Church Tonight

Tonight as I [Amy]sat in a tiny section of a dirt house…. I mean a real dirt house, dirt walls and dirt floor…… and listened to  a small group of Christians [10 + us] worshiping with old church hymns and a humble pastor speak about glorifying God in all our struggles; I was overcome with emotion.  Pastor Juan spoke about what a privilege it is to suffer for the glory of God because of how Jesus suffered for us. That we should rejoice in our difficulties because God gives us strength and power through these times.  To take up our cross and follow in Jesus’ footsteps. I listened and was so humbled when this man said “How can I complain when I haven’t even come close to what Jesus suffered for me.”

Are you kidding me?! You have so much more of an understanding than I will EVER have for the suffering Jesus went through….and you are glad in it!!! It made me feel about the size of a pea because I am ashamed at the times I have complained over the most trivial thing and felt justified in complaining about it. And, here I was listening to Pastor Juan encourage his congregation to rejoice in the sufferings and know that their reward would be great and the God would give them strength and power. Oh boy, will their reward be great in heaven because they have suffered and continue to thank God everyday in all circumstances. He spoke to them about not searching for the “cheap church” that only preaches about feel good things and to look for the true gospel that teaches love and growth and strength in God through all things, good times and bad times. I’m sure I am totally butchering his sermon but, I just can’t explain how his words struck me to the core.

I saw faith, hope, and love….and the greatest of these was love.  They love each other so purely and fiercely. I thought tonight that this must be what the first churches were like and I could see why they have such a strong faith. When the people here read the words of the Bible they are not that far removed from the people of that time. They are suffering with just trying to provide food and shelter for their families. They have to work hard for everything they have and work in harsh conditions. The fortitude that their world instills in them lends them the grace and power to comprehend God’s word in a way that my privileged life has not allowed me.  I see now why THEY must be the ones to spread God’s word. And, how important our role here is in helping them to do that…..So I leave you tonight with a heartfelt THANK YOU!! Each of you are doing this work with us…you are allowing the strong faith and love of these people to flow up and down the river and far in the jungle.

How I love thee.....

How do I love thee……

Let me count the ways….

That is what God has been quietly whispering to us in this past month.  We arrived in Peru to a whirlwind of activity and inactivity at the same time. From days on end sitting around feeling useless to times of constant go, go, go…God has continued to love us and bless us. This past month has been a time of being still, building relationships, counting our blessings, being frustrated, feeling useless,  from questioning our purpose to knowing without a doubt, mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion, moments of pure joy and wonderment to moments of heartbreak and sadness. But, through it all I can see the blaring light of my Father in Heaven. His quiet gentle reassurance that He loves us and is always with us.  The ways in which He has loved us in just the past month are too numerous to count but, the joy, peace, and love I have felt goes beyond words and are so much more than I could ever deserve!

The first 2 ½ weeks in the midst of some frustration with wanting to be on our timetable and things to go the way we planned…I know, what were we thinking?!… He settled us in to a place that we were only able to just be patient and still. He allowed me to find some confidence and strength in the relationships I built in Iquitos. Giving me the courage I would need for moving to Nauta on our own. Also allowing us to keep in contact with family regularly to make the transition maybe slightly less painful. Again the blessings too numerous to count and so many that I am sure I can’t even realize at this moment. 

He has given us amazing relationships already in Nauta, amazing neighbors, great contacts for help, and even strong Christian missionaries. We have been prayed over and blessed and offered helped and support so many times now that I am overcome with emotion when I think how God could spend so much time crafting this journey for us…really? Wow!

As I am watching how God is changing and growing Junglemaster Ministries in just the month that we have been here….I am again overcome with emotion. He is moving in BIG ways here in the jungle! He has big plans for this powerful ministry and I cannot be more full with gratitude that I get to watch and pray and that you all get to watch and pray with us.

God has invited each one of us, you reading this blog, you praying for the ministry, and us to come alongside these people here and watch what He will allow them to do for His glory.

Progress

Some might say it’s just me becoming acclimated to the culture and environment. I say no; it’s knowing I serve a mighty God and He gives me wisdom, encouragement and strength when I need it the most. I had hired Miguel, a brother from the church in Santa Rita, to help me put up some walls and do some other odds and ends to get the house in Nauta more comfortable for us. Miguel is a carpenter and storeowner in Santa Rita. For him to come help me means he has to leave his wife with his three sons and she would also have to run the store for him. He said “not a problem I’ll be there Wed. morning.”; this was Sunday. I have to admit I was a bit surprised when early Wed. morning my phone rang and it was Miguel saying “Joel I’m getting on the boat in Santa Rita right now I’ll be there in 4 hours can you pick me up at the port and help me I have all my tools” Miguel showed up with all his tools, a tent to sleep in, a big smile, and a “lets get started”.

We started by framing up a wall down stairs to support the upstairs floor. When we wrapped that up I decided it was time for us to go get some dinner. At dinner Miguel, in his timid, not sure how to tell me voice began. “Joel, I am very concerned about your house. I don’t think it’s safe for you and your family to be living upstairs because it is been badly damaged by termites.” He went on to explain to me that the lower part of the house had been built by lumber that the termites wouldn’t touch but that all of structural framing upstairs was built with lumber that termites love and they had damaged it badly. To top this off he said where we live has strong windstorms and structurally it’s not safe. We finished dinner and went home and decided to do a little more extensive looking the next day. Sure enough the next day he showed me all the damage and the difference in the lumbers that had been used. That afternoon I asked Miguel if he would get me an estimate to complete the repairs needed and he agreed. He wrote me up an estimate and told me he had three guys that we could hire to help do the work. They could get started in 10 days all we needed was to put half down on the lumber so that the sawmill could start cutting lumber.

Another project we are working on at the moment is getting running water from our existing in ground storage tank into the house. The way that is achieved here in Peru is to elevate a ¾ ton water tank elevated on a tower 30 feet in the air. I have been very concerned with the safety of this especially after learning of the termite issues, seeing as how they build the towers out of wood. So, in my research I have found the latest Peruvian technology, a pressure tank system! Very similar to what we would use in the states. The cost is the same as doing the elevated tank just much safer and more efficient. God once again has stepped in and blessed me with the help I need to install the running water. There is a local Bellingham team coming from Laurel Community Baptist Church coming on Nov 7^th to help us complete the water project.

We really need all of our amazing prayer warriors; please be praying that the funds can be raised to meet our current needs. We need to raise about $4,500.00 to complete both of these projects. Thank you so much for keeping us in your prayers. We feel them daily and they are such a strength and comfort to us.