DISASTER In Venezuela
“Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ Whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left."'
~ Isaiah 30:21 ~
Dear Friends, Family, and Loved Ones,
As most of you probably already heard, Venezuela has passed through one of the most tragic events in its history, an atrocious series of earthquakes that left devastation. A large part of the Calvary Trujillo and Gospel South America family is made up of Venezuelans, so this hit close to home for us. I am sure you know what it feels like when a family member goes through something tragic, you go through it with them. That is why, under Pastor Cory’s vision and leadership, the ministry here has decided to not only send a team to go minister to the physical and spiritual needs of those in the most devastated places in Venezuela (Caracas and Maracay), but also to leave a group to continue serving permanently in Venezuela. This has been in our prayers as a ministry since the very beginning, to reach Venezuela with the gospel, and now we can see God moving through this tragedy to plant us there.
Although I personally have not had the opportunity to go minister there, and for the foreseeable future will not (the entire immigrations system is shutdown), I have the blessing of being able to support those who are going by bringing lunches to their families back in Trujillo, transport them, and help in any way they need. Also by filling holes left behind by leaders who have gone to help. Additionally, we have the blessing of being a very diverse ministry. Because of that we have staff and servants who serve with us from countries that have free access into Venezuela. Still, it has been a miracle for them to make it in, because the vast majority of those attempting to enter to aid have been rejected. Praise the Lord for moving so powerfully to allow us to minister and to open the doors no one can shut!
(Above) Cory called an urgent staff meeting. After sharing the deep need, he announced the now permanent role Gospel South America will play in Venezuela.
Back on Campus
By God’s grace and working, we have finished up another semester at CBI Peru! This time, 12 students graduated and have moved on to the different places God has called them to serve! One of my great friends, Alexis, graduated and now is serving full time at the church here and CBI, it has been a great blessing to be serving alongside him in this busy season of ministry.
Also, we have had some mission teams helping spruce up the Colegio Calvary facilities, praise the Lord for their awesome service! It is starting to look beautiful! (In the photos below, teams working on the front yard where the children will have an outdoor play space, the bottom photo is a roof structure a team built on the 3rd story patio where the bigger kids will have an outdoor play space).
Sharing About Jesus Through a Watermelon?!
On Saturday, July 25th we had the long anticipated Watermelon Festival!!! This event is a combination of sports tournaments we host in the morning and an afternoon family fair. This is the church’s largest yearly event we host at one of the parks in the city. This year I had the awesome privilege of co-leading evangelism and transportation. The festival was very successful, and after the event we had 63 people who signed-up to get contacted and follow-up with the church. Between all the different activities, we were able share the gospel with everyone who came, and have many in-depth conversations and prayer for individuals. We used the colors in the theme of the festival, the watermelon, to share the gospel. The black seeds represent sin, the red represents Jesus’ blood, the white represents purity and the green represents eternal life.
One of my favorite interactions was with a lady and her four children. As I was sharing the gospel, one of her kids wandered away. The lady got scared for a moment until we found the child, and then one of the girls who was evangelizing with me separated with the kids to share with them while I shared with the lady. After sharing, one of the other girls on the team prayed for her. At one point I opened my eyes while she was praying and the girl who was sharing with her children also was praying with them at the same time. It was beautiful to see how God was reaching out both to this lady and her children at the same time.
Instead of dropping a bunch of photos on the newsletter here, I am going to leave a link to one of the amazing Instagram posts that a missions team, Calvary Chapel Palos Verdes, who helped serve in the festival, made of the event: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbYaV-5uVgM/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
University AND Ministry?!
I have some big news to share!! I have been accepted into Calvary Chapel University! The Lord has put this place on my heart for a long time, and now I am taking the step of faith to begin my studies for a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Education. DON’T WORRY! I am not leaving the mission field. This is a fully online university and I will be able to do all my studies while being active in ministry still.
It is an important step for my future, working with children. It will open doors for future projects and give credibility before governing authorities to be in positions of leadership. Studying at CCU and in education are both things I had prayed about since I was in Texas (4 years ago). It is neat to see how the Lord has blessed this step of faith. A verse the Lord has been ministering to me many times over since I had started seriously moving towards applying has been Isaiah 30:21. “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ Whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.”
In order to fuel this calling to study at CCU, I will be saving up a fund for my tuition. I already will be on a missionary scholarship to help cover costs, but that will still leave a part of the tuition I need to pay personally. If the Lord puts it on your heart to partner with me to tackle the tuition cost, please send me a message so I can put the specific gift aside for my tuition fund. Any gift will be a great assistance and help me to stay focused on my current ministry without having to make financial sacrifices to keep studying.
Calling All Partners!
It is my honor to connect you, my sisters and brothers of the church in America, to God’s work on the missions field, showing the fruit of our work! If you would like to get more involved in this work, there are different ways you can partner with me as I seek to bring the gospel to the most needy.
Joining signal messenger group to stay up-to-date
Joining monthly South America prayer group, meets the first Tuesday of every month at 6:30 PST
Become a financial partner through the giving link below
Praise Reports
Reaching thousands of Trujillianos with the gospel through the Watermelon Festival!
For the 3 mission teams who came to help serve for the week of the festival, and help work on the new Colegio Calvary facilities.
We have been experiencing beautiful fellowship in the church during the Peru independence day potluck and World Cup events we put on.
The foundation are progressing rapidly at the new church property!
Prayer Requests
For support for my new degree program with Calvary Chapel University
For the 12 CBI Students who have graduated!
For provision for an ideal licensed teacher so we can official begin 1st grade next year in the school.
For continued provision for the new church property.
For revival in the city of Trujillo.
For the new president of Peru (as of July 28), Keiko Fujimori.
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