Peru February, 2026
First of all, let me apologize for the delay in sending an update. Every month I thought I was going on
a mission trip, only to have the door closed for one reason or another. So, I’ll start by telling you about
the beautiful wedding. If you recall, I was invited to Milton and Irene’s wedding in Arequipa, Peru in
February, the rainy season. I had the privilege of staying with missionaries Dave and Melanie
Woodard. She had been promising to make cookies with a few young ladies from church so they came
over. We had a great time making cookies for the bridal shower, and to take to the orphanage on
Wednesday. The bridal shower was worshipful, funny, prayerful, amazing, and very different from bridal
showers in the United States. They had a competition between the younger ladies and the older ladies
to see who could make the prettiest wedding dress, veil, train and bouquet, all out of toilet paper. I’ve
never seen anything like it. They are so talented! Irene asked me to teach a Bible lesson, people
encouraged her, and we all prayed over her. That shower was the most spiritual bridal shower that I’ve
ever attended.
I was privileged to go see a beautiful piece of property that has been gifted to build a church and have Milton and
Irene live on the property. There is no gospel witness in the area, and the need for a church in that area is huge. We
prayer walked the property, and sang hymns, trusting God’s timing and provision. Later that
afternoon, we were on our way to the orphanage, and the rain began to fall. The flooding in
the streets was getting worse and worse. Finally, Dave said, “We’re turning
around.” Immediately, he turned the van around and started home. About one
hour after we arrived back at their house, they received a picture of a truck, in
the exact location that we had been, that was flooded with water up to the driver’s door. I was so
thankful for Dave’s discernment and obedience to the Holy Spirit’s leading. We put the clothes for the orphanage
away to take to them at a later time. Little did we know that God had a plan for them elsewhere in just a few days.
Irene was a beautiful Bride and Milton, a handsome Groom! It was a lovely ceremony, where God was honored.
After the wedding, we had to go a few blocks to the reception. Pastor Edwin continued as the Master of
Ceremonies at the reception, conducting games with the Bride and Groom as well as guests until
the food was served. After the cake was served, everyone lined up to give
their wedding gift to the Bride and Groom. I must say, this was the first
wedding that I have ever seen a refrigerator being slid in line to present to
the happy couple. When you presented your gift, you had your picture taken
with Milton and Irene. The following Monday, they invited their family and
friends to celebrate with them as they opened all their gifts. I’m so thankful that I got to be
with them during their very special week.
On Sunday, we had a sweet service at the church in Horacio. They usually meet in the afternoon, but they moved
the church time to earlier so no one would get stuck in the downpours that had been predicted
for the afternoon. After church, we had lunch with Mary, Angie, and Luciana. Just as we left the
restaurant, torrential rain began falling. Maybe an hour later, Melanie received a phone call. I
could hear the person on the other end was crying and so upset. It was Roxana
telling us that they had received a phone call about their church. The rain came so
fast and pushed huge boulders through the back and sides of the church. Everything was destroyed.
They sent us a video that a neighbor had taken, and the flood waters were running through the church.
You could hear a little girl saying, “There goes the church”. It was
heartbreaking to see pews and guitars lying the mud. They said it was
amazing to see the church, and even the neighborhood, come together
the next day after the rain had subsided. They started cleaning and getting
it ready to worship again the following Sunday. One lady was faithful to
come to church, but her husband refused to come, even though many had invited him.
Monday morning, he was at the church with shovel in his hand working alongside the
others. Roxana said neighbors brought food as they all worked to restore their church
as much as possible until they can rebuild. Their goal is to buy land in a different place but still close enough to
keep the same congregation.
Dr. Brenda Kowalske asked me to accompany her on a vision trip to Uganda to the ministry the Lord had given to
her and her late husband in March. She learned that the mission organization was
dedicating a mission training center in her husband’s memory during the time we were to
go to Africa. Of course, she had to be there, so we postponed. Then, I received a text
from the missionary in Brazil that had invited me to bring a medical/dental team to the
indigenous tribe in the Amazon saying, “My plans here have needed to change, and I
won’t be able to go there to help.” He went on to say that another American couple is
there, but since I have never met them, I felt that door also closed. Dr. Brenda and I had
tickets to Uganda June 30, but as you know, there was an outbreak of Ebola, which
started in the Congo and quickly spread to Uganda. We decided it was wise to postpone
Uganda once again. We are tentatively talking about November if Ebola is contained. I’ll
keep you posted. I was beginning to feel like Paul when he wanted to go to Asia, but
doors kept closing (Acts 16:6-10). I did not receive the Macedonian call; however, the
Lord did open the door for me to go about 350 miles from Macedonia to Romania.
Please pray for the Lord to use me to encourage the missionaries and the Romanian people, and for Him to open
more doors of opportunity.
Deidra Brown P. O. Box 344
www.prescriptionforahurtingworld.org Chelsea, AL 35043
deidrabmissions@gmail.com Instagram - Rx4hurtingworld