April 2019 Updates

Get to Know Carlos Maricahua

Carlos Maricahua is one of the young men of Casa de Reyes. He is working towards a degree in international business. He loves soccer and math.

Personal Testimony: I’m Carlos. I arrived at a home for abandoned boys in 2012. My brothers and I used to have to constantly work to help support our family. My father had control of everything, and he was very bad. My parents separated. I could not stand our life, so one of my brothers and I went to a home for abandoned boys. At first, when I was at the new home, it was painful and strange. It got better. Six months after I arrived, my mother came to take me back home. I saw that it was better for me to be here; I decided to stay. I hated my father and was haunted by my past. A boy in the home told me about Jesus. He said Jesus loved me. One day, I decided not to continue living with my painful past having control over me. I came to understand God's love. At that moment, I accepted Jesus and I prayed. I felt a great peace and the true embrace of God; I began to weep. I felt a love that cannot be described, of which I will never be able to forget. I am now in Iquitos in a new program for college-aged abandoned boys. I have many plans for my life. I want to help our church grow and be a blessing for other people. I am a good student with good grades. I am studying international business. My desire is to help my family and this shelter that has helped me. I know it is a great blessing in my life. In 2013, I asked God to give me the opportunity to see my father. In 2017, God gave me a big surprise; I saw my father and told him I love him and forgive him. I told him that God loves him and wants to change his life. God is great!

Donations Needed

Our summer teams will be taking items to Casa de Reyes, Divine Grace, and another orphanage located deeper in the jungle. We are currently collecting items for these teams to take in ministry bags since the mail system in Iquitos in unreliable. We would appreciate any help in collecting the following items:

Quantity Needed: 43
Men/boys body wash, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, mens hair gel, combs, mens body spray/ cologne (ex. axe, old spice, etc.), rubik’s cube

Quantity Needed: 25
bug spray, cheap digital watch

Quantity Needed: 18
durable plastic water bottle

Unlimited Amounts
Any new or lightly used boys clothes sizes 5T to adult small. The biggest clothing need at the moment is boys shorts, sizes 5T to Youth 14-16.

If you would like to donate any of these items, please email us here to arrange drop-off locations.  

All About the Boys

• We are so proud of the young men of Casa de Reyes for leading a fireside service and time of worship on Good Friday!

• Carlos S., Carlos M., and Jeygler all celebrated their birthdays this month! They were each given their own special birthday party.

• The young men of the house invited younger children in their community to come to Casa de Reyes so that they could tutor them in school. These tutoring sessions will continue! We are so grateful to see these young men joyfully serve children who are also at risk for abandonment.

• The boys have been draining the fish ponds on the land in order to start growing a new harvest!

All About the Church

• We are praising God the construction on the sanctuary of our church, Divine Grace, continues to go smoothly. It is looking beautiful!

• Neighbors willingly came to help fill in dirt in the church so that concrete can be poured next week. Pictured above you can see two happy boys helping with this project!

• Divine Grace recently participated in community outreach. Dental and hygiene care, haircuts, clothing, and food were provided to all who attended. Many of these locals have not had such care in years, if ever. It was a beautiful time spent serving the local community and showing the love of Christ!

Our recently established Gala Planning Committee is eagerly working on our second annual gala. This event will be held on November 2, 2019 in Fort Mill, SC. Last year we held our very first annual gala and saw God work miracles with an incredible turnout, raising over $70,000! We have high expectations for this year’s gala, & can not wait to see what God does through this event! We are thankful to this team of passionate women who are willing to serve!

K&Q Classic Results

Our spring fundraiser, K&Q Classic, was a success! We were able to share about our ministry and give exciting project updates. Guests enjoyed three hours of unlimited TopGolf play and were excited to help make a difference in the lives of children in Iquitos, Peru. Over $14,000 was raised at the event! These proceeds fully funded our bus to support transportation of the home, church, and mission teams. We are grateful for your prayers regarding this event and to everyone who came out to make this day so special! 

March 2019 Updates

Church Construction

We are so excited to announce the progress of Project J2:5 as ground has been broken, and the walls of the sanctuary are going up quickly! Our desire as an organization is to see people reached with the gospel in 3 ways: 1) our child abandonment prevention efforts 2) our transition home and 3) the local church. We are thrilled that our church plant, Divine Grace Evangelical Christian Church, will soon have a permanent meeting place! This space will serve multiple purposes including a space for medical clinics, events, outreach, and church services. We are so grateful to some very special donors who made it possible for us to begin construction on this project this month. We thank them for being a part of the Great Commission! 

Julio and Rosa, Directors of Kings & Queens Peru, continue to lead the church. The boys of our home, Casa de Reyes, attend and serve the church.  The church has recently gained new members, conducted baptisms, held youth events, and participated in both discipleship and outreach. The children's ministry is really growing, and we are excited these children have the potential to reach their families with the message of hope!

We delight in the fact that God is growing the local church and reaching more souls in Iquitos. Please pray Divine Grace will continue to bring the message of the Gospel to the lost and for the remaining funds needed to complete the church. 

You may donate to the building of the church by clicking below. 

Donate

K&Q Classic: Time is Running Out! 

Please join us at Top Golf Charlotte for an afternoon of great fun and purpose! By participating in this fundraiser, you will help make a difference in the lives of many in Peru. The  proceeds of this fundraiser will go towards the completion of the church & our transportation fund.

April 1st is the last day to purchase tickets and bays!

Location: Top Golf Charlotte 

Date: Sunday, April 7
Time: 2-5 PM 
Pricing: $75 per player / Reserve a bay for 6 players for $425
Ticket Details: 3 hours of unlimited golf + a delicious catered meal

Tickets

All About the Boys

• The boys have gotten their hands dirty helping with the construction of the church! 

• We are extremely proud of Waltahir, Jeygler, Rivaldo, and Yair for passing their college entrance exams this month! They are one step closer to reaching their professional dreams! They were all given a celebratory dinner to celebrate this huge accomplishment. 

• Mardin, Andre, and Weninger (previously known as Wilton) all celebrated birthdays this month. Because Weninger is now 18, we can now share his real name and photo (pictured above to the bottom right). They were each thrown birthday parties in the home! 

Vision Team Update

This past month, our first Vision Team visited the site of Kings & Queens Perú! This group, led by president and founder, Titus Bowen, was made up of individuals who expressed a desire to see the vision of the ministry firsthand and develop a deeper involvement. It is shorter in length and different in purpose than one of our regular mission trips. 

The Vision Team broke ground on the construction of the church. They also served the young men of Casa de Reyes, attended a youth church service, participated in community outreach, and spent time at another orphanage we regularly serve. This group of individuals saw firsthand the dire needs in Peru and our response as an organization to combat child abandonment. It was both an eye-opening and productive trip. We look forward to seeing what fruits lie ahead as a direct result of this Vision Team! 

If you are interested in being part of a Vision Team, please email us. 

February 2019 Updates

Advisory Team 

Recently Kings and Queens established an Advisory Team for 3 reasons: leadership accountability, wisdom, and growth of our organizational reach. This team is made up of six individuals that we respect and admire spiritually, personally, and professionally. We trust their wisdom and insight will benefit our ministry. We held our first meeting this month & will meet on a bi-monthly basis. We look forward to their deeper involvement within the ministry and are grateful for their partnership! 

Vision Team 

On Sunday, we will be sending off a Vision Team led by President Titus Bowen to see Kings and Queens Peru! This small group is made up of individuals who expressed a desire to see the vision of Kings and Queens firsthand and develop a deeper involvement with the ministry. However, it is different from a regular mission trip both in its shorter length and in purpose, but they will still participate in smaller service projects while in Iquitos. If you are interested in being part of a Vision Team, please email us. 

Kings and Queens Classic

Please join us at Top Golf Charlotte for our next fundraiser to combat child abandonment in Iquitos, Peru! Because we have moved Casa de Reyes to our new land and our ministry has grown, we are in need of a bus and motos to transport our boys, mission teams, and church members. Therefore, the proceeds of this fundraiser will go towards our transportation fund.

Location: Top Golf Charlotte 

Date: April 7
Time: 2-5 PM 
Pricing: $75 per player / Reserve a bay for 6 players for $425
Ticket Details: 3 hours of unlimited golf + a delicious catered meal

Tickets

Select "K&Q Classic" campaign

All About the Boys

• Thanks to a generous donor, the boys are able to now play soccer with real goals! They have been very excited about this gift.

• The boys are on summer break, and are enjoying their time off from school. They continue to stay busy by serving the church, working on the land, enjoying time with friends, and playing soccer.

• 3 young men will take their college entrance exam on March 10. Please be praying for them as they study and apply all they've learned.

All About the Church

Our church plant, Divine Grace, just celebrated its second anniversary. The church continues to grow. We are grateful for Julio and Rosa's leadership in the church and the way they pastor its people. We are grateful that the young men of Casa de Reyes are able to serve their community through the church. Please continue to lift up Divine Grace in prayer as the church seeks to reach the lost people of Iquitos. 

Summer Mission Teams 

We are excited that our July summer mission team is full! We look forward to both new and familiar faces heading back to the jungle! However, we still have spots available on our June mission team. Several women have already committed to this team and will be serving Casa de Reyes as well as younger children in need. 

Trip Dates: June 17-27

Email us for more information TODAY!

Missionary Moment
A story from missionary, Mac McGarity

“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15

This is Jenifer. She is 12 years old and lives in San Juan, Iquitos. And this day she made a very important decision. She chose to follow the Lord. She gave her life to Jesus. I lead her in the salvation prayer and she repeated every word with her whole heart and soul.

To open your eyes a bit more-
This photo was taken outside of a prostitution house (brothel), where Peruvian women sell their bodies for the equivilant of $9.50. This young girl Jenifer was bringing food to her neighbor who works in this place because "she is hungry and her boss doesn’t let her leave often for food". The young lady who works there was not to be seen as the doors were locked and no one came out when called. It’s heart breaking to see the reality of the world we live in. The brokenness of the world. But I know that the angels are rejoicing in heaven welcoming their little sister home today! God is so good!

January 2019 Updates

You're invited to

Tickets

Select "K&Q Classic" campaign

Welcoming New Men to Casa de Reyes

We rang in the new year welcoming these 3 handsome young men to Casa de Reyes! They are all so excited and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the home. Carlos (pictured on right), is still in need of sponsorship. Would you consider giving monthly to make it possible for him to be in our home? 

Support Carlos

All About the Boys

• We celebrated 3 birthdays this month: Adrian & Walter (both pictured at top), the Director of Discipleship for Casa de Reyes, & Enrique. 

• The young men of Casa de Reyes came alongside our church plant, Divine Grace Christian Church,  to reach out to the community & invest in lives of those around them. They served the locals & shared the message of Christ with them!

• We celebrated Carlos passing his college entrance exam this month!

All About the Church

• 3 women in the church gave their lives to Christ & came forward in obedience through the waters of baptism. It was a time of celebration & worship, led by Adrian. We rejoice over God bringing people to Himself! 

• Local village families were blessed with the Word this month!  Our leadership passed out salvation readings alongside village children that walked with them. They were blessed to see these children helping others! Missionary Mac described a beautiful moment: "It very sureal as I watched a mother ask her child to read the salvation book for her. She went on to tell me she never learned to read and wants only the best for her kids so she works so hard to provide them with minimal education so they can have a better life."

Farm Updates

It is the rainy season, and yuca has been planted, fish have been harvested, & the bounty is plenty at the land. We are so grateful for God's provision & all He is doing to make the property He blessed us with so fruitful! 

We need YOU!

We have a few spots left on our team serving in Peru 
June 17-27, 2019

Email us for more information TODAY!

Prayers for a bus 
Since we have recently moved Casa de Reyes to our new land, the cost of mobility has significantly increased, making our budgeted numbers in transportation for the boys to go to/from school, much higher than before. We also have the dilemma of transporting people from the city center to our property for church services. We are praying for God's provision for a bus (known as a "jumbo" in Iquitos) to allow for some long-term resolution of these issues.  Please pray with us!

December 2018 updates

The Move

This month the remodeling of the house on the land was completed! Our Peru family dedicated the building to the Lord, surrounded by members of the church & another local pastor who prayed over them.

From our program director, Julio, in Peru:

“It was a beautiful moment. We have given this place to glorify God. God will use this place and these young men to bless others. God will use this ministry to impact this city. We believe he will continue to show us his power and his love in an inexplicable way. We have challenged these men to be used by God, we have challenged them to change their history, we have challenged them to be true kings in the image of Jesus Christ. And this is the beginning of great things.”

Our boys are grateful to be living in their new home! We praise God for the growth we have seen this past year and for the way He has provided for these young men, heirs of his kingdom. 

Remember Kings & Queens in your year-end giving!

Your year-end gift can impact more young men from impoverished backgrounds of hopelessness & abandonment. YOU can help bring hope & make a difference in future leaders, men of God, husbands, professionals, & world changers.

DONATE

All About the Boys

• The boys have moved into their new home and are thrilled! They continue to work on the property. 

• On December 19, the boys and our staff distributed clothes that the previous mission team left to the children of their new neighborhood. It was beautiful to see the joy spread among new neighbors and to see some of their dire needs be met! 

• On December 27, Carlos, Yair, Johan, and Mardin graduated high school! We are so incredibly proud of their hard work. Please cover these boys specifically in prayer as they prepare for their next steps and hope to be accepted into college. They will be taking entrance exams on January 6, and have been studying hard. 

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

All About the Church

• On December 8 our church plant, Divine Grace, joined other churches in a city-wide Christmas event for the poorest children of Iquitos. The gospel was preached to thousands of people and the children and their parents were beautifully served. 

• Church leadership has been investing in discipling their members. They are preparing for several members to be baptized on January 2, 2019. 

• The ladies of the church have been enjoying their time together in Bible study. 

Summer Mission Teams

Interested in taking a trip to see for yourself what God is doing in Peru? Our summer dates are:

June 17, 2019 - June 27, 2019
July 20, 2019 - July 30, 2019

Email us for more information on these teams. Planning and fundraising are happening NOW!

Missionary News

Mac, our full-time missionary in Peru, was able to come home to South Carolina for several weeks this month to spend the Christmas holiday with his family. He is now headed back to the jungle to continue to serve! 

Meanwhile, Bronte, Director of Community Outreach and Programs Development, and Caroline, Director of Global Missions, were sent out this month into the mission field! They will begin their journey in Cusco at Spanish language school. Upon completing this stage of their training, they will be serving in Iquitos to our home, Casa de Reyes, and will focus on outreach, building relationships and supporting families who are struggling to survive in extreme poverty. They will also plan and lead our short-term mission teams this summer. They will spend several months out of the year continuing their training and planning ministry fundraising events. 

Thank you to everyone who has made it possible for these three to be sent out into the mission field. We are so excited for what the Lord will continue to do through them. God has done great things, & we look forward to the future with great expectation!

"Feliz Navidad" from Peru! 

For Christmas, staff of Kings & Queens: Peru made a delicious meal they shared with members of the church & a group of younger boys from another orphanage. They played games, sang songs, & each child received a gift. It was a great time celebrating our Savior's birth!

Thank you to our donors who made it possible for all the boys and Peruvian staff to receive Christmas gifts this year. Your generosity is greatly appreciated! We pray your Christmas was filled with love and joy. Have a blessed new year! 

Llama Keychains & Changed Lives

Director of Community Outreach, Bronte Babson, shares an experience from her time at language school in Cusco this past month:

There are so many stories I could share about this past month; however, there is one story in particular that has been on my heart. Caroline & I were sitting in a Peruvian McDonald’s one night eating dinner when we noticed a young boy walk into the restaurant trying to sell key chains to the customers. He walked up to a couple different people and then was grabbed by a security guard & shoved out of the McDonalds. A couple minutes later he walked back in & attempted selling the key chains again. Caroline & I waved him over to where we were sitting & asked him to sit down with us. We started asking him questions and quickly found out that he was only 12-years old, & him and his 16-year-old sister lived alone, about an hour bus ride outside of Cusco. They would spend their nights hand crafting little llama key chains & then each take on different parts of the city during the day, attempting to sell the key chains for 8-9 hours a day, every day. We asked where his parents were, and he told us his mom was “traveling,” and he had no idea where his father was. He said he didn’t know when he would see his mother again.

 While trying to hold back tears, we continued talking to him to find out he hadn’t eaten that entire day, and there were many days him and his sister wouldn’t sell enough key chains to be able to afford food. Throughout our conversation we also noticed his shoes, which he said he had been wearing for years. The soles were barely attached anymore & there were numerous holes in the shoes. It was getting late in the evening at this point, so we asked him to meet us in the center of the plaza the following night.

 We showed up the next night & waited around for a while. We both came to the realization that he may not show up, and at that moment he ran up behind us & sat down, asking us how our day had been. He told us he had been selling key chains for 5 hours that day & hadn’t sold a single one. We talked for a little bit & then asked him to take us to the closest shoe store. He led us to a store in the plaza & we told him to pick out whatever pair he wanted. He found a pair he liked and tried them on. Once he found the perfect fit, we were able to purchase them for him. He was SO excited. I will never forget the look on his face. We walked outside with him & spent some time talking to him & explaining that we would be praying for him & his sister.

 We bought a couple of the llama key chains from him & he insisted on giving us more as a gift for how nice we had been to him. We explained to him that we did this because we love him, not because we wanted anything in return. He thanked us numerous times & was so genuinely appreciative. We gave him a hug & told him we would meet up with him again the next week.

I’m sharing this story because I honestly just want to thank each of you for the opportunity to be here & make a difference in the lives of kids like this one. For years I’ve heard and shared the statistics about street children & kids who are forced to raise themselves. It’s a harsh reality that I cannot even fathom having to endure. However, to witness this first-hand was absolutely heart breaking. Here is a kid, 12 years old, raising himself, working 9 hour days, sometimes making nothing in an entire day, not even enough to buy one meal. He has no idea if or when he will see his mother again. Yet he doesn’t give up. Every night he continues making those llama key chains & every day he walks around for hours with the hope of selling just one or two.

 Without your support, I would never have had the opportunity to meet him, let him know I am praying for him, and share the love of Jesus with him. So thank you. Thank you for allowing me to live out my passion and purpose each and every day, and thank you for allowing me to spread the love of Jesus around this city. These people need hope & love so desperately, and I know I am exactly where God wants me to be, sharing that love & hope with these people.

November 2018 Updates

Thanksgiving

In October of last year, Kings and Queens International said YES to taking in 13 abandoned boys from another orphanage that would soon be closing; they would be put back on the streets with no hope. At that time, we had no money, no home, and no means to support them, but we felt God calling us to take them in, just as He takes us as believers into His welcoming arms. It is with humbled, thankful hearts that we reflect on the past year. God made the impossible possible. In his sovereignty, He opened every door needed. Here are just a few of the blessings and miracles we have seen:

• In just a few months, God brought sponsors for the deserving young men, making it possible for them to live in our home. He has given them a hope and a future, providing for all of their physical needs. God used these sponsors to make our dream of keeping these boys off of the streets a reality. 

• God brought a $25,000 donation in December 2018 that allowed us to pay a year's lease on a home for the boys and furnish it, just before their time ran out in the other orphanage. 

• God continued to raise up supporters through fundraisers we have had such as our first gala, Kings and Queens BBQ, and Giving Tuesday. 

• God brought our first boy to us who is directly off of the streets. We were able to welcome him into our home. He is thriving!

• God reunited one of the boys in our home with his brother. We were able to take his brother in, and their reunion has been a gift! 

• God brought us a future self-sustaining and beautiful piece of land for an incredible price that we were able to pay for in full.

• God has fully provided for the renovations of an existing building on the property that the boys can soon live in so we can continue to grow. 

• We are about to bring four new boys into our home who have all been fully sponsored! 

Please join us in praising the Lord for these incredible gifts, and continue spreading word of this ministry. We need you, and are so grateful for your partnership and generosity. 
  "I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High."
Pslam 9:1-2

Please Consider Kings and Queens for year-end giving! Your support means so much to us, and our ministry depends on it! 

DONATE

All About the Boys

• We celebrated Alejandro and Jhoan's both birthdays this month. Jhoan was formerly known as Mateo, but because he is now 18, his true identity can be revealed (pictured left in above photo)!

• The boys are extremely eager to move into their new home on our property very soon. They are so grateful, and are looking forward to playing a lot of soccer on the land. 

Giving Tuesday

We are so grateful for those who supported Kings & Queens on Giving Tuesday, a nationally recognized day of giving. We were blessed to raise $9,458 in one day!

Summer Mission Trip Dates:
June 17 -26, 2019

July 20-30, 2019 

Email us for more information on these teams.  Planning and fundraising are happening now. We would love to have you see firsthand what God is doing in Peru! 

Rivaldo's Testimony

I'm Rivaldo. My parents have five sons. I am the third son. My family is from extreme poverty. I could not count on the help of my parents to continue my education. I had to find somewhere else to live. I arrived at a home for abandoned boys at the age of twelve. I missed my family. Spanish was the language spoken in the home. I did not know Spanish because I am from an ethnic group called Ticuna. It was very hard for me to transition. Now, little by little, I am learning the language and feel better. When I got older, I moved to the home for abandoned boys in Iquitos. There I accepted Christ as my Savior. My life changed; now my life makes sense. I was baptised with some of my other friends in the home. Now I am a part of Divine Grace Evangelical Christian Church. It is a privilege to be a part of this church and community. My dream is to become a great nurse. With my career, I can serve the Lord and reach many people who do not know the love of God. I want to return home and support my parents. God is good. With his mercy, I will reach my goals. Thank you for all the support you give me and for always being with us boys. Through this ministry, I know the love of God.

October 2018 Updates

K&Q BBQ Recap

Nearly 200 people came out to K&Q BBQ this month in support of the ministry of Kings & Queens! It was our first ever family event hosted at Camp Thunderbird with fun for kids, live music, delicious BBQ, & fellowship. God provided over $5,000 that went straight to the construction completion of our home for the boys of Casa de Reyes where they will move in January. Thank you to everyone who came out to support, volunteer, & give! 

All About the Boys

• This month the youth group of Divine Grace participated in a fellowship activity with a youth group from another church.

• The Christian churches of Iquitos gathered together and participated in the March for Jesus. They paraded the hope of Jesus through their city.

• The young men in our home took special time to mentor younger boys from an orphanage in the jungle. The younger boys joined our young men at church and  stayed for a full day of fellowship.

A Minute with Missionary Mac

• We plan to plant onions, lettuce, and cilantro this week on our land.

• We are preparing the two ponds on the land to start fish farming again. We need to rent a gas powered water pump to drain the water and clean both ponds out before more fish can be added.

• We are looking forward to buying about 1,000 fish guppies to start the fish pond up again for next year.

Giving Tuesday

Black Friday. Cyber Monday. Giving Tuesday. 

What better way is there to show gratitude than to give back? Please remember Kings and Queens International on November 27, Giving Tuesday. You can support us on this nationally recognized day of giving by sharing our posts on social media and donating to our cause. With your help, we can continue to make a difference, one child at a time. 

Wilton's Testimony

We are excited to welcome four new boys into Casa de Reyes in January 2019. However, in order to take them in, they must be sponsored. Wilton is one of those boys. Here is his testimony:

My name is Wilton. I arrived at an orphanage at the age of 9 years old. I didn’t know who God was back then. But, now I know God as my Lord and Savior. I felt very happy to be in an orphanage because I was able to study and grow up without anymore hunger.

Now I am not studying because of financial problems within the orphanage. Because of this, I would appreciate it so much if you could support me and help me change my life. Kings and Queens International wants to support me in everything I need. They want to help make it possible for me to achieve my goals. I do not want to let this opportunity pass by. I want to take advantage of everything God has given me. I want God to use me someday to reach and bless others like I have been blessed.

Thank you so much for all you have done and continue to do in my life. Please know that you really do make a difference.