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