Operation Renewed Hope is no stranger to remote areas, however one person said while experiencing the treacherous trail to Pilcopata “We’ve been over long roads, and over rough roads, but probably never one so long and rough. However, God kindly protected us the whole way.

I had the privilege of translating quite a bit.

God sent us a smaller number of patients our first day, which was perfect, because many team-members were sick.

Our first two days were spent in the small town of Salvacion, where Bob and Becky Bass are planting a church.

The next two days were spent in the town of Pillcopata, where Alex and Flor Herrera are working.

I had the joy of working in the vision area each day, where we fitted hundreds of people with glasses during the campaign.

We saw large numbers of patients in Pilcopata.

This is a map of the area, which borders on a national reserve.

Perhaps one of the most exciting things God did during the clinic was to bring these Matsiguenga ladies from their village. They hiked a whole day from a very isolated areas and they would still be considered in “stages of initial contact” according to Peru. The woman on the right is wearing gold nose ring panned by hand and hand forged. Her necklace is made of Pig and jaguar teeth. The baby is wearing a traditional outfit called a cushma. The people grow their own cotton, and pick it, card it, spin it, weave it, and sow it by hand. These women do not speak any Spanish, and most of their people have never had a chance to hear the gospel. Please pray with us for them to be saved.

Romans 15:20 thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation

We thank God for the many souls who made a profession of faith during this campaign, and for the follow-up that is already happening.

Almost 18 months ago our friend Emily gave birth to twins: a boy and a girl. Unfortunately, they were premies: born at about 6 months of age. Medical care and medical caring are both lacking here in the jungle, and the boy died the day after he was born. The little girl was named Adalia (meaning God is my refuge). Was fought for and eventually was sent to a hospital in Cusco for better care. She nearly died on many occasions.

She was in hospitals and clinics for quite some time, but God gave her life.

Her parents had already evidenced a call to ministry and were preparing for greater service to the Lord. We rejoiced with them over the arrows that God had put in their quiver.

Sunday night, April 30th, Adalia stayed home with her oldest sister because she had some sort of stomach problem. Segundo was upriver at his village, three days away. Emily went to the church service, and returned quickly afterward.

As we were driving home Loren got a call from Emily about Adalia´s health.

Emily arrived to find her cold.

Her extremities were turning dark.

Her lips were black.

She was not breathing.

She was beginning to convulse.

Emily began mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, and slowly Adalia began to cough and weakly breath again.

By the time we arrived at the house her fever was shooting up again, and her breathing was extremely shallow. Loren and Emily rushed off for the hospital while we stayed and prayed. 

We are so thankful to report that although the dehydration and bronchitis threatened her life. God showed his powerful hand once again, to preserve the life of this little girl.

Psalm 138:7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me.

Only He knows what he has in store for her. She is a small miracle.

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Although this video is somewhat older, our desire is that it would motivate you to pray for us. We have a lot of interns and short-term visitors coming this summer, and our prayer is for God to work:

1. In and through us.
2. In and through them.
3. In and through the church.

For the glory of Christ.

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 3 John 1:4

At the beginning of the year, we were still not seeing a lot of rain, and there was work happening on the sink hole.

On February 2nd I began my journey through Lima to Panama with ORH. I mostly worked (and joked) with the Higgins in the eye clinic.

We are grateful to report a lot of wonderful fellowship, and more importantly, about 50 professions of faith. God has raised some wonderful Panamanian servants to do most of the labor in some remote areas.

I returned to Puerto Maldonado on February 11th, and had the joy of preaching the next day to the church family.

However, on Thursday morning, I received the sad news that my brother Bryan’s one month old son, Boaz, had passed away during the night. We made a quick decision for me to go back to the US for a few days, while my family would soon follow to Lima, where we would meet. Bryan and Corinne will need our prayers for quite some time.

The same day I returned to Lima we left for a member’s wedding in the central mountains of Peru. Congratulations!

I also had the privilege of preaching to Richar’s home church!

We enjoyed some time exploring ruins with Richar & Yesenia a couple days later.

After a momentous weekend, We returned to Lima to make some purchases and do some paperwork.

Kris and Rosemarie Blumer were such wonderful hosts, and we thoroughly enjoyed our time with them!

We also got to visit an aquarium with the Nuñez family and Abby Chapman.

Also during February the doctors discovered my mom had uterine cancer. Surgery was performed on March 2, and she seems to be recovering well. (Pictured here with a grand-son, Owen).

Thank you for your prayers!

We are so thankful to see that God is answering our prayers: The government has a large crew out nearly every day.

Some of them are dumping earth into the sink hole.

Others are welding and forming these water channels.

While others are filling sacks of dirt to help prevent further erosion.

Thank you for your prayers. God is at work here!

A huge thanks to Operation Renewed Hope and all those who participated to make this a fantastic week!

^{Mat. 10:7-8} And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ ⁸ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers,^[d] cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.

Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Is. 40:30-31)

Our kind father gave our kids their first chance at ice-skating while in Cusco!

He has also given us progress on the missionary bungalow.

….and some beautiful places to visit as we carry the Gospel out and about.

We are thankful for chances to share the Gospel, and for God to be glorified!

And for God specifically answering our prayer regarding the church music program! God is also using it to really draw the church together: It is a beautiful thing!

Next week the Paul Young family is coming to visit us once again in the jungle, and we are very excited!

Please pray with us for God to work!

As I was looking for pictures to make invitations, i came across an old blog post of theirs, and really enjoyed reading it.

You can read it by clicking here.