I was sent from Cornerstone to work with tribal groups in the Amazon Jungle in 2013. I met my wife Giuly in Peru and we began working primarily with one tribe called the Matsés. They already had a church in most of their villages but had very little theological training and biblical knowledge. For example, a Matsés believer told me on one of our first visits, “My favorite Bible story is the one about Joseph and how his brothers got mad at him for stealing their puppy.” 

What set them apart from other tribes was that they realized they needed discipleship and were hungry for it. The other thing is that they are located near uncontacted people groups. Lord willing, through discipling the Matsés church they can send missionaries to these other tribes that have never heard the name of Jesus. 

Peru’s strict covid lockdown was a huge setback for our plans and kept us from being with the tribe for over a year. We were discouraged but can now see the many ways the Lord used it for His glory. Traveling less meant more time spent in our local church in Pucallpa, the city where we are based, and it also opened doors to work with other tribes closer to the city. 

In summary, we have now started a seminary program for the Matsés and the Shipibo tribes, I help teach in a seminary in the city, I’m a lay elder/missions pastor at our church, and I’m now the director of jungle missions for our sending organization. Giuly has been amazing through all of this helping with the people’s medical needs and training the Matsés to do youth camps. 

The ministry has changed a lot from our initial plans and it has clearly been the Lord who made it happen. Please pray for us, the people in the Amazon, and for more workers…the harvest is ready!