The BEFORE part of "Before and After"

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...

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

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

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...

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

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

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

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!

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"

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....