February brought us the visit of Levi and Judi Martin, along with their daughter, Sylvia. As most of you know, we are living in the house they built on their property here. Their visit was not only a joy but also a help, as we are still dealing with the court case brought against Stephanie and me by our neighbors.
The accusations—that we stole the property and have no rightful claim to be here—are entirely false, yet the legal process continues. We have been given an eviction notice to be off the property within 90 days. Levi graciously took time to work with the attorney, signing paperwork that should help resolve some of these issues.
Since his departure, I’ve remained in contact with the attorney’s office, supplying additional documentation to confirm our residency and work here in Peru. The judge also asked for photos showing us working with cows and the fields here over the past several years.
We continue praying that this will soon be behind us. The attorney is confident that the case will be dismissed, and we are grateful for their efforts.
We do not live in fear, but we remain watchful. Just a couple of weeks ago, three men arrived at our house, taking pictures and videos of the farm and home. Percy approached them and asked who they were. They seemed uneasy and left quickly, but not before making a concerning remark—that this property was for sale and that someone was trying to sell it out from under us. After leaving our lane, they circled around to another area and continued recording from a distance.
Then, I received a call from our neighbor Oscar with more troubling news. He reported that all the dogs in the area had been poisoned and that people feared another wave of cattle theft, just as had happened about five years ago.
Yet we know that our times are in the Lord’s hands. Our cattle—few though they may be compared to the thousand hills around us—belong to Him. All that we have has come from His hand, and we are merely stewards. We trust that He will care for what is His in the way that He sees best.
We were also grateful for Brother Levi’s visit because it coincided with a trip I wanted to take to El Salvador for pastor’s meetings. He was able to preach in my absence, which was a blessing for the church.
One of the highlights of this trip was that I could take Anne along. We flew into Guatemala and met with Andrew Crider’s family, where I left Anne to spend time with Lauretta and her family while I traveled by van with the Guatemalan brethren to El Salvador for several days of meetings.
The meetings were deeply challenging and inspiring. Even now, I find myself returning to the messages I heard, the conversations I had, and the encouragement from pastors throughout Latin America. The Lord made it possible for me to attend, and I pray that what I learned will shape my service to the church in Izcuchaca.
These past weeks have reminded me of two things: first, that uncertainties will always come, but the Lord is sovereign over all of them. And second, that we must keep pressing forward, learning, growing, and serving where He has placed us.
I read a quote this morning, “God’s providence redeems what His sovereignty permits.” An interesting perspective on God’s sovereignty.
Juan David 