Yurimaguas, Peru Ministry

The church I was assigned to did not want a woman preacher, so I was reassigned to another church. Right out of the gates, we met with opposition rooted in culture. But we will proclaim His great gospel anyway. Where we are not received, we shake the dust from our feet and release where the pour is unhindered.

Pray for us as we begin our gospel ministry in the churches in this region today! All glory to God! Myself and Tanae will both be ministering in churches this morning and this evening.

After I ministered at the house church, the pastor had his oldest and most faithful member present me with a necklace and name me a warrior among their people.

As I ministered, I noticed the number one response from the people came from sharing my testimony and connecting it to how God will help them too. No Greek and Hebrew, no theatrics — just the Gospel of Jesus Christ and an occasional joke.

One of our missionaries had this shirt on, and I began to say to God: "I will never again quote this scripture so loosely."

I am now more aware of the diverse places God has the power to send us to. He sends us to regions to impact people, and that does not come without sacrifice. The level of adaptation and release of creature comforts required engages all of your senses, feelings, and emotions — but you are required to let the Spirit of God lead.

Today I am engaged with a great sense of gratitude and worship, ready to serve God on a new level. I have always prayed that my first fruit of international travel would be a missions journey, and God has truly answered my prayer and has been powerfully attentive to us along the way.

I feel the power of God, and it's concentrated. I pray for a powerful move in the house today as you all celebrate the dads. We love you all to life — and as the Lord leads, feel free to leave encouragement here for us. Being so far away from home, your words help to strengthen us.

Reflection: A New Understanding of Isaiah 6:8

Mission work stretches every part of us.

It requires flexibility, sacrifice, and complete dependence on the Holy Spirit. While serving in Peru, Pastor Lee experienced firsthand what it means to follow God's call beyond comfort and familiarity.

Every assignment reminds us that God doesn't simply send us to places — He sends us to people. And every soul is worth the journey.

Bringing the Gospel to Schools, Clinics & Communities

God Goes Before Us

Our second day in Yurimaguas began before sunrise. By 5:00 a.m., our team was preparing to begin municipal outreach throughout the city. Throughout the day we would minister in schools, clinics, villages, and neighborhoods — meeting practical needs while sharing the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ.

As we traveled through the city, we were reminded that every place has the opportunity to experience God's restoration.

"They'll rebuild the old ruins, raise a new city out of the wreckage..." — Isaiah 61:4–5 (MSG)

God's Protection Every Step of the Way

That morning, I found myself praying specifically for our safety. Because our mission has received significant media attention throughout the region, including television commercials, billboards, social media coverage, and press releases, I became aware that such visibility could also attract unwanted attention.

As I opened God's Word during my devotional time, He immediately answered my concern.

"The Lord will keep you from all harm — He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." — Psalm 121:7–8

Instantly, peace filled my heart. Not long afterward, God revealed another tangible reminder of His protection.

The Gospel in an Unexpected Place

God continued to show His faithfulness in remarkable ways. One of our outreach services was held inside a local restaurant and bar. What may have once been known for something entirely different became a place where the Gospel was boldly proclaimed.

As I preached, I watched people continue to gather. The room filled quickly, and before long, the windows and doorways were crowded with those wanting to hear.

When the invitation to receive Christ was given, approximately 10 to 12 people surrendered their lives to Jesus. Many others came forward for prayer and experienced healing, freedom, and encouragement.

Hallelujah for the saving power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Meeting Practical Needs

After sharing the Gospel, our team continued serving the community by providing practical gifts and encouragement. Every conversation reminded us that people not only need hope — they deeply appreciate being seen, loved, and cared for.

The Joy of Serving Children

One of the greatest joys of the day was spending time with the children. We handed out Scripture bracelets, and before long, one child became several! As each child received a gift, they eagerly invited their friends to come as well. Their excitement was contagious and served as a beautiful reminder of Jesus' words:

"Let the little children come to me..." — Matthew 19:14

The Cost of Following God's Call

This Is Missions

Missions are more than traveling to another country. It is a daily decision to surrender your own plans for God's purpose.

• There is a cost.
• It requires sacrifice.
• It isn't always easy.
• It demands discipline.
• It calls for complete surrender to wherever the Lord leads.

Choosing God's Will Over Our Own

One conversation with a fellow missionary stayed with me throughout the day. He shared that while he was preparing for this trip, his son fell ill. He admitted that his heart was heavy, yet he also carried the joy of the Lord. His story reminded me how easy it is to allow emotions to determine our decisions.

A surrendered heart doesn't ignore emotions — it simply chooses obedience over them. That lesson was put into practice later that day.

Our team had been invited to a beautiful dinner in town, with every expense covered. After days of simple peanut butter and jelly lunches, it sounded especially appealing. But then one of our mission brothers asked if I would minister to the women at his father's church instead.

When someone asked whether I wanted to miss the dinner, my answer came without hesitation:

"I wasn't sent here to eat dinner. I was sent here to do missions."

An Invitation Only God Could Arrange

As the evening continued, we shared dinner with two of our mission sisters and our translators. One translator had accompanied me earlier that day while I ministered, helping communicate the message to the congregation. After the service, he quietly asked if I would preach that same message to the women at his father's church later that evening.

As we talked over dinner, I asked him to tell me more about the church. He explained that it belonged to a denomination that traditionally did not allow women to preach. Then he smiled and said,

"That's my dad's church... the same church where you were originally not accepted."

At that moment, I realized only God could have orchestrated what happened next. The very place that had once closed its doors became the place where I would minister to the women of the church.

What began with closed doors became an opportunity to witness God's perfect timing. The Lord opened a new path, allowing His Word to reach hearts that were eager to receive it.

Hungry for God's Word

The women welcomed us with incredible warmth. They listened intently to the message, prayed together, and received every word with joy.

After the service, they showered us with kindness. Each of us received thoughtful gifts. They wanted photos together, shared a meal they had lovingly prepared, and encouraged us to stay longer. Their generosity reflected the heart of Christ.

Following the service, the ladies expressed their gratitude through gifts, fellowship, and a meal prepared with love — a beautiful reflection of Christian hospitality.

God's Kindness in the Smallest Details

One unexpected blessing reminded me how personally God cares for His children. The evening before, I had seen a small gift at a local shop that I hoped to purchase, but I didn't have enough soles to buy it.

Without knowing that story, the ladies from the church presented me with that very item as a gift. It was such a simple moment, yet such a powerful reminder that our Heavenly Father sees every desire and delights in caring for His children.

God is always faithful. Even in the smallest moments, God reminds us of His faithfulness. His provision often comes in ways we could never plan ourselves.

Reflections from the Journey

As we traveled back through the city that evening, our hearts were full of gratitude for another day of ministry and the countless ways God had revealed His faithfulness.

Day 3 reminded us that God's plans are always greater than our own. What once appeared to be rejection became an opportunity for ministry, proving that when we surrender our plans to Him, He faithfully opens the doors that matter most.

The Gospel Crossing Boundaries

"But you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses to tell people about Me both in JERUSALEM and in all JUDEA, and SAMARIA, and even to the ENDS OF THE EARTH." — Acts 1:8 (AMP)

The Gospel was designed to move outward:

• Jerusalem — where you are known
• Judea — your surrounding communities
• Samaria — people different from you culturally or socially
• Ends of the earth — nations and places beyond your comfort zone

Ministering the Gospel (The Good News) to the people of Yurimaguas was an absolute honor and privilege! I was asked to minister here at one of the stops on our circuit through the town that day, and I was amazed at how the place began to fill up with more and more people as the Lord ministered salvation! The location looked to be a sports bar-type restaurant. It had an upstairs and TVs and was a rather large space. All I know is that the windows and doors filled with more and more people as the Good News was released and hope was being restored.

All glory to Our Father for His healing power as one lady whom our team ministered to received prayer to heal cancer in her body (we believe God has done this for her!) and 12 gave their lives to Christ in the immediate call to salvation,n along with many others receiving ministry for many different things during the altar call.

Having the opportunity to minister the Gospel in these aspects, especially people outside of my social context and beyond where I feel comfortable, was to experience Yahweh (יהוה), "The LORD, the God of All"

"Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?" — Jeremiah 32:27

I now fully understand that God is not the God of only my geographic, cultural, and social context. He is the God of all flesh — every person, every nation, every generation — and the Gospel is the inheritance of us all because Jesus died for us all! In one selfless act of buying us all back from the death grip of sin, hell,l and the grave, not on the merit of whether Christ knew we would accept Him but fulfilling the assignment to be the redemption plan for ALL MANKIND!

What a beautiful Savior we serve, Jesus! I'm so grateful that we "get to" preach His great Gospel and to proclaim His powerful name to the ends of the earth, Jesus!