Hello Everybody,
Here is our October, 2023 update;
We have busy with some new projects.
We finally got to make a river trip half way to Pucallpa, to visit some Pastor's that we know in that area of the Ucayali River. The Ucayali is one of the main rivers that feed into and start the Amazon River. We wanted to talk to them and get their input if they would like us to visit them and provide some Pastor's conferences' for them and their leaders.
There is a lot of bad doctrine in the river communities due to lack of resources and preparation. And cults that take advantage of their lack of training. Most of the Pastor's have only finished High School, some not even that, but they have the heart to teach the word there in their communities. Most of them do not have Children's Church our Youth Groups for various reasons, mostly lack of time and lack of help.
We hope to encourage them and share the little bit that we know, with them, hopefully we will also be able to share some resources to help them in the preparation of their messages, and of course with good doctrine.
We will be visiting them the last week of January, 2024 (God willing) and will teach the Inductive Bible Study Method. It is not easy to get there, in fact a bit uncomfortable, we were about 20 hours sitting in a fast boat to get there. And about 18 hours to get back. We went with the faster boat's to be able to get there and back before the next Sunday Service at our church.
Our destination was the river community of "Monte Bello" (translated beautiful mountain). We went there looking for Raul's uncle, who pastors the church there. We found him and were welcomed with open arms.
Raul volunteered to go pick up some lumber that was being milled. You can see in the 3rd picture the vehicle that was used, a vehicle that I had never seen before, but there were many of them there in Monte Bello.
 Our boat to "Monte Bello" |
 I was surprised to find that the boat had wi-fi |
 Raul lending his uncle a hand to go pick up lumber |
We were blessed to find out that the church we were visiting had been invited to an all night vigil/wedding at another river community, and that many other churches would be there also. This was good news, because we would be able to speak to a few other Pastors all at one time without having to travel to many other river communities. They had already made plans to hire a boat to take them there. So we tagged along and travelled like the locals.
 Our 2nd boat to "Dos de Mayo" |
 River was very low, branches sticking out made for slow travel |
 We were welcomed with a welcome lunch |
Jeins (pronouced Jane's) who graduated from the Calvary Bible College in Cajamarca this May. Is doing very will and being very helpful here are our church. He is teaching on Wednesday nights and some Saturday's helping Gaby with the Youth Group. He is also very active in all of our projects and activities, like painting the church and Concert that we had in November.
 Jeins teaching Wednesday nights |
 Jeins teaching Wednesday nights |
 Jeins teaching Wednesday nights |
We were blessed with some funds that came in, so we decided to paint the church, which was very needed. It is nice that many of our people came to help and we got it done in 2 days.
I didn't get too many pictures, because I was too busy working, but here are a few. Pastor Jose & his wife Lidia also came to lend a hand.
 Jeins & our youth putting on the base coat |
 Pastor Jose & Lidia helping |
Our Youth Group is starting to prepare for our annual Christmas program. We will be visiting 3 river Communities and of course the program at our church. Our youth are preparing a drama and worship songs for the children. Camila is helping prepare our youth with Gabys direction.
The river is still pretty low, but the rainy season has just started, so the river should start rising pretty soon. This July thru September was very hot, with hardly no rain, so we are glad for the rain now. Although when it isn't raining it is still hot. We don't have 4 seasons here, just 2 - we have sun and rain.
Here is a picture of the Itaya river from the Boulevard, for those who have been here, so you can see how low that river is.
 Itaya River from the Boulevard |
"Calvary Chapel Iquitos" (There are more pictures there than I can send in an update)
We are in our summer, it has been a hot one, in the 90's everyday.
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).