Américo was born in Orellana, Peru, and grew up in the rainforest area of Pacallpa, Peru. Kathy was born in Chicago, IL and grew up in the suburbs of Palos Heights, IL.  Through the influence of their parents and churches, both accepted Christ as young children and committed their lives to serve Christ as teenagers.  Américo and Kathy were influenced by missionaries to the call of missions: Américo through Wycliffe Bible Translators (WBT) missionaries and Kathy through hearing missionary stories at church and on WMBI radio station.

After Kathy graduated from Wheaton College, she traveled to Pucallpa, Peru as a short-term worker at the WBT center of operations.  It was there Américo and Kathy met and realized God's call on their lives together in missions.  They later married while Américo studied at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago.  Subsequently, Américo obtained his BA degree from Trinity International University and an MA from Wheaton Graduate School. Kathy received an MA in Social Science, with an emphasis in Leadership Development from Azusa Pacific University.  In 1975, Américo and Kathy began their missionary service with Reach Beyond in Quito, Ecuador. Since 1992, Américo and Kathy have been involved in APOYO, Reach Beyond’s Pastoral Training and Leadership development ministry throughout Latin America.

They have three married children: Steve (Asia Director for Compassion International), his wife Jenny and three children live in Chiang Mai, Thailand; Carla, husband Troy and seven children live in Palm Coast, Fl, where Carla operates a home business and Troy helps manage a local business; Dave (Bible teacher/discipleship), his wife Beth (discipleship and music) and four children are  Reach Beyond missionaries in Quito, Ecuador.