Meet Elio
Elio of Casa de Reyes loves to play soccer and is a top student at school. Read a piece of his story below.
Personal Testimony: I am Elio. In my hometown, I attended elementary school until second grade. I could not continue my education because of family problems. My father was an alcoholic. He mistreated my mother every day when he came home drunk. One day my mother could not bear it anymore. We left home with all of my brothers to get away from our father. Mom decided to send one of my brothers and I to a home for abandoned boys so we could continue our studies and have more opportunities. We lived there for three years. Then we were transferred to an older boys home in Iquitos. I had the desire to serve Christ with all of my strength. I wanted to win souls for him. One day they told us that the house was closing due to economic problems. My brother and I were separated into two different homes. It was very terrible for me. My school performance dropped. I lost the desire to seek God. I did not eat. I could not sleep. It was as if I was going back to the past, like when I lived with my father. It was a life of sadness and loneliness. I decided to escape from the home. At dawn I left and walked down a long and very dangerous road. Thank God I arrived in Iquitos safe and sound. I did not know what to do. Meanwhile the police and many others had been searching for me. Kings and Queens employees found me that night. They brought me back to their home to be with my brother. They went to court for me; the judge approved me to live in their home. I am grateful to God for everything, and I am willing to continue fighting to have a good future and to serve Jesus Christ.
Update: Elio moved into Casa de Reyes in 2018. If he's not at school, you can find him next to his brother, Jhoan, at any given time. The two are inseparable. Elio is currently lacking $50 in his monthly sponsorship. Please pray he will once again be sponsored in full.
Prayer Request
Our church plant, Divine Grace, is devoting funds from tithing to offer tutoring to local children after school. Divine Grace is also working to create a plan to better invest in the parents of the community. Meetings to establish a plan will take place in March. Please pray God would allow the Church to reach these parents by helping to meet some of their physical needs, and, more importantly, by pointing them to Christ.
Soccer Event
The young men of Casa de Reyes led a community outreach project this month. They decided to put their excellent skills to good use and mix two of their greatest passions together- children and soccer. They invited local children to attend a soccer clinic on our land. Many of these children already come to the land on Sundays to either watch or play soccer themselves on our beautiful field. The children who participated were between ages seven and eleven. In all, fourteen teams participated. There were three championship teams and two leading scorers who were all awarded. Many parents participated in this event with their children. Other siblings and neighbors came to watch the games take place. This event was successful in reaching all ages!
Not only did the boys of Casa de Reyes help organize the event, but they also helped referee the games, provided snacks for the children, and led the participants in devotions before games. It is wonderful to see the young men of Casa de Reyes pour into their community. Whether they realize it or not, they are serving as role models to the children in their community. We are grateful that they serve them with glad hearts.
Summer Mission Team
June 29-July 8, 2020
We will be taking a mission team to Iquitos June 29-July 8 and would love for you to join us in the jungle! We will serve the young men of Casa de Reyes, participate in community outreach, and serve a partnering orphanage in the jungle. Please email us here for an information packet if you are interested in joining this team. We would love for you to see firsthand all God is doing in Peru!
All About the Boys
Alonso (pictured in top photo above) recently requested to begin courses in English. Peruvians who are bilingual, and especially those who speak English, have many job opportunities available to them. Tourism is a huge industry in Iquitos because of the Amazon jungle. Alonso will begin his English studies this month and is very excited!
Alexander returned from his leadership training in Lima (hear of his experience below!)
This month, the boys in high school continued their school vacation. They spent time hanging out with their friends, playing soccer, ping-pong, and foosball, working some on the land, going to church, resting, and more!
Leadership Development
Alexander is a true leader of Casa de Reyes. Not only does he lead at the home, but he also joyfully serves in the church, loves to do community outreach- particularly serving children, and he leads in his college. He is involved in a variety of organizations at his university. In fact, he is the Regional Coordinator of the Christian Student Movement and is a member of the Association of Evangelical University Groups of Peru. We could not be more proud of his pursuit to love and serve the Lord!
In February, Alexander had the incredible opportunity to fly to Lima for a leadership conference. He says of his experience:
Attending this leadership conference was a time of personal formation where I learned much more about Jesus and the history of His life. I learned how He served people with their best interest in mind. He completed miracles, and He welcomed the excluded. I am very grateful for this training time that taught us how to lead as Jesus did. I am willing to work in my community with that same love that moved Jesus to walk through the villages and announce the good news!