Nestled in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, beside the banks of the Ucayali River, a child named Daniel Tate was born to an impoverished mother in Pucallpa, Peru. Shortly after Daniel’s birth, the doctors informed his mother that he would need surgery.

Without the funds to pay for his medical care, she made the agonizing decision to arrange for his adoption, putting his needs ahead of her well-being.

In Pucallpa, a compassionate American missionary named Joanne Tate learned about Daniel’s urgent need for medical attention. As a mother of three, Joanne felt a deep call to help and stepped in to cover all his medical expenses. A year later, Joanne and her husband Bob adopted Daniel.

When Daniel was three years old he left Peru and journeyed with his new American parents to their home in Montesano, Washington.

There, he met his three siblings: Joanne and Bob’s two biological children as well as Tamara, their adopted daughter from Peru. Right from the start, Daniel and Tamara clicked and formed a special bond.

Daniel saw his birth mother only once after leaving Peru. He was overcome with emotion, recognizing the poverty and struggles she had endured in her life. That experience had a profound impact on Daniel as he realized the sacrifice of love she made for him.

When Daniel was eight years old, his family heard about two young, homeless Peruvian sisters. Joanne, again feeling moved to do something to help, adopted them into her family. As the girls settled into life with their new family, Daniel began questioning his adoption for the first time. 

Before that moment, Daniel hadn’t considered the differences between himself and other family members. He had never brought up the topic with his parents, which left him with some unanswered questions.

Growing up in a household filled with six siblings only intensified his feelings of loneliness and displacement.

As he stepped into his teenage years, he faced the harsh reality of having an abusive father. Often the recipient of his father’s rage, Daniel began to rebel, acting out when his father was around.

Even with everything that happened, the memories of his mother remain dear to him. She devoted herself to caring for her six children, all while dealing with the difficulties brought on by her husband's abusive behavior.

Throughout Daniel’s life, he witnessed his mother’s unwavering faith and the sacrifices she made for his well-being and the welfare of others, even in the toughest times. Daniel still remembers as the chaos in their home quieted, she would often cradle Daniel in her arms, soothing him until he drifted off to sleep.

By sharing her deep faith and the message that God is good, Daniel’s mother imparted the fundamental truths of the gospel. She made sure he attended church and youth camps. He can still hear her voice saying, "Do you think God would be happy with that?" Daniel’s mother remains one of the most influential figures in his life.

By his junior year of high school, the conflicts with his father had escalated, and Daniel was kicked out of his home. His father's abrupt action left him homeless and without any financial support. Fortunately, his sister Tamara, who had already moved out, offered him a place to stay until he could complete his studies.

As Daniel reflects on that season of his life, he still struggles to understand why his mother tolerated his father's abusive behavior. Coming to terms with it has been a challenge. Over the years, he has realized that the religious environment in which his mother was raised played a significant role in her choices.

There was a major emphasis on “being submissive and the importance of protecting the family image at all costs, and divorce is never an option”. Today, he understands the reasons behind her choices, but as a child, he often felt deeply betrayed.

When Daniel moved in with his sister, Tamara, his life was already spiraling out of control. During those tumultuous years, he found himself in trouble with the law on multiple occasions. One day, he stood before a Judge who offered two choices: serve time in jail or enlist in the military. Daniel opted for the military, having already considered a future with the Navy.

During Daniel’s four-year Naval service, his struggle to regain control over his life continued. When asked if things improved for him in the Navy, his immediate reply was, "Goodness, no, I felt just as alone there.”

After being discharged from the military, Daniel returned to Washington to live closer to his mother. During the years that followed, he cherished each moment spent with her. Those times are some of his most treasured memories. Tragically, the same year his mother passed away, he also lost his infant son.

Those agonizing losses occurred just months apart, marking that time the most painful chapter in Daniel's life. Overwhelmed with grief, he fell into a dark place where his drinking and drug use intensified.

A few years later, Daniel met and fell in love with a beautiful woman named Liz, who would become his wife. In 2015, they welcomed their precious Jasmine, into the world. The moment she was born, Daniel’s life began to change. Holding her in his arms turned his life upright and ignited a deep desire to be the kind of father she deserved. When Daniel reflects on a pivotal turning point in his life, he quickly shares; “It’s when I saw my daughter for the first time.

Her name is Jasmine, and she became the reason I stopped drinking and using drugs. The arrival of my daughter cleared my mind and shifted my perspective entirely. I realized, ‘This beautiful little girl is my blood.’”

Daniel had never experienced a connection quite like that before. To hold this child to whom he was connected by blood was incredible! He saw himself mirrored in her features, traits, and mannerisms; “She’s a part of me.” It was then he promised himself that he would not follow in his father’s footsteps but instead give his daughter a better father than he had.

Earlier this year, Daniel, Liz, and Jasmine attended Crossroads Nazarene for the first time. Daniel describes that experience as transformative, “Hearing the sermons, the singing, the fellowship, just everything we witnessed reminded me of things I learned as a child and what I had been missing.

“It’s wild because after that church service, when we got home, my daughter asked,’ Daddy, did you cry?’ I admitted, ‘Yes, I did’, she said, ‘I cried too’. Then my wife said she also cried. So we all cried! And that was my wife's first time, actually choosing to go to church, having not been raised in a Christian home. It was definitely a special moment for all of us”.

Today, Daniel, Liz, and Jasmine are on a great path. He shares the impact both his family and Crossroads have had on his spiritual transformation and renewed relationship with God.

When Daniel reflects on his remarkable journey, he can’t help but recognize the clear sense of purpose that God has mapped out for him; “I guess you could say all along and right from the very beginning, God had an incredible plan in mind for my life.

Looking back, I think it’s really pretty amazing.” Daniel didn't have a loving father figure in his life; rather, his experiences were quite the opposite. However, he's come to realize that God, his Heavenly Father, truly embodies love and goodness. With renewed eyes, he understands that God has been by his side all along, guiding him every step of the way.