Earlier this week, I received word from Latin America Mission clearing me to start the preparations for moving to Peru! Airline tickets have been purchased for Wednesday, June 8th and a few days later, I will greet my first work team and head up to the jungle!

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be busy getting ready to move to South America. This means going to Miami to sign paperwork with LAM, two weddings, a short vacation with family, wrapping up various things in Dearborn, and figuring out exactly how to pack for a three-year move!

Even though I have been cleared to deploy to Peru, I am still just a few percentage points away from being fully supported. To be fully-supported, I am in need of $300 per month. If you have been waiting until I have a departure date to support my work, now is the time! Please fill out a pledge card, mail it to LAM and help me become fully supported.

A lot of changes are going to happen over the next few weeks and I am excited about each one!

Stay tuned for updates about a Commissioning Service at First Presbyterian, how to pack for three years, and other developments as I prepare to depart for Peru.

It’s Official. is a post from: Twelve Degrees South.

I have been officially informed that I am have 88% of my support raised! That means, I need just $400/month in support before I can depart for Peru! That’s just 10 individuals giving $40 a month.

If you’ve been thinking about supporting me and haven’t done it yet, email me today! I am trying to begin working with Scripture Union by this June, so anything you can do will help.

Thank you to those that have committed to supporting my ministry in Peru with Scripture Union through both prayer and financial support.

88%. is a post from: Twelve Degrees South.

Thank you to those that have committed to supporting my ministry in Peru with Scripture Union through both prayer and financial support.

Thanksgiving. is a post from: Twelve Degrees South.

I am an official Latin America Mission missionary appointee to work with Scripture Union in Peru!

This means that I will be moving to Peru to work with Scripture Union full time. This means leading and translating for work teams from the US and UK, teaching English at one of the Casa Girasoles homes, working with the deaf program in Lima, and being the entire communications department for the organization (think website, communication with supporters, photographs, etc). Of course, all of this is just an example of what I will be doing and I expect that this job description will change frequently… It is a Latin culture after all!

This wasn’t an overnight decision for me. I have been feeling “the call” for the past few years, but didn’t take it seriously until recently. God has been working in my life in various ways preparing me for this calling – by giving me a love for helping others, a love of travel, the gift of learning Spanish and the confidence, ability and experience during the 2008 and 2009 2 summers in serving Him with Scripture Union in Peru.

You might be wondering why I am involved with the Latin America Mission? Answer is simple, the LAM will be my “sending mission” to work with an already formed partnership between the LAM and Scripture Union Peru. There are already three others involved with the LAM and SU (Billy and Yashmin Clark, Pablo and Bertha Lavado and my friend, Billy Greenman). When I expressed interest in working with SU full time, both Billys recommended the LAM for their excellent support and philosophies. But from becoming more familiar with the LAM over the past few months, I am finding my own reasons for appreciating the organization. One unique thing about the LAM is that its partner ministries are run by nationals in the country – not North Americans coming in to “fix” everything, rather working alongside Latin Americans (and in my case peruanos) to help them in what they are already doing.

Being accepted as a LAM missionary appointee and before I am able to move to Peru to work with Scripture Union, I need to raise monthly support to assist me in this ministry. I need to raise $3,500 a month, which includes things like housing, food, administrative costs, and insurance. In addition to financial support, I am also looking for prayer partners who will commit pray for my ministry, health, and any other needs I will have over the next few years. I will be updating this site with specific prayer requests and updates about my work.

So over the next few months I will be visiting different groups and churches, sharing what I will be doing (and what is already happening in Peru) with Scripture Union. If you are interested in hearing about this exciting new opportunity I will be undertaking, let me know! Give me a call or send an email and I am more than happy to share more about what I will be doing with you, your small group, or congregation.

After 10 Days in Miami… is a post from: Twelve Degrees South.