The date of our departure from the US nears! We aim to return to Peru in the summer of 2026. This has caused us to marvel all the more in the beauty of Michigan’s fall and to delight in little things like cutting down our own Christmas tree, the way sunlight sparkles on freshly fallen snow, and sweet time with family and friends.
Our family begins December with hearts full of gratitude. We are thankful for…
- Time with extended family over the holiday break.
- Turkey Bowl football with our church family.
- The beginning of advent and the Christmas season.
- Our real Christmas tree!
- New supporters who have joined our team in the past few weeks.
- Our many supporters who have faithfully supported us over the past year and a half.
- We have met our outgoing budget goal!
- And…believe it or not, Adriana and I both have realized that we are thankful for the snow (for possibly the first time ever)!
Over the past few months, we’ve had some ministry opportunities:
In October, Wheaton College held a reception in honor of Peruvian theologian Samuel Escobar. He passed away in April and bequeathed his personal writings to Wheaton’s archives. In 1974, Escobar gave a plenary talk at the First International Congress on World Evangelization in Lausanne, Switzerland organized by Billy Graham. His talk, along with René Padilla’s (an Ecuadorian theologian), played a significant role in shaping the global evangelical movement. By all accounts, he was an eminent scholar and a passionate follower of Jesus. At the reception, I had opportunity to translate the remarks of Wilfredo Canales, another Peruvian theologian. It was an incredible honor.
Also in October, I spoke to a group of Calvin University students interested in serving in missions. I shared how God moved Adriana and me to pursue missions. The students, all in their late teens or early twenties, asked great questions and manifested their desire to use their talents and skills to bring glory to God. Their passion energized me to push hard to finish my dissertation and get back to Peru!
Ph.D. Progress Tracker
Dissertation
Full draft done! I’m editing and revising each chapter and putting it all into one document. This will be the 3rd draft of some chapters and the 5th of others. By Dec 19, I need to submit a complete draft to my advisor.
Comprehensive Exams
- 31 of 37 book reviews done.
- 6 more to go.
Ministry Partner Tracker
Current monthly support
51 % of goal
Monthly support pledged
56 % of goal
Outgoing budget goal
100% of goal
Please Pray
- The past 4-5 months I have put support raising on pause to focus on finishing my dissertation. This week, I am getting back to actively pursuing ministry partners to invest in our ministry. The Lord has and will continue to provide. Pray that God would open doors and bring the right people to our team.
- The PhD process has been grueling for our entire family. There is now light at the end of the tunnel. Pray for continued energy and perseverance. Also, pray that we would treat each other with grace and patience.
- Pray for wisdom as we plan and execute our move back to Peru.
Asi es la vida... 