Missions in Pucallpa, Peru

The BEFORE part of "Before and After"

2010-07-04T21:25:00.010-04:00

Hey all...well, sorry I have not written in months...it seems I forgot I had a blog. Well, not really... but busyness is more like it. Anyhow...I would like to fill you in on some projects that we are doing here in the month of July. We (Mil Palmeras) are hosting two summer teams from the US. During their time here they will be doing several small home projects. I would like to show you the "before" pictures as well as the "after" pictures - once the projects are complete. There are nine projects in all - here are two of the nine.

The people who own these homes are poor - dirt poor. Most have handicaps and some sort of disabilities.

Margarita:

About five years ago she was sitting in her house when a truck plowed through her living room and severely injured her. Leaving her paralyzed from the waist down and with out the use of her (mangled) left arm. She lives in a 10x15 foot house with and son and a daughter. Her kitchen is on the back porch (or where a back porch should be). The kitchen area is 5x10 feet (10 being the width of the house). The bathroom is an outhouse with two thin wood strips for the wheelchair to pull up and in. The shower (no pic) is several sticks in the ground with bean bags sown together for privacy - all that coupled with a open sewage drainage ditch just beyond the bathroom and shower area - that actually floods during rainy season and gets within 5 feet of the house...nice huh?

During this project we are attempting to:

1. Give her a wooden floor for a kitchen area.

2. Replace the roof over the kitchen.

3. Build a walkway/ramp from the kitchen to the bathroom/shower.

4. Build a accessible bathroom and shower for her.

Some pictures:

Kitchen area and roof.

The outhouse with wheelchair boards.

Mario:

Mario was in an auto accident that burned 60% of his body and crushed his legs. He needs a walker or wheelchair to get around. His wife is also mentally handicapped. Their house is leaning about 15 degrees and we are going to try to straighten the house and make it upright. ALSO - they own the piece of property they are on, but have a small problem. Because they are handicapped - and because there was a small space available from their house to the fence - someone "squatted" on that piece of property (becuase they can't defend themselves) and built a house (yes, your read correctly). On each of the 9 projects (six with this first team and three with the 2nd team) I am placing men from the church to be responsible for a house. I just so happen to have a lawyer that wanted to help with this house...so, Lord willing justice will soon be served...AND, their house will be a better place to live.

If you look you can see the house leaning to the left.

Here is another pic - house leaning to the left.

Also...the little house in front before the fence is not theirs!

Will post more pics as the projects are finished!

Thanks for reading!

Marshall

Took one on the chin today...

2010-03-29T22:59:00.006-04:00

Hey there...well, nothing like news happening in your life to make the blog post! And, I wish this was going to be good news...but, that is life sometimes.

I love swimming and the Lord has blessed me to be able to have several swim classes throughout the week. On Monday and Friday mornings I do swim lessons with a missionary family who is home schooling their children. So, this morning...I showed up at 9:30 and had class till about 11 or so. Today's class was probably the hardest I have pushed the kids. They are age 10, 8, and 7. They did great...and I walked away thinking that was a great class. I walked out to my truck (not even 15 feet from the entrance to the place) and the drivers side lock is missing.....oh no!

Yep, I was robbed. They got my back pack (which I normally take into any establishment that I go into). They got my wallet (the wallet I have had since I was 15). Inside was $60, my credit card, debit card, peruvian drivers license, and my florida one as well. Also, a book that was borrowed (Same Kind of Different as Me (if you have not read this...it is a good one!)). And, I lost my leatherman...as I just had put it in my backpack the night before. (My credit and debit cards were canceled in time and new ones are on the way). THEY DID NOT get my peruvian carnet as it was at my house...and I had a copy in my wallet!

Soooo.....yep, I am pretty mad...and am actually lucky I did not see the guy doing it. On the flip side though....from the first moment I saw it...I was just flooded with this peace...and was really surprised at how calm I was.

Pray for him/her...whoever. Theft here is HUGE...and its almost not worth having anything cuz it is just gonna grow legs and walk away.

Pic 1 of lock missing on door...

Pic 2 of lock missing on door....

Pray for thieves!!

Marshall

Mil Palmeras Baptism Feb 2010

2010-02-22T21:15:00.010-05:00

Two posts in one day! Can you believe it???

Mil Palmeras had it's annual baptism at Cashibo Cocha yesterday among some rain and biting piranhas! Praise the Lord for the 22 who came forth and were baptized!!!

Below are some photos:

All four Mil Palmeras Pastors in the water with the first baptism.

Artulo leaving the baptism area...

Marcos getting baptized...

The church family watching the baptism...

Miguel had to step out because his finger was nipped by a piranha...

The group that was baptized - notice my hands are OUT of the water!!!

Thank you!

Keep praying for us!

Marshall

First Official Social Project for Mil Palmeras

2010-02-22T18:13:00.013-05:00

Hi all! Sorry it has been a while since my last post, but I'm back with two posts this time! First off I want to talk about our first social project that we did this past weekend (Sat Feb 20, 2010). About four months ago I was made aware of an elderly lady (Gloria) whose house burnt to the ground. As a church we decided to help her and moved to get her at least a roof over her head.

The pics below are from that project in October.

I am in charge of social projects for Mil Palmeras. This was our first "official" social project for our church. We had about ten guys that showed up and gave their time. We purchased the wood and nails needed and showed up Saturday eager to work. The following pics are from this Saturday where we returned to Gloria's house and built her a floor for inside her home.

The beginning - making post holes!

Cross beams in place and now laying down the floor!

Gloria, her two grand daughters and a neighborhood friend!

Getting it done!

Final touches!

Group shot!

Thank you for reading about and looking at pictures from our first official social project!

Marshall

Prayer and Support Needed...

2009-12-29T15:47:00.002-05:00

Hey all! Well I have never made this type of blog entry…but I guess the old saying is true “never say never!” It is a real joy to be able to serve on the mission field here in Pucallpa, Peru. Knowing the Lord has ordained me to be here and be involved in the specific ministries I am involved in…is beyond what some might call a “blessing!”

The past year I have been able to work with the men in our church and see them grow mightily in the Lord. Most churches here in Peru have mostly women and a few men in the church, let alone men who are training to be leaders. This training for leadership is taking place at Mil Palmeras…and crazy as it may seem, the Lord is using me in this regard.

I spent 2009 working with men in our church directly in groups…via an Old Testament study I did with them. We covered Genesis through II Kings 11 and will pick back up soon with II Kings through Malachi. I also was involved in getting the social ministries/missions ball rolling for Mil Palmeras. It has been a great year!!

But…staying here involves support. The support channel is a long one and at times can be confusing and complicated. I purchased a truck in Dec of 2008 and the purchase of the truck was over looked in getting credited to my account with SAM. And now, the error has been caught and is now being credited (or debited – however you look at it). This comes at a time when I no longer have in my account enough to cover the cost of my truck…which means I am going in the “RED” by about $2,000.

The quick answer is really getting more monthly support. My monthly goal is $2,900 (with a %50 increase in health insurance starting in January of 2010.) More monthly support will help pull me out of the “red” and get me back to where I need to be.

The not so quick answer, is upon council and prayer…is to return to the US to raise more support. This involves leaving the ministry, house, truck, and forfeiting my resident visa (if over six months).

If you have read this far…God Bless you!! Haa haa – Pray for me and these next two or three trying months…a lot will be known soon…

If you are interested in supporting my ministry or know someone who is send checks to:

South America Mission, Inc.
1021 Maxwell Mill Road, Suite B
Fort Mill, SC 29708

(Make checks payable to South America Mission)

Thank you!...please keep praying!

Marshall

Christmas thoughts from Peru

2009-12-25T11:56:00.002-05:00

Today is Christmas 2009 and outside it is 90 degrees! Now, I grew up in Michigan and Florida during my childhood. I remember my Christmas years in Michigan were snowy and cold. From snow forts, to sledding, to snow ball fights and even snowmobiles! Then we moved to Florida and things got a bit warmer, but yes, even in Florida it snowed in Dec of 1989 in North Port, Florida! Nothing really stuck to the ground, but I remember being outside and it flurrying...technically that is snow!!

I remember growing up and Christmas really being about me. My mom (not to her fault) would shower me with gifts...lots of gifts...and those have led to fond memories I carry with me today and even look forward to doing the same to my own children someday. I also liked the planning and shopping for friends and family and the anticipation of them opening up the gift(s) I had planned and even schemed to pull things off sometimes.

I remember Christmas dinners that my mom would work so hard at putting together after all the presents were opened...she would disappear into the kitchen for an all afternoon venture in prepping Christmas dinner...and 9 times out of 10 it was prime rib...you can't argue with that!!

Now today, spending my 3rd Christmas alone and my 2nd in Peru as a single person...it gives some good time for introspect. Last year, I will have to admit that waking up to an empty house (cuz the roomies had Christmas plans) was not a lot of fun. This year though, waking up today to an empty house...is not that bad. Those memories of the cold, snow, shopping, planning, presents, travels, and the joys of being around family for Christmas morning do not compare to the knowledge of WHY we are really celebrating this holiday. It is about the birth of Jesus. Christ did come in the form a babe to this earth as was set forth by God in a promise in Genesis 3:15 and for thousands of years God kept that promise and four hundred years after the last prophet spoke...Christ was born...God in the flesh. I am in awe as I think about this today...

How long will this Gospel message be so freely received in the world? Christmas is celebrated by people all over the world...yet some celebrate facing trouble and attacks. This week alone I read about trouble for Christians in Pakistan and Iraq...not to mention the tension in the US with regards to "religious" symbols during the holiday season. As a matter of fact...this morning CNN.com had a front page article that read "Was Jesus born into Wealth?"

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/wayoflife/12/25/RichJesus/index.html

If you read the article is a presentation of the "Prosperity Gospel vs. The Traditional Gospel" Why in the world address that now, on Christmas morning. I feel the world is getting less and less tolerant of Christians and feel in my gut that hard times are coming for believers.

Christmas is not about cold weather, it is not about shopping and unwrapping gifts and everything materialistic we, as fallen people, have turned it into. But in reality, Christmas is about honoring a date on our calendar where God after thousands of years kept a promise he made in Genesis 3:15

"I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." (ESV)

And Isaiah 9:6-7 says:

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Don't get me wrong...cold weather, shopping, and unwrapping gifts this morning would have been splended! BUT...there is something bigger to this day. We celebrate and rejoice that God kept his promise and Jesus was born...our savior.

Marshall

Huanuco Round # 2

2009-11-23T09:29:00.007-05:00

Hi all....We have just returned from our second trip to Huanuco, Peru where were assisting a small church with various projects and such. Our church - Mil Palmeras - was just there about a month ago as a 20 member team from Oct 29-Nov 1st. The projects we set out to do did not get finished. We had a small accident while in Huanuco during this trip. We had a 9 yr old boy run out in the street and got hit by a motorcycle (not going to fast - luckily). He had to be taken to the hospital for bumps and bruises, but turned out to be ok. Well, because this happened...we all decided to leave at the same time and get back to Pucallpa - hence leaving some projects unfinished. One of these projects was putting up a fence to separate the church (area) from the pool (as this location is to be a small YMCA type set up.

Soooo, Alwin and I last monday (Nov 16) headed back to Huanuco - across what is now an almost beautiful road as they are paving it completely for the first time ever - to complete our fence project. We put in three very long days - 12-14 hrs a day drilling, cutting, nailing and oh by the way.....slapping these white flies that are called "mata blanca" or "white death." Luckily we had some repellent but at times it did not help. We were able to finish and head home last friday...two very tired guys!

Our church is looking to invest in this small church in Huanuco, Peru.....where idol worship is very evident. Please pray for the salvation of those in Huanuco.

Above: The fence in progress

Above: Alwin, who traveled with me to Huanuco and the mastermind of the fence

Above: Left to right...Pastor Esaud of Huanuco, Alwin, and Doomer from Huanuco

Above: Ya know....there is nothing like nailing cheap nails into really really really hard wood

Above: The final product. The goal was to keep the little kids away from the pool because the church meets basically "poolside."

Please pray for Huanuco!

Marshall

First Mission Trip for Mil Palmeras - Oct 2009

2009-11-04T14:46:00.009-05:00

Last week 10/29/2009 - 21 people departed from Pucallpa, Peru for the 8hr journey to the city of Huanuco, Peru. Pucallpa is in the jungle and is hot and everything is green with lots of trees. Huanuco on the other hand is at 6,100 ft in elevation and kinda in the mountains, is cool, and most things are brown with very few trees.

The road to Huanuco is only paved in parts and right now they are working on paving the entire road (for the first time ever). The journey takes about 6 to 8 hrs. We came in three trucks and the rest of the team went by bus.

Picture above: The road to Huanuco in the high jungle between Aguytia and Tingo Maria

The reason we went to Huanuco:
My pastor said something a while back...he said, "There is a problem with the Gospel in Peru...you see it came, but it never has left." Sooo, we are in the process of beginning to take the Gospel to other parts of Peru as well as in the future planning an international mission trip.

In Huanuco:
We helped a small church with evangelism (a drama we did in a school and in a public market), small projects (painted walls and built platforms for the praise band and pastor), and teaching as Julio and myself both spoke.

Above: Paco carrying a bucket of paint aside a well scrapped wall ready for painting in the church.

Above: Alwin is the master carpenter. Here is in the process of creating three stages/platforms for the church to use. He and I will also be returning to Huanuco November 9th to finish some work there.

Above: Fabiola is scraping paint off glass on the door.

Above: Pastor Julio( in gray) and pastor Esaud of Huanuco (in red) are talking about side as the team is working on the outside all of the church.

Below is the drama our team did - it was to the song "Everything" by Lifehouse. If you have not seen the skit - there is a link on youtube where a church team in the US has done it really well go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVJqRLU3J0I&feature=related

Above: Man is between God and the the world and the world pulls hard.

Above: Satan is behind all that is evil

Above: God is bigger than the evil one and rescues his children.

In Huanuco there are many many idols that are worshiped and the people are in SUCH darkness. While we were there over the Halloween weekend - there was a festival to "Senor de los Burgos. The idol looked a lot like Jesus, and even though it appeared they were worshiping Jesus...they were not.

Below is a pic of "el senor de los burgos"

For our group - this was an amazing first trip. Everything that could happen both good and bad did. And God worked it all out for good (Gen 50:20). We saw people working together, work getting done, encourgement being given, love being shared, frustration, bad attitudes, thefts (our new sign was stolen and recovered), and the son of our carpenter who was on the trip was hit by a motorcycle and taken to the hospital - he is ok. (Two other events happened in Pucallpa around the same time this accident happened - one of the men on our team - his son fell off the roof and hurt himself and another one of our pastors who was in Pucallpa was crossing the street with his three children (his wife was with us in Huanaco) and the three were nearly hit by a moto-taxi here in Pucallpa. Then, then night...we had a man to man talk...and things were getting heated...and at the end...we all met in the middle and praised God for what he was doing by bringing the Gospel to Huanuco and the enemy ("senor de los burgos") did not like that very much!

It was a great trip...a wonderful experience for our guys! Alwin (the father of the boy who was hit) and I are returning this coming Monday, Nov 9th to complete the work we were not able to finish.

Below: A group picture in front of the newly painted wall outside the church/house of Pastor Esaud (the sign was stolen later that day).

Below: Our group at a resturant south of Huanuco before returning to Pucallpa that evening.

We also look to send one pastor for a week every month to encourage this church and what it is trying to do in Huanuco, Peru.

Thank you for praying,

Marshall

Time to catch up!

2009-10-27T22:00:00.017-04:00

Hey all! I have been encouraged to hear that there actually people reading my blog! Good stuff! Well since my last post in August I have been quite the busy person! In September I spent a good portion of the month following up on my word at the local orphanage here in town. We were asked if we would be able to help repair a wall in their cafeteria. We were able to use the money I have been getting from the soda fund I have at church. We followed up on our word...It took us about two and a half weeks to complete our project. I found out recently that we were on TV here in Pucallpa. They said that, "this was the first time a project was completed, and not even the regional or local government has ever finished a project! I was quite blow away!!! Here are some pics from our work:Above: Jackson and Javier

Above: The new wall frame in place. Paco standing in the blue shirt.

Above: Putting finishing touches on the wall - screens and siding straps.

Then in October I was able to go to the states for a small vacation. While I was there I went to a U2 concert with three former missionary kids who are now in the US going to college.

Above: Kara, myself, Whitney, and Hannah at Tampa Stadium for U2

Above: The U2 concert

I was also able to speak to a group of GA's from Crawfordville Baptist Church - just south of Tallahassee, Florida. These girls have written me, sent me gifts and cards, as well continually taking up a missions offering for me! It was a great visit!

Above: Me speaking in Tallahasse to GA group from Crawfordville Baptist Church

I was also able to catch up with my David and Jan Patteson, my church, and good friends while back in Gainesville!

Above: River Cross group

Above: Myself and a friend from college, Jenn. Gators won!!!

Above: Myself in Tampa airport with my mom and her husband Chris.

Now, as I write this I should be packing for our mission trip we are doing tomorrow. My pastor here in Pucallpa said, "there is a problem with the Gospel in Peru...It came, but it has never left!" Well, we are about to embark on our first mission trip as a church to Huanuco, Peru for five days! I will post pics when I get back!!

Pray for us!

Marshall

"New House"

2009-08-30T22:38:00.009-04:00

Here are some pics from my new house that we moved into about two weeks ago!

Here is a shot of the house:

Here is shot of the living room:

Here is a shot of my bed - I had to raise it up to make space for storing stuff:

Entertainment and clothes....

"New" Bike!

2009-08-24T14:37:00.003-04:00

Hey all...a common past time among missionaries here is to ride across the country on dirt bikes - and to have a decent dirt bike costs a little bit of money! BUT, the other day I was greatly blessed with an opportunity to purchase a used Honda 350 from a friend here who is a pilot and now I am the owner of a motorcycle!! - Another reason for you to PRAY!!! haa haa

Opportunity for Prayer...

2009-08-21T10:33:00.002-04:00

Hey all - I want to share with you what the Lord has lead me to do and how he is making it happen. Most of you know that I am the missions pastor of Mil Palmeras here in Pucallpa, Peru. But over the last year the Lord has put on my heart the growth and discipleship of the men in our church... and as of last week my job was changed/add to be the mens pastor for our church. That means I am responsible for the spiritual growth and discipleship for the men in the church...a hefty responsibility.

Please pray for me...I find it funny that God has put in this position as a single - and most men are married with kids to be the one in their lives as a model and leader. Pray that I would be a Christ-like example and that the men will learn all the God has for them to learn...to go out and be fishers of men themselves.

The pic below is from a recent outing lima where we ate at chilis...next to me is Pastor Julio and around the table are some of the guys....

Time for an update...

2009-08-17T00:19:00.008-04:00

Wow, sorry all...who have been reading my blog...I didn't realize that it had been over two months since my last post! I'll try to make it up in the next coming days. Many of you know that I went to Arequipa (a city in southern Peru) for part of June and almost all of July for language study. It was a great time of seeing the staff there again and also time to relax a bit as the past year was full speed ahead.

My time in the classroom was good - though I was introduced to a grammar structure that we do not have in English called subjunctive. The problem is I have spoken Spanish for four years or at least attempted to and have not thought in this tense....it is somewhere between present and future. Anyhow...I have my work cut out for me as I try to unlearn what I have learned/used and apply the subjunctive to my sentences. My teachers were great - below is a pic of them. Karen was my grammar teacher and Edgar was my conversation teacher.

The city of Arequipa is surrounded by three volcanoes. Chichani (dormant), Misti (active), Pichu Pichu (extinct - blew it self up!). If you are in Arequipa and looking East....Chichani is first, then Misti and then Pichu Pichu is in the southern part of the city. Misti is about 19,500ft and by the looks of the base of Pichu Pichu - they say that it would have been the tallest mountain/volcano in the world at about 30,000 ft.

Below is the volcano Chichani on the NE side of Arequipa...

Below is the volcano Misiti which is about 15 miles due east of Arequipa at 19,100 ft...

And this is Pichu Pichu, Southeast of Arequipa, which at one time probably stood close to 30,000 ft...

Marshall

Shooting for October!

2009-06-12T19:27:00.002-04:00

Hey kids! Good news! Today was the day U2 tickets were purchased!!! I'm a huge fan and looking forward to the show in October in Tampa!!

I got section 216 for the show...hope its a good one!!!

I'll be back in Florida for two weeks in October - and also hoping to catch a Gator game!!

God's mercy...made personal...

2009-06-07T16:09:00.006-04:00

Hey all...if any of you out there are keeping track of my blog...you might fall over at this is the second entry in three days! Crazy I know! I wanted to share about a recent "attempted trip" myself and two others took and how it turned out.

Being the missions pastor here at Mil Palmeras, it was time for our church to being to reach out. I recently have had the privileged of meeting a pastor from Huanuco, Peru who invited us to come. Well we made plans to travel the 8 hour trip in my truck June 5-8th. I had heard about a strike on the road...about three hours away...but thought that it would be no big deal.

Here in Peru, the people really do not have a voice...nor does the government really pay any attention to the people...especially, as you get farther and farther away from Lima. The people who grow the "coca" leaf are called "cocaleros" (coca-ler-os). And the cocaleros were upselt that the government has been selling off their land to foreign timber investors. Sooo....because their voices are not heard...they riot and block the only road connecting Pucallpa to Lima (which also includes Huanuco. These are called "parros or huelgas" and sometimes they can turn violent.

We decided to go...and found the blockade...and got into some trouble (nothing serious) but being in any area of unrest is not a good feeling. We were able to make it where the trucks were stopped, but later in the day, the road behind us was shut down. What I mean by "shut down" is... if you use any sorts of transportation during a "strike" of any sorts...you will be confronted/attacked - because if you use any sorts of transportion during the strike...you are saying you do not agree with why the people are striking. So, IF they can shut down the public access or public transportation...then maybe their voice will be heard and Lima might pay attention to the issue at hand. Honestly, we live in a soft anarchy...everyday. The law really isn't law here...really, anything can happen at any time...its kind of crazy. Though, that said, things are generally peaceful.

Jackson and Walter in the back of my truck at the stoppage.

Our Friday ended with a mob of 20 or so punks (15-30 yr olds) looking for a vehicle to use to help patrol the areaabout 3pm. I explained to them that I would like to return to Pucallpa with my two friends. That wasn't the direction they wanted to go, but decided on going the other direction as to patrol the road (because again, if you use transpo during a strike...you will be confronted). So, we had a "criminal" escort for about 20 km and then they got out and we were home free. Leaving behind us... close to 100 tractor trailers and buses full of people. I was told the strike lifted today (Sunday June 7th) - and it had stated last Tues June 2nd.

Jackson, Walter, and myself with lunch - sodas with 1 can of tuna and thing of crackers.

If you have every prayed for me (and the missionaries here) thank you. If you haven't...would you please start. Several people today at church came up and told me today that they had prayed for our trip...a lot. I believe God, sent the mob of people...to escort us out of there. He knows His children and where they are...every moment.

Would you please pray for the salvation of the lost in Peru as well as for those who are serving the Lord here....

We are planning on re-doing the trip to Huanuco the last weekend in June.

Marshall

He Gives and He Takes Away....

2009-06-03T11:51:00.004-04:00

Again, I do have to apologize for those of you keeping track of my blog and it seems like I am not writing! Part to blame was the lack of high speed internet and the other part belongs to my unwillingness to wait for dial up to load everything. BUT now, we have high speed internet via a tower and the world of communication seems to be opening up!! Finally!!

This is almost two months late - but I would like to share with you all something that happened here in the mission community back in late April. It was a Saturday afternoon and our Board members for South America Mission had just arrived - I had just finished picking them up and dropping them off at their hotel and had come home to cook lunch. The phone rang and my roommate had answered it...(its always interesting when you are listing in on an incoming call...and you know the news is not good)...then my roommate said "he's dead?" My heart sank...obvioiuslly it was someone we knew...but who? It was another missionary here in Pucallpa - Tommy Head.

He was a part of the ministry team here in Pucallpa called "Motociclistas por Cristo." He was practicing at a track here in town with another missionary from SAM. He landed from a jump wrong and broke his neck and died on the scene.

Little do you know your impact on people's lives while you are living - it is only when you pass and your void is left in people's lives that your impact is revealed. The death of Tommy Head hit us all pretty hard as he has just preached the Easter service here at Mil Palmeras and his last words were "You better be right with God and know Christ, because you do not know how many days you have left." Little did he know that 13 days later...he would be in the presence of the Lord.

Tommy's ministry was with Living Water. It is an organization dedicated to the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as well as providing clean drinking water through the establishment of wells. One story I have heard about Tommy in his ministry was he had gone into a village here to speak to the chief and get permission to drill them a well. The chief and others talked it over and decided not to have this stranger come in their village (Tommy was 6'2" with long hair and about 280 lbs). He ended up returning to that village some time later and re-asked to drill the well and this time they said yes. As he and the chief were talking the chief told him a story. He said, "Remember when you were here last time and we said no we didn't want the well?" Well after you had left one of the guys in the group turned to me and said, "That is the ugliest woman I have ever seen in my life!" (Because Tommy had long hair!) I will always remember this story!

Tommy Head is no longer drilling wells - but in the presence of Jesus himself...the one whom he drilled the wells for.

See you soon Tommy....

The Call of Duty....

2009-03-28T17:46:00.007-04:00

Hey there....well, I had a curve ball tossed at me last week. As most of you know I am the missions pastor of the church here, as well as a youth pastor to the mk's, as well as a PE and high school bible teacher. But, what you may not know is that another one of my responsibilities for the mission is being a security officer. That entails lots, but when something goes wrong we (there are two of us) need to respond and be there.

Last weekend we had a family - studying language in Arequipa get their house robbed while they were out discussing the "stresses" in their lives. We decided as a mission to send someone to Arequipa to assist them in their time of need....and, that person would be me! Sooo...I have been in Arequipa (southern Peru) since Wed assisting the Listro family as they need. It has been a good time of encouraging them and giving council.

Answering God's call to his service...is not always smooth sailing...things happen. Thefts here in Peru are numerous...and unless you are always on your guard you will get robbed or your house will get broken into. Sooo...when it does happen it shakes you. Being here with this family has been a blessing - to be able to assist them, talk with them, and encourage them with advice and knowledge of the city. They are a family of 7 (yep, that means 5 kids) learning language and heading to Pucallpa when finished.

For me - I return to Pucallpa tomorrow and pick up where I left off...teaching at the missionary kid school and beginning our first missions project for the church this coming weekend (one week from today!) Below is a picture ofSAM's common building that the church uses. Sooo...I am guiding the church to chip and scrape the old paint off and repaint the SAM building that the church uses weekly - the entire month of April!

We are looking to have high speed internet no later than the end of May on SAM Center....this will greatly help me in communicating with everyone!!!

Much love to you all....thank you for reading....

Marshall

Wow....its been 3 months!

2009-03-15T17:47:00.003-04:00

That is a big woops on my part! Thank you so much for still checking my blog and being patient with me! The life of dial up...really stinks...I guess it might be different if I had never known about high speed...but man what a time consumer! I do not even check my email much nor do i like to respond...just because it takes SO MUCH time to download and upload things.

The last three months has been really good!

I have being teaching the Old Testament in Sam Academy and have covered from Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Solomon, Jonah, Micah, Amos, and Hosea....with Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Daniel, Obediah, Habakkuk, Zachariah, Zephaniah, and Malachi still to cover in two months of school!

In Mil Palmeras, I have finished up teaching 8 weeks of missions classes on Thursday nights and now we are making the transition into doing some work projects and should be taking off the beginning of April.

I have also begun discipling men at Mil Palmeras and look forward to the Lord bringing more men into the picture and watching them grow in the Lord.

I now, have just finshed two weeks of a somewhat break - SAM had its yearly conference in Pucallpa last week and that was a wonderful break from the norm. We had all SAM missionaries here to meet and refresh. Then this past week...I had a friend, Kimberly Roddy come down from the US and was able to show her around Pucallpa some as well as Lima. I showed her the rivers around Pucallpa, up in a cessna plane ride (I was not flying), ride on a scooter (she got stitches), two trips to the beach in Lima...it was a full trip!

Now, as I (who am in Lima now) is set to go back to Pucallpa and get ready for the final two months of school as well as the organization of projects for the church. Along with wanting to build a sand volleyball court for us to play on (need donations), Six mango trees to trim up near the main road, swim lessons to teach, youth group to do, fields to mow, and last but not least...get ready for my church to come down in three weeks...finally!!!

I´ll try to be better at writing!!!

Marshall

A New House and a Familiar Place...

2009-01-17T13:39:00.004-05:00

Hey all - just wanted to drop everyone a line and touch base. Right after Christmas I moved from where I was living to a house on SAM Center. The house I am in is the house of my pastor Julio Chiang who is in the states visiting churches and raising support for Mil Palmeras and his ministry (he is also with SAM).

Sooo...upon moving in we (I live with two other single guys) discovered the house was kinda in bad shape. Sooo...the projects we are getting done are - repairing the main bath/shower (hole in the base of the tube), gutting the kitchen sink and cabinets and having them entirley replaced. Then...I have begun cutting/trimming the trees around the house. The house (as you can see from the photo) is surrounded by mango trees that hang low to the ground - it does not allow the the ground and such to dry after rain - hence mildew and mold is a huge problem. I will be taking on this project this coming week. Pastor Julio also has a dog named Brisa that I am taking care of as well!

These next two months are probably going to be the busiest I most likely have ever been. I am teaching Old Testament and PE at the missionary kid school. I am also subbing for high school Civics class for another teacher who is currently in Lima awaiting on the delievery of her grandchild. I am also doing two months of classes everything Thursday nights on missions. I am also preaching this Sunday and the following Sunday. Whew!....

That is a quick update on me! I hope all of you are doing well.

Marshall

Going backwards in time!

2009-01-07T15:17:00.002-05:00

Hi all! I am currently using a friends computer who has high speed internet! I have recently moved and the house I am now living in has good ol dial up!! Yep! Sooo...I tried to set it up and move back to dial up...and discovered that my computer does not have a modem. AND also my computer is seeming to have more and more wrong with it everyday!

Sooo...if i seem distant...I'm not...just kinda out of the loop!

I will do my best to keep regular posts on the blog...it just might take some extra effort and patience!

Marshall

God's timing...

2008-12-09T14:02:00.005-05:00

Hi all - I am amazed at God's timing and his knowledge of our hearts. Most of you know that while in the states I had to raise money for a vehicle here and the limit set for me was $10,000. Now, in the US buying a used truck for $10,000 is pretty easy. As I began to look in July and August in Arequipa used trucks here go for $12-16,000 (and these trucks have been beaten to death!) Soo... after looking some and moving to Pucallpa in mid September I decided to hold off the the purchase of a truck for various reasons. One being - it was not a pressing need for me to have a vehicle right now. Two, if I were to go "shopping" for a truck it most likely have to be in Lima or Arequipa (not here). Three, I would like to meet the owner and even then...can I trust what he is telling me about it. And four I just didn't have the funds to do it!

Sooo...housing here is a pressing need. I decided to take the money for a vehicle and use it to help build housing on SAM Center for singles (SOMETHING MUCH NEEDED!!!). I then had heard that a missionary couple from another organization had decided not to return as missionaries and had decided to sell their stuff. Having already made up my mind with my money - I didn't really pay attention to the fact they had a 1998 White Nissan 4X4 dual cab - duel fuel (gas and propane) for sale for $11,500. God had to kinda do his thing to get me to notice the truck and actually see it was a possibility. Sooo...I checked the $$$ with SAM - and I had enough, though it was going to take my account almost dangerously low. I sought council and advice for experienced missionaries and they told me to buy it. Soooo...with the monies raised over support raising time and the $5,000 gift from Willow Creek Baptist Church in Crowely, Texas I am in the process of purchasing a "new" truck!

I just find it funny how I had made up my mind to go in another direction and God totally turned things around on me.....I know this was from the Lord. Thank you all who have, are, and will in the future support me here in Peru.

Mucho Love!

Marshall

Realizing Where I Am....

2008-11-12T16:54:00.005-05:00

The last year has been quite the journey. I left Peru in June 2007 looking for support as the Lord had directed me to return to Peru full time. Just under a year all my monthly ministry support was raised and as of June of 2008 I was returning to Peru as a career missionary. I spent three months in Arequipa, Peru officially studying Spanish and had returned to Pucallpa to assume all that awaited on Sept. 13, 2008!

I was quickly running...with teaching at the school, starting up the missionary kid youth group, and working at Mil Palmeras (our church plant of 300). My job is to be the missions pastor and I am looking at getting missions classes and such started soon and having that transition into actual local projects and then to other cities and eventually other countries. Since I have been here (2 months) I have taught three classes on "sects/false religions" 2 classes on Mormonism and 1 class on the prosperity gospel. Last Sunday 11/9, was a historical day for me as I preached my frist sermon in Spanish (twice). I am also slotted to preach on 11/23 and 12/7. Exciting huh....keep reading!

There is nothing like being where GOD has called you to be EVEN in the midst of resistance and oppostion. Last week as I was preparing my sermon and such..."things" started happening in the house and such. One night about 10:30pm I was downstairs - my roomates had already gone to bed...and the upstairs shower comes on and I noticed and evil presence in the hosue - so I go upstairs - pray, and turn it off. Come back down and continue my NCAA football game (the nerve to interupt my game!!) Ten minutes later...it happened again. I went back upstairs and turned it off. Yep, ten minutes later...it happened again. Prayed (had been) and prayed some more...then, I took a shower! And went to bed. It happened the next two nights. It never has happened before...nor has it happend since.

I also "lost" my keys for my motocylce three days - and on Sunday morning...happen to find them in shorts I was had not been wearing the day I lost them. Also that week...one time...I walked by my big floor fan and it turned off by itself...brown outs here are common...but we still had power!

Many of you have asked how to pray for me and the ministry here. Here is a snap shot of the resistance that is beginning and I believe will continue. I am not scared, frightened, spooked or anything...not at all...God already has taught me not to fear this. So...would pray for the ministry here in Peru.

Please pray for:
- Salvations
- The understanding of Missions
- Personal growth in the lives of those that attend Mil Palmeras
- Wisdom (for me)
- Anything else the Lord lays on your heart!

Thank you so much!

Yum Yum - MANGOES!!!

2008-11-07T16:28:00.004-05:00

Hey all! Well...yes please forgive me for not posting more and actually placing pics when I said I would do them....but today...I have pics! Things are good...just gotta a full plate of ministry to do... and well...looking forward to see how it is all gonna get done! Some of that includes some of you guys coming down and being a part of a missions team!

We are just beginning our mango season here! There are several kind of trees that produce different kinds of mangoes - the best are the kind without the fiber inside...oh-so-good!! I will put some pics of some mangoes that I took near my house this afternoon. I also am putting up a pic of my scooter I bought last month - nice wheels I know! I have some missionaries interested in my little bike...so I might sell it soon and get something really cool! I'll surprise you later with a pic of "The Cholly" haa haa!

Life here is good...and even crazy at times. Now that I am here...the dust has settled and I am into a groove, I am like..."where is my helper?" I feel like I am swimming in the olympics and forgot my swimsuit in the locker room! Your swimsuit is vital part of your routine (ha haa) ...wonder where mine is? Anyhow...if you happen to think of it please pray for a wife for me!!

What an honor and a priveledge to be able to be here and share the love of Christ with people. We have been coving false religions in our Thursday night discipleship class - and I have actually taught in three of them - Mormonism and Prosperity Gospel. I also...am preaching three times in five weeks with the first one being this sunday - so if you happen to get this...please pray for me and our church. The father of lies is stirring up trouble...but God is bigger - thanks for your prayers.

Here is a group shot from left to right: Pastor Miguel (wife not here), Pastor Joel and his wife Evelyn, and Pastor Julio (wife not here), and ME (um, don't know who my wife is yet!) haa ha. We make up the Mil Palmeras staff. This photo was taken inside the church...you can see the big screen (its wood painted white) and the speakers in the background. We get about 300 on a sunday - and yep, my crazy self will be preaching here...eeeyyyy!!!!

Please pray for:
- My Spanish as I am preaching three times soon. 11/9, 11/23, and 12/7
- For strength to handle all my responsibilities
- For teams to come this year and partner with what God is doing here

Its really hard to imagine...

2008-10-28T08:14:00.002-04:00

That most of you are in the middle of fall! With the leaves changing color and the cold fronts beginning to happen to cool everyone! Here...it has been in the upper 90's - though I do have to say last week was very reasonable and it looks like this week is heading in that direction as well! It is about to turn to rainy season here - should begin sometime in late November/early December! Rainy season will last for about four to five months and we'll get about 60 inches or so during that time. Crazy huh?

I am a proud parent of a new RTM 100 - scooter! WOO HOO! Not to powerful but it did come with wheels! SO i am scooting around town now...instead of paying a taxi or walking! I do have to be careful - there have been A LOT of motorcycle thefts in the last two years and it doesn't seem to be letting up. That just means that you can't always take your bike to town - and park it and walk inside somewhere. They are not really targeting my kind of bike - but still...its good to keep aware and have a heads up!

A huge prayer request: Our pastor at Mil Palmeras races motocross competitively and fell last Sunday breaking his collar bone - though he is on the mend he can not preach. SOOO...they have asked me to help and so I am preaching three times in the next five weeks! YIKES! Sooo...please pray for me in preparation (something things in English - don't translate to Spanish) so I need a "Spanish" mind parse in preparing these messages. On top of that...for my Spanish - I can communicate...but would like to be understood as well!

I'll post a pic of my "motorcycle" later today!

Been a while!

2008-10-15T18:29:00.005-04:00

Hey all - sorry it has taken me so long to get another post up! I had written previously that I was going to be hitting the ground running - well....I was not kidding! I have been hard at work with the school I am teaching at doing high school bible and also teaching PE - both have been time consuming...but also great! I then, have also started up the youth group here again - though its taken some time...we are meeting for the second time tonight!

And well...last Friday the church staff of Mil Palmeras met for 8 hours and we planned the entire 2009 year. I am going to be starting missions classes which should run about three months as we explore what is "the church" and what is the responsibility of "the church" once you are a christian! Then we are looking at beginning some projects coming as soon as March I do believe!

I have also been given some dates of importance by Mil Palmeras - To conduct a class on Mormonism on Thursday night 10/16 (ummm...thats tomororw) as well as next Thrusday 10/23! Yes, in Spanish! So...I have been researching and such for about two weeks and have a power point to share!! Please pray for this!! The pics below are of the two mormon churches here in Pucallpa...

Thank you for your time (reading this) and your prayers and support. Things are good...just there is A LOT to do!!

I will do better at getting more pics and more frequent postes up in the future!

Pucallpa!

2008-09-22T10:04:00.002-04:00

Hey all - just a quick note to let you know that I have made it to Pucallpa (FINALLY!) It has been a long time coming and now I am getting settled in and adjusted to the demands that waited patiently for me! I started teaching immediately upon arrival and am getting used to that - I am teaching Old Testament to six high schoolers in SAM Academy. I am now officially apart of Mil Palmeras as the "Missions Pastor" and look forward to lots of projects and such in the coming future. Yet to be set up is the SAM youth group again (just missionary kids), but will be soon in the next week or so!

Please pray for transportation - now I am heal/toeing it (walking) sometimes I take a moto-kar but after a while it gets a wee bit expensive - so I am looking for a cheap motorcycle/dirtbike for transportation.

I'll write more later - but just wanted to toss a word out...

Thanks!

Marshall

The "I Almost Made It" Story

2008-09-11T16:29:00.010-04:00

Hey all...this will be my last input from the southern Peruvian city of Arequipa as my time here at language school has finished - I had only raised enough to attend school for three months - and well that is all used up! In reality I need probably another good three months, maybe I will come back in the next year or so for a couple of weeks. I am just now getting everything in order and feel like I am making some progress in my language learning...and well...its time to leave. Pucallpa is waiting and I am excited to FINALLY be heading there and getting to settle down.

Last weekend, we (8 of us who are studying at the language school - 1 Australian, 5 Germans, and 2 Americans) decided to hike up the almost 6,000 metered (19,100ft) volcano Misti that edges Arequipa. Ummm...what were we thinking?

So...we had a guide and he had planned everything and gave us instructions. Our plan was to use both Saturday and Sunday in order to climb Misti. Arequipa sits at 8,000ft. - our drop off point was at 11,500ft. We spent about six hours climbing to the campsite which I am guessing was about 14,500 - 15,500. We had about two hours before the sun was to go down to set up our tents, prepare for the early departure in the morning as well as eat dinner.

We all were in bed by 7 pm - the temperature was dropping quickly and that was the only place that was warm. The wake up call came at 2am. We slowly stirred and got bundled up and gathered what we needed for the second half of the climb. We set out around 3am with flashlights and walking sticks. The temp was about 35 degrees.

We hiked slowly and as we got higher we hiked even slower. As we got higher it got colder and colder. Just before the sun came up at - maybe around 17,000 - it must have been in the single digits - as fingers and toes were numb. The dangers in hiking in the altitude is the sickness that can come from it. Several of us had some symptoms - though I felt fine in terms of oxygen, but my legs were really really tired. It came to the point where I balanced how I felt with how much I understood there was to climb...so at 17,500 and without ever training for any of this...I tossed in the towel and decided to save my energy and strength for the decent from 17,500 to 12,000 for later that day.

Though myself and another person of the group decided to call it a day (at 7am!) I found that this relieved the pressure of keeping up with the group and wondered if I could have made it...but just gone at my own pace - but oh well. My friend descended faster than I did because he did not feel well...so I took my time. The decent was down the ash slope of the volcano...and it was kinda like flying and landing in really soft sand with the occasional volcanic rock that I tried to surf down the slope (did it three times!) I was also able to rest and just sit over looking the city of Arequipa from 17,000 feet - I was able to rest, pray, and listen...listen to silence on a HUGE volcano...wow.

I think I would like to return and attempt again - need to train some...but making it to 17,500 feet without training or having been running...I don't think that is too bad! So...looking to gather a group and head up Misti again sometime in the future! Now it is time to pack for Pucallpa...thank you for reading and praying.

Prayer Requests:
- Pucallpa adjustment
- Continued language learning and application
- Patience as I begin to work with Peruvians solely at the church (culturally speaking)

The

2008-09-11T16:29:00.000-04:00

Learning....

2008-09-05T17:36:00.008-04:00

Last Friday for my Spanish Practica class my teacher and I walked to town. Now, walking the streets of a place that is not your home is always exciting - especially when you are by yourself. You realize that people all over the world are the same for the most part. You see fruit, newspapers, food, flowers...etc...for sale. But there is something special about having your own personal guide to help you understand what you are seeing and smelling (the smell part is not what you are thinking).

Juan Carlos (my teacher ) and I walked to town in a matter of 15 minutes from our school. He showed me one of the biggest markets in town. It was a big open air market - with a huge orange tarped roof. As we walked in everything looked normal...tons of people everywhere buying and selling. Tons of fruits, meats, and vegatables....and other random stores. We walked by these random stores - and even stopped as Juan Carlos was asking (for my bennefit) about some of the things we were looking at. He began to tell me that people here believe in fortune and luck and are involved into witchcraft - and that the box we were looking at was a box of imporant items in Arequipa in order to bring them luck - and these home made boxes with orniments are for sale and supposed to bring you "luck" and prosperity.

In the above photo there are such items as a big bus - a bride and groom - a house - money - a volcano (arequipa is borderd on the east by three volcanos) to represent protection - and asortment of other things.

As we walked I began to notice these semi chared looking animals that each store was selling. I found out that these were Alpaca or Ostrich fetuses that have been killed for the purpose using them to "break" the land so your land will produce a plentiful harvest. I am told you bury them... with other items and through some ceremony your land is prepared for sewing your seed....and your harvest will be plentiful.

As we left the market out the other end...Juan Carlos asked me if I smelled anything - It was a flowery kind of smell. Now, we were walking down a close nit street - with shops and busniness everywhere. He told me that the shop owners use this type of plant to keep away the evil spirits as well as to bring in quality customers that will bring properity. We also later saw Andian women on the street selling fortune, luck, and prosperity.

I never knew any of this...that the city I lived in which is VERY catholic is and has been mixed with the traditions of the Andian religions. It is called syncratism and the two have meshed into one religion. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to move in the hearts of the people here in Arequipa and all over Peru. They need Jesus.

On a lighter note, there is evidence of the Holy Spirit's prensence here in Arequipa. I saw it just the other day as I was walking. He has a taxi service and is actively driving the streets of Arequipa! (Espirtu Santo is Holy Spirit in Spanish)!! : )

It is Friday afternoon September 5th - and tomorrow a group of 10 of us are going to hike the volcano Misiti! It will be a two day journey! Please pray for us! I will update next week about the trip with pics and stuff...and whether or not we made it to the top!!

Back to Work!!

2008-08-16T13:18:00.009-04:00

Time is short here in AREQUIPA, Peru where I have just under a month left of language school! Though, being done with school is going to be a huge blessing...unfortunately that does not mean I will be fluent! It seems the more you learn...the more you realize how much you don't know!

Pucallpa, Peru is on the horizon and I am very excited! I am looking to embark on three jobs (two of the three kinda blend together). I am going to be teaching high school bible as well as PE to about five kids. I am also the youth pastor to these five kids. My other job is to lead SAM's church of Mil Palmeras in the area of local missions through home projects! AREQUIPA is in southern Peru in the middle of the desert - so I am really excited to back in the land of rain and clouds again! I guess that also means muddy roads (see pic below!) This all begins on September 14th!

A huge blessing came about three weeks ago when I received a notice that a church in Texas had voted to give me $5,000. This will entirly go to help me purchase a truck - but doing some research on used truck prices - $11,000 (that amount I have) does not go very far. I am looking for more support in order to purchase a used truck in the next three months or so. If anyone knows of anyone who needs to get rid of some money...haa haa....let me know - I know where they can make a good investment! : )

Can send the "unwanted money" haa ha to:
South America Mission., INC
1021 Maxwell Mill Road, Suite B
Fort Mill, SC 29708

Phone: 803-802-8580

Last thing...I am curious if anyone is actually reading this blog - if you are...could you leave a message or email me...or even find me on facebook - please let me know!

How you can pray:
Language learning, funds for a truck, and smooth transition into ministry in mid sept.

Thanks so much!

Hey Kids!

2008-07-30T17:48:00.006-04:00

Just thought it is time to drop everyone a line and give you a little heads up! Life here in Arequipa has been quite normal. The neat thing is this brain of mine gets a break as the Spanish Institute is having it annual two week vacation! Sooo...you know what that means...I get a vacation too! More like a mental break...but you know what I am finding...I am finding that my I can't speak a lick of Spanish these last three days! Guess my mind needs school!

Peruvian Holiday!
July 28th is Peru's Independence Day! Everywhere there are signs saying "Feliz Fiestas Patrias!" I will stick a picture of my neighborhood here in Arequipa of all the Peru flags flying in the stiff wind we have here!

The last two days I have tagged along with Pedro and Cecila (the family I am living with and also the director of the Spanish Institute) as the family and I have traveled to some "waterfalls" about an hour away and yesterday we even made it to the beach to play volleyball! Mind you it is winter here...and the beach was like 60 degrees and the water even colder...BUT it was a lot of fun!!!

I am flying to Lima tomorrow (7/31) to take care of three to four days of paper work as I complete my resident visa and am able to get my carnet...finally!! School starts back up again on August 11th and I will be making my way to Pucallpa sometime in the beginning of September!

Pics from recent trip to the Colca Cayon

2008-07-13T16:14:00.020-04:00

Two alpacas along the way at 12,000 feet!

Our group at an ice pit stop at 15,500 feet!

Children who came and did a traditional dance for us.

Our group at the beginning of the Colca Canyon!

Me at the Colca Canyon in southern Peru!

Two Trips and lots of Spanish…

2008-07-13T16:09:00.004-04:00

Hey all…Well in the last ten days I have been from Arequipa south to Tacna, Peru to cross the border and go to Arica, Chile in order to get my resident visa for Peru. I went with another SAM family and the going was great – the being in Arica, Chile was great…but the return trip had a little hiccup! We were in a nice vehicle and well it broke ALMOST in the middle of nowhere. We managed to limp back 10 miles south (lucky for us it was all down hill). Anyhow…found a mechanic who had to weld a nut onto a broken bolt (which was ¼ still inside the engine) in order to get it out. Needless to say it set us back about 5 hours. Thanks be to the Lord for his provision and timing of the mishap!

Then, it was back to normal…studying Spanish. It seems I am learning a lot in the short month I have been here. I am excited to see what I learn the next two months – but also…the more I learn the more I realize how much I don’t know! So, please keep praying for my understanding of new words and have the opportunity to use them daily in speaking.

We (ten of us) took a short weekend trip on July 11 and 12th to the Colca Cayon. It is the deepest canyon in the world (twice the depth of the Grand Cayon). It was a five hour trip there from Arequipa. We went from 8,000 feet to a summit of 16,000 feet, then quickly descended to about 12,000 feet. We were able to hike around (huff huff huff…sigh) and see some pre-Inca ruins and some hot springs. Then we traveled another hour and a half up through the canyon to the spot of the Andien condors. The condors usually fly in the morning, but because of the way our trip was set up we only could go there in the afternoon. We got to see some condors. Then we had a four hour trip back to Arequipa…ascending quickly to 16,000 feet and descending all the way to 8,000 feet in Arequipa.

My Average Day

2008-06-28T17:51:00.003-04:00

Hello from Arequipa, Peru where the altitude and dry weather takes some getting used to...like for example...as I type this it is 9% humidity. I have spent one of the three months here in the ABC Espanol language institute and look to spend two more before returning to Pucallpa.

I usually get up around 7am and watch the news or Cartoon Network (in Spanish of course!) - both are really good for Spanish. I then head out the door at 8am and get on a combi, which is a small bus. The ride across town costs .70 soles which is about 23 cents. The combi is not really sized to fit Americans or at least Americans my size - most the time I am standing and chivalry is huge here especially to old women. The ride takes about 20 min or so.

I have a conversation class from 8:30-10:00 and a grammar class from 10:20-12:00. I then take the combi back to my neighborhood on the other side of town. I got a small gym membership and try to workout at least 4-5 times a week. Homework fills the afternoons and evenings - on top of living with Peruvians who correct you all the time - it really is a good thing.

I am making some progress and hope to be well advanced in my spanish by the time I leave in September. Arequipa is beautiful, though it is always cold here as soon as the sun goes down - and no one has heat. I have gotten "the chills" here a lot and found myself thinking of Jimmy Buffet's line "I wanna go where its warm!!!"

The next week I have to go to Arica, Chile to get my Peruvian resident visa. I know I know...its nuts...but once you apply for the visa and it clears...you have to exit the country to pick it up - luckily I am about a 7 hours drive from Chile.

I will try to post some pics this week of a combi and our institute.

2008-06-13T19:38:00.004-04:00

The picture above the the volcano called "Misit!" I will post other pictures of Misti as time goes on!

This is a shot of the place where I am staying in Arequipa! I will put a better picture up sometime next week - but wanted to get something up today!

Arequipa, Peru

2008-06-13T18:56:00.005-04:00

Greetings from Arequipa! I am in Peru's second largest city 1,180,000 people. Arequipa is located in southern Peru at an elevation of about 8,200 feet. The picture above is of my plane at the airport and the volcano Chachani in the background. When I landed I got off the plane and noticed this towering mountain standing by itself - which I learned is called "Misti." Misti is another volcano that has not erupted since the 1700's and lets just hope that it stays that way. It is quite intimidating to see this monster perched over the city!

The reason I am in Arequipa and not Pucallpa is because I need to work on my Spanish! So, I am taking about three to four months of Spanish lessons. I go to school from 8:30 to 12:00 everyday - while having two sessions of Spanish - one being conversation and the other being grammar! I am staying with the program's director and his family.

I have included some pics of the house I am staying at as well as some street shots and of Misti the volcano!

It has begun!

2008-06-08T16:53:00.000-04:00

Hey there all!! Well it has begun!! I and my friend from my home church, Rob Magary came to Peru on Tuesday June 3rd. My thinking was to bring Rob here as a representitive of my home church in order to see what my ministry and Peru is really like.

We spent the night in Lima and on Wed. flew to Pucallpa, Peru (about 50 min flight). Rob and I were in Pucallpa Wed-Fri...where I showed him around SAM center and the surrounding communities. We traveled in motokars...eat in resturants...swam in the lake...rode in the back of a truck on a bumpy road...saw the Milkey Way with the Southern Cross...viewed an Inca ruin site in Lima and finally as a departing meal ate at Chili´s!

Now, Rob has flown to the states and is back in Gainesville and I am in Lima set to leave for Arequipa, Peru tomorrow to enter language school (in which I need much prayer!!) I will be in Arequipa for 3-4 months.

I am excited to get all this going! It was great to see everyone...and I am looking forward to all that God has set up!

Please comment here or email me... marshallkitron@hotmail.com

talk to you soon!! When I get some pics...I´ll post them!!!

Tornadoes...

2008-04-29T22:57:00.000-04:00

Well - when I left for Suffolk, Virginia on Monday April 28, 2008 - I knew there was a possibility of bad weather - but when I landed (me being the weather nut that I am) was a little disappointed that there were no storms! Little did I know that in a matter of 90 minutes I was going to be within a few miles of an F3 twister!

The picture is of the F3 twister that went through the Suffolk, Virginia and of some damage to trees, buildings and a tree that fell on a house!

I Can Smell IT!

2008-04-24T10:49:00.000-04:00

Have you ever gotten so excited about something that was just around the corner that you "could smell it!"? - Well that is how I feel as last night...sitting at 91% of what I need to return to Peru... I bought my ticket!!

My departure date is June 3rd out of Jacksonville, FL! I am also traveling with a member of my church as to show them Pucallpa, Peru so they can prepare our church for teams to come down!

A step of faith - I still need $350 in monthly support...so I am super excited to be "on the books!" and eagerly look forward to my return trip to Peru!

Dear Baseball Fans...

2008-04-10T23:03:00.001-04:00

This pic is for the die hard Bravos fan - I got to see the Braves and Cards play in Orlando, FL on March 10th - and well Javy Lopez was back with the Braves looking to make the team. Well after a steller career...soon after this photo was taken he decided to step down. This shot is one of Javy Lopez's last home run shots...if not the last one ever! I caught the ball comin off the bat!

2008-04-10T23:00:00.000-04:00

Learning Times!!!

2008-04-10T22:33:00.000-04:00

Hi all! I really do not have this blogging thing down as of yet! So, please forgive me if my blog looks really really weak! I am currently in North Carolina where I have been active in exercising this brain of mine in the form of two missions classes!

The first class was called "Effective Teams and Team Leaders" and the class I am now enrolled in at JAARS in Waxhaw, NC is a security seminar...both have been very good! I am enjoying my time here as I get to meet up with former missionaries from Pucallpa, Peru as I look forward to returning soon!

It is my dear hope to be back in Peru by the end of May/first part of June...that is the goal! After North Carolina...I am driving to Kentucky. I then will be making trips to Virginia and to Texas...hoping to gather the remaining support!

I will write something again soon...as to practice this blog thing!!!

Feeling Stupid!

2007-10-09T23:33:00.000-04:00

Well...you would think that i would be able to figure out this blogging thing...guess I am a little slow. Not sure who is goign to read this cuz I have not given this out to anybody...I guess this is just for practice.

Learning to Blog...

2007-09-04T07:08:00.000-04:00

I have made it to Gainesville, FL - well otherwise known as "titletown" and will be calling this place home until I punch out for Peru, Now lets see if i can post this little guy all by myself!

Missionary Photo Shoot...

2007-08-24T14:03:00.000-04:00

I have had the wonderful privlege in my travels of support raising of having a missionary photo shoot at the IMB's ILC in Virginia with Seba and Erin Vasquez. The photos taken are of the highest quality and relfect the true sincere heart of each person as we seek to serve the Lord overseas!