God is just amazing, like I really need to tell you that

So as I recently created this blog and named it after the Passage in Luke 5:1-11, God decided that I should really put this in to practice. So I am, it is all but official, I am going back to Peru. This time for a much longer period of time. The plan as of right now is to leave for Peru, Sunday night September 14th (yes I know that is about 2 weeks from now) and return to the states for Matt and Tori's wedding and Christmas in December, before returning to Peru for another 4-5 months.
So why I am going to Peru? Well as many of you may be aware for the last 6 years I have been going annually for 2 weeks with a missions team from my church, leading that team for the last 5 years. This time has been incredible for me each year, a time of tremendous growth and a time over the last couple of years especially where God has slowly begun to make it very clear to me his plan for my life. Two years ago I came home from Peru and was excited and eager to look into going back, feeling as if the Lord was calling me into missions full time. Shortly after returning my little brother Joe was killed in a car accident and it seemed very clear that I might have been jumping a little ahead. God wasn't quite ready for me to go yet, but he wanted me to be willing and I was and still am. Since that time God has continued to prepare me for ministry, allowing me the opportunity to serve as Missions Committee Chairman at my church, as well as building in me a desire to enroll in seminary and consider possibly pursuing the ministry full time. This desire has continued to build and is a big part of why I am going to Peru, it is still unclear where God is calling me to serve long term. It is quite clear though that he is calling me to serve and I am eager to find out where it might be. I will continue to take seminary courses throughout my time in Peru, yes they have internet there. It is my hope and prayer that while I am there God will continue to make it clear to me what his plans are for my future ministry, as we can read in Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.

So what will I be doing in Peru? This lovely family you see pictured are the Rockwell's and they have been serving with Mission to the World(MTW) in Peru for about 5 years now and were in Costa Rica before that and are in desperate need of a furlough (home mission assignment), and more importantly of a time for rest for their family. We are called to be Christlike in character and we know that we read in Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. This family of servants is in need of rest and I have the opportunity to help them get that rest. God providentially brought me in contact with this family during my last visit to Peru as I was actually trying to find another MTW family that I thought was in Huaraz (the city I will be in). It ends up the family I was looking for won't be there until sometime in 2009 and through a series of Godcidents I came to find the Rockwell's. I went and met with them only to find out that his biggest need and prayer was someone who could come and stay in Huaraz and look after the facility they live in. It is a former Wycliffe Bible Translation facility, now being used to house visiting missions teams and a Bible Institute. So I will basically be responsible for managing the facility while they are gone. I will also have the opportunity to minister to the Quechua people in villages all around Huaraz alongside Larry Rockwell during frequent visits back to Peru.

So if you have any questions, I would love to tell you more about it, although I am going to be incredibly pinched for time over the next two weeks. Please don't hesitate to call or email (probably better) or respond to this post. I would absolutely appreciate your support first and foremost through your prayers and if you so desire to support me in this financially obviously that would be appreciated as well. I am expecting a need of approximately $1,000 per month to cover the financial requirements of the trip and plan to be there for between 7-8 months which would be a total need of $8,000. If you want to contribute to this in any way I would be very thankful. Feel free to contact me for more details.

Luke 5:1-11 1 So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, 2 and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. 3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.
4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”
9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” 11 So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.