We made it !

 An update on from the Del Castillo’s on Mission

We made it to Shimbillo Peru on Friday January 26th. Our travel here was without delay however a bit long but we felt that God was protecting us the entire way. He even made the long lines of customs at the Lima airport not an issue for us because he allowed us to pass through the line of people without a wait or with inspection. Not sure how that even happen since we were in the back of a line of about 80 people whom where in front of us waiting to go through customs. 

With a short layover in Lima to catch our next flight to Tarapoto Peru we were able to stretch our legs from the 8 hour overnight flight from Dallas. The flight to Tarapoto was on time and quite. Gabriel and Julianna were more than ready to get off the plane once we arrived in Tarapoto they were a bit restless from traveling since 6pm the day before (which is when we left from New Orleans to catch our connecting Flight in Dallas to Lima. 

As we walked down the stairs from the giant plane that flew us to South America onto the tarmac we were greeted with a sweet smell of the Peruvian air.  With the salve (jungle) in the back ground you could see the native trees blowing in the wind and the mountains of Peru surrounding us. The airport was super small and very simple.  Outside the baggage claim area stood our entire missionary team that has already been on the ground in Peru serving and living simply among the poor. All of the families and teams live in different towns along the great Huallaga river. It was great to feel welcomed by our brothers and sister in Christ as we began our journey following Christ into Jungles (Salve) Peru to serve and to live among the poor.

We arrived to our new home in Shimbillo Peru around 4 pm the same afternoon. To say the least we were very exhausted from the travel which included a 1 hour ride from Tarapoto to Shimbillo in the back of a truck along one of the only paved highways in Peru running along side the  Huallaga river. We were so grateful to see that our new home had three twin size beds and a humble dinner table. It was so welcoming to us that it did not matter that we did not have dinner or a stove to even cook it on. 

Saturday we woke up and began to make since of our new home. Unpacking the items we had brought. God was good to us that morning because we woke up without much of an appetite, I am sure it was due to the heat. However around lunch time we were greeted by our single girls team that lives in a near by town called Puccucca and with them they had a fresh baked loaf of homemade bread. It was such a great sight to see because by lunch time we were very hungry. 

Above are pictures of our home. Our home might not seem like much to the standards of the United States but for here it is very upscale and new. 95% of the homes here our made out of mud and have dirt or concert floors. We live in the back portion using one room as a storage/closet, and another small room is were we sleep and than there is the kitchen, The front portion which you see in the picture is were we have children's ministries and bible studies. We pray in the future we can find two long tables and wooden benches that we can afford so the children do not have to sit on the floor. We also have two more bedrooms upfront one will be a guest bedroom for mothers in need and the other will be a chapel. 

Sunday we were able to attend our little church here in our Pueblo of Shimbillo all though the community cannot celebrate mass since there is only two priest for all of the Picota District we humbly read the readings and sang songs. Later that night we took a motor car to Picota (which is a pretty large town about 25 minutes away from us.) and my family was presented to the community after mass.  As well as we met the very humble Priest from Spain, Padre Francisco that we will be working with in Shimbillo. Padre Francisco is so pleasant and loving towards us. I must affirm that if one takes enough time to pray and humbles themselves at the foot of the cross prayers do get answered. The children and I prayed fervently for months and months that it did not matter what country God sent us to serve in, but that he send us to a loving Priest that was indeed undoubtedly in love with Christ as much as we are. We are thankful for answered prayers,

After just 2 1/2 days in our home town of Shimbillo on Monday 29th we were headed 4 hours away to Moyobamba for the week where we had a retreat focused on getting to know the other missionaries. We stayed at the beautiful Centro Pastoral (the Catholic retreat Center for the Diocese) and we were presented personally to the Bishop of Moyobamba which whom we serve under. 

We were super excited to get back to Shimbillo after being gone for the week and more so to began to get to know the people whom we live among. This last Monday, February 5th began our 1st full week here in Shimbillo. We spend an hour in the morning in prayer after breakfast as a family. Than we set out on foot to visit with those we live among. Visiting with the sick and the elderly.  We return back for lunch and home schooling for Julianna and Gabriel until 3:30 and than we are out the door again for children's Ministry

Which happens by the soccer and volleyball fields each afternoon. Its funny how God had this already planned out. God was just waiting for the YES from us. 

The children here are starving for attention. During the day there seems not to be many adults around town. I believe it is because they are in the fields working. Here it is very common to see a 10 year old girl taking care of their little baby siblings all by themselves.  Or for us, the new Americans in town to have a house full of children in our home coloring and visiting for hours at a time without a bit of concern for the safety of their children. I guess one could say it's a bit more relaxed here. 

We are so very grateful to be able to be here in Peru and to have the opportunity to become friends with each one of these children. 

Above is a Picture Max and Ashley, They are cousin and, well they came with our new home. 

These two cuties crawled up under the back door the 1st day we were here,  curious to whom we are and asking for water. And they continue to visit us each and everyday. For children to drink clean water here is not very common. River water is what most people here in our area drink, cook with, wash clothes with and bath in. In the letter I sent to you the day before we left for Peru I spoke about the woman at the well . It seems the bible story is still being Lived out today

Its comforting to know that God takes our brokenness and take our simple YESES and uses it to transform the lives of others. Like Max and Ashley and the other children, they just came to the well for water and perhaps they have an opportunity to be greeted and loved by Jesus himself as the woman at the well did . 

To all of our prayer partners and financial mission partners thank you. Your prayers and sacrifices have not gone unnoticed. Its great to know that we may share our families clean water with the little ones that come to play and pray in our home. But to know Jesus entrusted us to be his hands , feet and voice so that these little ones may receive the living water he has to offer  really has humble us beyond comprehension .  

This coming month all three of us will take a 30 hour bus ride to Lima through the mountains. Please pray for safe travels for us, free from mudslides. We feel paying a $40 US dollar ticket one way is better use of our financial partners money than to travel by air for $100.00 one way even though it would be just a 1 1/2 hour flight.  We must travel to Lima for our appointment with Interpol for dental exams and finger printing. The process will take about a week to complete. This we pray is the only time we must travel so far away to Lima to complete the Religious Visa Process. Once we finish this step everything else should be able to complete an hour away from our home town Shimbillo in Tarapoto.

Its hard to explain the great need of love here. 20 years ago this area was under the rule of a bloody war which killed many, many people killing a whole generation of people and starved the people from having a chance to know Christ. In fact if we were here 20 years ago my family and I would have been killed by now. Thank God for his mighty work that has been taking place here in the region for the last 10 years . This region of Peru has had the presence of Missionary Priest from Spain whom have work very hard to rebuild the Catholic Church here for the last 10 years. But there is so much work to be done. We beg of you to please remember us and our community in your prayers. 

Gabriel waiting for the popcorn to be served. We felt blessed one night to be able to treat ourselves to popcorn. It was a wonderful treat that we had. 

Please know that each one of you are in our daily prayers.

We love each on of you!

Karen, Julianna , Gabriel Del Castillo