April 2021

A Message From Our Sponsorship Coordinator

After COVID kept me away from Peru for over a year, I finally got to return to my favorite place and spend two weeks with our staff and the young men of Casa de Reyes. 

During my time, I was privileged to help with our Saturday Bible School Program. Over 100 children and mothers in the community came with such excitement after COVID restrictions paused the program for a time. I was extremely impressed with the program organization by our Peruvian staff and volunteers. There was a time of bible teaching, music and dancing, performances, prayer, and snacks. I really love this program because it is the only time many of these children and mothers are presented with God's word. 

One of my favorite parts of my trip was spending quality time with our Peruvian staff. Due to the pandemic, I had never met Juan Manuel and Scarlett in person before, even though I work with them on a daily basis. I was privileged to spend time with them in fellowship, sharing our hearts and vision for the ministry, serving together, and accomplishing many work-related tasks. 

I also met with Mandy, the psychologist for Casa de Reyes, and enjoyed a wonderful dinner with her and husband. It is obvious that Mandy is living out her calling in Christ and deeply loves the young men of Casa de Reyes. She has completed individual evaluations and counsels individually and as a group. In group sessions, she covers topics under the umbrellas of physical, spiritual, and emotional health. She also offered suggestions to care more holistically for the men in our program, and we are excited for growth through her leadership. 

Finally, I loved spending my time with the young men of Casa de Reyes. I took them to visit an orphanage in the jungle where some of our boys have blood brothers. It was beautiful to see them reunited! We also had a special Easter meal, church service and time of worship. I was able to individually pray for each young man in the home. I enjoyed hanging out with them- cooking, cleaning, virtual school, and having fun around the home. We went on a special outing to a recreational center that had a natural swimming pool. I helped in running what seemed like a million errands- taking boys to doctor appointments, dropping them off at college entrance exams or their trade schools, submitting tax forms on their behalf. I also helped Alonso regularly with his virtual English class.

My biggest goal for this trip was to simply remind these men how loved and valued they are. I was able to encourage them in their studies and future careers. I am expectant for God to use these young men to break the cycles of poverty, abuse, and abandonment in their city. Please join me in claiming this over them and in praying for them to step into all God has for them! 

While the work to be done in Iquitos is overwhelming, I am so thankful God allows me to help by being his vessel. I am honored and blessed to be a part of the work he is doing in the lives of these men and in the community I care so much for. I am passionate about this ministry and wholeheartedly love serving as the Sponsorship Coordinator of Kings and Queens! 

Emily Reeves

All About the Boys

• Harold, Carlos, and Jeygler all had birthdays this month and were celebrated in the home. 

• Harold, our intern, has been a huge help around the home and with construction projects on the property. He is adjusting to living in Casa de Reyes and is enjoying his time as an intern. He does miss the cooler weather in Lima! 

• The boys all have different interests. During their free time, Daviczon can be found helping with any construction job, Lexon works on the land, and Marcos likes to drink from the coconuts on the property. Waltahir draws any chance he can get. A few of the boys practice learning English. 

• The men have been studying A Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren in their weekly Bible study. 

Workshop for Casa de Reyes 

Christian professionals from the community led a workshop. A lawyer and economist shared their fields of expertise. Three psychologists spoke on various topics including sexual education and spiritual health found in Jesus. It was a beneficial time of learning for all of the men of Casa de Reyes. We look forward to continuing to invest in them holistically through more workshops in the future. 

Missionaries Nick and Caroline recently visited Casa de Reyes and led the boys in creating vision boards. They visualized their daily habits, places they want to go, things they want to learn, and future goals. Rogelio even completed his board in English! This served as a wonderful reminder for our boys to set goals for themselves and strive for God’s purpose in their lives. 

Good Deed Goes Viral

Juan Manuel, our manager of Casa de Reyes, went viral on the Loreto Region news of Iqutios for a good deed! There was a ton of broken glass on the street that was damaging motorcycle and moto-taxi tires. Juan pulled over, borrowed a broom from a nearby home, and cleaned up the mess amidst the crazy traffic.

We know he never intended to be recognized an act of service, but we love his heart to serve! 

March 2021

A Message From Our Founder

After not being able to visit our team and the ministry in Iquitos for over a year, I was recently able to make it down for trip, devoted to future vision casting and team development.

The trip was bit of a blur because there was much lost time to make up and very little time to do it! Arriving in Iquitos after 24 hrs of travel, I found the team waiting for me and ready to get to work. We immediately began our meetings and got straight to work.

Two of our goals have been to restart Project J2:5 and remodel a small preexisting home on our land for director’s housing and also remodel a workshop behind our boys home into a technical learning and development center. While in Peru, I was able to negotiate labor cost, purchase materials, and put together a crew to execute these projects. In a few weeks, these projects will be completed.

From here, I spent a lot of time with our leadership team, planning and brainstorming how we would use the technical center for the men of Casa de Reyes to put the skills they are learning in their universities to practice, honing their craft and perfecting their trades. We are excited to share more as plans unfold and God moves through this facet of the ministry.

We were also able to install lights around our soccer field. One of the young men in our program, Jeygler, is in school for electrical engineering and completed the work alongside his mentor instructor. Now soccer tournaments can be hosted in the evenings when the sun is not so intense. We are thankful electricity is very affordable in Iquitos so the field can often be well-lit!

We decided to take a break and load the boys up in our jumbo (bus) and head to a local water park for a day of play and an evening on the town with some delicious chaufa (Chinese food)!

The following days, I spent time going over plans to execute our ministry’s original vision which it was founded upon: abandonment prevention through restoration and development of mothers who are trapped in a brutal cycle of extreme poverty and abuse. With new leadership in place, it was important for our team to discuss and strategize together as we move forward into developing this foundational piece of Kings & Queens’ reach. With new insight and vision, we excitedly anticipate the future of God’s plans unfolding.

We capped off our trip with a big barbecue and soccer tournament, where we celebrated each other and the mission God has entrusted us with! The team sends much love from Iquitos and immense gratitude for all the generosity contributed to this mission. Thank you for your continued support and prayers!

May God pave the way, and may we remain faithful and focused in pursuit of His will for this mission.

In Christ,

Titus Bowen

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us- yes, establish the work of our hands.

Psalm 90:17

Severe Flooding

Heavy monsoons of rain caused severe flooding in Peru this month, especially in Iquitos during their rainy season. The Amazon River is notorious for flooding within the city of Iquitos. This has given way to extreme mudslides and the total loss of homes and businesses, displacing families and wreaking more havoc in the economy amidst the continuing pandemic. And more rain is coming. We covet your prayers for this community as they continue bracing for the impact of weather.

On International Women's Day, our team was able to distribute food bags to community families in need. These opportunities to distribute food and essential items during the pandemic have offered space to build relationships with women in the community and get to know their stories. This will allow our future ministry plans a foundation for identifying women to be a part of our program.

Needs Fulfilled

We are so grateful for the abundance of support that was shown to provide much needed vitamins for the men of Casa de Reyes. Especially in the time of coronavirus, these vitamins will greatly support their overall health and immune systems.

All About the Boys

• Several of the young men of Casa de Reyes enjoyed helping with the new construction projects. Two have begun to regularly landscape the property to earn extra income.

• On his own time, Waltahir has begun to tutor a young man in English.

• Virtual classes are still going strong, but the men in technical institutions are now meeting in person for classes.

• Our psychologist continues to work with the men individually each week, as well as training our staff in supporting them mentally and emotionally, through a biblical lens.

• The men have been studying forgiveness and reconciliation in their weekly Bible study.

We are grateful for you and your part in this mission!

February 2021

Miracles for Mateito

Juan Manuel and Scarlett are both staff members of Kings and Queens Peru. Their son, Mateito, age 6, fell off his bunk bed this month which resulted in a brain bleed and skull fracture. The seriousness of his injury was not realized at first because he was, unbelievably, acting normally and not in extreme pain. This is was the first miracle, as someone with that type of injury should have been in major distress.

Thankfully, because he hit his head, his parents pursued medical tests. His injuries were deemed incredibly serious. The healthcare system of Iquitos is lacking, and such an invasive surgery was not possible there. Through a friend, Mateito's parents were able to connect with a doctor that was willing to do the procedure for a very generous price. Mateito and Scarlett flew to Lima for his surgery. The procedure was successful! He spent two weeks in Lima recovering, and he is now happily back home in Iquitos with two very thankful parents. We praise God for his miracles for Mateito and for his healing!

Scarlett has a message of praise to share:

"First of all, I have to thank my God, my Lord. Everything is thanks to him! I thank all of you for your expressions of affection and your prayers. The hospitals in Iquitos and in Lima have collapsed due to coronavirus, but the doctors did everything so that my son received immediate attention. God is so faithful! He never left us alone, and he opened so many doors for us. From all of this, I can say that if you cry out to God and leave everything in his hands, he will surprise you with great things. My faith is unshakeable. Even in my anguish, I praised the Lord!"

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!

Psalm 115:1

Employee Spotlight: Meet Joe

Kings and Queens gained a new Peruvian staff member this month. Joe was hired as a home mentor. His responsibilities include living on our property, discipling the young men of Casa de Reyes, and assisting the ministry's needs. He will also be contracted out to complete construction jobs as needed.

Joe has two children, Kylin (4 years old) and Lucas (3 years old). He loves music, soccer, and spending time with his family. He is laid back, hardworking, and always has a smile on his face. He is a servant-leader and a great asset to the ministry.

Joe has a long history with many of our boys. From 2014-2016, he worked at an orphanage where many of our boys once lived. Throughout 2020, he volunteered with the ministry, and the men of Casa de Reyes were excited to be reunited with him again after many years. He helped with our Saturday Bible School program, discipled the young men of Casa de Reyes, and made himself available to help our staff as needed. He orchestrated a weekend Christian conference for Casa de Reyes and periodically led them in devotions, along with some construction work. Through his faithful service, it became clear that the ministry would benefit from him being on staff. We are so excited for him to be a part of our team!

Reasons to Praise!

• Our prayer for a Social Media Coordinator was answered. We are so thankful to have Ava Snee working for us and shining in her gifting!

• Iquitos entered a two week quarantine because of COVID-19 this month. We are so thankful it went well and that we were able to get all of the supplies needed for Casa de Reyes. This is already a survival culture, so quarantines make it nearly impossible for many families to provide for themselves financially. Therefore, we are praising God that it did not last long and are continuing to pray for success in battling COVID-19 worldwide.

• Juan Manuel, Ministry Operations Director, had a birthday this month. We are so thankful for his life and for his priceless contributions to Kings and Queens!

• Two of our Peruvian staff members had coronavirus this month. We are praising God for minimal symptoms and that none of the boys of Casa de Reyes were infected. We continue to pray for the health of our team.

Intern Spotlight: Meet Harold

We are so excited to welcome Harold as our first intern of Kings and Queens Peru! During his internship, he is living in Casa de Reyes with responsibilities including supporting our Peruvian staff and doing grounds maintenance.

We have a personal relationship with Harold that goes back over ten years ago. He was in the orphanage that we served in Puerto Alegria. He is a success story. After exiting his orphanage, he moved to Lima and graduated with a degree in English. He was working in Lima when the coronavirus hit and was unable to find work, as Lima was hit much worse than Iquitos.

We are excited to welcome him for this season of his life. We pray his story of resiliency and dedication serves as a motivator for the young men in our program. We will be blessed by his service, and he will gain great experience during this time. His future plans include returning to Lima when it is beneficial to do so, finding full time employment in his field of study, and giving back to his family and community.

All About the Boys

• The boys learned virtually this month due to the two-week quarantine. Some of them enjoyed the break from going to campus and others were disappointed.

• One of the young men who previously left our program retuned to Casa de Reyes this month. We are excited to have him back with us.

• Joe began a new devotional with the boys this month: Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren.

Thank you for your continued support.

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

January 2021

Coronavirus Again on the Rise

Unfortunately, COVID-19 cases are again rising in Peru. The President of Peru has required certain cities, such as Lima, to enter another time of strict quarantine. Thus far, Iquitos is not one of those cities, but they do have a curfew between the hours of 9 PM and 4 AM, and Sundays no one is allowed to leave their homes. Furthermore, activities that involve many people are once again prohibited. Therefore, our Saturday bible school program is postponed until further notice.

The coronavirus was terrible in Peru for months, then seemed to level off and improve. Now that cases are on the rise again, inflation is occurring again. Our team is seeing the prices of medicines rising and have stocked up on many of these items to avoid paying a much higher price when these items are needed.

Particularly, Iquitos is facing a battle with Dengue fever, a deadly tropical disease carried by mosquitos. Therefore, fumigations are taking place throughout the city of 470,000 inhabitants. The government recently came and fumigated Casa de Reyes to help protect our home from this disease.

Strict quarantines and rising cases of both COVID-19 and Dengue fever are devastating to a survival population where extreme poverty is rampant. We are prayerful the coronavirus vaccine will become available to many Peruvians to help the situation improve. We know our God is bigger than any uncertainties and hardships we face!

Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise.

Jeremiah 17:14

All About the Boys

• Elio had a birthday this month and was celebrated in the home!

• Walter, Director of Casa de Reyes, also had a birthday this month. The boys enjoyed celebrating and making his day was special.

• Some of our boys are interested in music lessons, and we are working on making this possible for them.

• Shhh... we have a surprise coming! A concrete floor is being put in to house an above ground pool for the boys to enjoy at home in their hot jungle city! They love to swim.

Professional Development

Recently select Kings & Queens board members met with career therapist, Patricia Lonadier. She is a foster and adoptive mom who works with older boys with trauma at in-patient therapy. She was able to offer insight and wisdom regarding our home for abandoned boys, Casa de Reyes.

With this new information, we are strategizing a plan to further benefit both the young men in our program and our staff. We plan to train our Peruvian staff in trauma-informed leadership so they are more equipped to handle young men from brokenness. We also plan to create a structured, goal-oriented tier system to help the men in our home gain confidence and reach new levels of success.

This was a great time of professional development, and we look forward to continuing learning from Patricia as we work to implement research-based strategies to improve our home. We know such changes will take time, and we are committed to the betterment of our program.

Summer Mission Team

We are hopeful t0 resume mission trips this year! We cannot wait to return to Peru with a team to serve and bring smiles to the young men of Casa de Reyes and the children we love so much. Since coronavirus cases are on the rise in Peru, we will continue to monitor the situation and travel recommendations both here and in Peru. We are hopeful with time and with the vaccine, we will safely resume trips.

Our summer trip is scheduled for July 2-11, 2021. Our plans for the summer mission team include hosting a Christian conference for the men of Casa de Reyes, enjoying special outings and discipleship opportunities with them, and serving our local community through health clinics and Vacation Bible School. Please email us here if you are interested in being a part of this team!

Thank you for your continued support.

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

December 2020

Christmas in Peru

Thanks to you, our Christmas shop raised an amazing $7,368! We were able to use these funds to make Christmas extra special in Peru for our community, the men of Casa de Reyes, and our team.

We are celebrating that even during a worldwide pandemic, God provided for us to be able to bless our local community this Christmas! We made Christmas gift baskets for families largely containing grocery items, as the need for food is great throughout Peru. We hosted a gathering and presented 200 children with gifts, fed them and their parents breakfast, and were even able to give them a special treat- hot chocolate! These families were presented with the message of Jesus!

Christmas was also special in Casa de Reyes. Those in the home were treated to individualized gifts, a nice Christmas dinner in a restaurant, and an ice cream night! Going out is a big treat for them after so many months of quarantine and closures. With extra funds that were given, we have an exciting gift in store that will be ready next month... stay tuned! On a separate night, the staff and volunteers of Kings and Queens Peru got all dressed up- without the boys- and were treated to a nice Christmas dinner. Our staff members were also grateful to receive a Christmas bonus.

It was wonderful to be able to bring joy and extra blessings to so many this Christmas season. We are so grateful for our supporters who made all of this possible!

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

Isaiah 43:19

Summer Mission Team

One of the saddest parts of 2020 for us was that for the first time ever, the young men of Casa de Reyes were not able to have mission teams visit them- one of the things they look forward to most each year. However, we are optimistic in resuming mission trips to Peru in 2021! We cannot wait to return to Peru and bring a whole team to serve and bring smiles to the boys we love so much!

With other mission organizations successfully resuming mission trips, it is our hope that with the fading of winter, the coronavirus vaccine, and a little more time, conditions will improve for us to plan team travel. We will continue to monitor the coronavirus and travel recommendations both here and in Peru. Therefore, we are ecstatic to announce that our summer mission trip will take place:

July 2-11, 2021

Our plans for the summer mission team include hosting a Christian conference for the men of Casa de Reyes, enjoying special outings and discipleship opportunities with them, and serving our local community through health clinics and Vacation Bible School. Please email us here if you are interested in being a part of this team!

All About the Boys

• The boys were thrilled to receive their Christmas presents!

• This month we welcomed two new boys into the home, Lexon and Rogelio. We have known them for many years, and are so excited to have them as a part of the house.

• Several of the boys got to visit family members this Christmas break.

• We continue to host a younger boys' orphanage on our property each month. Several of the young men in Casa de Reyes have younger brothers in this jungle orphanage. Our boys were excited, as always, to greet them, play soccer with them, eat together, and gift the younger boys with Christmas presents.

Year End Giving Update

We are blown away by the amount of year end donations that came in totaling over $48,900! Even in such a time of uncertainty, God provided in abundance for our ministry, and we are in awe of his goodness through his people. We give him all the praise! With these funds, we will be able to keep our reserves built up as a safety net as well as complete a variety of projects and meet several goals.

First, we now have the funds needed to make improvements to our property. We will be able build bleachers for the soccer field- the neighborhood hot spot! We will add a covered common area for recreation for the boys- a staple Peruvian piece of architecture. Staff living quarters will be constructed.

Second, we will be able to continue our Saturday Feeding Program and Bible School and continue to aid the local community in coronavirus relief. We support over 150 families through these programs and are overjoyed to continue throughout 2021.

Finally, we can focus on necessary improvements for Casa de Reyes. These funds will cover the salary of our psychologist who meets one on one with each boy regularly. It will also allow us to treat the boys to a wider range of experiences that will benefit them such as camping trips, conferences, and workshop opportunities. We can now create a special fund to provide financial support to each young man who graduates from Casa de Reyes so they can begin their lives independently.

Thank you for making all of these things possible! We are dedicated to all the Lord has planned for us in this new year. We welcome 2021 with open arms, looking ahead with hope and believing the best is yet to come!

November 2020

A Message from Carlos

Carlos is a member of Casa de Reyes. He is a talented writer, and we asked if he would mind sharing what being a part of Kings and Queens has done for him. He gladly accepted, and here is his response:

There are hundreds of children on the streets and in homes who do not have opportunities to get ahead. Perhaps they have special abilities and gifts that the Lord gives them, dreams, goals, and great aspirations, but they live in a situation that one cannot imagine, in a world where hunger and paths that lead to destruction are their realities. Of course, I was one of those children, but God showed me through an opportunity that I am not lost. He is showing the whole world that I was born with purposes which were designed by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. That opportunity He gave me- it was to be a member of Casa de Reyes. It is a house that was born in the heart of God, whose dwelling place is and will be forever blessed. Every time I open my eyes and see what the Lord has done in my life, it fills me with peace, and my heart overflows with joy. Now I can say that thanks to the blessings that God puts in our paths, I have a new life, and I know who I am for the Lord. In the center of the jungle there is a ministry called King and Queens, a place where the presence of our God dwells, a house where children give their best and feel alive because they gave them a new hope. Thank you Kings and Queens. I love you so much.

Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday is a national day of giving taking place on
December 1. The coronavirus has devastated the world, and Peru is suffering even more than most places. They have the highest death rate per capita in the world concerning the virus. Furthermore, they are reeling from political instability after congress impeached their president and the people then insisted the new president be removed.

Even during a terrible time, God has been gracious to provide for us although we were unable to host our in-person fundraisers. We are so thankful for all he has done for us in 2020. We have been able to care for the men of Casa de Reyes and expand our areas of service to care for 150 families a month during this pandemic. Please consider donating to our ministry so that we can accomplish even more in the name of Jesus!

All About the Boys

• Jarry, Daviczon and Jhoan all had birthdays this month. They were each individually celebrated in the home and were made to feel special!

• Waltahir is a very talent artist. In his free time, he can be found drawing. We wanted to showcase his great work!

• The boys all got to pick out a complete outfit as one of their Christmas presents. Prices increase around the holiday in December, so they got to choose their gift early, but it will be wrapped and ready for them to open on Christmas day. They were excited to go shopping and get new clothes!

• Our young men have been joyfully serving their community by hosting Children's Bible School in our church on the property. Not only do they prepare performances for them and lead bible lessons, but they also help cook for them! This past Saturday over 200 children/parents attended the program! It is a incredible to see God at work!

Why We Give

Titus and Kailee Bowen
President/Founder, Executive Director

We give out of obedience of what God has called us to as believers- to care for the poor & the oppressed. Peru wrecked our world and changed our lives in such a way that it’s never been the same. 10 years ago when we first saw the desperation of orphans who had lost it all but remained so full of joy & hope, despite a hopeless situation, we were moved to do something more. God stirred in our hearts an urgency to defend the fatherless. We give out of reflection of what we’ve been given in Christ as His children: a hope & a future.

---

Emily Reeves
Sponsorship Coordinator

I give because I am commanded to help the orphan, the oppressed, and the poor. I do so joyfully in light of how much God has given to me. As a Christian, I am called to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ not just locally but also globally-- whether that means by going, sending, praying, and/or giving. I have a duty that cannot be ignored. It is an honor to be able to take part in the Great Commission by giving to Kings and Queens International. I have served the children of Peru for eight years now, and I have seen what love, hope, and support can do for them. It breaks their chains, begins to heal their broken hearts and bind their wounds, develops their faith, instills in them a hope and purpose, and restores what has been taken from them. Ultimately, it makes the name of the Lord known among a dark city and brings God glory. God does not need my help to complete his purposes and plans in Peru, but what an incredible gift it is that He allows me to take part in all that He is doing. There is nothing else I had rather take part in!

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

2 Corinthians 9:7

2021 Projects

We have some exciting upcoming projects for 2021. We are prayerful that we can support these projects without having to touch our reserves through Giving Tuesday and end of year donations. These projects will benefit our property, Casa de Reyes, and our outreach efforts.

• Psychologist Annual Salary $3,692.28 *This is currently taken from our general fund

• Bleachers for the soccer field $1,000

• Staff Living Quarters $5,000

• Covered Common Area for Recreation $6,000-$8,000

• Saturday Feeding Program and Bible School $12,000

• Workshop and Financial Support for Casa de Reyes Graduates *As we seek to provide a more holistic program for Casa de Reyes, we would love to provide them a way to make income in a workshop on our property. We also desire to provide financial support to them after graduation so they can begin their lives independently.

Prayer Requests
1. Pray for Christmas to be a time of joy and peace for the young men of Casa de Reyes. Christmas can often be a sad time for our boys since they are separated from loved ones.

2. Pray for Kings and Queens International to be blessed with Giving Tuesday, Christmas Shop, and year-end donations.

October 2020 Updates

Why I Give

Sam Beadle

Sam has been serving in Peru since 2012. He has since taken countless trips to visit the young men of Casa de Reyes and a partnering orphanage. He dedicates both his time and resources to our ministry. Here is his reasoning for his generosity:

"All of us have dreams of what we will become in life: doctors, lawyers, teachers, pro athletes, engineers etc. Dreams are only dreams if you have no hope. If you grow up in an orphanage, you dream a lot- but there is little hope. Kings and Queens are giving these young men hope so that they can make those dreams come true. That is why I support Kings and Queens International and ask you to help us give hope and a future to these young men so they can make a difference in Iquitos, Peru."

Jessica Reeves

Jessica faithfully supports Kings and Queens each month with her sponsorship of a young man in Casa de Reyes. She is aiding in changing his life for the better. Here is her explanation for why she donates:

"I give because I am able to. You can't take it with you right? Not everyone is blessed or given the opportunities we are. With that opportunity I believe there is a responsibility to give back."

Michael and Treesa McGuire

Michael (pictured) and Treesa McGuire have devotedly supported missions in Iquitos, Peru for ten years now! They go above and beyond to support Kings and Queens International and also help sponsor two young men in Casa de Reyes. Here is Michael's reasoning for why they invest:

"These days, almost everyone has traveled more extensively than their parents, and travel certainly opens one’s eyes and mind to the world. Why I have been blessed (with creature comforts) more than the little boy who was discovered living, alone, in a rusted-out school bus is a mystery to me, because I don’t deserve more than him. However, God has certainly used my job and mission trips, visiting places like Iquitos, Peru, to enable me to understand Biblical principles. It’s taught in Luke 12:48, “To whom much was given, much will be required.“ Practically every American is rich when compared to a child in Iquitos, and every dime sent there can make a great difference in their daily lives. I have met these children and have seen how they respond to love and people they can trust. Kings and Queens International are people who love and care for children who happen to have been born in an impoverished city in the Amazon jungle. I happily support them and hope you can enjoy the blessing of helping them as well!"

---

Prayer Requests

Pray for Kings and Queens International to be blessed with Giving Tuesday, Christmas Shop, and year-end donations.

Pray for our leadership and Board of Directors as we vision cast for 2021. We are asking God for wisdom as we discern the next steps He is calling us to take.

Pray for the spiritual protection of the young men of Casa de Reyes and for them to see themselves as Christ sees them. Pray for them to persevere in their studies.

Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday occurs the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, December 1, and is a day of global generosity. It encourages people to participate in changing the world for good by donating to non-profits. We know that this year has been tough for everyone. Financially, it has been a loss for our ministry. Because of coronavirus, we were unable to have our annual gala and our spring fundraiser, events that bring in thousands of dollars in donations and sustain us for all needs outside of sponsorships. We are sustained by the generosity of God's children!

Peru is reeling with magnified heartache on top of already incredibly difficult ways of life because of the coronavirus. We prayerfully ask you to plan ahead this year for Giving Tuesday and consider donating to Kings and Queens International! We can bring hope, light, and change to a broken nation. Your donation contributes to an eternal legacy!

All About the Boys

• The men of Casa de Reyes celebrated Scarlet, Ministry Finance and Accounting Manager, on her birthday. Many of them call her mom and have been thrilled to have her working for the ministry on the ground in Peru. They also made special videos to send to Emily, Sponsorship Coordinator who lives stateside, on her birthday. They are always thoughtful, even if they are thousands of miles away!

• Our young men have been joyfully serving their community by hosting Children's Bible School in our church on the property. Local children get to come and hear about Jesus, watch performances, and get their bellies filled. It's during these times that groceries and essential items are distributed. The young men of Casa de Reyes especially have hearts for children living in poverty as all of them once were in the same circumstances.

• Recently there have been several intense storms in Iquitos that have caused damage in the city. Rainy season is now upon the jungle city and more storms are inevitable. One storm in particular knocked down a tree on our property, and the men in our program assisted with clean up. We are praising God no other damage was done and everyone was safe!

Meet Jhoan

Jhoan lives in Casa de Reyes with his younger brother. He is devoted to his studies, loves to read and desires to be a teacher someday.

Here is his testimony:

I am  Jhoan. My family is from extreme poverty. My dad is an alcoholic. We would go entire days without eating. My dad would beat my mother and insult us all. Mom decided to leave my dad even though he threatened to kill her. We moved in with her parents. My siblings and I had to quit school; we worked. We were a burden to my grandparents. I was put in charge of my brothers. One day I left them on the side of the river and crossed it to steal fruit. Meanwhile, one of my brothers almost drowned. Everyone was so scared. I knew my brother almost died because of me. I was overcome with guilt. I had sacrificed my family for the sake of fruit. I wanted to repay my family for what I had done. On January 7, 2012, at age eleven,  I came on a boat to a home for abandoned boys with one of my brothers; we were crying. I cried so much at the new home that sometimes I could not sleep at night. The days passed, and I learned to live with the people and a language unknown to me. Things got better. I could eat three meals a day there and even dessert sometimes. I started back to school and every day my grades improved. Before I never thought I could be successful; here I learned I could be. Later I moved to the home for the older boys in Iquitos and began going to church. At church, I recognized Christ as my personal Savior. I was baptised. God is working in me. He is healing my wounded heart. I am understanding that everything has a purpose. I am grateful to God for all that I have gone through in life so that I can testify of his love and of his wonderful work on the Cross of Calvary for us all.
*This vulnerable testimony was shared with express permission by Jhoan who wrote it himself. We are proud of his boldness in Christ to share his story!

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Philippians 1:6

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We continue to pray you and your family are safe, healthy, and well in the midst of so much turmoil in our world. As always, if we may offer prayer for you personally, for physical, emotional or spiritual fervor, we would be honored to do so. Please message us below!

September 2020 Updates

Meet Jeygler

Jeygler is one of the men of Casa de Reyes.
He loves soccer and helping with the praise ministry at church.
Here is his testimony:

I am Jeygler. My family is from extreme poverty. When I lived with my parents at home, I was a very poor student. I was disobedient to my parents, and they always punished me for my bad attitude. Ever since I was a kid, I loved soccer. I wanted to play soccer constantly instead of focusing on school. My parents did not approve. Over time, I began to to be more disobedient to my parents. One day I was alone at home. I went to a small store where my dad worked. Gasoline was kept there. Out of curiosity, I smelled it. I kept smelling it and got dizzy. I liked that feeling. From then on, whenever I was alone, I went to sniff the gas. It consumed me. Later I arrived at a home for abandoned boys on April 23, 2012 at the age of eleven. I felt very strange. There were many people around me, but I felt alone. There they told me a lot about Jesus Christ. They told me he died for me. I did not understand that, because I had never heard of such love. Now I am very grateful to God because He spoke to me. I understand His love. I am grateful for this home that welcomed me with such love. Above all, I am thankful my Savior got me out of the world I was living in. I do not want to be in the hands of the enemy anymore. I am in the hands of God. I want to be a chemical engineer. I am currently in college at the National University Peruvian Amazonia. When I finish, I will support my family and people in need. Someday I would like to use my chemical engineering degree to become a missionary and take the word of God to wherever He sends me.

And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.2 Timothy 2:2

Donate Your Talent

Do you have a talent? A gift that needs to be shared? Can you paint, draw, sew, design, build? What do YOU have to offer? We will be hosting a virtual Christmas Shop this year as our only fundraiser! We cannot do it without YOUR help! Our prayer is that our brothers and sisters in Christ would donate their talents to us before Thanksgiving. We plan to create an online store via Facebook and then sell these items! They would make great Christmas gifts and all profits would be used to benefit the Kingdom!

All About the Boys

• Alonso had a birthday! He was celebrated in the home with a party. They played lots of games!

• The boys are continuing to go to school virtually for the time being.

• The boys have been involved in several major community projects! They have helped rebuild the roads around their neighborhood. They also helped clean up trash.

• The boys helped host an event for the children in the local community. They were able to safely come through our church building and receive food and goodie bags and hear about Jesus! The boys worked hard to prepare for this event by packaging food!

• Peruvians love to dance! The boys have taken it upon themselves to choreograph a dance to perform at a later date for the kids in the community. They are excited and are enjoying practicing together and being creative.

Why We Give

Cameron and Emily Lovette have generously supported Kings and Queens since we took in our first original boys! They are faithful supporters and help sponsor one of the men of Casa de Reyes.
Here is Emily's reasoning for why they give:

“As a family, we choose to give out of a desire to see lives changed.
And while our monthly gift doesn’t begin to put a dent in what is needed to help everyone in Peru; it does make a difference in the life of a young man we are blessed to know! Getting to be a small part of how God is providing for him and meeting his needs is a blessing and honor.
Making a difference in the life of one child is worth it!”

We continue to pray you and your family are safe, healthy, and well. If we may offer any prayer for you personally, for physical, emotional or spiritual fervor, we would be honored to do so.