I was a very literal child. I suppose most children are to some extent. When I first learned about tithing, I was quite convinced I had to die and go to heaven so that I could give God my tithe. I even informed my mother which of my siblings would get my toys when I was gone. Well, as you can imagine, when I learned the phrase “opportunity knocking” as a child, I took that to heart. I remember sitting there in my childhood room, with a bag ready to go for “opportunity” to come knocking at my door. While I can definitely laugh at that memory now, this month, opportunity has definitely come knocking in Arequipa, Peru.

One thing we have learned anew since coming to the field is that truly anything can be an opportunity to share the Gospel, from soccer and basketball to long taxi rides. This month, we had a new opportunity come knocking, or rather crashing into us. While on the way home from picking up Landon and Ryan from school, a young man named George was texting and driving and did not see our car waiting at the red light. We are extremely grateful that no one was injured in the accident. After the initial adrenaline rush abated, I looked to George and told him, “Look, in Arequipa, Peru, a city of nearly three million people, what are the chances that you would crash into a Gringo? I do not know how exactly, but I think God is trying to use this in your life to get you attention.” Over the next several hours, I was able to talk with him about the Gospel. This past Sunday, George, his wife Elena, and their two-year- old little girl came to church! Please be praying for this young family to come to know Christ. Coming from a Catholic background, George is hearing what the Bible actually says for the very first time, and he is very interested in what he is hearing. So much so, in fact, that he has invited me to come play soccer with his friends this coming week so that I can share the Gospel with them as well. Please be praying for this event that God would work in George’s heart and in the hearts of his friends. What an opportunity God has given us!

For these past two months, we have really been focusing on a district of Arequipa called Socabaya as we have been partnering with Pastor Andres and his church, El Salvador, a church re-start due to the pandemic. Every Sunday, I have been given the opportunity to preach short messages in the church, while my wife has started a children’s class. On Saturdays, we have visitation in this district, and this past month, Pastor Andres and I had the opportunity to share Christ with a young man named Alexander, and Alexander accepted Christ as his Saviour! What a praise! We truly are so privileged to have the opportunity to minister here in Arequipa, Peru.