cotahuasi, Peru in February! Cotahuasi Canyon is the deepest canyon in the world (twice as deep as the Grand Canyon!) It is the home the Quechua people and until recently, was unreached by the Gospel. It is a rugged and remote area in southern Peru in the Andes. The area is challenged by spiritual, economic and social challenges, such as a soaring alcoholism rate, but the people have responded and are giving their lives to Christ!I will be joining an American family and a team of Quechua believers who are already working there and are involved in church planting, discipleship and pastoral training, youth and children’s work, counseling and radio ministry.  Specifically, I will be working as an administrator to help coordinate all the activities of the team and I am excited that I will also be able to teach valuable computer and administrative skills to the local believers so that, over time, they will be able to manage and run the ministry themselves. I am passionate about strengthening and encouraging the local church there to better equip them and to serve the Lord and fellowship with them. In addition, there are many other needs there and I am looking forward to also working with the youth and the kids in Cotahuasi to help lead them to Christ, disciple them as they grow in Him and just be a fun and encouraging friend for them. I also have a lot of ideas running in my head of possible ministry projects while I am there and I am ecstatic that I will be able to help out and participate in so many diverse ministry opportunities while I am there.

I am planning on sharing my time and experiences throughout my two-year service through letters, email, photos and a blog so that you can all stay up to date with all my adventures! As my friends and family, you are all a part of my life and I would like for you to share in what I am doing in Peru. I would ask you to keep me in prayer throughout my stay and also as I prepare to go and after I return. I know there are going to be some very difficult times and I will need your prayers and encouragement! Pray also that my faith would continue to grow as I walk in obedience to the Lord. This is the most important thing I can ask of you, so please consider supporting me in prayer remembering that “the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (James 5:16)!

In addition, I need to raise financial support for the two years I will be there. The total cost is about $21,000 which covers all my living and food expenses, travel costs, insurance…basically all my costs for two years. Of that, I need to raise $7,600 by the middle of December to cover my initial costs such as getting plane tickets and getting set up down in Peru at that time, the remainder of my funds must also be promised, for example as monthly support. Will you please prayerfully consider joining with me in my ministry to the people of Cotahuasi by supporting me financially? If you want to, just ask me and I can let you know how or you can give online by going here!

I know this is going to be an incredible time in my life and I am anxious to see how the Lord will use me and excited about experiencing His grace and goodness in new ways! Thank you for being a part of my life and a part of my ministry! If you have any questions or want to know more, please let me know.  I know we will be in touch soon!