Hello Everybody,
Here is our March, 2023 update;
Here is our latest update. I have been having trouble with my cell phone and couldn't get the pictures I wanted to my laptop. Anyway, I worked around that and here is the update.
The rivers were very low when I was covering for Pastor Jose in Panguana. I took a few of our boys from the Youth Group with me each week. It is the rainy season now, so the river has risen quite a bit now, but here are a few pics when the river was low, back in Novembe & December.
We would go on Thursday morning and have a Thursday night service at the church there. Then we would spend the night and come to the river edge to wait for a boat to pass & pick us up.
Pastor Jose returned in January and is back to work in the churches of Panguana & Centro Fuerte and ready to work again. He can see and read from the eye that was operated on, so thank you very much for those who contributed to his eye operation.
 Along the shores of the Amazon River |
 By a village |
 A side walk that has collapsed |
 Coming back from overnight in Panguana |
 Waiting for the boat |
 Waiting for the boat |
I don't know what is going on, but I have done 3 funerals in March & April. I was in Lima in March, when I returned, I found that my next-door neighbor had passed away. A great grand-mother who lived with her son, grand-daughters, and grand-children off and on since I moved into the neighborhood about 5 years ago.
Then a week later another neighbor on the same block passed away from cancer. She and her daughter would come to the church occasionaly.
Of course, in all 3 cases I volunteered to speak at the all-night vigil and at the burial.
Here in Iquitos, the custom is to accompany the body all night or several nights until the day of the burial. They usually hire a bus or two, and all the family & neighbors go to the burial.
 Burial site |
 Burial site |
The last funeral was in April, strange it was for a Canadian who was engaged to one of the girls from Belen. He seemed very healthy and I talked to him on friday afternoon, as we bumped into each other at the bank, and he reminded me that I was invited to their wedding in September. well, he passed away that night.
A good reminder that we never know when our turn will be and we must be ready now and not wait until we think we are going to die to get right with God. Today is the day of salvation says the Bible. Those who die with Jesus go to heaven, those who don't don't, very simple, and yet we make it very difficult.
Well something interesting, that at the wake, I had some of the children memorize memory verses for prizes, just like I used to do for their mothers. Here is a picture of the children of the children I used to teach in Belen, no wonder I am feeling old. It makes me wonder if I will live to see their children eh?
 Spiritual grand-kids |
Tanya was in my children's group & then in the Youth Group in Belen, when I was doing ministry down there. Well, she is a mother of 2 now, and last July was diagnosed with a bad kidney. It seems that the kidney stones were too large to pass and that caused the kidney to fail.
Tanya's red blood count was too low to operate, so they were trying to get it higher. I got involved about 5 months ago, and we tried several things to get her count up. Well, we finally found a doctor who (for a price) will put her through the system. She has been in the hospital for several days receiving blood, and that worked, so her blood count is now high enough for them to operate and remove that kidney or what is left of it. The Doctor said it is mainly just liquids there, that have to be removed, and that she would be in the hospital a few days with tubes to finish draining.
Well please pray for Tanya, as you can see in the pictures she has lost a lot of weight. And if you feel led to help, the cost will be about $2000. If more comes in then that, the rest will be used for other medical costs. There are always medical needs here, especially pharmacy needs for colds & coughs that the children get. And once in a while somethng more serious.
 Tanya in March, before being hospitalized |
 Tanya receiving blood |
 Tanya with her mother & cousin |
We celebrated our 16th year anniversary as a church in El Terminal this past Sunday. I can't believe we have been a church for 16 years now. Thanks to Ena Modrich & Pastor Javier, who helped found the church. And to Pastor Jose who pastored the church for 6 years. Pastor Jose followed his heart which is ministry to river communities and founded 2 churches in river communities. Which kept him pretty busy and the reason I started pastoring the church in 2013.
I am happy to report that some of the children we started with are now teaching the current children, so I don't do the children's ministry any longer but focus on other things. Gaby (who grew up in the church, and went to Bible College) is now leading the Youth Group and doing a great job.
And that is Juan Carlos (Pastor Jose' son) helping me baptise, while Pastor Raul led the worship during the baptism.
 Retreat site we rented |
 Baptism at the pool |
 Baptism at the pool |
 Alonso (16) being baptised |
 |
 Three teens baptised |
Our 3 Bible College students are doing very well. Jeins will graduate this May, I hope to be there to encourage him.
Thank you all who send blessings for them to be able to be there, and for the Lord to prepare them for whatever He has planned for their futures.
Luana & Omar have decided to move to Lima, so they are no longer part of Pastor Javier's team. We wish them well and pray that the Lord would lead them in their new adventure.
"Calvary Chapel Iquitos" (There are more pictures there than I can send in an update)
We are still in the rainy season and it should be over in May.
To help support Albert or Jose financially, please send your checks to:
Calvary Chapel Murrieta 24225 Monroe Avenue Murrieta, CA 92562 Memo = Peru, Albert Smith Or for Jose Memo = Peru, Jose Garate
If you would like to contribute to any of the following ministries\expenses:
You can send donations to the following address: (Putting our account # (62414)in the memo portion of your check & the ministry you wish to donate to)
Harvest Alliance International P.O. Box 4550 Oceanside, CA 92052 Memo: "62414 - XXX"
(62414 is our ministry number) (Where XXX = General Fund, Children's Ministry, etc...)
- "Raul" (please put "62414/Raul" on the memo section of your checks)
- "Pastor Javier" (please put "62414/Pst.Javier" on the memo section of your checks)
- "Gabriella" - (Please put "62414/Gabriella" on the memo section of your check)
- "General Fund" (Please put "62414/General Fund" on the memo section of your check)
- "Bible College" (Please put "62414/Bible College"
- "Children's Ministry" (copies, school supplies, medicine, snacks, prizes, etc.) (Please put 62414/Children on the memo section of your check)
- "Construction" - To build churches, houses, classrooms, or other projects please put "62414/Construction" on your checks)
- "Pastor's Conferences"
- "River Ministry" (weekly travel expenses). (Please put "62414/River Ministry" on the memo section of your check)
- "Teen Training" (Please put "62414/Teen Training" on the memo section of your check)
*Note: The dollar is currently at 3.73 or 373 soles for every $100 (U.S.).
Thank you all for your prayers and financial support.
and God Bless you
Albert Smith
Pastor Javier & Pastor Raul's offerings go through Harvest Alliance International (above).