– With a Few Adventures Along the Way
Dear Brethren,
After our time in Melbourne, FL, our deputation journey took us through Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Tennessee. It’s been quite an adventure!
Our first stop was Brentwood Baptist Church in Roanoke, VA, where we were received with open arms. We enjoyed some sweet fellowship with everyone there. Praise the Lord for Brentwood Baptist Church, and for Pastor Rodney Spears and his wife Rebekah, who are like parents to us. They were the missionaries we served alongside when they were in Peru, and they have been a big part of our lives and ministry ever since.
Next, we traveled to Bethel Baptist Church in Chase City, VA, and we had a fantastic time with Pastor Rodney Spears II, his wife Angela and the rest of his family, after not seeing them for 10 years! The spirit was warm and welcoming, and we truly felt at home. Saturday night, our two-year-old daughter, Maggie, had an accident and we ended up spending the night in the ER. Unfortunately, she had to get 14 stitches. She’s doing ok now, praise the Lord. Still, even in the middle of all that, the church there encouraged us, and made us feel like family.
After that, we had the privilege of participating in a conference at Unity Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, NC. It was a wonderful time of fellowship and encouragement in the Word. We loved getting to meet faithful believers and share a little about our burden for Peru. The church was so kind and generous to us, and it was a refreshing stop for our whole family.
Then we visited Victory Baptist Church in Courtland, VA, and again were blown away by the kindness and generosity of the people. We had a great service and were deeply encouraged by the heart this church has for reaching souls. We had a wonderful time of fellowships after the service.
Next, we headed to Olmstead, KY, where we had the opportunity to present the work in Peru at Olmstead Baptist Church. We’ve been so encouraged by the love and kindness of the church here. They have generously opened up their mission quarters for us to stay, and we’ll be here for the next three weeks. We’ve been enjoying sweet times of fellowship—sharing meals, spending time together, and even playing games with the brethren here. It’s truly been a blessing to be here.
From there, we traveled to New Testament Baptist Church in Dover, TN, and had a great time with the church there. The service was a real blessing, and we enjoyed getting to know the pastor and several of the families. The church was very friendly, and we appreciated the opportunity to share our burden for Peru. Right after leaving, our van gave up on us in the middle of the road and just stopped running.
The Lord had it everything under control. Praise the Lord, Pastor Duke and his wife came to the rescue, driving almost an hour in two vans to reach us. Sister Clarissa took my wife and the kids on to Olmstead, while Pastor Duke, Andy, and I stayed behind waiting for the tow truck.
Pastor Duke also arranged the tow, waited with us, and then drove us all back. We pulled into Olmstead around 4:30 a.m., tired but very thankful. Brother Duke turned out to be quite the mechanic! He got under the car and replaced the fuel pump. Praise the Lord, the van is running again! We’re so thankful for friends like the Dukes.
Our last stop was Faith Missionary Baptist Church in Paducah, KY. We thoroughly enjoyed being there and getting to share our burden for Peru with another group of faithful believers. The people were generous and so kind to our family. We left encouraged and thankful once again for the love we’ve received along this deputation journey. Thanks to the generosity of the Dukes, we were able to borrow one of their vans to make the trip. Since there wasn’t enough space for all of us, Katie and Kirstie had to stay behind, and only five of the kids could come along. Even with part of the crew missing, we had a great time and were so blessed by the church’s kindness.
To top it all off, we received some wonderful news that truly encouraged our hearts—Citrus Baptist Church in Inverness, FL, Unity Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, NC, and Temple Baptist Church in Arcadia, FL have decided to partner with us and take us on for support! What a blessing to see the Lord providing through His people. We’re also incredibly grateful for a generous offering that was given to help us continue with our building project in Peru. God has been so faithful every step of the way, and we’re humbled and thankful for how He continues to open doors and surround us with love and encouragement.
Thank you for praying for us as we travel. Yes, it’s been a wild ride lately—with ER visits, van breakdowns, and lots of miles—but we’ve seen God’s hand every step of the way. Through it all, we’ve met so many amazing people who have reminded us that we’re not alone on this journey. Thank you all for your love and generosity. Please continue to pray for us as we carry on with our travels!