Local couple leaves to serve in Peru

A local couple has responded to their calling and will be moving to the jungles of Peru this summer to perform mission work at a home for teen and tween girls who have suffered physical abuse, sexual abuse or both and would otherwise be homeless and living on the streets.

Charles and Christian Matlock both come from a religious upbringing, so it is no surprise they both possess a servant's heart. They also possess the heart to help these young girls, having come from career roles which have been to serve youth and or their families. Charles is the Family Pastor at Two Rivers Bible Church. Christian is the Career Center Specialist at Gonzales High School.

The couple will be ministering at La Buena Semilla (The Good Seed), helping young girls – and their children if they have any – who have been rescued from the streets of Puerto Maldonado, Peru, many who were subjected to sex trade.

Charles and Christian will be there to see to the girls' physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs and helping them to cultivate a familiarity with Christianity and Jesus Christ.

Charles and Christian will help see to the physical nourishment of the girls, but helping to provide nutritious meals, help the girls receive and education or learn a trade, as well as getting them to appointments with doctors and dentists. The couple said they will cultivate the emotional state of the girls with love, as well as active listening and one-on-one time and letting the girls know is okay to speak out. The spiritual needs of the girls will be met through discipline, prayer, church attendance and serving one another.

This move has been made possible by the generosity of many people and organizations and through the help of Commission to Every Nation) CTEN, a servant organization which helps missionaries fulfill their visions.

For the last year, the duo has been out raising awareness and raising funds for their big move. They will be dependent upon the charity of the people they have come into contact with, their family, friends and church family.

The couple's goal is to be in the jungle city of Maldonado by August 1. They will both leave their jobs at the end of June, then spend the next month visiting with children and grandchildren.

Charles and Christian are in love with Pero. They have both been there and both seek to see the community learn about Christianity. A whopping 95 percent of the city is unchurched.

A fundraiser soccer tournament has been scheduled at 9 a.m., Saturday, May 20, and Lions Park. If you would like to watch the games, donate to the cause, or show your support, the Matlocks will be working the concession stand during the tourney.

Donations can be made directly to the Matlocks, made through CTEN at P.O. Box 291307, Kerrville, Texas 78029, or online at www.cten.org.charliematlock.