To understand why my husband and I came to El Faro you’d first have to have a brief knowledge of our background. My husband, Osmar was born and raised in the Peruvian Amazon in the city of Iquitos. Like most Iquitanians, my husband was raised very poor and to this day he is still the only person in his family who has made it out of destitution. Even though my husband by the local standards is living a wealthy lifestyle, he hasn’t forgotten where he came from. Three years ago the desire in his heart to help others blossomed into a small gathering of kids in his mother’s humble bamboo and grass roofed home in the stricken community. It’s very simple, he went to love on them and they came. He started sharing the bible, teaching them to pray, played games and gave food and drink. Today our ministry, The Sunshine Kids Club, now has 160 members all children from 6 months of age to 16 years old.
What are 2 people to do with 160 kids?… that’s where El Faro comes in. Osmar and I heard about El Faro some time ago and that they were searching for people to come and work with the children of Punta de Palma and surrounding communities. At the time we didn’t feel God had told us to leave our ministry and our kids in Peru, but now our 13 yr olds are now 16 yr olds and so our ministry and the programs it offers also need to adapt to capture our older kids attention. So this year God made it possible for us to come on a “training expedition” if you will, to broaden our minds and our vision for our children home in Peru, and indeed we have truly been encouraged beyond measure. Upon arrival before stepping foot off the boat, El Faro is beautiful to behold. Not only externally is it a paradise on earth with its brightly colored tucans and palm trees but the family connection with the staff and teams is by far its greatest attribute. You will not go unappreciated, feel useless despite your talents or lack thereof, you simply feel at home among family and dear friends.
From my very first church service here I received an answer to one of my greatest cries. You see, we have been praying over this piece of real estate since ’09 for our kids ministry. This building is huge and as it has been sitting abandoned for some 20 years needs lots of repairs, but none the less it would be perfect. But to be honest a project of this magnitude is intimidating to undertake. And for the last 4 years I haven’t truly believed that God would give, or do something that big through me. And the more time went on the more I believed it was too late for our dreams, for this vision of ministry… BUT here God gave me a word. “IT’S NOT TOO LATE! AND IT’S NOT TOO BIG FOR ME!” Since this word we have new desires, plans, and visions seeping out from within. We can mirror the tutoring program, soccer academy and kids camp here at El Faro. We want to have a dance and drama club. We want to have a princess ball so girls know how their Daddy in heaven treasures them and self-defense classes for the men that don’t. We want to do all this and more. What a renewing of hope. And this word will stay with me until He has completed His good work through me! He will provide ALL we need, all we have to do is believe and obey. For me El Faro has inspired me to allow myself to be inspired more greatly by God.
Thank you David Vasquez and El Faro staff for housing and feeding us, for investing your time and prayers in us and for sharing the many many laughs. And thank you All For Him and Hearts In Motion for your love and our transportation.
Blessings
Nicole & Osmar
To see more of their amazing ministry in Peru, Sunshine Kids Club, go to their facebook HERE
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