Stage 2-The doors of Hell don’t stand a chance
Posted by Buddy | Filed under General
June 2009
Challenging and intense would be two good words to describe the past two months. In our last letter, we mentioned the community involvement, the trips, and our work here with a small, struggling church in town. Since that time, we have seen a number of changes.
Always having planned on a “stage two” of planting a church here in town, the Lord has directed us to start now! We have begun a series of “encounters” here in our home that we pray will be the beginning of the church. Our first night we showed an evangelistic film and had over 40 people present! Please pray that the Lord will build HIS church. Also, we are in search of a location, as we foresee growing out of our current space very quickly. Please pray also about a place to rent or buy.
Also, Joseph now thoroughly enjoys bread… and some of it even gets in his mouth. (We will try to put up proof asap).
We continue to be busy and involved in the other ministries as well. We are still traveling into the jungle every few weeks for tribal and national outreach and discipleship. In fact, we have been watering the seed in the life of one man, Benigno, for some time now, and we are thrilled that our national coworker and disciple, Richard, was able to lead him to a profession of faith! Please pray that Benigno will grow and show the fruit of a true believer.
We spent roughly half of May on a trip upriver. The furthest village we visited was about four days away by boat. That village particularly was very interesting because it is dominated by the Catholic religion. They have shown themselves to be hostile to evangelicals on numerous occasions, but thanks be to God, Who opened the door for a purity workshop for the entire high school and an evangelistic film and message in the evening!
Finally, we are thrilled to have our first-ever summer intern. Benjamin Schroeder arrived on Friday, May 30, and we put him to work and visitation right away.
Thank you so much for your support and prayers. To God be the glory
In Christ alone,
Buddy and Loren (& Joseph)
Does Prayer Matter?
Posted by Buddy | Filed under General
Well Dear Friends,
We´ve now been in the city of Puerto Maldonado for about 3 months, and possibly to your great surprise, we don´t have a megachurch, our own radio station, a new seminary, or even a bright shiny building. What we do have is a lot of contacts, many of whom have heard the gospel for the first time. We also have a long list of people whom we have invited to services, and a few who have even come. We have several people who are interested in a Bible study, and there we come to crux of the matter, and the point of this article.
I´ve been working on developing a friendship with a young man named Michael for about two months now. I gave him a tract on one of our first encounters, and because of his openness, I was able to briefly share the gospel. Nearly a month ago I planted the idea for a Bible study in his mind, and a week or so ago he agreed to the study. Michael owns an auto-parts store, which is how I met him in the first place, and so I´ve been trying to stop in regularly, whether I need parts or not.
So finally, yesterday morning, I went by on the motorcycle to see if he was there, and if he would be available for me to bring the truck by later as well as the Bible study. The answer was affirmative!
In the evening, after two months of cultivating this relationship, after having prayed earnestly for some time, and after having set up the meeting, I arrived at his place of business with great expectations: only to find that Michael was seated at the table with an open Bible, and with another book next to it, as well as a man on either side of him. I entered to see who they were, and what they were studying, and to my great shock and consternation, they happened to be a couple of ´witnesses´ supposedly of Jehovah.
What a heart-wrenching experience to find them seated at the table with a young man whom God was obviously working on, a young man with whom I had an appointment, a young man whom God wanted me to talk to. How could this happen!?
Michael excused himself from the table for a moment, and began to see about replacing the tail light on my truck (the breaking of which is an entirely different story). I sat there under the street light next to him in a cuandry as to what to say or do. I certainly didn´t want to ´duke it out´with the witnesses there, but i really didn´t want them to continue their maligning of my Lord to him either. I began asking God what should be done, or what He would do, or what could be done, and it was if He told me, the best thing that could happen would be that they would just leave. I commenced praying earnestly and fervently that they would just walk out on their own, and that God would open the door for the truth, and within five minutes, He accomplished both of those tasks!
After a few comments on the history and doctrine of the ´witnesses´, I presented Michael with a Bible provided by BEAMS, and we began the introduction to the Jesus is the Answer Bible study. During the conversation he told me that this would be the first Bible that he had ever had in his home. He also said that his daughter loves Bible stories, and when she stopped by a few minutes later, he promised to read a little bit to her every evening. He then promised to do as much of the study as he could, and we made an appointment for Monday to continue the study and review what he has learned.
For me however, the lesson was clear and plain. We DO NOT WRESTLE AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD. God swiftly and thoroughly answered prayer, and I´m certain that not only was I praying, but some of your were praying for us as well. Please, please continue to pray for us. Pray for the lost here not to be deceived into a cult. Pray for Satan to be bound. Pray for the gates of hell not to prevail against the church in this dark place. and most of all, pray that God would be glorified where Christ is not yet named.
Living Room Surgery, etc
Posted by Buddy | Filed under General
In these first two pictures, you see Loren doing minor surgery on a brother here in Puerto Maldonado. She is actually working on taking a small worm out of his arm which was laid there by a moth of some sort. We haven’t had any of these in us yet, and in case you didn’t guess, we’re glad about that fact! =)
How beautiful are the feet…
Posted by Buddy | Filed under General
This picture was taken mid-journey during an evangelistic trip by motorcycle.
A Quick Visit to Hell
Posted by Buddy | Filed under General
It’s true…
I actually visited Hell for a short time today.
I had actually been there once before,
but this time we got to hand out a number of tracts, and got to talk to a number of people.
Many of them were really quite interested.
Every single one of them believed in Hell.
You see, Infierno is a native community of people called “Ese Eja” and the name of the community translates into English as Hell. We actually found that there was a construction there where a church had been planned, but apparently things haven’t gone well.
Please pray specifically for a man named Pedro with whom we got to share the Gospel, and for the multitude of people who heard some Gospel truth, and who received tracts.
Also, please pray that God would direct us as to when and how often we would go back to visit.
Just as a side note, it was a couple hours of beautiful motorcycle riding, except for the quick torrential tropical downpour that caught us on the way home. 
Dec. 08 Prayer Letter
Posted by Buddy | Filed under General
The young man nervously stood in front of the small congregation, explaining that He had come to Bible college to train for the ministry, and that he believed that the Lord was sending them out into the harvest-fields. His pregnant wife looked on with affirmation, for the Lord had put on their hearts the growing burden to be involved in Church planting specifically in the jungle. Within a few weeks, two prospective Bible College graduates were expressing the same desires before the Church. God was clearly doing something amazing among the young people.
If you were forsaking all, leaving your family, friends, and everything known, to go minister the Word in a third-world country, what would your prayer life be like? What would you be asking God for? One of our most consistent and urgent prayer requests has been for co-laborers. As you know, our desire is to reach the unreached; to go where Christ is not named. We believe that the labor would be more effective as a team ministry. For these reasons, we are thrilled that Richard and Magdalena Leyva have already gone into the jungle town of Puerto Maldonado to get started in the ministry. Lord willing, within a few months Efraín Pari will also be headed toward the South-Eastern Peruvian jungle to contribute another aspect to the team that God is forming. There is still so much need, and we ask you to pray about whether God would have you come to be a part of the harvest.
In Peru, a church anniversary is a big deal. Just after my parents arrived, we traveled to a jungle town to preach the 38th anniversary of the first Baptist Church in Quillabamba. We were able to visit with some good friends(right). Also we saw one profession of faith, several lives rededicated and many other decisions.
During November, I got to travel to the Puerto Maldonado once again in order to meet Tim Chapman, Jeremy Frazer and Jeremy’s evangelistic team. We had a busy week as we passed out hundreds of tracts, distributed over 1,000 invitations, gave a concert and karate demonstration in the main plaza, preached in services, traveled by river, and visited one of the tribes with which we plan to work in the future.
Thank you for your prayers regarding the baby and pregnancy. Bernard Joseph Fitzgerald V was born November 2nd at 7:40 a.m. He weighed 6 lbs 6 ozs, and was 19 ½ inches long. For us this is a miraculous blessing because of the 4 miscarriages that we had prior to Joseph being born.
We were both privileged to teach Bible College classes once again during the month of October. What a joy to have an impact on the pastors and church-planters of tomorrow. At the end of October my sister arrived to help us with Joseph, learn Spanish, and grow in grace.
The presence of Pastor Jeff Musgrave, and his wife Anna, as well as Karlan Tucker, was a great blessing for us as they came to be with us, and to teach the Jesus Is The Answer Seminar at the Bible College. We were reminded and challenged about Evangelism and discipleship once again. As always, we’ve been seeking opportunities to witness and minister.
During Christmas, we had a special program for which we advertised and invited. We ended up with an attendance of more than 200 people. The most the church has ever had! Praise the Lord for the many visitors, some of whom probably heard the gospel for the first time.
Finally, after enjoying Christmas with Buddy’s immediate family, packing all of our belongings, helping to direct the youth camp, and preparing to move to the jungle, we realized that we had to go to the capital in order to register Joseph as an American citizen. Praise the Lord that we were able to do all the paperwork, and get him registered. We were also able to get many things that are entirely unavailable. (Not the least of which was a lunch of Jumbo Shrimp)!
We are planning to apply for Joseph’s Peruvian passport, and then move to Puerto Maldonado, the largest city in the southern jungle of Peru. In Puerto Maldonado, we desire to strengthen the few believers who are meeting, and plant churches, as well as using the city as a jumping off point for the tribal ministry, which the Lord has called us to.
Please pray that the Lord would provide funds for purchasing land, and for building both a church building and a home.
For more information please visit our redesigned website. www.fitzgeraldmissions.org
Baby Bernard Joseph Fitzgerald V
Posted by Loren | Filed under General
Where is your treasure?
Posted by Loren | Filed under General
Just Monday, I was preparing to come into town in order to do some emails and phone calls. As Loren and I were preparing to pull out of the gate, we realized that no one was there to open the gate for us. I quickly got out of the truck in order to open the gate, and then slid back behind the driver seat in order to pull out. I started forward, but as the truck was about half-way through, an amazingly strong gust of wind suddenly caught the gate, and with tremendous force, slammed the gate into the side of the pick-up truck. I pulled out the rest of the way, and then got out to assess the damage.
If you are like me, you would immediately start trying to place the blame somewhere. Either on the person who is paid to open the gate, or on the gate manufacturer, or on anyone who might be within 100 yards.
But as I drove away, the only one I could seem to blame was the one who is Master of the Waves and Wind. While the damage is not drastic, I was still quite unhappy, and charged the creator with damaging my pickup truck.
As I continued driving, however, my maker reminded me of several things.
1. He made me, and I don’t deserve a nice pick-up truck.
2. What I do deserve is hell and eternal punishment.
3. He gave me the truck.
4. I, and the truck, are actually both HIS.
5. He is in control of every gust of wind.
6. If He wants dents in his truck, that is his prerogative.
Location, Location, Location
Posted by Loren | Filed under General
We have spent countless hours and numerous days looking all around the city of Puerto Maldonado. The goal was to find a place that would be suitable as a “base station” for the tribal ministry. Ideally, we wanted someplace which would also be large enough for a church, and perhaps even a small area for volleyball etc.
We found numerous properties right in town which were perfect… except the sellers all thought that their properties were worth over $100,000 per acre!
On the other hand, we found many properties outside of town which we were reasonably price, but they were waaaay out of town.
So we kept looking, and praying… and God provided.
We found a property which, once the bridge is complete, will be less than 2 miles from the center of town!
It is nearly 1/2 acre, and the price was the by far the most reasonable that we have found. It even has a little construction already. 
Here’s a frontal view of the “colonial mansion.”
And now we see the “great room” which happens to be the only room besides the kitchen.
Here’s a rear view of the “palatial estate” complete with the pig-sty in the foreground
It even has running water, if you’re willing to pump…it’s only about 20 steps from the back of the house.
Incidently, the out-house is really out too. That’s it right next to the pump
Finally, here’s the back of the property, which has a number of different tropical fruit trees.
Thank you so much for your prayers. We’ll look forward to seeing you down here soon.
bug bites and cow heart
Posted by Loren | Filed under General
Well, the bugs got me, but I got the cow, so who really won? I’m not sure.
I had the privilege of taking Keith Brock, missionary in Tacna, down to the jungle city of Puerto Maldonado for a few days. We saw a number of interesting things while there.
This is the very first four-wheel-drive motorcycle that I’ve seen
This man, Luis Cachique was actually saved and baptized under Mr. Robert Whatley’s minister about 40 years ago. 
The Lord gave me the privilege of witnessing to Amanda, and see her profess faith in Christ. Afterwards she exclaimed several times “I’m so happy!” Praise the Lord!
In Pto Maldonado, the motorcycle is by far the most common means of transportation. Seeing this motorcycle reminded me Psalm 22:12 …bulls of BASHAN have beset me round.