The plane that did a TOUCH- AND-GO

 Gabriel’s plane looked a lot like this one

       Gabriel last week was so excited to be able to purchase a little wooden plane for his upcoming birthday. It wasn’t much compared to American standards,  just 10 soles, which is roughly $3 US dollars. I know what you’re thinking $3 dollars is not much. Most people spend that a day on a coffee each morning before work. But on a missionary budget like ours $3 dollars can be a stretch for us. That kind of money can buy the three of us an entire breakfast, and more. Needless to say Gabriel was reluctant to ask for the toy plane but stunned and overjoyed that I said yes. After all his 10^th birthday should be special.


       Gabriel carried that plane with him everywhere. To our home visits with the poor and outside every evening to play in the plaza with his friends. Tuesday we had to go to a larger town to pick up supplies and to make a few copies for our ministries. We were walking through the market and a mother pushing her son in a wheel chair stopped us. They were selling gum and Peruvian candies. The two of them daily wonder up and down the market to sell their treats in hopes to make enough to live for the day. As I was talking to the mother,  I could over hear Gabriel say “here take it”,  when I turned around he was giving his wooden airplane to the little boy in the wheel chair. 

The same kind of wheel chair the little boy was
in which are very common among the poor here

   My heart sank. I selfishly thought, how can I replace that plane! It was for his birthday and he just gave it away! Our missionary budget will not allow for us to purchase another,  I thought quietly. 


    I finished up talking to the boys mother and by that time someone else had come to make a purchase from them. As we went about our errands in the market, Gabriel was so full of joy. I looked in his eyes and told him he was a special young man for giving his plane away. I asked him why he did it; His response was simple, he said “it’s what Jesus would have done.” 


    The little wooden plane you see in the picture is a lot like the plane that Gabriel received for his birthday. That little plane brought a lot of joy to him in the few days of having it; As the plane made a touch and go in our life’s we pray it will bring about the same amount of joy and love to it’s new owner. 


    This act of kindness is an encouragement to each of us to never turn away from the opportunities to give to those in need. To be a bold and courageous witness; Never fearing to give testimony to Jesus’s faithfulness. 

   I would like to honor Gabriel on his 10^th birthday for being in love with the poor and for being faithful enough to serve them. For never hesitating to embrace living in solidarity along with them and for calling me on to sainthood. 

Please pray for Gabriel in a special way today on his birthday!

“God Loves those who find joy in giving”

Pope Saint John Paul II

Karen, Julianna and Gabriel Del Castillo

To make a special donation or become a monthly mission partner follow the link :

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  karendelcastillo@familymissionscompany.com

Perfect families do not exist

  Listening to the homily on the Feast day of the Holy Family the main focus of the homily was of a family that consisted of a Father, Mother and children. And rightfully so. Their example of obedience to God’s will, their unconditional love for God and for each other. Their immense desire to serve God and others before themselves, and their never wavering faith,  are truly saintly examples for families to live by. 


  However I cannot lie, I did feel for a brief moment,  a bit confused of my purpose not as a foreign Catholic lay Missionary but as a single mother. I also felt heartbroken for all those who were in attendance,  that could not for whatever reason  play part in the “perfect role”.  What did they think, what were they feeling? I feared that those who were present felt they fell short of being worthy enough. With a Homily totally and  intentionally directed to intact, whole, perfect families. (the ones which included Father, Mother and children) Again I whole heartily believe that it should have been this way, however perhaps I am struggling with not what was said, but the lack of what was NOT said.  I certainly feel Jesus would not have excluded so many. After all so many people my family serve (and which were attending mass that night ) must have felt a bit unworthy. Towards the end of Mass the only two complete families who were gathered  were invited to receive a special blessing at the front of the church. 


  My heart was struck with sadness as I  looked upon the rest whom were watching. What about the little 9 year old girl who walks her blind grandfather to church each Sunday. What about Jose who is 19  and loves to serve others, and who has lived with his grandparents since he was 10,  after his Mom and Dad separated and chose to abandon him while they pursued other love relationships. Or Milton who desires and prays daily for his wife and him to receive the sacrament of marriage after living 10 years together. What about all the women who attend the church without their husband for whatever reason and who pray for them in such a holy way. Or for the widows who lost their spouse but yet still must endure and press on for their children.  I could not help but to think that these people felt unworthy to be called a family after what they had heard or rather the lack of. After not being invited to the front of the church to receive a special blessing upon their little,  not so perfect,  rendition of a family. 


  I recently took a class over the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Studying and learning the importance of knowing ones audience while teaching the Catholic faith. To be sure that when passing on the “word of Faith” that it’s done in its wholeness.  Learning that it is truly important for one to know and to take in account the needs of those who we are teaching , “our audience”. The General Directory for Catechesis (GDC 145) reminds us of the importance of the principle  “to teach from the Deposit of Faith for any given audience must take into account, not only the amount of time available, but also such factors as age, education, background, and culture.” I could not help to think that It could be a possibility that the homily for the night was a bit misdirected to the wrong type of group and fell short to engage the attending audience.  However despite the shortness of the full truth,  I found wholeness and a since of purpose in our mission we have been set on here at our new post.  A better understanding of the cross I bear as a single mother and why I have been asked to carry into the mission field for everyone to see. There is honestly no way to hide I am a single mother who also has been called to serve Christ as a foreign missionary.  I am not called to carry my cross with a sadden heart, but with a Joyful heart. Walking with a since of completion and fullness, knowing that Jesus is right beside me. 


  It’s our duty as baptized Catholics to pass on the trueness of our Faith. To not water down the teachings of the Catholic Church. However there is a flip side to this. We must not be above others and so caught up in the Hierarchy of the Church, so much that it prevents ourselves from extending love, generosity and forgiveness to those who may fall short of being the living example of the Holy Family.  To exclude the teaching of Jesus’s merciful love and forgiveness,  is not a successful way of discipleship.  After all Jesus healed and  forgave Mary Magdalene, Chose Saint Paul to become a missionary,  despite the fact he persecuted Christians, and  the list does not stop there. Jesus ate with thieves and sinners. Called Zacchaeus down from a tree in order to visit with him in his home. And forgave those who nailed him to the cross. 


  It’s easy to teach from the perspective of Holiness, but from sinner to saint perhaps many of our teachings and Homilies  can fall short throughout the Church. However we must not forget the most fundamental point,  that Jesus came to save. To save the people,  that perhaps have not been born into a life of holiness, or had a loving family to teach them about God or the merciful love of Jesus Christ. He came to save the sinners.

Jesus said to them, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.'" Mark 2:17

The feast day of the Holy Family should inspire all of us to become more like them. To be obedient to Gods will, To serve others, to love without conditions and to have a servants heart. That is how all families should live. Perhaps you are a single mother or a single father. Maybe you are a step parent. Or even have adopted a child or been adopted yourself. Maybe your living with your grandparents.  The fact is our families my look a bit different from the Holy Family. But we still can strive to obtain this level of Holiness. We our still worthy to do so. 


Pope Francis said that “We are all called to be saints; we must remember that holiness is a gift from God- Not something we can achieve on our own. Holiness is not granted only to those who have the opportunity to break away from ordinary task, to devote themselves to prayer. Rather, everyone is called to holiness in their own state of life. It’s by living with love and offering Christian witness in our daily task that we are called to become saints… Always and everywhere you can become a saint, that is, by being receptive to the grace that is working in us and leads us to holiness.” 


He also said at his address to Families on Sept. 27, 2015 

 “Perfect families do not exist. This must not discourage us. Quite the opposite. Love is something we learn; love is something we live; love grows as it is 'forged' by the concrete situations which each particular family experiences. Love is born and constantly develops amid lights and shadows. Love can flourish in men and women who try not to make conflict the last word, but rather a new opportunity. An opportunity to seek help, an opportunity to question how we need to improve, an opportunity to discover the God Who is with us and never abandons us. This is a great legacy that we can give to our children, a very good lesson: we make mistakes, yes; we have problems, yes. But we know that that is not really what counts. We know that mistakes, problems and conflicts are an opportunity to draw closer to others, to draw closer to God.”

   My prayer for this blog is to entice all types of families to call upon The Holy Family to intercede for them. For all families whatever they consist of , or made up of, to seek the Holy Family as a role model and as an example of how a family should live. For those who may be a single parent, my prayer for you is that The Holy Family might join you in your day to day task as you play both roles, Father and Mother to your children. For your children to not feel abandon or alone, that they have a since of a complete family. For your children to see an authentic witness in you;  of your willingness to be guided by our heavenly Father, to willing receive the Love of His Mother, Mary and to have the  obedience of Joseph to follow God’s will.

Please pray for my family. That we may be a family to all those we serve here, who do not know the true meaning of a family. We desire to bring them the knowledge and experience of what it is to have unconditional love, generosity, forgiveness and desire to follow Christ. We pray that through seeing Christ in us,  that they may have a desire to know and become more like the Holy Family – Jesus , Mary and Joseph. 

   Holy Family of Jesus Mary and Joseph pray for us!

Karen, Julianna and Gabriel Del Castillo

To make a special donation or become a monthly mission partner follow the link :

delcastillo.familymissionscompany.com

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To send us your prayer request:  karendelcastillo@familymissionscompany.com

Our Christmas wish is a home for the poor!

Lately I have been a bit frustrated, 

asking myself,  if I have become so

 blind that I can not see the poor whom I serve?

  I am ashamed to say that I struggled a bit to share this with you. Embarrassed and ashamed that it is very possible that I have, become so blind and poor to see the needs of others. Losing sensitivity to the poverty we live among day in and day out. Perhaps because it has just become the new normal for my children and I.  Where it does not faze us to see and experience the living conditions of our friends we visit each week.  After all there is no illness or addictions in the family, there is both dad and mom in the picture and the entire family attends mass every Sunday together. However God insisted that I see them with His eyes. To see their needs and their worth. 


   For the last two weeks I have awaken in the middle of the night with a great desire to help them. With a burning desire within, that I must do something. Knowing that they have no way to build a home for themselves, As Marixa stays at home caring for their three children. Milton struggles to find enough work to provide for the needs of his family at times holding down 3 different jobs. If that’s not enough Milton was recently told to leave one of his jobs,  as he confronted his employer and tried to defend the 32 underage children (some as young as 8 years old) working in the factory where he had been working at. Even with the struggles this family has seen financially both Milton and His wife know that they must praise the Lord and to be obedient to Gods will for them. That they must not lose faith. 

   It reminded me of Pope Francis’s call to all Christians to remember the poor “the treasures of the Church”.  Pope Francis asked “ Do I, a Christian have at least one poor person as a friend?” I was overwhelmed with great Joy to know, I do. I truly do have friends who are poor! Pope Francis reminded all, that “the poor are valuable in the eyes of God”, that “they need someone to take them by the hand”. But more so “the poor remind us how we should live the Gospel: like beggars reaching out to God.”


  Knowing that many of you are gearing up for Black Friday, Cyber Monday and giving Tuesday. Scoping out the ads for the best deals for this year’s Christmas Gifts for that special someone. Or perhaps you’re a business owner trying to find that perfect charity in which to make your companies end of the year donation to.  I knew I must seize the moment and yet again become a beggar in the name of Christ and to reach out to each of you.

This is where they cook

Kitchen area

Buckets used as a sink 

   I urge you to prayerfully and carefully take a look at the pictures of our friend’s home.  This is what we as missionary see every day. Ask yourself what you would do if these were your friends. Perhaps even reflect on the things you see in each picture. The hanging clothes with no dresser drawers to go in. The beds, the walls in which anything and everything crawls through. Or perhaps your eye notices the dirt floor. Whatever strikes you about these pictures ask yourself if God is asking you to forgo one or two items on your Christmas list this year to help this family out.   We cannot allow ourselves to just overlook the poor or to pass them by. We must see them as Christ sees them.  VALUABLE!  And as the treasures of the Church.  

One of their beds, made with blocks and bamboo 

The children's bed, with sweet little Alondra taking her afternoon nap! 

A humble area. Clean dry clothes hang on a line, because their is no drawers. A table made of blocks and bamboo. 

Despite what it may seem, the home is very incredibly clean and in order. 

  Please prayerfully consider making a difference in this families life. Giving them a gift that they could not ever possibly return. However your gift will not go unnoticed in the eyes of our Lord. We invite you to make a special onetime donation to help build a home for our friends. Milton, his wife Marixa and their three children all live in this hut made of bamboo, over a dirt floor in which contains no doors.  


  Our goal is to give them a small one room home with a concrete floor, brick walls and a door. If its Gods desire to provide more than enough funds for the small one room home, than we would use the extra funds to set them up with a water storage tank and an outdoor bathroom.



  Our Christmas wish this year is that you will prayerfully consider making a donation so together we can build a home for this wonderful family. Whom have become are sweet friends. Because God sees the poor as the Treasures to the Church. 

“Do I, a Christian have at least one 

poor person as a friend?”

 Pope Francis

17 November 2019

To make a Special Donation

Online: Follow the link

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Mail: 

12611 Everglade Road, Abbeville, LA 70510

***  Important please place in the memo:

 HOME FOR THE POOR

*** If you have any question about the home that we would like to build or would like personally to make the journey to Peru to help build the home feel free to contact us at : Karendelcastillo@familymissionscompany.com

INTO DEEPER WATERS

Sitting on the shores of the Pacific Ocean it took me a moment to wrapped my head around how Christ had transformed me, since surrendering to his will, it was a bit overwhelming . The boat in the picture has constantly been in my mind since the day I took the picture during one of my  personal  prayer times while on a retreat in Los Organos Peru last year. 

 As I thanked God for making me whole again and for giving such an amazing opportunity for my children and I to become saints. I sat for several moments on the shore reflecting on how far WE had come and what all WE had accomplished. I mean after all we sold what little we had in the United States, Left family, friends, secure careers and schools behind.  We had moved thousands of miles away to live in a small pueblo in the middle of the Jungle to serve his people.  What more could he want. We gave him everything, we were doing all he asked us to do. We had settled and adapted to living in a 3^rd world country. We were making friends, our ministries were taking off. WE were doing the impossible!!!! I boldly thought to myself, God must be pleased with us.

But then, I was struck with words that pierced my heart;

Youth Retreat- Gabriel making friends

“ I want more. Don’t get to comfortable where I have sent you. You still need to follow me. You must have courage.”

 Proverbs 3:5 -7 came to me, I thought to myself; had I forgotten to trust in the Lord with all my heart? Had I become too comfortable returning to my old self ; relying on my own strength and not allowing Jesus to guide me?  As I reflected on my thoughts and my feelings, I looked up and saw this fishing boat approaching the shore; The boat reminded me of the disciples being tossed around by the waves found in the Book of Matthew chapter 14.

 Was I going to be like the 11 disciples who remained in the tiny boat, scared and untrusting? Was I wanting to only remain in the boat because I sought safety for my children and myself. Or was I going to be like Peter and step out of the boat and trust Jesus.

I recognized what it was that God was laying on my heart,  I immediately knew Jesus was calling me to get out of the boat and into the depths of the water. But haven’t my children and I already stepped out of that boat?

For some time prior,  Jesus had been calling us out of that boat. He had been whispering to my children and I to move. But this time he laid on my heart that it  was time to seriously pray and surrender to Gods will. Not to the will of our own desires.

  

He is calling us deeper.

“Courage ! He said, It is I,  Do not be afraid”

My children and I struggled with this request. We were just now getting use to a new normal. We thought about our ministries we had started, the people we had come to serve and love. What about them?  Who would love them like we did if we moved?

 I cannot lie, My family and I were afraid.  Just as Peter and the other 11 disciples were. We wanted to be obedient . We wanted to have courage and not be afraid, we wanted to step out of that boat.  But all we knew was a name of a Diocese 8 hours from any other FMC missionary which was in the northern part of Peru. Not to mention we did not know exactly which pueblo He wanted us to move to. We would be ALONE, in the jungle. We would no longer be within the safety of our current mission post. After all,  in our current mission post,  FMC missionaries have lived here in strong numbers since 2015. The locals know why we are here. They have always been respectful and understanding that we were here to serve the poor. I would say our current mission post is safe from most dangers.

The wonderful Youth Group walking with us to a nearby pueblo for Mass

He give us courage.

 He is calling us deeper

“Lord if it is really you, order me to come out on the water with you.”

Jesus was calling us out of that old fishing boat to trust in his plan,  just as he called Peter. After speaking with Sarah Granger one of the directors of FMC about this call, we were encouraged to pray about it and to go and investigate the area. To seek truly if it was God’s will for us to open up a new mission post in the northern part of Peru.  To seek the Holy Spirit and visit.  We had to remain faithful to his will. We had to remain patient and allow Jesus to show us the right time to visit the Bishop of Chachapoyas.

When the time was right we embarked on a trip to see if we could make contact with the Bishop of Chachapoyas.  I told my daughter that I cannot believe we are doing this, we don’t even have an appointment (which if we could get would be only half of the mission).  I  was worried if our written request was going to please the Bishop, I was super nervous about my spanish skills, because obviously once in front of the bishop I would need to articulate the desire to serve in his diocese. Not to mention from a very old wound that the devil likes to throw in my face,  I was nervous that the bishop would see my family as nothing more than a broken family.  But all I knew is we didn’t want to remain in the boat, we wanted to trust Jesus and step out once again and go into even deeper waters.  So we said “Lord if it’s really you than order us again to come out of the boat and take control of all our worries, by sending The Holy Spirit to go before us.”

 On our 1^st day in the Diocese of Chachapoyas we set off to find the Bishop,  to request an appointment. Little did I know that he was available to see us right then. No time to worry about what I was going to say or practice my Spanish beforehand,  because before we knew it we were sitting right in front of Bishop Emiliano. It was like he was waiting for us.

The Bishop was a bit confused why we wanted to serve in his Diocese. All I could say is because Jesus has led us here; he has placed your diocese on our hearts and we want to be faithful to Christ and serve the poor as a family of Catholic Lay missionaries. He stated three or four times to us with a confused look “ We do not have any other Catholic Lay missionaries serving here. I boldly said, “ that must be the reason God has sent us to you. To live among your people as an example of a devoted family”. He just nodded his head and said that if there was a priest in his diocese who was interested than he would give us permission to serve in his diocese.

                             It truly was the Lord calling us.

He is calling us deeper

Jesus said “Come”

Jesus said to “come” But we felt as the Disciples did when Jesus told them to get into the boat. We were far out into the sea as they were and being tossed around by the waves during the middle of a storm. But unlike the disciples our waves were not of water. We were being tossed around by the laws of Peru. We experience what could be summed up in one word as Horror.  I was refused permission to travel outside of Peru  with my children. We were in deep, In uncharted waters. After 9 months of serving in Peru we were traveling back to the US for a retreat and to visit family back in the United States. But we were not going anywhere. We were stuck in the middle of a 3^rd world’s politics and broken crazy laws. The authorities were not  budging. We were frightened and in disbelief what was happening. All of us were United States Citizens and stuck in Peru. After a week of pleading with lawyers , migrations and the US embassy we were not any closer of returning back to the states. All we as a family could do was submit to Gods will. In our little Airbnb apartment in Lima , where we were staying, we fell on our knees and we just laid it all in God’s hands. We let everything come out, surrendering all and said to Him “ You sent us to Peru to serve your people. If you do not wish us to leave so be it. If you desire us to stay and serve your people than may your will be done.  If you want us to serve in another diocese we will go, Do with us what you may.”  God knew my heart was breaking. He knew we were scared but he saw our immense faith in Him. Perhaps that was all he needed. Because after that prayer He showed us the path how to return back to the states. He placed loving and caring lawyers, friends, and notaries in our path who worked hard to obtain the proper documentation that the Peruvian Government wanted, giving me permission to leave the country with my children.  Three weeks after being held up in Lima Peru we were able to leave the country  for the 1^st time in 10 months.

Christmas 2018 : Blessed to spend it with my two oldest sons before their shifts at the fire station.

Left to right; My son Maccray, Daughter Julianna,

Son Gabriel, Daughter in Law Maddie, Oldest Son Mason

Once upon arriving in the states Jesus confirmed again that he wanted us to serve his people in a different diocese of Peru by sending a long awaited email from a priest who was wanting to talk to us about serving with him.

 It was Jesus saying “COME”

He is calling us deeper

“Save me Lord’ He Cried

Just as Peter wanted to be faithful and wanted to show Jesus he had courage, trust and faith. My family wanted to do the same.  But just as Peter found out once upon the water, it was not easy to keep his eyes on Jesus. We needed Jesus to save us. Just as Peter had cried out to the Lord “ Save Me”  We too had to make the same cry to our Lord. Because thoughts came to mind about not returning to Peru. What if the next time we wanted to return to the States the Peruvian government again refused us the right to leave the country. What if Peru would never allow me to leave the country with my children? Would we be stuck in Peru?  Many of our friends and family looked upon us with disbelief when we said we were going back.  But we knew we had to trust in Jesus. We knew that we had to keep our eyes fixed on him and only him. Not on what the world thought. We needed the Lord to “Save us”

 We asked God, If it’s your will for us to go to serve in the new diocese of Chachapoyas than please make it clear to us.  Prepare a way for us Lord.  Allow us to serve with a loving Priest just as we do in our current mission post, Show us the Pueblo you have prepared for us. Prepare a home for us.

Sister Maria- Julianna & Gabriel

Upon our return to Peru we took a trip to meet Father Robert Lopez,  the priest requesting to meet us, in the Parish of Apostle Santiago located in Bagua Grande within  the Diocese of Chachapoyas. He is one of two Priest serving over 200 pueblos  located in the region of the Amazonas . We were greeted with such love and compassion. They both had said they were praying for missionaries and when they heard the Bishop talk about us during a monthly meeting among all the Diocese of Chachapoyas Priest, they prayed that no other Priest would take interest. Throughout the meeting they both said they could not wait until the meeting was over to approach the bishop about meeting us. They knew nothing about us. All they knew was we were missionaries,  seeking to find the place the Lord had prepared for us. They looked upon my children and I as normal and very much what they were asking for. A family that could live among and  connect with their people.  Not a Priest, not a religious sister, but just a normal family, once broken, but made new again by the graces of God.

When we arrived it was certain that the Holy Spirit was present and working opening the hearts to the people. They showed us homes and two different towns that they were really needing help in.  They said whichever one felt right. They asked us to pray about the two towns and seek Gods will for us.

Exploring the surrounding area of Bagua Grande with Father Robert

We cried out “Lord Save Us” and he did just that.

He is calling us deeper

At once Jesus reached out and grabbed hold of Him and said “ What little faith you have, Why did you doubt.”

Jesus knowns we need to fix our eyes on Him, but that at times we will lose focus as Peter did. It’s important to know that Jesus will also be there for us. He will always reach out and grab hold of us to pull us up.

It is this kind of trust that my family must have.  We are being sent to a new mission post. A call from our Lord not to take lightly. Father Robert is extremely worried about our safety living in the area. He told us that to serve in the area it would be unsafe if we planned on walking everywhere like we currently do. He was especially concerned because his vision for my family is to help reach the more remote area surrounding the town in which we will live.  To go off the beaten path to work with the impoverish  Indian communities. And with the limited public transportation and the past history of the area he recommended we purchase a vehicle. My pride got the better of me ,  I was a bit offended at first, thinking that maybe he and Father Cristóbal saw my family as weak. Afterall  we managed just fine at our current post without a vehicle. So far we have not had any dangerous encounters.  But after watching the two of them heed their own warnings  for the week we spent with them,  it made me a bit concerned which was Good.

It made me realize that this new mission post is going to be nothing like the safety of our current mission post. The locals will not recognize us as the missionaries. They will recognize us as the “Gringos”. The area is not very known for tourism and laid back culture. Instead it’s known for its unrest and it’s lack of infrastructure despite its population which is exploding with  a large number of  Venezuelans fleeing from their own countries corruption.  We will live right in the middle of the civil unrest.  Where just 10 years ago in 2009 the jungle massacre occurred between the Peruvian government and the Indigent tribes of the Awajun and Wambis Indians who protested and fought over oil and logging rights. A conflict that has left hundreds dead both police and indigenous people .  Where during the massacre hundreds sought refuge in the Catholic Church.

Photo courtesy of John Gibler, writer for Huffpost

The same place we are being called to serve was only 2 1/2 hours away from where last August, a Jesuit Priest,  Carlos Riudavets Montes was found  stabbed to death in the boarding school where he served. He was 73 years old.

 Jesuit Priest Killed last year ; Photo courtesy of The Vatican News

As Jesus grabs our hands and pulls us out of the water and back into the boat with him, we cannot continue to doubt Him. It will be more than fatal for us to do so.  We must not be of little faith.  Because He is calling us deeper. He is calling us to serve within the parish of Apostle Santiago, within the Dioceses of Chachapoyas located in the region of the amazons in a little pueblo called Cajaruro. Under the leadership of  Bishop Emiliano and Father Robert Lopez. Just 141 miles from Ecuador’s border.

We must not doubt the will of the Lord. We must be faithful that our call comes from Him and Him alone. That we go with only the desire to serve Him. We must be obedient enough when we arrive at our new post in September that those we serve will only be greeted by Christ Himself. We must remain locked on the eyes of Christ to complete his mission in to the deeper waters.

As my children and I in 4 short months complete our 2 year commitment as foreign missionaries we have learned so much. We have allowed our rough edges to be sanded down. We had to get over pride. We had to get out of the boat not once not twice but many times. Jesus is continuously calling us into deeper waters.

With that said, you probably wonder why I am telling you all this. It would be much easier for me just to say in less words. That this September we are moving to a new mission post after our two year commitment ends,  that we have been called to serve Christ as foreign missionaries for an indefinite amount of time. But that would not be much of a testimony to the trust we have in our Lord.

 One thing we have learned in are almost two years of missions it takes three persons to complete the work. It takes us whom have been called by Christ to go to the ends of the earth to preach the gospel . It takes you the faithful whom trust in God’s plans and that enjoys being a part of bringing souls to Christ, and it takes Christ himself.   We have also learned the very hard way that a starving mission is not a thriving mission. Christ wants us to have a thriving mission and a healthy safe family. Our pride cannot get in the way of Gods ASK!  He asked us to step out of the boat to journey deeper with Him, so He can reach the ones whom have yet heard. We have said Yes. But God is calling us all deeper. He is calling my children to trust in him in a more radical way.  He is calling us to trust that he will provide and that he will keep us safe from harm’s way. 

We have stepped out of the boat and in four short months we will be in the deepest waters we have ever experienced. 

We need your help!   

We are asking you today if you would pray in a fervent way and ask Christ how you could help. I know what you are thinking.  You have already help so much. AND YOU HAVE!   The Lord has shown to us that he is fully capable of making the impossible, possible.  

Ways you can you Help!

To be able to serve in a thriving and safe way at our new mission post we are needing to purchase a truck.

We our asking you for your help. We are inviting you to be a part of bringing  Souls to Christ. To invest Gods resources he has provided you, in a heavenly investment.

Brothers and sisters you must know, we do not come to you before we have 1^st went to our Lord in prayer.

Please prayerfully consider

1.       If God would like you to respond to this need by making a special donation of $10,000.00, so we can purchase a truck.

2.       Consider increasing your monthly support to help us maintain a vehicle (Gas, repairs etc.)  Our current $700.00 budget cannot handle maintaining a vehicle. We need to increase our budget $300.00 per month. To include the new expenses of having a mission vehicle and to accomplish the vision for our new mission post.

3.       Or better yet maybe Christ is asking you to respond to this letter in a more extreme way,  perhaps he is asking you to be our VOICE asking and pleading with your social groups and home parishes and diocese promoting and campaigning for the poor here in Peru by asking for a special collection in your parish or group to be collected for the mission God has sent us on.

4.       It could be as easy as starting a Go Fund Me account or perhaps you could make a list of people in your family or your friends that would like to see a Good return on their investment. There is no better Rate of return than to invest in God’s work. 

To become a monthly mission partner and or make a special donation please following the link:

delcastillo.familymissionscompany.com

*****We have investigated the cost of used trucks. Which are cheaper out of Lima. Here are a few screen shots of trucks we found on Line. We are trying to find a truck in the $8,000.00 price range the extra $2,000.00 would cover our expenses of our travel to lima and driving the truck the 30 plus hour trip back to our mission post. The reminder if there is,  would go to major tune up and maintenance needed to make the truck reliable and roadworthy to serve as a mission vehicle.

We love you all , and thank God for your partnership each and every day. 

The Del Castillo’s

Karen. Julianna, Gabriel