After an unexpected delay, we arrived back in Iquitos today at 2:00 pm. Although the engine trouble may have cost us a day on the construction side, we were able to take a break from a pretty tight schedule and relax. We managed to do a little fishing for piranha and other things, but unfortunately didn’t catch anything. Tonight, we are leading a service for youth from several churches in Iquitos. Robert Adams will be leading with Marcelo Hernandez translating. Cody and Stewart may give their testimonies. Lindsie will be singing. Pray that this service will please God.

Tomorrow, we hope to join in on the construction on the classrooms at the seminary. Pray that the weather will be favorable and our time will be productive.

Here is a random photo as we first attempted to go up the jungle. We didn’t make it together because this boat couldn’t handle this many people with this much luggage.

Traveling Via Rapido

Due to mechanical problems with the boat, the team stayed an additional night in Pebas. They were able to visit all seven villages along the river. The team is doing well. Pray for continued safety as they leave for Iquitos early in the morning. (Wednesday, 18th)

Today we traveled the markets with Pastor Richar. Unlike past trips, we only were shopping for basic medicines for the Yagua. In the afternoon, we went to their version of Home Depot to purchase some extra tools for the construction work. The weather was incredibly mild and very pleasant. We woke to heavy thunderstorms but those passed after breakfast.

We thank God today for good conversations with Pastor Richar and Pastor Leopoldo on how we can continue to partner our efforts in the Amazon basin.

Tomorrow (March 15), the departs Iquitos and travels to Pebas. The goal is to visit all 7 of the villages that we have been discipling. Pray that even though our time will be short in each village that the Yagua will feel our continued love for them. We are bringing Bibles, song books, t-shirts courtesy the WBC Wild Worship and medicines. We will be out of communication until Tuesday afternoon when we return from Pebas.

Please pray for our safety as we travel including protection from diseases. Pray for the team as we have yet to endure the severe heat of the Amazon not to mention our first exposure to the vast variety of insects that will be seeking to sustain nourishment from us!

Also pray for continued strengthening of our relationship with the Peruvians.

Thank you for your prayers. God has blessed us tremendously thus far and we are anxious to give Him the glory.

A Dios Sea La Gloria!

The team made it to Iquitos with no lost luggage or team members! PTL!

We met Pastor Richar and made sure we are all sync’ed up. The plan is pretty much our original thoughts as posted on the trip itinerary off of the REAPWBC.org web site.

We’ll spend tomorrow buying supplies for the run up the river.

Prayer requests include:

* Discernment and good stewardship in purchasing supplies.

* Adjustment to the heat and humidity of the Amazon basin.

* Continued unification of the team in bringing glory to God.

The team arrived safely in Lima this morning with all our luggage. We have been “chilling” at the guesthouse before we have to catch the next flight to Iquitos.  We met Jeremy and Crystal Nelson who will be moving to Iquitos after the birth of their daughter. It was exciting to meet them and we look forward to working with them for many years in the Iquitos area.

The youth on this trip have been really great! The photo below was taken while we had some down time between flights. They look awfully fresh at this time. Should have posted a similar shot of what they looked like when we landed in Lima at 4:20 am!

What a journey!

We are scheduled to be in Iquitos at 3:10 pm where we will meet Pastor Richar. We will be staying at the Hostel Ambassador during our stay in Iquitos.

When our plans for traveling up the river are solidified, we’ll post those updates.

Thanks for the prayers so far and keep them coming.

WBC is sending it’s next group of volunteer missionaries to Peru for a combination trip of ministering to the Yagua people and assisting with construction of a building at the seminary in Iquitos.

The team departs on March 12, 2009 and should arrive in Iquitos on March 13. At that time, the next post will be published.

OK, after a few days rest, it’s time to get the rest of the trip posted.

On Sunday Aug. 10 we went to church with Richar in Iquitos before heading off down the river.  We rode a motokar, motorcycle taxi, which is a trip!!!  What fun!!!  People very warm and inviting!!! The singing is the greatest!!  Asconio shared out of 2 Peter I believe.  Since I don’t know Spanish, didn’t know much of what is shared.  It’s ok though.  I know truth was proclaimed!!

We finally get off in the boats around 1:15ish.  They are fast and cool.  Cool as in temperature cool!!  It’s totally amazing how wide the Amazon is!!  We pass many villages, which dot the shores.  Several times we saw people playing soccer.  Look forward to actually seeing them play.  Hear they are really good!!  The sun sets beautifully!  There’s lightning behind the large thunderhead clouds.  It’s dark when we pull into Pebas.  It’s a long, uphill climb to the hostel.  Fortuantely others brought our big bags.  Hostel is filled with children, we sing and play with them.  Eat food around 9 PM.  Bacon, plantains, bread, cheese and tea!! 

Our room has four beds, for myself, Carol, Kimberly and Milka, one of the Peruvians with us.  We listened to the disco tech until almost midnight when the power is shut off.  It’s really dark in the jungle!!

Aug. 11

We wake up to cool breezes.  Carol and others sing hymns.  Beautiful!!!  Can see Carol is truly in her element.  The jungle is so thick around us!!  Hills around as well.  AS we go to Santa Lucia by boat, it’s only 1 mile.  Short jaunt.  Greeted by children and adults.  Went up the hill to the village and church.  Many women and children, few men present.  We gathered at church to wait for others to join us.  An older man we’d passed on the river, began our time together.  We are introduced and share a word with the group.  We sing songs together.  Ebon, one of the Peruvians who joined our group, plays the guitar and leads with gusto!!!  We sing Seek Ye First for the group.  The older man gets the group up to sing for us.  Sweet time together.  Asconio preaches from Acts 17.  Time of invitation, several come up for prayer.

While all the service is going on, Claudia and Esther fix a meal for the village.  Hard work!!! 

After the prayer time they had everyone go get their dishes.  Filled little kids bowls, plates FULL.  Didnt’ see how they could eat it all. They did!!!  PRobably the only meal they will get all day.  That’s humbling.  They are so energetic and full of life.  One little girl I wanted to bring home!!  The babies are precious.

We bought some bracelets from some of the ladies in the village before leaving.  After visiting some more we head back to the boat.  Asconio doctored a little boy’s finger before boarding the boat.  We traveled on to one more village.  Puchu something, you’ll have to ask someone else exactly what the name of it was.  We had not gone into it before.  Huge compared to Santa Lucia.  Big huts with several blocks worth of huts. Someone went to find the preacher, who was out tending his farm.  This village Richar had preached to 150-200 people.  Demons had manifested in some of the youth.  There has been someone come in and influence them with their black magic.  We pray that the power of darkness will be released from this place and that the LIGHT of Jesus will shatter the darkness!!!  We talked with some ladies and the preacher and had prayer time.  One lady was burdened for her children, the pastor burdened over the bad influences over the youth in the village.  We talked to a local doctor to get meds for some back in Santa Lucio.  On the way back to Pebas we stopped by and dropped off meds. with those who needed them!!!

We spent the evening talking with one another and getting better acquainted.  Milka and Aladino were fun to talk with.  Aladino is a pastor who joined us and I think he’s going to the seminary, but not sure.  Milka came to work primarily with the kids on this trip.  She and Kimberly do great with them!!! 

August 12

We head to Piri, which is a suburb on Pebas.  It’s only about 5 min. from our location.  As we waited for the rest of the group, Carol and I headed up to the cemetary of Pebas and a little boy named Jesus joined us.  He led us to the grave of his little sister, who’d died about a year ago.  He was really wanting us to see it!!  He and Carol talked a bit and then we headed back after seeing some other sites.  Once in Piri, we did visitation.  I was with Richar and we visited several huts, which warmly invited us in.  Very hospitable people!!

We got permission to use the school.  Everyone started gathering and little kids met at elementary school for their time.  We ended up with approx. 20 adults and 30 children.

Lunch was served to quite a few people after prayer time for those requesting prayer.  One lady alchohol issues, others with health issues.  Notice whenever we’re in village many of babies have cough.  Asconio explains it’s because the moms don’t have the nutrition they need in order for it to be passed on to the babies through the breast milk.

We get back to Casa Loma Linda.  Beautiful sunset!!!  Esther cooks chicken on the grill and it’s DELICIOUS!!!

We go to the church in Pebas.  MANY young people.  They are all interested in seeing the English Bibles we have.  It was kind of overwhelming having everyone around us.  We are not the norm.  Duh!!! 

Aug. 13

We head to Magwal.  Don’t know how to spell any of these villages.  It’s a very poor village.  There is a rice field across the river from them.  The tummies look a bit fuller than the other villages we’ve visited.

We have women and babies for Bible study.  Asconio teaches.  Kim and Milka lead kids.  We visit in little hut, kids in the school.  It’s nice and cool in the hut!!!  We serve lunch. Rice, chicken with potatoes.  We load up the boats, which already have our bags and we head on two hours to San Francisco.  Ride is a bit rougher today.  Thankful alls been going smoothly.  Thanks for safety and no problems with the boats.

Our hostel in San Francisco is down a hill away from any breeze.  I have a room to myself.  It is REALLY HOT in the room.  No breeze.  Electricity only from 6-9 PM.  Ebon and Richar rig up a hammock for me in the room.  It’s interesting learning how to sleep in it. 

Aug 14

We split into teams today.  I was with Carol, Richar, Claudia and Milka.  We went to Santa Isabelle.  The whole community left for the day.  Walked an hour to a celebration with another village.  Richar moved us on to St. Nicholas.  Wedgies hadn’t been there before.  Baptist Church of Gethsemane, with landscaping in the front.  Beautiful hibiscus, etc.  Carol shared her testimony completely in Spanish for the first time.  It’s neat to see her in her element!!!  She and Richar interpret for me as I share a word also.

Once we get back to San Francisco I spend the evening out by the river trying to cool off.  There seems to be a breeze all the time at the river.  We had fries and some beef dish for dinner.  It’s really good food.  Learned how to sleep in the hammock better the second night.  Feels like I could sleep for a week!!

Aug. 15

Richar lets us know we’re about out of good water, so we’re going to head back to Pebas this afternoon.  It’s been really hot and we’ve obviously been drinking a lot!!! 

Our same team goes to Condor for the day.  Big village!!!!  During food distribution I was praying we’d have enough for everyone.  I was serving the drink portion, which was enjoyable to be a part of.  The ladies had made lemonade.  The lemons were incredibly large!!!  We ran out of food before we got to eat.  I had snacks in the boat.  Glad I had some food to share with others in the boat as we headed two hours back to Pebas.  We stopped in San Francisco and Carol bought some fresh bread.  It was INCREDIBLE!!!  I was hungry!!! 

We had good weather back up the river toward Pebas.  It’s truly amazing how big this river is!!  We had a sweet time of sharing together at Casa Loma Linda.  There were a few tears shed!!!  What an encouraging time.  The servanthood of the Peruvians is humbling and challenging!!!  They have been so helpful and loving toward us!!! 

Aug. 16

We have a smooth trip back to Iquitos.  Six hours in a boat goes faster than one would think.  We stopped along the way to drop off Ebon.  His family was so sweet and warm!!!  It was a joy to see his home, etc.  We take pictures, spend a little time sharing together and then head on to Iquitos.  Safe trip back.  It was good to see the skyline of Iquitos.  Was ready for some A/C. 

We did pizza with the group at the good pizza place.  We had some wonderful lemonade as well. 

Aug. 17

We started our trip home.  Fortunately we didn’t have too many delays.  The time in Lima spent shopping were fun.

Asconio had the chance to lead Junior to the Lord after hearing him listening to Christian music.  God had prepared his heart!!!  Thank you Lord for a new brother in You!!!  Left his name and shop number with missionaries who can take him a Bible.

It was great to finally get home after a long couple of days!!!!  Thanks for safe trip Lord.  Prepare those who will go next time!!!

Carol called early this morning to say everything has gone very well. No one sick, no injuries, no problems. God’s hand has been in everything they’ve done. One more day then they head home. Continue to pray for them today and for safe and uneventful travel. Thanks for all the prayers.  Carlton

Well, we FINALLY made it!!!  American Airlines put us up in Miami, along with food vouchers.  We have stories to tell about planes and airports.  We spent time singing together, praying together and waiting!!!  After 5 hrs. rest in 48 hrs. we are here!!  By the way, this is Gayla, a newbie writing.  It has rained several times today once we arrived.  We were thankful to see Richar, Claudia, and Esther, Chaldia´s mother!!!  She will be going as our cook.   They took care of shopping and encouraged us to get rest!!  No arguements from any of us, just another blessing from our Father!!!  He has been faithful to bless us all along the way!!!  The hotel rooms, with food vouchers!!!  The sweet fellowship together!!!  Hopefully, once we get rest and a slower schedule, we´ll make more sense as we type, etc.  Thank you ALL for your prayers.  We have needed them!!!  <We have felt them!!!!  I was very suprised by all the motorcycles and motokars in the streets.  It´s a busy city!!!  We´ll share more when we return fromthe jungle.  Love you all!!!

Here’s our list of things to help us all continue praying for the Yagua people and our continuing ministry there:

• Our relationship with Leopoldo and the seminary in Iquitos.
• Wisdom regarding finances and how to handle all of the requests for help as well as encouraging the churches to grow to become self sufficient.
• Condor establishing a new church.
• A solution regarding how to get our Peruvian friends into the villages at least once a month.
• Richar and Leo developing relationships with other Peruvian pastors and believers who will get involved in future Yagua outreach.
• That the seeds that were planted will take root and those new believers will be discipled.
• Salvation of Abelardo and Judy in Pevas.
• Clairet and Marillelin who were baptized at Santa Lucia, that they will continue to grow.
• That the sense of darkness and hopelessness will lift in Piri.
• That the church in Mangual will begin meeting regularly.