July was a very busy time for us. We hosted a wonderful group from Greater Portland Baptist Church in Portland, Oregon. Pastor Scott McFeters came with a large group from his church to be a blessing and help to us. We had a couple of projects that we needed to complete, and they did a wonderful job of helping with them. We now have risers on our mezzanine to seat another 80 or so people for when we have large conferences, and work was done on advancing the drywall on the walls of the large auditorium.
Several of their pastors came and preached multiple times in our main church and annex ministries. It was a joy to have Pastor to the Deaf Bob Boyd come down as well. He was a great encouragement to our Deaf.
In addition to their visit, we also held our 3rd annual Music Camp in the first week of August. What a great encouragement and blessing that was! Over 60 participants came to learn instruments, voice and music during this intense camp. Our Pastor of Music, Joan Zamora, did a great job directing and leading the camp. He and his wife Merle have been a tremendous blessing to our church. Several teachers came from the States to help. Missionary Ronnie Vice from H.E.L.P. Ministries and his dear wife Wanda came down; Mrs. Wanda helped teach piano in the camp while Bro. Vice visited their H.E.L.P. Ministries missionaries here in Lima and preached for us as well.
Our 3rd annual Music Camp at Efata — over 60 participants learning instruments, voice and music.
Our work on reestablishing our high school program for the Deaf continues to move forward. We are praying that we will be able to officially open again for the next school year.
Missionary JT Gorham and his family, as well as his pastor, Kenric Barnett from West Orlando Baptist Church, came down and visited with us in preparation for the Gorham family moving to Peru to train and work with us here at Efata. We are so excited about them coming and being part of our team, with a specific emphasis in Deaf ministry and missions. They are planning on moving down in the latter part of November. In addition, a young man from our home church in Florida, Michael McCray, has been here for three months, and God has called him to come back and work with us here in Peru, especially in the area of education in our Bible college and institutes. He has his Master’s in Theology and is working on his doctorate. He is in the process of applying with a mission board to become a missionary. The Gorham family is now with Macedonia as well.
Family News
Back to “here we go again”: I have not been feeling well the last few months, and when I was in the States in May to visit my cardiologist, he wanted to do a heart cath. I was unable to do it at the time due to plans to return to Peru with my home church group that came down, so I set an appointment for August 21st. The heart catheterization showed another 78% blockage in the same descending aorta where the last stent was placed back in March of 2025. This blockage was above the last one. The first stent was doing well. They placed the second stent on the 21st. Unfortunately, I still do not feel “renewed” like I did after the first stent was put in. My cardiologist says my heart is strong and my rhythms are good. I will see him again in six months.
A month ago my father had a severe heart attack and is recovering. He had a 100% blockage, and they put in his 7th stent. However, the heart attack damaged his heart, and the lower portion is only working at 40%. He is 83 and has decided to retire from his work as an X-ray technician at Tampa General Hospital. My heart issues are genetic—lots of family history. I am thankful that God has allowed me to live in a time when these issues can be treated and cared for, so I can resume my work for Him as soon as possible. I’ll not be running any marathons or becoming a power lifter, but I can sure serve the Lord!
We just dropped Jessica off at Pensacola Christian College to begin her nursing studies. She is so excited about this new chapter in her life. She is happy to have some great MK roommates from Spanish-speaking countries. Pray for her as she works and studies and deals with her recurring unique health issues.
So, we are down to just four of us at home: Joel, 20, Jennifer, 16, Lisa and I. We miss not having Jessica at home, just as we have missed all of our children who have moved on into their journeys of life (of course, we do get some great grandkids out of the deal—17 so far with two on the way, so no complaints there!). All are doing well, and we are thankful for each one. “Happy is the man that hath his quiver full…” (Psalm 127:5)
Our schedule to return to Peru will depend on a couple more doctor’s appointments. I have two mission conferences and several preaching engagements while I am here in the States. Please continue to pray for us and the work we are doing. We should be back by mid-November, Lord willing.
We truly are very thankful for the love, care, prayers and financial support from you, our faithful friends and family. It is greatly appreciated and much needed.
In May we celebrated the 49th Anniversary of the church. It was a wonderful time of fellowship and remembrance. We are looking forward to next year’s 50th anniversary. That will be a big celebration of what God has done here in Lima, Peru, and beyond over these many years. My family and I have had the privilege of serving in Peru since December of 1999. God has done, and is doing, some amazing things here.
In June we had a very important meeting with a congresswoman who was elected to the new Peruvian Senate. She brought officials from the Ministry of Education to meet with us about our ongoing battle to reopen our high school for the Deaf. We have been working since 2011 to change the government’s concept of Deaf education, ever since they shut down dedicated high school programs for the Deaf in favor of an inclusive model. Their model failed miserably, as I told them it would when they started it. A whole generation of deaf children has been left without proper education due to a lack of training and resources.
The meeting was very productive, and I was able to give a passionate defense and reason for the need for proper options in secondary education for the Deaf. I told them clearly that we are not just a social school to teach the Deaf how to read and write, but a Christian school whose ultimate goal is to train them to read and understand the Bible so that they can be saved and learn how to function as Christians in this world. The congresswoman understood and agreed with my position and vowed to help us develop new norms and laws to allow us to reopen our high school. Two weeks later, we had a working round table with Ministry of Education officials to begin the process of doing just that.
I am so grateful to God for making this happen. It breaks my heart to see deaf young people struggle to understand because of a lack of education. This change will help us to have greater influence and access to the Deaf of Peru for the Gospel. Please pray for this.
We also had the privilege of hosting a group from my home church — Emmanuel Baptist Church of Fort Myers, FL. Pastor Bob Ossewaarde and his wife Jodi came with several members of the church for our Missions Conference. Pastor did a wonderful job preaching the conference, and they helped us with a much-needed project at the church.
A group from my home church, Emmanuel Baptist Church of Fort Myers, FL, came to serve with us.
Through our ministry, we were also able to help facilitate the importation of a container of Gospel tracts and books for a fellow missionary in Arequipa. It was a blessing to be used in this way to help the propagation of the Gospel here in Peru.
Lisa and I traveled to Andahuaylas, a city in the south-central mountains of Peru, to preach a missions conference for Missionary Markos Lindsey. What a blessing that was! Lisa also taught a ladies’ meeting while there. During a meeting in a home, one man surrendered his life to the Lord’s work.
Preaching a missions conference in Andahuaylas, in the south-central mountains of Peru.
By now, most of you know of the earthquakes in Venezuela. Our dear missionary friend Rafael Ramirez, whom we trained years ago to work with the Deaf, has reported that at least four deaf church members have died and about eight are still unaccounted for. In addition, at least 45 hearing church members have died. We are raising support to send to him to help those affected. If you would like to help with this, please send any financial relief to Macedonia with a note: Efata Ministries – Venezuela Relief. We have a way to get the funds to Rafael for his efforts to bring help to their church people in great need.
Family News
We will be returning to the States in August. In June I had to return for my one-year visit with my cardiologist, and that did not go as smoothly as I was hoping. He really wants me to have another heart catheterization, as he suspects that another blockage may have formed due to some recent symptoms. He wanted me to do it right away, but I had to get back to Peru to be with my home church group for the Missions Conference. He adjusted and added to my heart medications and will see me again in August. If I don’t have to have another stent, it will be a short stay through September, as I have a missions conference and other meetings scheduled. If I do need the stent, I will have to stay for a minimum of three months for follow-up.
We will also be taking Jessica to college at Pensacola. She wants to study nursing. Please keep her in your prayers.
The kids are doing well. They participated in a couple of contests from our mission board during their Refresh week. Jennifer won third place for her memes of mission life.
Thank you as always for the love, care, prayers and financial support from you, our faithful friends and family. It is greatly appreciated and much needed.
This was a very productive first quarter. I normally update every two months, but it has been very busy. I am reminded of Jesus’ admonition in Luke 9:62:
“…No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” – Luke 9:62
I have rejoiced in what the Lord did in and through Efata Ministries and our family on a personal level, but I cannot rest on what has been done. We must keep moving forward for the Lord!
In January we had a married couples retreat in Chancay, a couple of hours north of us where we have one of our church plants. It was the first time in several years that we had done this, and it was a spectacular blessing and encouragement to all who came. About 20 couples participated. We had a great time of personal fellowship and teaching.
We held our children’s Vacation Bible School program with many children and mothers coming to know the Lord. Then we had camp with 105 Deaf and hearing people of all ages. A team from Efata traveled to assist in two other VBS programs in Peru. We thank God for the opportunities He provides to serve Him.
We co-hosted here at our church in Villa El Salvador our annual Fires of Evangelism, Pastor’s School and youth conference. As I mentioned in my last prayer letter, Pastor’s School and the youth conference are primarily led by International Baptist Church pastored by missionary Zach Faust. We work together by providing logistics and facilities as well as personnel support for this weeklong conference.
Fires of Evangelism / Pastor’s School / Youth Conference 2026
This year we combined the Fires of Evangelism conference normally held at this time with the Pastor’s School, which is normally in September. During the conference many were saved, and I was privileged to baptize at least 10 people. Many decisions were made about full-time service. The attendance each night was between 650 and 730 people with many pastors and leaders coming from all over Peru and some other countries in South America.
After the conference Lisa, Jessica and I flew to the States for several personal needs which I will mention in the Family News. I also flew to Chicago during this trip to participate in the Servant’s Conference at First Baptist Church, Hammond, IN, where I taught for six hours on Deaf ministry, culture and some basic sign language. What a blessing this was to encourage the Spanish world to do more in Deaf missions and ministry. I am grateful to Pastor Andy Gomez’s vision to reach the Deaf in our Spanish speaking Baptist Churches all over the world.
In addition to my Chicago trip, I traveled to Braselton, GA to attend an acceptance interview at our mission board, Macedonia World Baptist Missions. They were interviewing a new candidate family from our church in Peru – Isaí and Hope Vasquez. Isaí was ordained and sent out of Efata Baptist Church in February this year. He graduated from our Bible College in December and is called to reach unreached people groups and towns in Peru. He and his family were unanimously accepted as missionaries with Macedonia and are now in the States on deputation to raise support for the work to which God has called them.
Our new school year here at Efata started this month. So far, we have already surpassed our number of students from last year. We are waiting for the elections here in Peru this year to try to get a stable Minister of Education that we can deal with regarding our desire to have a high school program for the Deaf like we had several years ago before the government closed all high schools for the Deaf, forcing them into hearing schools with very limited support.
Family News
On the family front, as I mentioned earlier, we flew to the States to take care of different needs. First, I had my yearly medical appointments which went very well. All good on the physical front! (Much different from last year!) In June I need to go back again to see my cardiologist and eye doctor. I also had a follow-up visit with the shoulder doctor with good results there as well.
Also, Jessica turned 18 in February. She needed to take some tests for school and wanted to get her Driver’s License from the States, so we got her a learner’s permit (not enough time to teach her how to drive; however, she enjoyed the practice and my car is still in one piece!). Thank you for your continued prayers for her health.
While back in the States I was able to visit a couple of new churches and some supporting ones. What a blessing that was.
It is so good to be home and together again.
We never take for granted the love, care, prayers and financial support from you, our faithful friends and family. It is greatly appreciated and much needed.
What an incredible year it has been. Though most of it was spent in the States due to medical issues, we are thrilled at what the Lord has done and continues to do throughout our lives and the wonderful ministry He has allowed us to serve in. I do not understand everything that has happened on many fronts this past 2025, but it reminds me of a wonderful verse that God has given us to ponder:
“The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law” – Deuteronomy 29:29
As I mentioned on our last prayer letter, our home Pastor Bob Ossewaarde was able to come for a wonderful Bible Conference in November. After my return to the States with him to finish my physical therapy, I was able to help another one of my supporting churches with preparing a Pulpit Committee as they began their search for a new pastor as the former pastor retired. That was such a joy and I am encouraged that they are on a good path.
After my return to Peru on Dec. 24th, I was able to enjoy Christmas with my family and our folks at Efata. I arrived in Lima 10 minutes before midnight, and as we were driving home from the airport, we were able to enjoy the fireworks across the vast city.
A few days later, we had our Bible College graduation for two students. One, Isaí Vásquez is preparing for his ordination which will be in February. The church will also be commissioning him and sending him and his family out as missionaries.
Missionaries Isaí and Hope Vasquez and their Children
On the land dispute issue with the municipality of Callao, the judge that is overseeing the court case has issued an injunction halting the mayor’s attempt to take our land. In March or April, we are expecting a final sentence declaring the mayor’s resolution to nullify the donation resolutions from 1984 and 1985 null and void. With that sentence, we will then be able to sue for our title rights. Please continue in prayer for this process.
We have many things going on in the next two months – VBS, Couples retreat, and Family Camp for Deaf and hearing. We also have the Fires of Evangelism/Pastor’s School and Youth Conference coming up in February. This is the first year the three conferences are combined. It has been a blessing working with International Baptist Church in support of this conference.
Pastor Jorge Pozo, our Deaf Pastor here at Efata was able to go to the Deaf World Congress in Japan with Go Deaf Missions led by our close friend John Olson. One of our Deaf young ladies was able to go with their team as well. They truly had an eye and heart-opening experience witnessing and meeting Deaf from all over the world.
Please pray for our dear missionary friends Rafael and Erika Ramirez in the Caracas area of Venezuela. They were very close to the bombings of one of the bases. Rafael has a ministry to the military there and said that this base is one of the ones he preaches at on a regular basis. He has been unsuccessful in contacting the Colonel who facilitates his ministry there and many of the buildings were destroyed. He has asked for help to purchase food for his family, the church people and for many Deaf that cannot afford the costs there. Please pray for stability where he ministers, last I spoke to him, he only goes out for essentials as it is dangerous with the gangs on the loose. If you would like to send a special love offering to help him, please designate it for “Efata-Venezuela” through Macedonia.
Family News
I am almost completely healed from my shoulder surgery and have had no further issues with my heart. Still adjusting to my “new eyes” from the cataract surgery. I am grateful for all of your prayers and support through this physical time of repair and healing.
Jessica is still dealing with her swelling and headache issues. If anything, it has been worse lately. We have taken her to another couple of doctors, and they seem to be taking her case more seriously and ordering different tests to see what they can find. Please continue to pray for her.
We are all happy to be home and as of the writing of this letter busy, involved in Vacation Bible School.
As always, thank you for all your prayers and support. I want to give a special thanks to all who have sent us Christmas wishes and offerings. You richly bless our hearts. The kids are excited because they now have the funds to go to camp this year because of your care for us.
FINALLY, HOME in Peru!! We rejoice that we have been able to return. It has been a long season of “medical maintenance” as God has helped us to heal from heart procedures, cataract surgery, and shoulder surgery, each with their attendant physical therapies. I am reminded of how David felt when he said in Psalm 122:1, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” For me and our family, it was truly good to return to the House of the Lord at Efata in Lima, Peru.
I waited to write this letter because I wanted to report our return, so it is a bit delayed for the September–October update.
Ministry News
In September, I had the blessing of traveling for a month assisting H.E.L.P. Ministries and interpreting for two Spanish-speaking national pastors: Victor Ocampo, one of our national pastors, and Fernando Flores from Bolivia. In one church, I had the honor of leading to the Lord a Haitian national who only spoke Haitian Creole and Spanish.
Efata held several outreach and teaching activities in October, including Family Day, a Ladies’ Conference, and a Children’s Ministry Outreach activity designed as a Biblical alternative to Halloween.
Family Day OutreachChildren’s Evangelistic OutreachLadies’ Conference
On November 7th, we were able to fly home to Peru. What a joy to be with our church family again! We love our people and are honored that God has allowed us to serve with them in Peru. We never planned to have a 10-month medical furlough, but God had other plans.
From November 10th through the 14th, we held our annual Bible Conference at Efata. We were blessed to have my home/sending pastor, Pastor Bob Ossewaarde from Emmanuel Baptist Church in Fort Myers, FL, come and preach for our hearing congregation. We also had one of my dear missionary friends in Peru, Markos Lindsey, preach for the Deaf.
Each night the services were blessed and spiritually impacting. It was clear that the Holy Spirit was guiding in the preaching and the fellowship. It was also wonderful to spend some special time with my pastor and with Michael McCray, a young man who accompanied him.
Our school for the Deaf is going strong. It was a joy to see new and young students growing and learning. We do not have a school just to educate—we have a school to lay the foundation of language and understanding, so that we can effectively witness and see the Deaf saved.
Please pray for one of our Deaf students, Benjamín, who perforated his liver in a bicycle accident this past Saturday. His condition is very critical.
Family News
After interpreting during the September ministry trip, I had surgery on my left shoulder. The surgery went well, and I am now in physical therapy. It has been “fun”! I am slowly gaining more range of motion and strength. I have one month left, so I had to return to the States on November 14th with my pastor, and I will continue therapy here until I fly back to Peru on December 24th.
Please continue to pray for Jessica, who still struggles with occasional swelling on the side of her face, dizziness, and severe headaches. Since the doctors in the States gave no real answers, we returned to Peru and are continuing to seek a solution. She has many good days but some difficult ones as well.
All the kids are so happy to be home and have settled in quickly. It has been wonderful to see Joseph and his family with the grandkids. Our grandson JJ, who is nine years old, played the piano for a special song sung by his two aunts and his mom on the last night of the conference.
Thank you once again for all your prayers and support during these past months. Knowing you are behind us is a great encouragement.
In a few more months, we will be going home. Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” This has been my “season” and “time” for physical recovery and healing. I’ll share more about that below under Family News.
As I write this letter, I am in Georgia, traveling for the month of September with H.E.L.P. Ministries and interpreting for Victor Ocampo, one of my national pastors. Victor is an incredible church planter and soul-winner, and it is an honor to help him during this reprieve from all my medical appointments.
In August, I filled the pulpit for Grace Baptist Temple in North Fort Myers as their pastor retired. I was able to help the church form their pulpit committee as they begin the process of looking for God’s will for a new pastor. What a blessing it was to see several people join the church and to baptize three new believers during my time there. This was a precious time with one of my long-time supporting churches, and I was honored that I could be of service to them while dealing with my physical treatment.
The work in Peru continues. As of this writing, Efata Ministries is hosting Pastor’s school in our facilities with Equipo Peru, the Peru mission team from First Baptist, Hammond. I have been able to watch some of the services online, and the preaching has been very impactful. Pastors Andy Gomez, Jonathan Ashcraft, Luis Martinez, Noe Montelongo and host missionary Zach Faust are doing a fantastic job, as are the various national pastors, their wives and the other ladies who are helping and teaching in this week of intensive Biblical training. The conference has been well attended each night, with over 600 in attendance including dozens of pastors from Peru and other countries.
We hosted our second annual music camp in August. We had over sixty students come for instrument and voice training. Joan and Merle Zamora and the other teachers did a fabulous job teaching and training.
From the end of July through the first week of August, a mission team of 15 people from our church went to Chiclayo, a city in northern Peru, to visit and support one of our national missionary pastors named Cesar Quiroz.
Our people had a tremendous time ministering to his family and working and serving in both of their ministries: in Chiclayo with the Deaf, and in nearby Ferreñafe with both the Deaf and the hearing.
Family News
My health journey continues. I feel like I am fully recovered from the heart procedure, and I have continued to exercise to maintain my strength. In August I also had cataract surgery in both eyes, and my vision is significantly improved. I only need glasses for reading now, with 20/20 vision for distance.
I am scheduled to have shoulder surgery on October 8th. That recovery process is going to take a few months. It is the same surgery that I had a couple of years ago on my right shoulder, now on my left. I am currently in physical therapy for my lower back. Thankfully I am doing well there with the exercises and interventions that they have given me. My back pain is greatly reduced from what it was before.
We purchased our plane tickets to go back to Peru on November 7th! Our Bible Conference starts on the 10th. My Pastor, Bob Ossewaarde, will be coming down to preach for the hearing, and Evangelist Jim Sloan will be coming for the Deaf. After the conference, I will fly back to the States to continue physical therapy for my shoulder. I should be able to return to Peru in December.
Regarding Jessica’s health, she is still seeing a Chiropractor, and the therapy has been helping. There has been no complete healing for her as of yet, but she is managing.
The kids are really looking forward to getting back home to Peru. They prefer being there than being here in the States. Lisa and I are also looking forward to getting back and being in the saddle once again. There is always so much to be done.
Thank you once again for all your prayers and support during these past few months. Knowing you are behind us is a great encouragement.
