Zamora, Narciso 1959-

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Zamora, Narciso 1959-

PERSONAL

Born May 12, 1959, in Tacamache, Peru; son of Marcial and Gricelida Zamora; married; wife's name Udelia (a missionary); children: Gerson, Eliézer. Religion: "Christian Evangelical."

ADDRESSES:

Home—Peru. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Missionary.

WRITINGS:

Walking Man: A Modern Missions Experience in Latin America, afterword by Michael Cassidy, translated and edited by Donna Schillinger, Quilldriver, 2008.

SIDELIGHTS:

Narciso Zamora is a missionary. Born in Tacamache, Peru, on May 12, 1959, Zamora grew up fearing the life he saw before him. His father worked hard labor jobs and came home in a drunken stupor every night. After finishing high school, Zamora ran away from home, setting himself on a different path than the one in front of him if he had stayed. He became a vagrant, stealing for food and money to get by. One day, however, he came across a Christian family who showed him kindness that he had not previously received. They were able to set him up on a road to a brighter future. With them he learned about Christ and Christianity and dedicated his life to spreading this new message. At this point he left the rural jungles of Peru and moved into the bustling capital, and began studying at one of Lima's seminaries.

In 2008 Zamora published a memoir called Walking Man: A Modern Missions Experience in Latin America. Written with an afterword by Michael Cassidy and translated and edited by Donna Schillinger, the memoir explains the process Zamora went through in going from a wanderer to a religious leader. Zamora dedicated decades of his life to his newfound faith. His wife, Udelia, is also a missionary. The pair plan to open an inter-American mission to teach Latin Americans to become missionaries in their own countries.

In addition to building his own mission, Zamora also explains the journey he took to find God and the challenges he has had since then. Zamora recalls the first time he felt the need to preach his message and teach others about Christianity. Zamora recalls the physical challenges he faced trekking through the jungle and traveling between arid desert regions and alpine mountain villages to share his calling with others. Zamora felt that it was important to bring Christ's message to Peru's many isolated villages, many of which do not have a church or regular presence of Christian missionaries.

Zamora and his wife later took their message to the neighboring countries of Chile and Ecuador where they helped found churches in isolated communities. While the two were in Chile, Udelia suffered kidney failure. He explains in the memoir how her illness was the most challenging ordeal he ever dealt with in his life. He became depressed over her condition but, through the lessons of coping with serious illness, he was able to gain further insight into the true meaning of Christ's message.

Zamora was also very active with relief efforts following the 2007 earthquake that struck southern Peru. He and his wife plan to open churches in several of the villages of the impacted area so that they will be better served by relief efforts in the future and to spread Christianity in the area.

Zamora told CA: "I first became interested in writing because of my mission work in Latin America, especially in the jungles of Peru. I hope that my book will inspire others to pursue mission work in Latin America and the world."