We have arrived safely in Peru! Thank you everyone that was praying for us. God has answered your prayers and helped us along in our journeys. Our flights and connections went smoothly and without difficulties. All of our luggage made it and nothing was broken. The most difficult thing to deal with is that winter has changed to summer in just a few hours. When we flew out of Newark NJ at 1:00 p.m it was snowing and when we arrived in Lima at 2:00 a.m it was hot and humid. It will be even worse when we get to Tarapoto!
We will be in Lima for about a week as we spend time with one of the assemblies here to do an evangelistic campaign. Please pray that the Lord would be exalted as I will be preaching four times in the next three days. There are so many opportunities and so many lost souls. We must make the most of our time. We have hit the ground running!
Missionary quote of the day by David Livingstone: “God, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. And sever any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to Yours.”
Micah for the Tuttle's
After traveling 14,338 miles through 18 states and 2 Canadian provinces we finally returned our 15 passenger Dodge Ram van to its owners in Dallas Texas. The van served us wonderfully as it guzzled down 1194 gallons of gas, had five oil changes, received two new tires, underwent fan belt surgery and had a new water pump installed. Those stats might sound alarming but we couldn't be happier with how well the vehicle performed for us. It was absolutely perfect for our family and our ministry over the last five months and it never once gave us problems on the road. We thank the Lord for His provision and the brethren that were willing to let us use their van to such an extent!
After dropping that van off in Dallas we flew to NJ where we were lent another van with which we have already traveled more than 3000 miles! Along the way I have been preaching 3 or 4 times a week in various assemblies while passing through 7 different states. We have stayed in the homes of many wonderful people that we previously had not known. The Lord has really blessed us through many brothers and sisters who have so generously helped us all along the way! We are grateful!
In the last two months there have been tremendous opportunities in many places to encourage and challenge God's people with His word. In Portland Oregon there was a certain excitement among many to live a life not wasted and for God's glory. At a conference in Claremont California there seemed to be a real desire among young families for revival. In Dallas Texas we saw amazing love and unity. In New Jersey there has been a real focus on missions. In North Carolina we saw a great work being done with Hispanics. In New York there we noticed a fervency in prayer. It has been a real privilege to be with and to encourage a shining remnant of God's people in all of these places!
We are presently in Wall Township, New Jersey at the Christian Missions in Many Lands missionary house. It has been wonderful to be here and to meet all of the great brothers and sisters that work here to serve missionaries around the world by channeling designated financial funds, putting out a missions magazine, publishing a missions prayer handbook, providing a place for missionaries to rest and many other helpful services.
While we have had a fabulous time here in the States we are itching to return to Peru where we can get back to our "normal" life. Lord willing we will fly on December 10th to Lima where we will stay for a few days to do an evangelistic outreach with one of the assemblies there, and then finally we'll head back to Tarapoto and to the jungles of Peru! We feel like the Lord has used us to encourage many of His people across the country and at the same time He has used them to encourage us.
Missions quote of the day: "Brother, if you would enter that Province, you must go forward on your knees."
- Hudson Taylor
Micah for the Tuttle's
After arriving in Portland Oregon last month we have had a great time seeing our families and visiting with many dear brothers and sisters in Christ. We have been able to enjoy many family events, BBQ's, hikes, hunting adventures and general fun while here with many loved-ones. It has been wonderful to catch up with our families!
There have also been many opportunities to preach in several different churches like Eastgate Bible Chapel, Grace Bible in Battleground and at the Red Bench retreat near Spokane Washington. Last Friday I even had the opportunity to teach a missions class at Moody Bible Institute to about 70 prospective missionaries. It was a tremendous chance to inspire and encourage missions to a group of young people with high hopes of being useful to the Master in the task of making Christ's name great among the nations.
Missions quote for the day by Eddy Ho: "Since God is a missionary God, God's people are a missionary people."
Micah for the Tuttle's
After traveling 6,000 miles and preaching 30 times in 50 days we are finally with our families in Portland Oregon. We thank the Lord that all our travels have been easy-going and problem free. Not a single car problem! It has been so refreshing and encouraging to be with family in Christ everywhere we go. Precious brothers and sisters hospitably received our Tuttle-tribe as we invaded their houses in 12 sates and 2 Canadian provinces. Only two nights were spent in hotels and that was only because we chose to go through the spectacular Banff and Jasper national forests in Alberta. On several occasions we were even received by brethren we had never met before. What Jesus said is true: "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” We are grateful to so many of you. Thank you!
It has been a bit exhausting at times but everyone in our family is thoroughly enjoying themselves. We hope to continue to preach Christ and to be an encouragement to others as we visit with many more people in the next few months. Our schedule for the next few Sundays looks like this:
Eastgate Bible Chapel Portland Or. (August 17)
Grace Bible Church in Battleground Wa. (August 24)
Red Bench Bible Church in Spokane Wa. (Sept 5-7)
Eastgate retreat at Eagle Fern Camp (Sept 12-14)
Clinton Street Bible Chapel in Portland Or. (Sept 21)
Missions quote for the day by Robert Murray McCheyne: “God gave me a message to deliver and a horse to ride. Alas, I have killed the horse and now I cannot deliver the message.”
Micah for the Tuttle's
We are in the USA! Four weeks ago we landed in Dallas and ever since then we have been running wild all over the place. The Lord has provided us with an excellent 12 passenger van on which we have already put more than 1500 miles. We thank the Lord for smooth travels and no mechanical difficulties so far. We have been received with much love and hospitality from the brothers and sisters in several different places. The only drawback is that we are gaining weight fast as we eat great breakfasts, lunches and dinners in different homes each day.
Our kids are having a great time seeing old friends and meeting new ones. Javen and Cullen fully enjoyed high-school camp at Sandy Creek near Houston. Bria, Josiah and Mya have all had fun swimmming, biking and playing with kids their age at each of our stops. Ellia is now fully recovered from her pneumonia and is growing fast. And Amy and I are having a wonderful time visiting with the Lord's people.
It has been exciting to share about the Lord's work in Peru and to preach God's word as He opens up various opportunities. We feel like, as missionaries, part of our job is to encourage and promote missions amongst the believers in the USA and it has been fun to do just that. I've been able to preach to churches (Spanish and English), youth groups, men's groups, home groups and even on live national radio. Please pray for us as we continue to have these opportunities. Our desire is to make Christ's name great wherever we go.
We have gone from Dallas to Houston to Kansas City to Des Moines. Next up is Sioux Falls SD, Windom MN, Dubuque IA, Davenport IA, Guttenburg IA, Minneapolis MN, Watford ND, Williston ND, Ft McMurray Alberta, Seattle WA and Portland OR. It sounds like a lot but so far the whole family is really having a good time and we feel like the Lord is using us to encourage and challenge the saints wherever we go.
If you want to contact us by phone our cell number for the next 5 months will be 832 745 1272
Missions quote for the day by John Piper: "Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't"
Javen and Cullen and a few other brothers went with me the other day to do some personal evangelism in the market. We were able to pass out a lot of tracts and talk to a lot of people about their souls. There is nothing more exciting than standing between God and men sharing the greatest message in the universe. Please pray that Christ name would be exalted!
Missions quote for the day by Charles H. Spurgeon: “We are not called to proclaim philosophy and metaphysics, but the simple gospel. Man’s fall, his need of a new birth, forgiveness through atonement, and salvation as the result of faith, these are our battle-ax and weapons of war.”
Micah for the Tuttle's
Brother Martin Manchego from Lima came last week to film some of the action here in Tarapoto and along the river. He is a real master at putting together videos and wants to do it for God's glory and to further Christ's kingdom. The following video is a short piece that he put together in hopes to promote missions within Peru and among the Peruvian believers. We pray that God would raise up Peruvian preachers, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Please watch this well-done video and pray for the work here in the jungle.
Missions quote for the day by Dave David: "In our lifetime wouldn't it be sad if we spent more time washing dishes or swatting flies or mowing the yard or watching television than praying for world missions?"
Micah for the Tuttles
Wild boar brains, huge maggot grubs, Yucca spit juice and jungle rats were all on the menu last week as four brothers and I made a trip along the Chipurana river. Those foods are not my favorites but they are a part of missions in this part of the world. Yes, I am now a few pounds lighter than before we left last week but when you eat what the locals eat you identify with them, you earn their respect and you earn the right to be heard.
I was able to preach 18 times as we visited 6 villages in 7 days. We preached the gospel to the lost, we encouraged the saved, we gave council to the hurting and prayed for the sick. There were church problems to discuss, divisions to work through and false doctrines to correct. We held meetings each evening (sometimes until midnight). A few of the mornings the brothers insisted on more teaching from 4 to 6 a.m before they had to go into their fields for work. Needless to say we didn't sleep much and we are now totally exhausted!
We traveled by car, speed-boat, canoe and on foot. One day we were on the trail for 7 hours slogging through the mud and traversing landslides. It was hot, there were lots of nasty bugs, there were dangerous rivers to cross, thieves to avoid, and there was the ever present danger of tropical diseases.... Why do we do this? Because Christ died and rose again! C.T Studd said: "If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him." Christ also died for these people in these villages and I want to be a part of making His name great here in this part of the Peruvian jungle.
It was an extremely profitable time in each pueblo. We thank the Lord for His love and protection and help. It's great to be home with Amy and the kids. Now I'm back to my real job: Love and nourish my family. Please pray for us that God would bring forth fruit from all these labors.
Missions quote of the day by David Brainerd: "Here am I, send me; send me to the ends of the earth; send me to the rough, the savage pagans of the wilderness; send me from all that is called comfort on earth; send me even to death itself, if it be but in Thy service, and to promote Thy kingdom."
Micah for the Tuttle's
After visiting the concrete jungles of Lima we are now back in the Amazonian jungles of Tarapoto. It's great to be home! We had to go to the big city for about ten days to do the daunting task of updating our passports and resident documents. Thank the Lord that everything went relatively smooth. It's really great to have that job done!
While in Lima we were refreshed and encouraged by the saints from different congregations. There were several opportunities for ministry as I preached in churches, I preached on a bus, I preached in a home to a packed out living room, I preached on a soccer field and I preached at a prayer meeting. In 1 Tim 4:2 the apostle Paul said: "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season". In The New Micah Translation it says: "Preach Bible any time you can and to anything that moves"
In the midst of all the business we were able to fit in a two day trip to the sea with some friends who invited us to their beach house. It was a really great time of fun in the sun. We played in the ocean, played in the sand and played in the pool. Our kids loved it.... So did Amy and I..... We thank the Lord for those good times and the wonderful memories.
Micah for the Tuttle's
The princess baby Ellia and Queen Amy are doing great! The two other beautiful princesses, Bria and Mya are great helpers, and Amy's mom has also come to be a help for a couple of weeks. With things settled at home, I figured the time had come for the warriors of the family to go out and slay dragons.
Last week, Javen, Cullen, Josiah and I with a few other young men from the church set out on a long and dangerous jungle trek. We walked for 7 hours slogging through the mud, crossing streams, traversing mountains to arrive at the lake 25 kilometers on the other side. It was hot and it was humid. Lots of sweat. Lots of blisters. Lots of perseverance. We ran out of water. We ran out of food. We ran out of energy. But we toughed it out. This was a "man trip". We were out to conquer the jungle - to do hard things - and we were victorious.
When David heard the words: "Give me a man," (1 Sam 17:10) he RAN to fight the giant. (17:51)Please pray for us as God helps us to raise boys who will become men who RUN to the Lord's battles, slay today's dragons, and through Christ are victorious!
Micah for the Tuttles
Where are the prophets today? I mean those that preach the truth with conviction, with power, with authority, with courage. Where are they. I don't care about their education or if they have a seminary degree... I ask: Where are the men who have really met with God? .... Look at the men that God used in the Bible. Peter a fisherman, Gideon a nobody, David a shepherd.... Amos was a farmer but roared like a lion.... Jeremiah was a youth but he had fire in his bones... Elisha could see things that others couldn't. Where are these kinds of men today?.... They are busy playing on their I-phones. They are checking the scores of yesterdays game. They are catching up on twitter. They are looking at facebook. They are posting on their blog..... Uh.... I gotta go now....
Micah for the Tuttles
We are officially a BIG FAMILY! With the addition of Ellia we now have three girls and three boys. I can't think of a neater combination of kids! We thank God for His many blessings! Amy is the ultimate "Supermom". Javen and Cullen are the best teenage boys in the world. Bria and Josiah make us almost explode with joy. And now Mya has Ellia, the perfect partner to shine with in unspeakable cuteness. You might think I'm gushing.... but I don't mind. I just never imagined having such a great family.
Someone asked me the other day why we have so many kids and I replied: "My wife and I are extremely intelligent people and we feel that it would be a real waste if we didn't do our best to keep passing on these great God-given genes" :)
Micah for the Tuttle's
Missionary tidbit for the day: C.T Studd, famous English cricket player and millionaire, left all to be a missionary in Africa when he saw a sign at church with the words: "CANNIBALS WANT MISSIONARIES"
On a different missionary note: The rainy season has arrived! The river is blown out and several of "my villages" are flooded. The high waters have served to remind me that it is my goal to rain down the gospel of God on these villages and flood them with the glory of Christ.
A few days ago four Peruvian believers and myself headed down the turbulent waters of the Huallaga river to spearhead this months scheduled missions trip. Lizzi Espinosa from Trujillo, who ministers with Child Evangelism Fellowship, went along with us to work with children and to train some of the sisters in how to do Sunday school. It is a real blessing to see her biblical approach to reaching children with the gospel.
One objective that I had for this trip was to take a 13 horsepower "Peke peke" canoe motor to evangelist Kiker Napuchi. This brother is doing a great job of visiting his neighboring villages, preaching the gospel and encouraging the brethren. He was really excited and thankful when he received this new ministry tool. With this brand new "peke peke" he will be able to get around a lot faster and go to a lot more villages.
Before embarking on our trip I had told the team that I was going to cut out early and head back to Tarapoto so as to be with Amy for our imminent baby birth. So after preaching in Navarro and then sending the team off to continue in the next villages I headed back up river in the "Chasqui" toward home. I was really hoping that the baby wouldn't try to come while I was gone and thank the Lord... she didn't. Now I'm home and we're preparing for this big event. Please pray for us. She's coming any day now!
Micah for the Tuttle's
Someone recently asked us for a short "Bio" concerning the basics of who we are, what we are doing and how we got here. We know that many of you already know this information but I was thinking it would probably be good to put this on our blog for those that don't know and are interested. So here it is:
Micah and Amy grew up in Christian homes, attended Christian school and were high-school sweethearts, married shortly after graduation. Micah worked as an apprentice and later as a licensed electrician for about 5 years until he could no longer resist the missionary call. Eastgate Bible Chapel commended the Tuttles to the work in Peru in December, 2000. Accompanied by their six wonderful children, living and working in different parts of Peru for the past 14 years, they now reside in the northern jungles. Micah's ministry focus is divided between evangelism, the church plant in Tarapoto and river ministry to 30 villages along the Huallaga River.
This work is an extension of Burt and Colleen Elliot's river ministry discontinued about 30 years ago. Following the Elliot's refocus to the mountains and coastal areas, the work along the river began to decline. In 2008, the Tuttles recognizing the great need and encouraged by the Elliots, decided to move to a seemingly forgotten corner of the world. While focusing on being a living example of a Christ-centered family, biblical preaching and also spearheading exciting jungle treks, it is their goal to make Christ's name great in the jungles of Peru. There is much to do, and as always, the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few!
Missionary quote for the day by Charles Spurgeon: "Someone asked: Will the heathen who have never heard the Gospel be saved? It is more a question with me whether we — who have the Gospel and fail to give it to those who have not — can be saved."
Micah for the Tuttles
Ten days ago brother Eber and I headed down river in the "Chasqui del Rey". The Lord really seemed to use us as we were able to encourage the brethren in several pueblos. Along the way we picked up a few key brothers to go and study at the much anticipated "Capacitacion Biblica" in Yurimaguas. We spent the night in one of my favorite villages (Achinamisa) where we preached in the square, taught in the church and worked on their construction project. After a great time with the church we continued our journey on to "the big city" where the Bible classes were to take place.
Before I left on this trip Bria wrote me a note admonishing me with several things including: "Don't be lazy" and "Preach God". I tried to follow her instructions.... In Yurimaguas I taught 40 students in two classes: Evangelism and Eschatology. The students had to bear with me for five hours every day and in the end I think they enjoyed the long and grueling study :) We desperately need God to raise up biblical preachers and teachers here in the jungle to carry on the work. Please pray for me as I keep to Bria's advice, make disciples and prepare key men in this forgotten corner of the world.
Each evening after the classes were over and after having rested a bit I took several of the students with me to go and preach in the open air. On most occasions we started out singing to draw a crowd. Then I would preach. After about 30 minutes my aching vocal cords and sore abdominals couldn't hold out and I'd have to quit. Then, being drenched in sweat I'd sit down to speak with heartbroken individuals. All the while the students passed out tracts, gave council and did one-on-one evangelism. These were great times of being used by the Lord and used up for His glory. Please pray that God would cause fruit to be born through our labors!
Missions quote for the day by George Whitefield: "I love those that thunder out the Word. The Christian world is in a deep sleep! Nothing but a loud voice can awaken them out of it."
Micah for the Tuttle's
I'm an irresponsible missionary! I had my monthly river trip all planned. I organized a wonderful team of seven people that would go with me. I had coordinated with the villages that we would preach in. All the brethren in these villages were excited about my arrival. Then, the night before our departure we all sat down to go over the last details of our trip and I announced with a big smile: "I'm not going!" "You guys will do fine without me."
The last two months have just been too full and and there is still a lot left on the calender. To a certain extent I've been neglecting my family. My family is more important to me than the ministry and I want them to know it. I don't care about a dynamic ministry reaching lots of spiritually needy people if I, in the end, lose my family. There are too many preachers who have tremendous ministries and their family is a disaster. I'm not going down that road.
The team (5 believers from our Tarapoto assembly, 1 from Trujillo, and 1 from Bolivia) went along without me and did a great job of preaching, teaching and encouraging the brethren in the villages. They are back now and all the reports are excellent. Here at home we had four wonderful days of "just us". It was awesome! We haven't been "just us" for months. Amy and I went out on a date every day for four days. We all did home-school together. We had a ping-pong tournament. We played football. We watched movies. We ate ice-cream. We played Stratego. It might have been the greatest 4 days of the year..... Maybe it wasn't so irresponsible to drop out of the river trip :)
Marriage quote for the day by Martin Luther: "Let the wife make the husband glad to come home, and let him make her sorry to see him leave."
Micah for the Tuttles
January has been very busy! I preached 52 times this month. All of those messages have been in different settings and to different kinds of people. I kept thinking of the prophet Jeremiah who said: "God's word was in my heart like a burning fire, it was shut up in my bones, I was weary of holding it back and I could not." We must press on! We must preach the word in season and out of season!
On Friday, as I finished up a week of preaching at a youth camp I was feeling quite exhausted but at the same time I felt "weary of holding it back". That night I ended up preaching at the camp-fire for about two hours. God really seemed to use it as the Holy Spirit worked on the conscious of almost everyone. I don't really know how to explain it... A lot of brokenness over sin. A lot of repentance. A lot of restoration. Please pray for these youth!
I arrived home from the youth camp feeling drained... But then rejuvenated as we had a "surprise visit" from some of the brothers at Heart-Cry Missionary Society. It was extremely encouraging and really great to see them. Just as they were leaving God blessed us again with the arrival of Chris Mattix (missionary to Bolivia). He will be with us for about three weeks preaching and teaching here in our Tarapoto assembly. We thank God that he sends help and encouragement at just the right time.
Missionary quote of the day by John Wesley: "You have nothing to do but to save souls; therefore spend and be spent in this work."
Micah for the Tuttle's
I'm on my way home! After two tremendous weeks of preaching and teaching on the coast of Peru I can finally take a quick breather. Aside from the class-room time, many hours were spent in counseling and exhorting and helping the brethren. It seems like God really used the time for the encouragement of many of these future church leaders. It was fun to see so many of the Lord's servants together in one place.... but now all I want to do is see my family.
I'm presently on my way back home to Tarapoto where I'll be with my wonderful wife and kids for about two days and then.... I have to travel (again) to take part in a week long youth conference in one of the villages along the river where I'll be teaching. Please pray for me as January and February are VERY full and I feel torn between ministry and family.
Micah for the Tuttle's
Please pray for me as I head toward the coast of Peru. I'm sitting in the bus right now on my way to the city of Trujillo (17 hour drive). I'll be with the Bible institute for two weeks teaching through the book of Genesis and also teaching on the "Christian Home"
Tremendous opportunity to impact key church leaders! Please pray!
Leonard Ravenhill said: "A sinning man stops praying, a praying man stops sinning"
Micah Tuttle
