All Students Can Learn
When I was in Peru in this winter, I was able to meet Daviczon, the newest member of Casa de Reyes, for the first time. He immediately greeted me with the warmest smile and the biggest hug! Daviczon radiates joy; he rarely stops smiling. It was very evident he loves being a part of Casa de Reyes. He genuinely enjoys the presence of the other young men in the home and is quick to offer his assistance to help with any task in the home. He is a giver!
Aside from my work as Sponsorship Coordinator with Kings and Queens, I am also an English teacher. I have taught hundreds of students throughout the years and share the values of the American educational system, that all students can learn. I was saddened to find that this same belief is not shared by all in Iquitos. Prior to coming to Kings and Queens, Daviczon had never received received any type of education because of his learning challenges. One of my greatest joys when I was in Peru this time was meeting Daviczon and seeing how God is changing his life through our program.
In the home, charts were posted on the wall of colors, the alphabet, and numbers. The other boys informed me that these charts are for Daviczon. Our tutor works diligently with him to teach him things he has never had the opportunity to learn before. For the first time in his entire life, the expectation is set: Daviczon can learn! We at Kings and Queens believe in Daviczon. It is no accident he is in our home. While we know his educational journey is unique, we aim to teach him life skills that will help him become more self-sufficient.
I would like to leave you with the following sweet story. While in Peru, all the young men of Casa de Reyes were asked to each write a letter to their sponsor(s) by a certain date. On that date, immediately after arriving at the home, Daviczon brought me a stack of letters. He had taken it upon himself to collect the letters from every boy. He then, waving it profusely and smiling so proudly, handed me the letter that he wrote for his sponsors- the letter photographed above. This reminded me of the Bible story in Mark 12:41-44, where the poor widow gives all of the money she has to the Lord. Daviczon gave his sponsors all he could in that letter. His sponsors are providing him with invaluable opportunities-- to learn, to be encouraged, to be poured into and believed in, and to see and experience the love of God. What a blessing they are!
Welcoming Juan Manuel!
We are grateful to welcome a new support staff member at Casa de Reyes, Juan Manuel (pictured right with a few of the boys)! He is passionate about serving and discipleship. He and his wife Scarlett, along with their son, Mateo, are originally from Columbia. They have enjoyed volunteering for the ministry and church in the past, and are excited to continue being a part of the ministry of Kings & Queens!
Walter Perez (pictured above left) has been a part of our staff for many years. His heart for the young men of the house is deep and his years of wisdom are an invaluable part of our ministry. He has recently stepped into the position of house director and is thankful to continue doing what he believes the Lord has called him to. Please be in prayer for him as he takes on this new role!
Summer Mission Team Opportunity
June 29-July 8, 2020
We will be taking a summer 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.
All About the Boys
Elio, formerly known as Enrique, celebrated his 18th birthday, meaning we can now share his true identity with you! He was thrown a birthday celebration in the home.
The boys have been excited to help collect ripened fruit from the land. Recently, they have been enjoying the plantains!
This month, some of the boys traveled to visit family over their vacation from school, and are now back at Casa de Reyes. For many of them, their family is a huge motivation to complete school and pursue professional endeavors.
Marcos is training for the police academy and has been getting up at 5:00am daily to train. Please pray for him as he pursues this endeavor!
Alexander ("Chino") will travel to Lima in February for a leadership development conference. Please pray for him as he seeks to grow in his leadership skills!
Titus Takes on Peru
Titus, our president and founder, went to Peru this month, sharing some great quality time with our leadership and the young men of the home. He was also able to teach Juan Manuel a new skill: how to drive the Jumbo, our rather large bus! We are thankful to have this tool for mission teams, group outings, outreach, and more.
Titus was also able to bring some extra joy to Casa de Reyes too. The boys love the foosball table that they received for Christmas so much so that he purchased a ping pong table to go with it! They enjoyed competing against one another and hope to up their skills before Titus returns to Peru! A construction project was also begun with the boys: building a volleyball court. We are excited for the completion of the project. It has been a joy to see how excited the boys are to have new opportunities for fun to take place around the house!
