Carlos Marquina grew up in a broken home like so many Peruvian children. His dad had left his mother and married another woman. They lived in the best part of town and his half brothers and sisters went to the best private schools while Carlos and his little brother, Julio, lived in a "red zone". That is an area where there is a lot of trouble with crime and terrorism. They were very poor and lived in their grandmother's home with their step dad who was a drunk. Carlos was quite bitter at his dad for abandoning them.

Carlos became a member as a young teenager of a group of terrorist that operated in Hunter where he lived. The group was called MIR, Movimiento Izquierda Revolucionario or Leftist Revolutionary Movement. This was the first terrorist group in Peru. They were formed before the "Shining Path" or the "MRTA". He learned how to handle weapons and survive in the desert. He would sneak out of his house at night to prepare and put up communist propaganda and paint signs etc. Carlos was a natural born leader. People like to follow him.

Carlos had begun to attend occasionally the new Baptist Church in Hunter. He attended because the missionary's daughter was a pretty foreigner. He was really interested in her for a while. Then the new missionary arrived. He began to involve Carlos in all he was doing. Carlos enjoyed the Bible studies and being involved in all that the church group was doing.

The communist group that he was a member of began to get ideas to steal the missionary's motorcycle and kidnap his kids. When the missionary arrived he first bought a Honda 185 motorcycle and later he purchased a Nissan Pickup triple cab truck. It was obvious to them that he had "lots of money." Several of the terrorist had come to the church to hear and see the new missionary. Of course the missionary had no idea who they were or that they were even attending the church. He also had no idea that they were watching his house and family. They thought that to get money they might steal either his car or his motorcycle. No one needs both. Or maybe that would just kidnap his kids and hold them for ransom.

Carlos warned the missionary to be more careful with his children. Maybe they shouldn't be on the streets so much. Maybe they shouldn't play in the park alone. The missionary did not realize that they knew where he lived, with whom his children were playing and that they regularly watched his house. The missionary was so interested in learning the culture and getting to know the people that he wouldn't listen to the advice. He said he wanted to be like everyone else.

Carlos decided finally to talk to the folks in his group. He told them that the new missionary was different. He had not come to take advantage of the people. He really loved the Peruvians and it was obvious according to Carlos that he wanted to help. Carlos explained that he used his things to help people. He shared his things. He taught the people to share and help others. The group decided to not kidnap the children nor steal the things. After all the new missionary had the same thing in mind as they did. Since the missionary was a friend of Carlos' and the terrorist group knew what he preached and did they decided that they would just leave him alone.

Carlos accepted Christ as his savior. He wanted out of the group. Usually that was impossible. Since Carlos told them that we had the same ideas and that we were going to help the Peruvians they decided to let him out and still be friends.

Often times we are afraid to go into harm's way. But remember we have a great God. He knows how to protect his people as long as that is what will bring him more honor and glory. If you will but do the will of God, He will protect you and do great things in your life. You have no idea what God could do with your life until you surrender everything to him and step out by faith.

Carlos got called to preach. He spent eight hours a day at the missionary's desk learning the Bible and how to serve God. Every day he ate lunch with the missionary and his family. God was doing great things in his life. His mom got saved. His step dad was the first Peruvian the missionary led to Christ in Peru and has now worked in the construction of the different churches for four years. Carlos is now the pastor of the Hunter Baptist Church.

As a young man one year at the summer camp he noticed a new young girl. Her name was Maria. She came from a well to do family. That week she got saved. Carlos took a real interest in her. In Peru it is a near impossibility for a poor person to marry a well to do person. Carlos kept on any way. He was finally married to Maria Collantes and has a son, Sergio.

God has really worked in Maria's family. All of her brothers and sisters have now been saved and baptized. Her brother is studying in the Bible college to become a pastor . Now the missionaries have been able to start a Bible study for these wealthy people and Maria's parents are attending. Soon they may accept the Lord as their savior.

When the missionary decided to go home on his first furlough the leader of the communist group told Carlos that he had been watching and wanted to send the following message to the missionary. He said to tell him that he respected him and that he was in deed different. He really did want to help folks and he was doing so.

God desires to show himself strong on our behalf. It matters not where he would lead you or what He would have you do, step out by faith, He will take care of you. You are His servant and He will protect you. Juan Miguel expresses it very eloquently as follows:

Brother, I want to give thanks to God for having broken the heart of a pastor and his family there in the United States and placing Peru in his heart, a country that was bleeding, a country full of miseries, a country where chaos and anarchy reined, a country where terrorism and drug trafficking were destroying without remedy, a country where prices went up every day without stopping, a country where rebellion reined. But God in his mercy heard the cry of this country submerged in sin and tied by the chains of slavery. He called and searched for a man and a pastor there in the United States that could say "Here am I" as did Moses when he was sent to Egypt or as Paul who answered God's call when in Acts 16 after seeing the vision of the Macedonian man crying "Come over and help us" took it as a sign from God and went to help with the gospel message. And this pastor and his family came to this country trusting only in their God and upon arriving God gave them the welcome sign, but Satan did not. Satan began to put problems in their lives to the point of even giving one of his sons a thorn in the flesh (an incurable disease) which was a thorn in the very heart of this Pastor that had become a missionary. He asked his God to free his son but the Lord responded with: "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." II Corinthians 12:9. We can see how today God has reserved a people for himself here in Peru and we can see how his promises have become reality, calling out Pastors, Missionaries, Workers, Men of God that as Heavenly warriors are going to break into the deepest and most profound parts of this country and break thee chains of the slavery of sin but this could only happen because that American pastor was willing to say, "Here am I Lord, send me."

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psalms 23:4

And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve [me] unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen. 2 Timothy 4:18

The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. Psalms 121:7

But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep [you] from evil. 2 Thessalonians 3:3