We continue our medical furlough, rejoicing in the many encouraging developments in both my health and Jessica’s. Below are some details. We are constantly reminded of the goodness of God and His care for His servants.
I recently heard a wonderful message by Pastor Joe Arthur. He shared how Jesus responded with great care and love to John the Baptist, who was in prison and questioning whether Jesus was truly the One. Even in difficult and uncertain times, God cares for and leads His dear children along!!!
Ministry News
This has been a very busy time for Efata Ministries in Lima. In May, the church celebrated its 48th anniversary, followed by the school’s 55th anniversary in June. That was a great blessing, as we now have 43 students in our school. We rejoice in this! The Deaf need a solid education as well as the opportunity to learn about the Lord.
We also held our mission conference in June and had a great meeting. The Saturday international banquet was a blessing, with beautifully arranged booths, decorations, costumes, information, and delicious food representing the six countries we chose to highlight this year. The staff and members did a wonderful job, and the mission messages were excellent.
The next big events are our church mission trip to Chiclayo this year in July and our Music Camp in August. We are looking forward to good participation in both events.
You may remember the legal battle we are navigating with our annex ministry in Callao. The local government continues trying to seize control of the property. While they have not succeeded so far, please keep praying. There have been no significant updates since our last letter, but we will keep you informed.
Family News
Great news! I have completed cardiac rehabilitation and did exceptionally well, according to the staff. My heart is stronger, and I’m continuing to exercise to improve my overall health and well-being. I’m so grateful to the Lord for bringing my heart issue to light so it could be addressed.
The only thing left is cataract surgery, which is scheduled for the first two weeks of August.
Jessica is seeing a chiropractor who has been helping her. She has a condition involving the Atlas vertebra in her neck, which tends to slip out of place. He is working to help it permanently set in the correct position.
She has also undergone extensive blood work, X-rays, and MRIs. A new neurologist informed her that she is chronically dehydrated, which may be contributing to her headaches. She is now making dietary changes and drinking lots of fluids (excluding coffee and tea) to restore proper hydration.
Jennifer and Joel are doing well. Joel is also receiving some needed medical attention, and we are thankful for the progress we’ve made during this furlough.
In September, I’ll be traveling around Georgia, as I did last year, interpreting for one of our national pastors as he raises support for the work.
My plan is to return to Peru in the first half of October to help prepare for our Bible Conference in November.
During this medical furlough, we’ve been able to visit a limited number of our supporting churches, along with a couple of new ones. Due to the many doctor appointments and rehabilitation sessions, I’ve remained close to our home church here in Fort Myers. Thank you for your understanding.
Muchas gracias por sus oraciones y fidelidad mientras seguimos colaborando juntos en la obra misionera. Estos días han sido muy ocupados e interesantes para nosotros.
Seguimos en nuestro período de licencia médica mientras atiendo mis problemas de salud y buscamos respuestas a las dificultades médicas de Jessica.
Estoy tan agradecido de que el Gran Médico esté en el trono y tenga todo bajo control, y sé que Él cuida de nosotros. Como dice 1 Pedro 5:7, “Echando toda vuestra ansiedad sobre él, porque él tiene cuidado de vosotros.”
¡Qué consuelo y paz nos brinda esto: gran confianza y descanso en Él!
Noticias del ministerio
Nuestros pastores y equipo nacional están haciendo un excelente trabajo en Efata, Perú. Estoy muy agradecido de que el Señor me haya bendecido con un maravilloso equipo de hombres y mujeres con quienes trabajar en el liderazgo, muchos de los cuales hemos capacitado y discipulado.
Este año, Dios ha bendecido nuestra escuela para sordos con más de 40 alumnos. Esto es casi el doble del año pasado. La escuela es una parte fundamental para alcanzar a los sordos para Cristo. Al educarlos en su propio idioma, podemos predicarles y enseñarles acerca de Dios, el Cielo, el Infierno y nuestro maravilloso Salvador. También nos brinda una plataforma para alcanzar a sus padres para el Señor. Hemos contratado a más personal y agradecemos a Dios por maestros maravillosos con una larga trayectoria en nuestra escuela.
En nuestro anexo en Callao, seguimos adelante con la batalla legal por la propiedad. Gracias a Dios, la situación está avanzando favorablemente, y el alcalde de la ciudad ha sido restringido de tomar acciones en nuestra contra por el momento. Les pedimos sus oraciones mientras seguimos navegando este proceso legal.
La obra misionera en Chancay está prosperando, reuniéndose en su nuevo edificio en su propio terreno. Todavía queda trabajo por hacer, ya que aún no han logrado conectar la electricidad, pero alabamos a Dios por Su mano en este ministerio.
Otra misión, en la ciudad selvática de Pucallpa, acaba de celebrar su aniversario. Nuestro pastor sordo, Jorge Pozo, viajó y predicó en la celebración.
Noticias de la familia
Actualmente asisto a rehabilitación cardíaca tres veces por semana. Va muy bien, y puedo sentir el aumento de mi fuerza y resistencia. La rehabilitación me ayuda a monitorear mi corazón mientras se adapta al flujo sanguíneo adecuado durante el ejercicio. Me quedan aproximadamente dos meses más de rehabilitación antes de que los médicos atiendan mis cirugías del hombro y de cataratas.
Aún no encontramos solución para las dificultades médicas que enfrenta Jessica, mencionados en la carta de oración anterior. Ella ha visitado a varios especialistas y se ha sometido a múltiples exámenes, pero aún no determinan un diagnóstico concreto. Parece estar algo mejor, ya que la hinchazón no ha sido tan severa últimamente, aunque sigue teniendo dolores de cabeza. Seguimos investigando.
Gracias por todas sus oraciones y apoyo, especialmente durante esta licencia médica. Estoy geográficamente limitado y no puedo viajar mucho debido a los estrictos horarios médicos que cumplo actualmente. Una vez que termine con todo esto, esperamos regresar a Efata en Perú. Hasta entonces, seguimos sirviendo fielmente en nuestra iglesia local y esperamos visitar a nuestros amigos y colaboradores cercanos cuando sea posible.
Thank you so much for your prayers and faithfulness as we continue to partner together in missions. These days have been very busy and interesting for us.
We are continuing our medical furlough as I address my health concerns and seek answers for Jessica’s ongoing health issues.
I am so thankful that the Great Physician is on the throne and in control, and I know He cares for us. As 1 Peter 5:7 states:Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
What comfort and peace that brings—great confidence and rest in Him!
Ministry News
Our national pastors and staff are doing a great job at Efata in Peru. I am so grateful that the Lord has blessed me with a wonderful team of men and women to work with in leadership, many of whom we have trained and discipled.
This year, God has blessed our Deaf school with over 40 students. This is almost double last year’s enrollment. The school is an important part of reaching the Deaf for Christ. As we educate them in their language, we are able to preach to them and teach them about God, Heaven, Hell and our wonderful Saviour. It gives us a platform to reach their parents for the Lord as well. We hired more staff, and we are thankful for some wonderful teachers with a long history with our school.
In addition to the school, our Bible College and Bible Institute have started their new year as well. This year we have started a new outreach of teaching English and Sign Language to the public.
The mission work in Chancay is thriving, meeting in their new building on their own property. There is still work to do as they have yet to get the electricity connected. We praise God for His hand in this ministry.
Another mission in the jungle city of Pucallpa just celebrated its anniversary. Our Deaf pastor, Jorge Pozo, went and preached at the celebration.
Family News
I am now in cardiac rehabilitation three days a week. It’s going well, and I can feel the increase in my strength and stamina. Rehab helps me monitor my heart as it adjusts to proper blood flow during exercise. I have about two more months of rehab before doctors address my shoulder and cataract surgeries.
We have not found any solutions yet for the medical issues Jessica is facing, which I mentioned in the last prayer letter. She has been to several specialists and undergone multiple tests, but nothing has been determined. She seems to be doing somewhat better as the swelling has not been as bad lately, though she continues to have headaches. We continue to investigate this.
Thank you for all your prayers and support, especially during this medical furlough. I am limited geographically and unable to do much traveling due to the rigid medical schedules I am currently following. Once I am done with all of this, we look forward to getting back to Efata in Peru. Until then, we are faithful to help in our home church and look forward to visiting our nearby friends and supporters as we are able.
Los primeros meses de 2025 han sido tan ajetreados y llenos de actividad. Hay mucho que compartir. Agradecemos a Dios por todo su cuidado. Él nos recuerda de ello en 1 Pedro 5:7 cuando dice: “echando toda vuestra ansiedad sobre él, porque él tiene cuidado de vosotros.” Es maravilloso saber que nos ama y se preocupa por nosotros.
AVISO: Estamos oficialmente en licencia médica. Esperamos que no sean más de seis meses, ya que tenemos mucho trabajo que hacer en Perú. Dios me ha dado un gran equipo de hombres y mujeres a quienes hemos capacitado para el ministerio, que pueden mantener el trabajo mientras yo me encargo de administrarlo desde aquí por ahora. Más detalles en la sección de noticias familiares.
Noticias del ministerio
En enero tuvimos el privilegio de hospedar a la conferencia internacional de capacitación de la misión R.O.M.A. para sus misioneros y candidatos. Agradecemos las instalaciones que tenemos aquí en Efata que nos permiten servir a otros además del nuestro.
En febrero, tuvimos varias cosas en marcha. Co-organizamos nuestra conferencia anual de Fuegos de Evangelismo en coordinación con la Iglesia Bautista Internacional. Eso fue una gran bendición. Mientras tanto, la Iglesia Bautista Internacional tuvo su conferencia de jóvenes, y acomodamos ambas conferencias al mismo tiempo. Hubo más de 500 en asistencia.
Al mismo tiempo, nuestros miembros sordos de Efata fueron al campamento. Fue un gran momento para ellos. En todo esto, hubo almas salvadas y se tomaron decisiones.
Durante este tiempo, tuvimos nuestros eventos de evangelismo masivo en la ciudad norteña de Piura. Dos veces en dos semanas diferentes, miembros de Efata bajo el liderazgo de nuestro pastor asistente Víctor Ocampo viajaron a Piura y colaboraron con pastores e iglesias locales para distribuir folletos, Biblias y Nuevos Testamentos. Pastor Víctor y otros realizaron capacitación en evangelismo para las iglesias participantes. Se distribuyeron cientos de miles de folletos, y muchas se salvaron.
También tuvimos nuestra EBDV anual. Nuestro personal hizo un gran trabajo bajo el liderazgo del pastor asistente José Ugaz y su esposa.
Noticias de la familia
Desafortunadamente, no pude participar personalmente, ya que tuve que venir a los EE. UU. para controles médicos. En estos controles, se descubrió que tenía una obstrucción en la aorta superior, por encima del corazón. Era muy grande, y habría provocado un ataque cardíaco en cualquier momento. He tenido fuertes síntomas de fatiga, pérdida de aliento y falta de resistencia para realizar trabajo moderado. Se lo comenté a mi médico (pensando que era parte del vejez y no estar en forma). Me ordenó una prueba de esfuerzo, la cual tuvieron que detener después de un minuto y medio. Me enviaron a hacer un cateterismo cardíaco y encontraron la obstrucción, la arreglaron con un stent durante el mismo procedimiento y, después de una noche en el hospital, me enviaron a casa con controles, etc. Además de todo esto, todavía necesito programar una cirugía de cataratas en abril.
Además, nuestra hija Jessica ha estado teniendo hinchazón alrededor de su ojo izquierdo desde septiembre. Solo era una vez al mes hasta diciembre, y ahora es cada semana. A veces, su ojo está hinchado y cerrado. En los últimos dos meses, Jessica ha estado hospitalizada durante cinco días. Ha visto todo tipo de médicos y varios especialistas, se ha hecho múltiples resonancias magnéticas, tomografías computarizadas, ecografías y análisis de sangre para verificar si tiene alergias, virus y parásitos, todo en vano. Por lo tanto, hemos regresado a casa como familia para buscar ayuda para ella.
No haremos muchos viajes a las iglesias durante esta licencia médica. Mi pastor y la misión aprobaron; cuando surjan oportunidades, si nos encontramos cerca, intentaré comunicarme con ustedes para una visita y un reporte. Gracias por su comprensión.
Por favor oren por todo esto. Oramos por sabiduría y para que Dios nos conecte con los médicos u hospitales adecuados para Jessica y que Él se haga cargo de todos los costos que implica lo que ella necesitará. Estoy muy agradecido por la atención que recibo como Veterano de la Marina de Guerra. Es sorprendente como Dios me ha guiado con decisiones que hacen posible la atención que necesito.
Lisa, Joel y Jennifer están muy bien. Somos muy bendecidos de tener maravillosos compañeros de oración y apoyo como todos ustedes.
It has been an incredibly busy and eventful first couple of months of 2025. There is much to share. We are grateful to God for all of His care. He reminds us that he does in 1 Peter 5:7 when he says: “Casting all your care upon him; forhecarethfor you.” How wonderful it is to know that He truly loves and cares for us.
NOTICE: We are officially on Medical Furlough. We hope it will not be more than six months as we have a great deal of work to do in Peru. God has given me a great staff of men and women whom we have trained for ministry, who are able to maintain the work as I manage from here for now. More details are in the family news section.
Ministry News
In January we had the privilege of hosting the R.O.M.A. mission board’s international training conference for their missionaries and missionary candidates. We are grateful for the facilities that we have here at Efata that allow us to serve other ministries as well as our own.
In February we had several things going on. We co-hosted our annual Fires of Evangelism conference in coordination with International Baptist Church. That was a great blessing. While this was going on, International Baptist was having their youth conference, and we were able to accommodate both conferences at the same time. There were over 500 in attendance for these.
At the same time, our Efata Deaf members went to camp. It was a great time for them. In all of this, there were souls saved, and decisions made.
During this time, we had our mass evangelism events in the northern city of Piura. Twice In two different weeks, members of Efata under the leadership of our asst. pastor Victor Ocampo traveled to Piura and partnered with local pastors and churches to distribute gospel tracts, Bibles, and New Testaments. Pastor Victor and others did evangelism training for the participating churches. Several hundred thousand pieces of material were distributed, and many were saved.
As well, we had our annual vacation Bible school. Our staff did a great job under the leadership of asst. pastor Jose Ugaz and his wife.
Family News
Unfortunately, I was not able to personally participate, as I had to come to the US for medical checkups. During these routine checkups, I was found to have a large blockage in my upper aorta above the heart. It was a very large blockage and would have translated to a heart attack at any time. I had been having strong symptoms of fatigue, loss of breath and no stamina for moderate work. I mentioned this to my doctor (just thinking it was part of getting old and not being in shape). He ordered a stress test, which they had to stop after one minute and a half. They sent me for a heart catheterization and found the blockage, fixed it with a stent during the same procedure, and after an night in the VA hospital, sent me home with follow-ups etc. In addition to all of this, I still need to get scheduled for cataract surgery in April.
Also, our daughter Jessica has been having swelling around her left eye since September. It was only once a month until December, and now it is every week. Sometimes her eye is swollen shut. In the past two months, Jessica has been hospitalized for five days, seen every kind of doctor and several specialists, has had multiple MRIs, Cat scans, Sonagrams, and blood tests checking for allergies, viruses and parasites, all to no avail. Thus, we have come home as a family to seek out help for her.
I want you to be aware that we will not be doing a great deal of traveling to churches during this medical furlough. It has been approved by my pastor and mission board; as opportunities arise and if we find ourselves in your area, I will try to reach out to you for a visit and update. Thank you for your understanding.
Please pray for all of this as we ourselves pray for wisdom and for God to connect us to the right doctors or hospitals for Jessica and that He will care for all the costs that are involved with all she will need. I am so grateful for the care I receive as a Navy Veteran from the VA. It amazes me to know that God has guided me in my life with decisions that have made it possible for me to get the care I have needed.
Lisa, Joel and Jennifer are doing great. We are so blessed to have wonderful prayer and support partners like all of you.
