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.
27 weeks & 5days
Posted by Loren | Filed under General
These are some of my new outfits. Most of the outfits were given to me by Mom (fitzgerald). She sent them down, along with some really cute clothes for little Joseph. The turtle necks and pants were given to me by a friend in California. If you have a opinion of which I should use for the baby shower let me know.
I went to the doctors office on Saturday. He said that baby Joseph is about 2 1/2 lbs and 11 inches. So, currently our little man is short and chubby. I am no longer on a “diet” since I did not gain a pound!!! The baby did gain weight, therefore the doctor was pleased. I was too. I weighed in at 136lbs (I miss calculated last time).
26 weeks
Posted by Loren | Filed under General
I took these pictures in a rush. Buddy had the camera so I took advantage of the moment. I changed into a variety of shirts, but did not bother to fix my hair or re-apply make-up. I figured you all were more interested in seeing how big the belly is now, than in how well put together I look.
As you can see, I have outgrown most of my maternity clothes. Joseph weighs almost 2lbs and his mommy weighs 134 lbs. The doctor said that I have to watch my weight. Yep, he put me on a diet. I have to stay away from carbs and sweets. I am struggling with complete obedience.
24 weeks
Posted by Loren | Filed under General
I will post pictures of me and my great belly soon. Just been a bit busy. Ok…I also don’t really like how big I’m looking either.
How your baby’s growing:
Your baby’s growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he’s almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he’ll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing “branches” of the respiratory “tree” as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.
life
Posted by Loren | Filed under General
The streets here are a little different than in the USA… Our truck had one of the wheels swallowed by a large ditch right in the middle of the street. Thank God for 4-wheel-drive, it climbed right out. You should’ve seen the other ditch though.
You’ll notice the cows conspicuous in the center of the photo: this is the plaza when we were getting ready to start our open air meeting.
These young people (myself included) are hiking up to see some ruins near Cusco, where I was supposed to give a short message. This was before the drizzle, or the rain, or the downpour, or the hail, which all came later, and made for some very damp dormitories, and a strange wet dog smell….
This is the typical dress you will see in Cusco, they were all waiting in line for something early in the morning…it’s hard to say exactly what.
More recently, both Loren and I are teaching courses in the Bible college here. Pray for us….and our students.