Well, we have a great new website for Spirit-Led Expeditions! We will now be releasing a quarterly NEWSLETTER! Whoohoo! Here is a link to the website as well as the newsletter:
Website: www.spiritledexp.com
Fall '08 Newsletter: http://spiritledexp.com/Fall2008.pdf
Monday, October 27, 2008
President Stresses Faith Values in International Development
This is an article from CMDA News and Views (Christian Medical and Dental Association)
Editor's Note: Following are excerpts from the President’s speech on Tuesday, October 21, 2008 in Washington, DC. CMA attended this White House summit, representing the hundreds of CMA medical missionaries serving overseas.
THE PRESIDENT: I appreciate the fact that folks in this room represent thousands that are replacing disease with health, dependency with self-reliance, and despair with hope. During times of economic crisis, some may be tempted to turn inward -- focusing on our problems here at home, while ignoring our interests around the world. This would be a serious mistake.
America is committed -- and America must stay committed -- to international development for reasons that remain true regardless of the ebb and flow of the markets.I strongly believe in the timeless truth: To whom much is given, much is required. We are a blessed nation and I believe we have a duty to help those less fortunate around the world. We believe that power to save lives comes with the obligation to use it. And I believe our nation is better when we help people fight hunger and disease and illiteracy.In the new era of development, America and our partners are helping to lift the burden of deadly disease. In Africa, the treatable and preventable disease of malaria kills one child every 30 seconds. So in 2005 I launched a five-year, $1.2 billion initiative that cut the number of malaria-related deaths in 15 African nations by half.Through the initiative, we joined with African governments -- notice, "we joined with African governments" -- to design malaria control strategies that will work with their nations. We expect results for the money we spend. And yet we're confident when we work with governments that they can develop the strategy necessary to achieve the objectives. And so we supply the money, and our partner nations work to distribute insecticide-treated bed nets, conduct indoor spraying campaigns, and provide cutting-edge drugs.It [the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)] employs a prevention strategy that works: ABC, which means abstinence, be faithful, and use condoms. This isn't guesswork; this is a program that is working. It puts local partners in the lead, because they know the needs of their people best. It enlists new partners from the international community, the private sector and the faith community.
I can't tell you how many people that I've met in the United States who say, "I'm part of PEPFAR, because my church has adopted the program." You know, there's nothing better than having people who hear the universal call to love a brother like you'd like to be loved yourselves on the front line of helping to save lives.History shows what happens when America combines our great compassion with our steadfast determination. We are a compassionate people and we are a determined people. I'm honored to be the President of such a nation filled with people -- filled with people of such generosity and goodness. This is an historic commitment that we all can be proud of -- one that will secure a bright future for our partners in the developing world, one that will make America a better place. God bless you.
CMDA CEO David Stevens, MD: "No administration in my memory has done more to deal with international health issues that cause millions of deaths each year. Funds wisely have been granted largely to in-country organizations that know the problems best. Many mission hospitals have benefited.
"Despite concerted efforts to force change, the 'condom-only' crowd has not been able to overturn the ABC message. Its effectiveness continues to be well documented.
"Most importantly, less money is being wasted and many more lives are being saved. Our missionary colleagues, that still provide 30-70% of healthcare in Africa, report both the malaria and PEPFAR initiatives are making a difference. We can praise God for that!" Missionaries Comment on USAID
Editor's Note: Following are excerpts from the President’s speech on Tuesday, October 21, 2008 in Washington, DC. CMA attended this White House summit, representing the hundreds of CMA medical missionaries serving overseas.
THE PRESIDENT: I appreciate the fact that folks in this room represent thousands that are replacing disease with health, dependency with self-reliance, and despair with hope. During times of economic crisis, some may be tempted to turn inward -- focusing on our problems here at home, while ignoring our interests around the world. This would be a serious mistake.
America is committed -- and America must stay committed -- to international development for reasons that remain true regardless of the ebb and flow of the markets.I strongly believe in the timeless truth: To whom much is given, much is required. We are a blessed nation and I believe we have a duty to help those less fortunate around the world. We believe that power to save lives comes with the obligation to use it. And I believe our nation is better when we help people fight hunger and disease and illiteracy.In the new era of development, America and our partners are helping to lift the burden of deadly disease. In Africa, the treatable and preventable disease of malaria kills one child every 30 seconds. So in 2005 I launched a five-year, $1.2 billion initiative that cut the number of malaria-related deaths in 15 African nations by half.Through the initiative, we joined with African governments -- notice, "we joined with African governments" -- to design malaria control strategies that will work with their nations. We expect results for the money we spend. And yet we're confident when we work with governments that they can develop the strategy necessary to achieve the objectives. And so we supply the money, and our partner nations work to distribute insecticide-treated bed nets, conduct indoor spraying campaigns, and provide cutting-edge drugs.It [the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)] employs a prevention strategy that works: ABC, which means abstinence, be faithful, and use condoms. This isn't guesswork; this is a program that is working. It puts local partners in the lead, because they know the needs of their people best. It enlists new partners from the international community, the private sector and the faith community.
I can't tell you how many people that I've met in the United States who say, "I'm part of PEPFAR, because my church has adopted the program." You know, there's nothing better than having people who hear the universal call to love a brother like you'd like to be loved yourselves on the front line of helping to save lives.History shows what happens when America combines our great compassion with our steadfast determination. We are a compassionate people and we are a determined people. I'm honored to be the President of such a nation filled with people -- filled with people of such generosity and goodness. This is an historic commitment that we all can be proud of -- one that will secure a bright future for our partners in the developing world, one that will make America a better place. God bless you.
CMDA CEO David Stevens, MD: "No administration in my memory has done more to deal with international health issues that cause millions of deaths each year. Funds wisely have been granted largely to in-country organizations that know the problems best. Many mission hospitals have benefited.
"Despite concerted efforts to force change, the 'condom-only' crowd has not been able to overturn the ABC message. Its effectiveness continues to be well documented.
"Most importantly, less money is being wasted and many more lives are being saved. Our missionary colleagues, that still provide 30-70% of healthcare in Africa, report both the malaria and PEPFAR initiatives are making a difference. We can praise God for that!" Missionaries Comment on USAID
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Click the "Submit" Button
I just bought a plane ticket. Yeah, I'm crazy. I am off in January to El Salvador (San Salvador) to do an International Rotation. OK, this is exciting.....but there are a few resons I am scared. Not fearful.....i guess I'm just nervous. Number 1: I don't speak spanish. Number 2: I don't know a ton about really being a good doctor. Number 3: I am going alone (physically, i mean).
Jon and I are about to go through a little rough spell. He has to move back to Georgia in January to finish up his bachelors at Emmanuel. Virginia Tech has tacked on some unforseen issues with a French class from high school Jon was supposed to have credit for....well, turns out he doesn't and no one told us. To avoid more uneccesary semesters, Jon only needs one more semester at EC to finish up. So here we are. A winter apart.
So, I figured I would see if God would open up the doors for an International Rotation in El Salvador. My application was turned in late, and 4th year students have priority. Well, I still got in. HAHA! Isn't God cool? He is going to stretch me, though. I know for a fact that I totally am really bad at being by myself. Especially in foreign countries. When i spent the 2 weeks in Peru all alone, It was pretty intense. A month will be hard. But I can't help but think of my BFF Jana who is currently in Calcutta, India serving among the untouchables. She is all alone. I am praying so hard for her. I know how hard it is. She is so strong in the Lord, but it is still hard to be alone. I'm praying for more pink toilet paper, Jana.....
Anyways, I was really nervous hitting the "Submit" button on the delta flight for El Salvador. Medicine is hard, and i know being there and not knowing all i should is going to rip my heart out (as is the fact that I alone can't do much). I am going to travel to orphanages with kids that have AIDS and take care of them every week, as well as rural areas all over the San Salvador area. That is incredible. Its crazy the positions God puts us in. But then there will be me....alone. The devil knows where I am weak. He could use that whole month against me.....if i concentrate on the lonely part I won't be effective.
Loneliness is one of the easiest places to Submit to the Lord, I think. No distractions. But a big distraction can be the loneliness itself.
I just sent cards and llama bracelets to the 2 campers that I had as a counselor at the Royal Family Kids Camp this summer. They are foster kids.....and the loneliness they deal with is more extreme probably than i have ever imagined. Those kids in the orphanage are lonely. Those kids in Calcutta are lonely.
Well, I hit the Submit button on the flight. Submission is hard sometimes, and I think once I get there and sit with the people God puts in my path, I may realize I am not so alone after all. That the reason God has put me there is to be with the lonely, keeping both me and them in fellowship to show each other God's love. We were made to be in fellowship with one another, and God never fails to put people in our paths. And those people never fail to make a huge impact on our hearts. We should keep clicking that submit button, and the lists of fears we make won't mean so much in the power of God's will while we are being used by Him.
Isaiah 41:10
"For do not fear, I am with you"
<-----------My BFF Jana
Jon and I are about to go through a little rough spell. He has to move back to Georgia in January to finish up his bachelors at Emmanuel. Virginia Tech has tacked on some unforseen issues with a French class from high school Jon was supposed to have credit for....well, turns out he doesn't and no one told us. To avoid more uneccesary semesters, Jon only needs one more semester at EC to finish up. So here we are. A winter apart.
So, I figured I would see if God would open up the doors for an International Rotation in El Salvador. My application was turned in late, and 4th year students have priority. Well, I still got in. HAHA! Isn't God cool? He is going to stretch me, though. I know for a fact that I totally am really bad at being by myself. Especially in foreign countries. When i spent the 2 weeks in Peru all alone, It was pretty intense. A month will be hard. But I can't help but think of my BFF Jana who is currently in Calcutta, India serving among the untouchables. She is all alone. I am praying so hard for her. I know how hard it is. She is so strong in the Lord, but it is still hard to be alone. I'm praying for more pink toilet paper, Jana.....
Anyways, I was really nervous hitting the "Submit" button on the delta flight for El Salvador. Medicine is hard, and i know being there and not knowing all i should is going to rip my heart out (as is the fact that I alone can't do much). I am going to travel to orphanages with kids that have AIDS and take care of them every week, as well as rural areas all over the San Salvador area. That is incredible. Its crazy the positions God puts us in. But then there will be me....alone. The devil knows where I am weak. He could use that whole month against me.....if i concentrate on the lonely part I won't be effective.
Loneliness is one of the easiest places to Submit to the Lord, I think. No distractions. But a big distraction can be the loneliness itself.
I just sent cards and llama bracelets to the 2 campers that I had as a counselor at the Royal Family Kids Camp this summer. They are foster kids.....and the loneliness they deal with is more extreme probably than i have ever imagined. Those kids in the orphanage are lonely. Those kids in Calcutta are lonely.
Well, I hit the Submit button on the flight. Submission is hard sometimes, and I think once I get there and sit with the people God puts in my path, I may realize I am not so alone after all. That the reason God has put me there is to be with the lonely, keeping both me and them in fellowship to show each other God's love. We were made to be in fellowship with one another, and God never fails to put people in our paths. And those people never fail to make a huge impact on our hearts. We should keep clicking that submit button, and the lists of fears we make won't mean so much in the power of God's will while we are being used by Him.
Isaiah 41:10
"For do not fear, I am with you"
<-----------My BFF Jana
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Poques and the Quechua Young People
This is an article from the free library (online) about the village of Poques and Lamay (where we had clinics this past July). The article is great and seems to capture with words a little better than I can the living conditions of these people. The picture on this blog post are from our trip and were taken by Jon and I.
"People couldn't farm and survive in this harsh climate without ayni," said Carol Cumes. Cumes is the founder of the Willka T'ika Children's Fund, which assists children in remote Andean communities.
The Quechua and other Andean people practice a traditional spirituality that worships the Pachamama (Mother Earth) and the Apukuna (mountain and nature spirits). Many Quechua have also incorporated Christian beliefs into their traditions, and identify themselves as Catholic. Shamans (priests and healers) freely mix Biblical figures with the nature spirits.
A Way Out....
Are strong traditions enough to hold young people in their native villages? Like other indigenous people all over the world, the Quechua are struggling with that question. "It's almost impossible to work your way out of poverty," Bauer said of the Andean communities. "These people want exactly what we want out of life. They want good jobs, education, health care." For now, it is hard to say whether Zulma and Luis will be able to find those things in their homes--or far away.
Peru: life of the Quechua: up in the Andes, daily existence is a struggle for young people.
Eleven thousand feet high in Peru's Andes Mountains sit the villages of Chumpe (CHOOM-pee) and Poques (POKE-es). People here live much as their ancestors did, simply and close to nature. But for young people in this remote region of South America, the future can be uncertain.
Luis Quispe Illa, 14, is one
of those young people. Until recently, Luis attended the Chumpe Poques elementary school, which sits between the two villages. Many of that school's students must walk long distances over mountain roads in freezing temperatures to get there. But Luis's trip to the nearest high school, in Lamay, is even longer. "I have to walk three hours" from the village of Chumpe, Luis told JS. Like everyone in his village, Luis comes from a campesino (peasant farmer) family.
of those young people. Until recently, Luis attended the Chumpe Poques elementary school, which sits between the two villages. Many of that school's students must walk long distances over mountain roads in freezing temperatures to get there. But Luis's trip to the nearest high school, in Lamay, is even longer. "I have to walk three hours" from the village of Chumpe, Luis told JS. Like everyone in his village, Luis comes from a campesino (peasant farmer) family. In addition to his studies and the six-hour round-trip trek each day, Luis works hard to help his family survive. "I help my dad on the [farm]. I put the sheep and cows to pasture," Luis said. "In my community, it is very cold," he added. "It hails, and it's foggy. I wear a poncho in the cold."
Inescapable Poverty
Luis and his family are Quechua, Kechua (both: kĕch`ə, –wä), or Quichua (kēch`wä).....an indigenous (native) people of the Andes. The Quechua occupy an area that stretches from Ecuador to Bolivia. They were an important part of Andean civilization long before the Inca conquered them in the 15th century. The Quechua language even survived conquest by the Spanish, about 500 years ago.
But in these mountains, poverty is inescapable. To find work, young Quechua must leave home. Cusco, Peru (KOOS-koh), the nearest major city, is about four hours away by car in good weather. More often, the roads are washed out, making the trip slow and hazardous. When they finally get to Cusco, the Quechua face discrimination by the majority mestizo (māstē`sō) (Spanish and Quechua mixed) population.
Brian Bauer is a professor of anthropology at the University of Illinois at 
Chicago. According to Bauer, the Spanish-speaking mestizos look down on the Quechua because of their darker skin, Indian features, language, and traditional clothing.
Chicago. According to Bauer, the Spanish-speaking mestizos look down on the Quechua because of their darker skin, Indian features, language, and traditional clothing. "There's tremendous unemployment in Cusco already," Bauer told JS. "[Young Quechua] go to the city seeking a better life, but it's hard to get."
Wanted: A High School
Zulma Quispe, 13, lives in Poques. Since graduating from the Chumpe Poques School, she spends her days cooking and washing clothes for her father and brother. Zulma wants to go to the high school in Lamay, but can't just now. She would need room and board in Lamay, but "there is no money," Zulma told JS.
"The Peruvian government is desperately poor," Bauer said. "They do not have the resources to cover the tremendous demand for education." Even in existing schools, basic necessities such as textbooks and desks are in short supply. At the Chumpe Poques School, bathrooms are just now being constructed, after 86 years. The people of the mountain communities want their own high school. However, "there is no money to build a high school, no money to pay a high-school teacher," said Jessica Florez. Florez is a teacher and the principal of the Chumpe Poques School. Florez often goes months without being paid. Her mother, Matilde, was also a dedicated teacher, Florez said. Matilde often lived apart from her family so she could teach children in remote mountain communities. Florez now does the same, seeing her own daughter only on weekends and holidays.
The need for education among the Quechua is crucial, Florez told JS. "Many students don't go past grade school. They forget how to read and write."
An Ancient Culture
The people of Andean mountain communities depend on the strength of an ancient culture. The concept of ayni (EYE-nee) is central to the traditional Quechua way of life. It can be defined as "Today I help you, tomorrow you help me."
"People couldn't farm and survive in this harsh climate without ayni," said Carol Cumes. Cumes is the founder of the Willka T'ika Children's Fund, which assists children in remote Andean communities.
The Quechua and other Andean people practice a traditional spirituality that worships the Pachamama (Mother Earth) and the Apukuna (mountain and nature spirits). Many Quechua have also incorporated Christian beliefs into their traditions, and identify themselves as Catholic. Shamans (priests and healers) freely mix Biblical figures with the nature spirits.
A Way Out....
Are strong traditions enough to hold young people in their native villages? Like other indigenous people all over the world, the Quechua are struggling with that question. "It's almost impossible to work your way out of poverty," Bauer said of the Andean communities. "These people want exactly what we want out of life. They want good jobs, education, health care." For now, it is hard to say whether Zulma and Luis will be able to find those things in their homes--or far away.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
We Treat, He Heals
The title of this blog entry comes from the sign that is out in the front of the Tenwek Mission Hospital in Tenwek, Kenya. I am currently reading "Miracle at Tenwek", the life story of Dr. Ernie Steury, a medical missionary who was commited to serving Jesus on the mission field. Those stories have inspired me so much, and I have my own stories to tell you now. Granted all of them can't go on this short blog, but if you see me in person you can bet that i will want to tell you more.
Its more than I can understand sometimes, how God works. I am nothing but a messed up sinner, and the fact that He is using me to do this work blows my mind. I am not the top of my class, I'm not the smartest person you will ever meet, and I screw up most days. But God's grace is incredible. He still uses me, inspite of me. He still used our team of 38 people, all from different backgrounds, all with very different ages and personalities....that is how incredible He is. He can transform people from a state of hopelessness to an incredible knowledge of hope and joy. I know, I saw it the faces of people as they entered the prayer station at the clinic and then looked into their faces as they left. They were made new; born again. Who knows the impact God has made through us....I know none of us probably really understand it. I can't understand it.
I am home now. Back in the states, back being surrounded by people that I just want to grab and say, "COME AND SEE WHAT I SAW!!!!! YOU'LL NEVER THINK YOU NEED THAT HUGE 3 BEDROOM HOUSE WITH A WHITE FENCE ANYMORE!! THAT WON'T MATTER!!! COME SEE WHAT GOD CAN DO, AND HOW HE WANT'S TO USE US!!" I want to shout that to the people around me. Tell them that boards and whether or not we passed, in the long run, really doesn't matter. Yeah, we need to pass, but Jesus got us this far, He won't leave us now. We are going where he wants us in the long run, anyways.
Just being married last year I feel the social pressure of the "American Dream". The shows on TV about having a big nice house and all the stuff that will make you "happy". Many of the youth we encounter in Peru talk about wanting to have money and be in the USA. I hope one day I can be a testament to them. Live where they live and say, hey, I could have that and I'll tell you right now, it won't make you happy. It won't be worth it. A life dedicated to Jesus, no matter how off the beaten path, is what really matters. Now, I am not saying it is not OK to have a big nice house. I was blessed my entire life to have a great place and home to grow up in. However, to focus on getting houses and more money (what our society tends to tell us is the most important), is not what God wants. He wants us to look around and realize there is more out there. More than what we are seeing on the superficial. Right in your workplace is a hurting person who needs Jesus just as much as that woman who is way up in a mud brick house in Peru. I saw more in Peru.....more than the superficial. That is why missions trips change lives in Americans. My best friend in Medical school, Catherine, went on this trip with us. I saw the passion in her for Jesus, and over the past couple years have watched it grow. I knew God wanted her to go on this trip with us to Peru, and tonight she told me....."I'll never be the same". She saw more than just the superficial. I knew God would change her whole world. I hope this trip impacted the people of Peru as much as it impacted and inspired all of us to do more than just worry about the superficial.
I know I sort of got off on a random subject there, but I do want to share one specific story with you. The story is centered around Claudia. She is probably about my age, and was a patient of mine. When I picked her up from the triage line, I was immediately struck by the hurt on her face. She seemed to be in so much pain.....not physical pain, but I could tell she was hopeless, and hurting emotionally. The woman had an issue of blood. We didn't have any birth control pills in the pharmacy, so I knew there was nothing medically that we could do. I felt that I needed to share with her the Bible story about the woman with the issue of blood who simply touched the garments of Jesus and was healed. I shared with her, with Pastor Willy translating, that God could heal her now. I said a prayer with her in the clinic then personally walked with her to the Pharmacy and prayer station. She made the decision to accept Jesus into her heart, and her issue was healed. It was incredible, and I just hugged her and told her I loved her. She was made new, and something just came over me that she was called to be a powerful follower of Jesus Christ. Of course, I was in tears for much of this. I couldn't control the tears. I'm like that when the Holy Spirit starts moving. And oh, was He moving in that place. It was indescribable. He showed up, as my maw maw would say. He was with us wherever we went. There are so many other stories. Maybe one day I can write them all here, but just know that God worked. And it wouldn't have happened without all your prayers and support. To me, everything I go through here is worth it because of Claudia. Her heart was prepared to hear his message of mercy, hope, and love. And there are many more stories just like that one. Thank you all for teaming with us in this medical mission.
Spirit-Led Expeditions Team Members Eric, Stephanie, and Jonathan
Its more than I can understand sometimes, how God works. I am nothing but a messed up sinner, and the fact that He is using me to do this work blows my mind. I am not the top of my class, I'm not the smartest person you will ever meet, and I screw up most days. But God's grace is incredible. He still uses me, inspite of me. He still used our team of 38 people, all from different backgrounds, all with very different ages and personalities....that is how incredible He is. He can transform people from a state of hopelessness to an incredible knowledge of hope and joy. I know, I saw it the faces of people as they entered the prayer station at the clinic and then looked into their faces as they left. They were made new; born again. Who knows the impact God has made through us....I know none of us probably really understand it. I can't understand it.
I am home now. Back in the states, back being surrounded by people that I just want to grab and say, "COME AND SEE WHAT I SAW!!!!! YOU'LL NEVER THINK YOU NEED THAT HUGE 3 BEDROOM HOUSE WITH A WHITE FENCE ANYMORE!! THAT WON'T MATTER!!! COME SEE WHAT GOD CAN DO, AND HOW HE WANT'S TO USE US!!" I want to shout that to the people around me. Tell them that boards and whether or not we passed, in the long run, really doesn't matter. Yeah, we need to pass, but Jesus got us this far, He won't leave us now. We are going where he wants us in the long run, anyways.
Just being married last year I feel the social pressure of the "American Dream". The shows on TV about having a big nice house and all the stuff that will make you "happy". Many of the youth we encounter in Peru talk about wanting to have money and be in the USA. I hope one day I can be a testament to them. Live where they live and say, hey, I could have that and I'll tell you right now, it won't make you happy. It won't be worth it. A life dedicated to Jesus, no matter how off the beaten path, is what really matters. Now, I am not saying it is not OK to have a big nice house. I was blessed my entire life to have a great place and home to grow up in. However, to focus on getting houses and more money (what our society tends to tell us is the most important), is not what God wants. He wants us to look around and realize there is more out there. More than what we are seeing on the superficial. Right in your workplace is a hurting person who needs Jesus just as much as that woman who is way up in a mud brick house in Peru. I saw more in Peru.....more than the superficial. That is why missions trips change lives in Americans. My best friend in Medical school, Catherine, went on this trip with us. I saw the passion in her for Jesus, and over the past couple years have watched it grow. I knew God wanted her to go on this trip with us to Peru, and tonight she told me....."I'll never be the same". She saw more than just the superficial. I knew God would change her whole world. I hope this trip impacted the people of Peru as much as it impacted and inspired all of us to do more than just worry about the superficial.
I know I sort of got off on a random subject there, but I do want to share one specific story with you. The story is centered around Claudia. She is probably about my age, and was a patient of mine. When I picked her up from the triage line, I was immediately struck by the hurt on her face. She seemed to be in so much pain.....not physical pain, but I could tell she was hopeless, and hurting emotionally. The woman had an issue of blood. We didn't have any birth control pills in the pharmacy, so I knew there was nothing medically that we could do. I felt that I needed to share with her the Bible story about the woman with the issue of blood who simply touched the garments of Jesus and was healed. I shared with her, with Pastor Willy translating, that God could heal her now. I said a prayer with her in the clinic then personally walked with her to the Pharmacy and prayer station. She made the decision to accept Jesus into her heart, and her issue was healed. It was incredible, and I just hugged her and told her I loved her. She was made new, and something just came over me that she was called to be a powerful follower of Jesus Christ. Of course, I was in tears for much of this. I couldn't control the tears. I'm like that when the Holy Spirit starts moving. And oh, was He moving in that place. It was indescribable. He showed up, as my maw maw would say. He was with us wherever we went. There are so many other stories. Maybe one day I can write them all here, but just know that God worked. And it wouldn't have happened without all your prayers and support. To me, everything I go through here is worth it because of Claudia. Her heart was prepared to hear his message of mercy, hope, and love. And there are many more stories just like that one. Thank you all for teaming with us in this medical mission.
Spirit-Led Expeditions Team Members Eric, Stephanie, and Jonathanto see more pictures from the mission go here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2004678&l=411ee&id=97000042
to see the album "faces of peru" with pics of peruvians i took go here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2004677&l=8b0bc&id=97000042
Family Farm Ministry
Deworming animals gets rid of all he internal parasites in cows, goats, sheep, llamas, and donkeys. Jonathan's passion has always been poultry science, and his many years growing up on his family's farm has given him the knowledge and passion for Spirit-Led Expeditions Family Farm Ministry. In the 
2 weeks we were in Peru, 600 animals were seen personally by Jon and he also gave doses to local farmers for 200 more. He brought a whole new aspect of ministry to the team that was already helping so many people medically. He not only dewormed, but also supervised the birth of a baby calf, gave vitamin shots, and treated minor injuries suffered by the animals; for example a sheep had gotten caught in a barbed wire fence and Jon treated and disinfected it's wounds. It wasn't hard for the people to really trust Jon with their animals. By the second day of clinics, we all watched as a lady brought a herd of sheep down to the clinic area and tied them up for Jon to deworm while she got in line to be seen in the clinic. It was incredible to watch
Jon in action. Most of the days in Lamay Pastor Willy's son walked around to translate for him. The bonds he was able to make with the people were awesome. In Lamay most of the farmers know what deworming agent is and how good it is for the animals, because they had revcieved doses of it from the government 3 years ago. That fact really helped the farmers trust Jon more quickly. Jon loved every second. He handed out Camino De Vida flyers as he invited people to the clinic, and shared the Gospel with a few he really bonded with. The man you see him with in the picture above told Jon that he would always be welcome in his home. On day one of ministry in Lamay, Jon had come by his home and dewormed a few sheep. Over the next night, 12 of the man's chickens died. Jon had not dewormed the chickens and so the man took it as a sign from God to trust Jon and let him deworm all the animals. The next day the man took Jon all ov
er Lamay to make sure all his neighbors, friends, and family trusted Jon and his medicines. It was an incredible experience. Jon hopes to return to Peru in December 2008 for Spirit-Led's Operation Hope Blanket and Christmas distributions to follow up with the same families and continue the deworming supply, as the effects of the medicine wane at 3 months. The practical Family Farm Ministry made a huge impact for Pastor Willy's ministry in the area because of the very large reliance on livestock and agriculture, and we hope to continue building relationships with these amazing people through these practical means.
2 weeks we were in Peru, 600 animals were seen personally by Jon and he also gave doses to local farmers for 200 more. He brought a whole new aspect of ministry to the team that was already helping so many people medically. He not only dewormed, but also supervised the birth of a baby calf, gave vitamin shots, and treated minor injuries suffered by the animals; for example a sheep had gotten caught in a barbed wire fence and Jon treated and disinfected it's wounds. It wasn't hard for the people to really trust Jon with their animals. By the second day of clinics, we all watched as a lady brought a herd of sheep down to the clinic area and tied them up for Jon to deworm while she got in line to be seen in the clinic. It was incredible to watch
Jon in action. Most of the days in Lamay Pastor Willy's son walked around to translate for him. The bonds he was able to make with the people were awesome. In Lamay most of the farmers know what deworming agent is and how good it is for the animals, because they had revcieved doses of it from the government 3 years ago. That fact really helped the farmers trust Jon more quickly. Jon loved every second. He handed out Camino De Vida flyers as he invited people to the clinic, and shared the Gospel with a few he really bonded with. The man you see him with in the picture above told Jon that he would always be welcome in his home. On day one of ministry in Lamay, Jon had come by his home and dewormed a few sheep. Over the next night, 12 of the man's chickens died. Jon had not dewormed the chickens and so the man took it as a sign from God to trust Jon and let him deworm all the animals. The next day the man took Jon all ov
er Lamay to make sure all his neighbors, friends, and family trusted Jon and his medicines. It was an incredible experience. Jon hopes to return to Peru in December 2008 for Spirit-Led's Operation Hope Blanket and Christmas distributions to follow up with the same families and continue the deworming supply, as the effects of the medicine wane at 3 months. The practical Family Farm Ministry made a huge impact for Pastor Willy's ministry in the area because of the very large reliance on livestock and agriculture, and we hope to continue building relationships with these amazing people through these practical means. Thanks so much to Kirby Phillips for donating supplies for this ministry, and inspiring Jon to do this work. Kirby is Jon's father and was a agricultural missionary with People to People in Haiti for many years, where Jon was born. Thanks also to Jon's uncle, Kinsey, a vet who donated various supplies.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Doing what we were made to do
I was talking to Jon yesterday and he really has felt these past days that he has been doing what he was made to do. So have I. We are sad to be leaving and going back to our lives full of studying and preparing. However, this trip has also taught us how important that preparation continues to be, and has refocused us on the reasons we suffer through it. To show people the love of Jesus. Here is small summary from eric on the exact numbers and locations......
Last Wednesday and Thursday we were in the Quechua village of Huama and Friday and Saturday in the high up village of Poques (villages in the mountains surrounding Lamay). No Spanish even spoken there. :) There was a tremendous amount of spiritual warfare going on in the community of Poques and an oppression over the town, especially with a depression over the women there. We also had to deal with a local witch doctor who had ¨cast spells¨ over some of the women. We had them bring all the witch doctors articles and potions and burn them. We then prayed for deliverance over the people, and such a great spirit of freedom broke out! It was amazing! There were also many who were healed, people who walked and people whose cataracts just disappeared! Many who received Christ and prayer came back to pray over other village people!!
All in all here are the total for all the clinics.....
We saw a total of 1,164 patients and 563 salvations!!!!
Last Wednesday and Thursday we were in the Quechua village of Huama and Friday and Saturday in the high up village of Poques (villages in the mountains surrounding Lamay). No Spanish even spoken there. :) There was a tremendous amount of spiritual warfare going on in the community of Poques and an oppression over the town, especially with a depression over the women there. We also had to deal with a local witch doctor who had ¨cast spells¨ over some of the women. We had them bring all the witch doctors articles and potions and burn them. We then prayed for deliverance over the people, and such a great spirit of freedom broke out! It was amazing! There were also many who were healed, people who walked and people whose cataracts just disappeared! Many who received Christ and prayer came back to pray over other village people!!
All in all here are the total for all the clinics.....
We saw a total of 1,164 patients and 563 salvations!!!!
Friday, July 25, 2008
God is Always Working
We are still in Peru! On Wed. and Thurs. we were in a small quechua speaking village outside of Lamay doing clinics. Jon dewormed 280 cows, goats, llamas, and sheep. We saw over 300 patients and over half accepted Christ. The people are very sick and affected by the sun and altitude just as we have been. The amount of eye problems is overwhelming, but God has been healing many of them. Its so incredible to be here in such a pioneering mission experience. 2 weeks ago eric had the spirit-led team in these same villages, and many had never even heard a message of salvation before. We are here, 2 weeks later, trying to meet some basic needs, and sharing the love of Jesus even more. It is amazing, and please keep praying, we have one more clinic tomorrow in a new village and pray that our medicine and the medicine for the animals is stretched and multiplied. We love you all. We will be home Thursday and hope to share more numbers and detailed stories with you then.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
All who needed healing were healed
WE ARE IN PERU!! Finally, we made it. And the word to describe the 1st day: grateful. God provided all we needed a day before the trip.
Not much time, so let me give you a quick update. Jon has dewormed a total of 153 animals already all over the city of the Lamay (thats in only 2 days). The farmers did recieve dewormer a few years ago from the government, so they knew what it was, and were very thankful. Jon was asked to stay for dinner, or come back for dinner by several families. One man said, "If you ever need a place to stay you will always be welcome in my home". It is AWESOME! He is talking to the people about Camino de Vida, and Pastor Willy´s son has been traveling with him to translate. God´s hand is working.
We have seen about 100 patients each day at the clinic. We expect many more tomorrow as it is our last day in Lamay. The church was packed out on Fri. night after our clinic and 12 people came to Christ. Peruvians leading Peruvians to Christ.....incredible! We also had 20 salvations on Friday and several on Saturday in the prayer stations. The healing stories I have are incredible. People who were blind from glaucoma and others who couldn´t hear from constant infections in their ears over the years.......came back into the clinic to find us to tell us they had been HEALED in the prayer station. In the message Luke 9:11 it says ¨"those who needed healing, He healed". that has very much been the case here. When we have a patient with a problem we can´t help with, we write on the priscription line: "PRAYER" and their specific problem. That way they are sure to be pointed to the prayer station after they get their meds in the Pharmacy. We´re praying in the clinic too. God is working miracles.
I gave all the students the Enjoy Being pins my mom got for our team from Mary M. and told them to remember how amazing this place is when times get rough. To just enjoy being on this journey in Peru. These people are so deserving of medical care and to know the saving Grace of Jesus, and though some speak Quechua and must be double translated into spanish then english.....there is no denying that they are seeing the Love of Christ in us, and thats what we came for.
Love you all!
Not much time, so let me give you a quick update. Jon has dewormed a total of 153 animals already all over the city of the Lamay (thats in only 2 days). The farmers did recieve dewormer a few years ago from the government, so they knew what it was, and were very thankful. Jon was asked to stay for dinner, or come back for dinner by several families. One man said, "If you ever need a place to stay you will always be welcome in my home". It is AWESOME! He is talking to the people about Camino de Vida, and Pastor Willy´s son has been traveling with him to translate. God´s hand is working.
We have seen about 100 patients each day at the clinic. We expect many more tomorrow as it is our last day in Lamay. The church was packed out on Fri. night after our clinic and 12 people came to Christ. Peruvians leading Peruvians to Christ.....incredible! We also had 20 salvations on Friday and several on Saturday in the prayer stations. The healing stories I have are incredible. People who were blind from glaucoma and others who couldn´t hear from constant infections in their ears over the years.......came back into the clinic to find us to tell us they had been HEALED in the prayer station. In the message Luke 9:11 it says ¨"those who needed healing, He healed". that has very much been the case here. When we have a patient with a problem we can´t help with, we write on the priscription line: "PRAYER" and their specific problem. That way they are sure to be pointed to the prayer station after they get their meds in the Pharmacy. We´re praying in the clinic too. God is working miracles.
I gave all the students the Enjoy Being pins my mom got for our team from Mary M. and told them to remember how amazing this place is when times get rough. To just enjoy being on this journey in Peru. These people are so deserving of medical care and to know the saving Grace of Jesus, and though some speak Quechua and must be double translated into spanish then english.....there is no denying that they are seeing the Love of Christ in us, and thats what we came for.
Love you all!
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Peru Presentation
Hey everyone! We are going to be sharing more about Peru, the upcoming medical mission, and showing a DVD this Sunday (July 13) at Voice of Praise in Bluewell, WV. The service starts at 10AM and i hope you all can make it. We are excited about sharing with you in person what God has layed on our hearts! I'm excited! See you this Sunday!
Also please be in prayer specifically for monetary needs to be met. We are leaving in less than a week from today and still need to raise a little over 2,000 dollars. Also pray that hearts will be prepared, as the town of Lamay and the churches have been advertising our arrival and expect 1,500 people to show up for treatment in the one week we will base in Lamay. God is going to do amazing things! Thanks for your prayers.
Also please be in prayer specifically for monetary needs to be met. We are leaving in less than a week from today and still need to raise a little over 2,000 dollars. Also pray that hearts will be prepared, as the town of Lamay and the churches have been advertising our arrival and expect 1,500 people to show up for treatment in the one week we will base in Lamay. God is going to do amazing things! Thanks for your prayers.
Monday, June 23, 2008
"Alpacha Company"
I am so excited about this company that I am priveliged to be leading on the Peru trip!!! In honor of the incredible elusive Peruvian Alpacha (a specific type of Llama), comes our team name. The team includes myself and Alison, Aimee, and Matt, who are all 1st year medical students. Todd is Allison's husband and a pastor at a church in Roanoke. Of course, Jon is on the team as well and will be leading, too. Jon and I hosted a short little cookout this evening to just get to know everyone a bit better. The team building was great and I'm really impressed with everyone and their motivation. Matt has actually never even been on a mission trip before. I told him I was esspecially excited for him becuase it was going to truly change his entire life.
The purpose of team building is to really begin relationships with team members before the actual trip, which will make us more effective as a group in the long run. By learning each others personalities, strengths, and weaknesses, we can be more effective when the crunch of a busy clinic is upon us. Opening up the lines of communication on a team beforehand is also critical. Be praying for the Alpacha Company and the entire Peru team!
The purpose of team building is to really begin relationships with team members before the actual trip, which will make us more effective as a group in the long run. By learning each others personalities, strengths, and weaknesses, we can be more effective when the crunch of a busy clinic is upon us. Opening up the lines of communication on a team beforehand is also critical. Be praying for the Alpacha Company and the entire Peru team!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Doctors don't save lives.....
I studied all day yesterday at the VCOM building, and left at about 7:30 to eat dinner. Yeah, got locked out of the building when i tried to come back! My card would not work to let us in and all the lights were off. Needless to say, I was upset, because my laptop and all my books were just sitting in one of the study rooms. Well, this morning i tried to find a Building Hours schedule from VCOM in my email account....i have all my emails pop forwarded to my gmail account, and i did a search and came up on this email I sent last year from Honduras.....my first medical missions trip back in Febuary '07. It had 4 or 5 replies to it that I had never read. One from summer, one from Eric, Mom, and Botchy. All telling me how excited they were, and laughing at my stethescope mishap, of course! It was such an encouragement. Here is the email, to just remind us all of how important it is to be in steady prayer, because this can be such a powerful ministry!
Febuary, 2007:
Hello all friends and family!! Just wanted to give you an update and ask for continued prayer support from here on the mission field in Honduras, Central America. We just arrived here in Tacucagalpa, Honduras yesterday afternoon, and after hours of sorting pills and medicines, we woke up at 5 this morning to be in a village for a clinic. The clinic is an all day event....the ENTIRE town showed up. I was blown away at the amount of people winding around the courtyard of the shool building we turned into the clinic for the day. We all walked in and they were just standing there, staring and smiling. We saw 250 patients today....that is 250 patients 7 hours. Our company also worked in the evangelical station.....and miracles happened. A woman was completely healed of back pain she had had for 5 years. Freedom was the word translated for one woman who had just been prayed over. God is working through this ministry, and i am just going crazy over how cool it is. Granted, I went to check the lungs of my first patient today and had my stethescope on backwads....totally tried to play that one off but the attending was watching and laughed....so did i!! It is a great learning environment and pretty much what I was made to do.
I just keep telling myself..."Doctors don't save lives, they only prolong it. Only Jesus can save a life."
Thanks to all of you....i wouldn't be here without you. Please be in prayer for these people and that they will see Jesus in us, even if it is just a smile or touch. I wish i had a way to let you be here to see what God is doing, it is incredible. Lots of Love and thoughts. I'll be home sunday.
Febuary, 2007:
Hello all friends and family!! Just wanted to give you an update and ask for continued prayer support from here on the mission field in Honduras, Central America. We just arrived here in Tacucagalpa, Honduras yesterday afternoon, and after hours of sorting pills and medicines, we woke up at 5 this morning to be in a village for a clinic. The clinic is an all day event....the ENTIRE town showed up. I was blown away at the amount of people winding around the courtyard of the shool building we turned into the clinic for the day. We all walked in and they were just standing there, staring and smiling. We saw 250 patients today....that is 250 patients 7 hours. Our company also worked in the evangelical station.....and miracles happened. A woman was completely healed of back pain she had had for 5 years. Freedom was the word translated for one woman who had just been prayed over. God is working through this ministry, and i am just going crazy over how cool it is. Granted, I went to check the lungs of my first patient today and had my stethescope on backwads....totally tried to play that one off but the attending was watching and laughed....so did i!! It is a great learning environment and pretty much what I was made to do.
I just keep telling myself..."Doctors don't save lives, they only prolong it. Only Jesus can save a life."
Thanks to all of you....i wouldn't be here without you. Please be in prayer for these people and that they will see Jesus in us, even if it is just a smile or touch. I wish i had a way to let you be here to see what God is doing, it is incredible. Lots of Love and thoughts. I'll be home sunday.
Friday, June 20, 2008
As long as there is a sun in the sky the Proclaimer will play the Son’s Words
I HAVE INCREDIBLE NEWS!!!
Below is an email from Eric concerning a donation that was made to Spirit-Led Expeditions for the Quechua speaking people Pastor Willy is ministering to!!!
Email from Eric:
I just got off the phone with Faith Comes By Hearing ministry in New Mexico. With our Quechua Audio Bible Program we were hitting some road blocks, due to all the equipment, batteries needed, cost, etc. of the CDs.
Besides CDs they also have a new propitiatory product called the "Proclaimer." This is a device that is 9 inches long and 5 inches tall. It can be fully charged by batteries and also uses solar power, never needing electricity if need be. It has the entire New Testament and can be sorted by book and chapter. Up to 300!! people can listen at once. One of the reasons we were going to have to go with CDs is that the Proclaimer cost $100 each!
FCBH just told me that they were donating 8 free Proclaimers to us, and allowed me to purchase 3 additional ones at $85 each. They were getting ready to load them with the Quechua language, Cusco dialect as we spoke!
We thank God for providing this and can't wait to show them off Sunday night (29th) @ the Deep Creek Service (fully charged) for you to hear the Bible in the Quechua language and to pray over these before they go out!
To the adventure, Enrique Lovin
PS Continue to pray for our blanket project so that we can meet our goal of 500 blankets, we are off total budget at this time $3000. God will provide! :)
Besides CDs they also have a new propitiatory product called the "Proclaimer." This is a device that is 9 inches long and 5 inches tall. It can be fully charged by batteries and also uses solar power, never needing electricity if need be. It has the entire New Testament and can be sorted by book and chapter. Up to 300!! people can listen at once. One of the reasons we were going to have to go with CDs is that the Proclaimer cost $100 each!
FCBH just told me that they were donating 8 free Proclaimers to us, and allowed me to purchase 3 additional ones at $85 each. They were getting ready to load them with the Quechua language, Cusco dialect as we spoke!
We thank God for providing this and can't wait to show them off Sunday night (29th) @ the Deep Creek Service (fully charged) for you to hear the Bible in the Quechua language and to pray over these before they go out!
To the adventure, Enrique Lovin
PS Continue to pray for our blanket project so that we can meet our goal of 500 blankets, we are off total budget at this time $3000. God will provide! :)
MORE INFO: http://www.the-ctc.org/proclaimer.htm
This is an amazing thing! The blankets have come along slowly but we are still trusting to have plenty to hand out at the clinics and in ministry at various sites with both teams. July is the coldest month in Peru!! Jon and I still have monetary and prayer needs as we prepare. Boards prep has been very taxing on me, and will be especially this coming week as I have 4 tests and 2 sets of practical examinations. I had an overwhelming sense of peace yesterday, however. I know that if God brought me this far, he is going to carry me all the way through.
Today I worked at the Free Clinic and tried my best to comfort so many of the patients having such a hard time just trying to survive. God loves each and every one of them, and it shocked me to see how much they are put down mentally by Satan and fall into a spiral of depression. So many people around us are hurting. Some were just bitter, and some came in with tears in their eyes. They desperately need the love of Jesus, and today showed me even more how medicine is a door to show that love. We must be willing to be sensitive to God in those situations and love on those who need it.
Pray for us as we prepare to love on the people of Peru.
Friday, May 16, 2008
50 Days!
An update and goings on from Eric Lovin is below. We've confirmed all the outreaches.....Pastor Willy was so happy to hear about the deworming agent for the local animals we hope to bring. He said there are some that walk down the streets in front of the church everyday that weill even benifit from the medicine.
The medical team here has been serving lunches at the VCOM building to the entire school to help raise money for the high cost of this trip. We are also baking up a storm, and selling extra baked goods to purchase blankets in Peru!! We've raised almost 600 dollars from lunches and approx. 100 dollars for blankets. We've got one more lunch scheduled, and I know it will be a success.
I may also be getting my first "gig" as a photographer soon....someone I don't know actually saw a posting on Craigslist I made and called and wanted me to take thier engagement photos! Just in time, we need more funds to make it to Peru! check out the new photo portfolio I posted, its got some great missions photos: http://spirit-ledphoto.blogspot.com/
Jon and I are still in need, so continue that prayer support. We are preparing spiritually, and as I study for my step 1 boards on July 14th, the craziness in our lives continues! We are so busy!! We can't be worried, though! One bit of amazing encouragement we have recieved: "Where there is a vision there will be provision!!"
Jon and I are hoping to speak soon at Voice of Praise Worship Center, and share with them God's vision for Peru. We'll post dates on that as soon as we hear from them! I would like for you to all come to the service, as we will be showing a Spirit-Led DVD and talking about the trip. Here is a picture of the wheelchair ministry. The local church in Cusco purchases materials to make wheelchairs for the hundreds of people who have no access to one and need it. Hopefully we will have some on hand if we see a patient in need on the medical expeditions!
Check back here often for updates. We love you all!!
Eric Lovin (Executive Director, Spirit-Led Expeditions) email update:
We are less than 50 days away from Peru Outreach 2008! With two teams and over 45 people, I am very excited about leading these trips! Our first trip will be July 2-15, where our team will take part in drama and evangelical outreach throughout the department of Cusco. We are also excited about being able to distribute 500 blankets, wheelchairs, and also audio Bibles and the Jesus Film in the native language of Quechua to those in the untouched highlands! We will also be spending time at two local orphanges and going out and pioneering into new communities alongside the local, growing church! From July 17-30 Stephanie will be bringing down a large medical team from Virginia to take part in 14 straight days of medical campaigns in communities where they rarely get to experience this. During these medical campaigns we will also present drama and the Word, and be praying over every patient! We will also be deworming all local farm animals. The focus of these trips is to meet needs while brining physical and spiritual healing, all the while sharing the love of Jesus Christ. We ask your continued prayers over these outreaches-that we would all simply be the hands and feet of Jesus. His servants to the world.... In addition, we invite you to join with us on Sunday, June 1, at 10:45 a.m. for a Peru Service at Deep Creek Church in Dewy Rose. We hope to see you all there! There will also be a pot-luck fundraising meal afterwards to help offset the costs of the trips.
To the adventure,
Eric Lovin
Spirit-Led Expeditions, Inc.
01-706-498-5787
Friday, March 14, 2008
Peru Medical Outreach 2008 Support Letter
Dear Friends and Family:
Greetings from Blacksburg! We’re writing to let you know about some really exciting things happening in our lives! Since we’ve gotten married this past July, things have been very busy. Our plate is full with Stephanie in Medical School and me at Virginia Tech and working, plus taking care of our two little wiener dogs Josie and Millie. We are so happy to be married and are enjoying every minute.
I want to let you know about an upcoming opportunity that we are very excited about! It all began this past fall when we kept getting emails from Pastor/Missio
nary Willy Mont, leader of Camino de Vida (Way of Life) Church and missionary outreach in Cusco, Peru, South America. He is desperately in need of medical teams in the area of Lamay, Peru (a couple hours outside Cusco). This is the same area we ministered to in 2006 with Spirit-Led Expeditions, and Stephanie with Emmanuel College in 2003 and 2004. This call for help laid heavy on our hearts
. We knew neither we nor Spirit-Led Expeditions (a new missions ministry we are a part of) had the resources or experience to plan and execute a big medical expedition to the area. Despite that, we couldn’t ignore the huge need. Peru itself is full of wonderful people, most of which have no medical care and live in extreme poverty. The actual statistics are 1.2 medical doctors for every one thousand people. Even so, those few doctors are focused in the large cities. The area Pastor Willy and Camino De Vida Cusco are going into with the gospel is very rural. The city specifically that they are focusing on now is Lamay and its 13 surrounding villages.
nary Willy Mont, leader of Camino de Vida (Way of Life) Church and missionary outreach in Cusco, Peru, South America. He is desperately in need of medical teams in the area of Lamay, Peru (a couple hours outside Cusco). This is the same area we ministered to in 2006 with Spirit-Led Expeditions, and Stephanie with Emmanuel College in 2003 and 2004. This call for help laid heavy on our hearts
. We knew neither we nor Spirit-Led Expeditions (a new missions ministry we are a part of) had the resources or experience to plan and execute a big medical expedition to the area. Despite that, we couldn’t ignore the huge need. Peru itself is full of wonderful people, most of which have no medical care and live in extreme poverty. The actual statistics are 1.2 medical doctors for every one thousand people. Even so, those few doctors are focused in the large cities. The area Pastor Willy and Camino De Vida Cusco are going into with the gospel is very rural. The city specifically that they are focusing on now is Lamay and its 13 surrounding villages. Most of the time when you think about unreached people, you think of tribal people living in the remote jungles, but there are also Quechua speaking tribes and people living deep within the 
Andean mountains of Southern Peru that have never seen a white face, let alone heard the Gospel. These surrounding Lamay villages that Pastor Willy is trying to reach are extremely excluded and part of that unreached people group, and we couldn’t ignore his cry for help in prayer and meeting their basic needs, like medical care. So, Stephanie and I asked Dr. Joseph Cacioppo, the leader and founder of International Christian Resource (ICR) and Director of the Medical Missions department at Stephanie’s medical school to help us. Stephanie went to Honduras with Dr. Joe last February on a medical expedition. We told him about the
need and the sparse medical care in Peru. He took a scouting trip to Peru this past December with Spirit- Led Expedition team member Eric Lovin, and saw the huge need there. After much prayer and preparation, he has decided to team up with Spirit-Led and Pastor Willy and take a medical expedition to Peru!!
Andean mountains of Southern Peru that have never seen a white face, let alone heard the Gospel. These surrounding Lamay villages that Pastor Willy is trying to reach are extremely excluded and part of that unreached people group, and we couldn’t ignore his cry for help in prayer and meeting their basic needs, like medical care. So, Stephanie and I asked Dr. Joseph Cacioppo, the leader and founder of International Christian Resource (ICR) and Director of the Medical Missions department at Stephanie’s medical school to help us. Stephanie went to Honduras with Dr. Joe last February on a medical expedition. We told him about the
need and the sparse medical care in Peru. He took a scouting trip to Peru this past December with Spirit- Led Expedition team member Eric Lovin, and saw the huge need there. After much prayer and preparation, he has decided to team up with Spirit-Led and Pastor Willy and take a medical expedition to Peru!! We are excited to have the opportunity to be a part of this outreach!!! The expedition will include several students from VCOM, including Stephanie, as well as various doctors, seeing patients in the clinic. We will be fully equipped with medicine and will set up a pharmacy at the clinic sites (see picture below of hanging pharmacy bags that roll into duffel bags for a portable pharmacy!). There will be ministerial dramas and healing prayer stations during the clinics as well. We hope to also have a dentist on board and a hairdressing ministry so the people can receive haircuts. T
he main type of income in these villages consists of farming and livestock. I hope to take de-worming agent and we hope to even raise extra money to purchase supplies to help the farmers in any way possible. Camino De Vida in Lima has already developed a program for the jungles called “Family Farm Ministry” and we hope to start using some of those resources in this expedition in the mountains. Not only do we want to reach people for Christ, but a main goal of Camino De Vida and Spirit-Led Expeditions is long term eradication of poverty through empowering the people of thes
e villages to provide for themselves. This is only a stepping stone, but it is a start.
he main type of income in these villages consists of farming and livestock. I hope to take de-worming agent and we hope to even raise extra money to purchase supplies to help the farmers in any way possible. Camino De Vida in Lima has already developed a program for the jungles called “Family Farm Ministry” and we hope to start using some of those resources in this expedition in the mountains. Not only do we want to reach people for Christ, but a main goal of Camino De Vida and Spirit-Led Expeditions is long term eradication of poverty through empowering the people of thes
e villages to provide for themselves. This is only a stepping stone, but it is a start. The urgency of the Gospel is so heavy on our hearts. There are so many lost in the world, and without God’s people making the choice to go and tell them, they will stay lost and will die without knowing the joy and love of our Lord Jesus. God called us specifically to go into the world and make disciples, and these people deserve to know of God’s saving grace and love. Will you help us? More than anything we need your prayer!!! Nothing will happen without it. There are cycles of abuse and neglect even beyond 
the extreme poverty that these people are in, and without you interceding with us in prayer these boundaries will never be broken. Included in this letter is a prayer reminder card. Please put that on your refrigerator or somewhere where you can see it everyday to remind you to pray for this ministry so God can penetrate the hearts of these wonderful people. Specific prayer needs are on the back of the card. Pray now for us and for the preparation of the hearts of the people of Peru, and also pray through the trip dates of July 16-30 of this year. Also, Stephanie and I must raise a total of 6,000 dollars to participate in this trip. If you feel a pull on your heart to give monetarily to this mission, the money will be directly used for transportation, food, lodging, and medical supplies. Please make a check payable to International Christian Resource and mail it to: (please email us for the address). Also, we would love for you to send us your email address so we can send you extensive updates before, during, and after the trip. Please send your email address to: sasbury@vcom.vt.edu.
the extreme poverty that these people are in, and without you interceding with us in prayer these boundaries will never be broken. Included in this letter is a prayer reminder card. Please put that on your refrigerator or somewhere where you can see it everyday to remind you to pray for this ministry so God can penetrate the hearts of these wonderful people. Specific prayer needs are on the back of the card. Pray now for us and for the preparation of the hearts of the people of Peru, and also pray through the trip dates of July 16-30 of this year. Also, Stephanie and I must raise a total of 6,000 dollars to participate in this trip. If you feel a pull on your heart to give monetarily to this mission, the money will be directly used for transportation, food, lodging, and medical supplies. Please make a check payable to International Christian Resource and mail it to: (please email us for the address). Also, we would love for you to send us your email address so we can send you extensive updates before, during, and after the trip. Please send your email address to: sasbury@vcom.vt.edu.We thank you for taking the time to read this letter and for caring about these people.It’s interesting to note how easy it is to take for granted the fact that any time we are sick, we can just go to the doctor down the street and get some medicine. How much hope will these people have to get the opportunity to bring their illness to a physician? Even if there is nothing we can do medically, they can always take their sickness to the Great Physician, Jesus Christ. We go to show them His love. Thank you and we love you so very much!
-Jonathan and Stephanie Phillips
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