The Happenings

Life here is moving ahead. Hard to believe a whole week has past. On Friday, I thought it was only Wednesday. I don´t know how the days manage to slip by so rapidly.

Yesterday it was pouring here in the city of Iquitos. Nelton popped by to tell me we were going to ¨bañar como los pobres¨(bath like the poor). He pulled me outside and we stood under the gutters and got soaked in a matter of 2.8 seconds. It was so refreshing after 2 straight days of heat without end, the fan had broken in the midst of the painting project, so sweat and I spent a lot of time together.

Many of the neighborhood children were out playing in the rain, and we didn´t hold back from our share of fun. Countless eyes peered from cracks, doors, windows, or temporary shelters, watching as we ran down the streets like two little kids, laughing and splashing each other. I can only imagine what they were thinking as we were the only ones over the age of 13 celebrating God´s glorious and refreshing relief from the hot Peruvian sun. We made our way to his sisters, just to greet her. Ketty opened the door in surpise and looked at us laughing and playing. A grin broke across her face as she shook her head and told us we were crazy.

Today, we look forward to the week. Nelton is busy getting final details together for the team that comes from Costa Rica in two days. I spent the majority of the day with Paulette, catching up to speed on the ministry. She reflected on the last year or so. It has been a hard year, one of moving forward, stalling, stepping back, and needing to find sufficient strength to keep going ahead. We are glad to be together again and anticipate the weeks and months ahead.

We head for the jungle on Wednesday night. A team from Costa Rica comes and we will waste no time in getting into ministry. We will leave late Wednesday night to start the trip to the jungle. We will spend about five days at the mouth of the river, doing ministry in various villages. Then we will continue up the river. The team consists of two missionaries from Canada, who are bringing Dominicans they have been training in ministry, they are being exposed to the foriegn field. I believe there are four guys and one girl. I will be linking with the girl and assisting her in anyway she needs. I expect that it shall be a trip of seeing God move as he continues to bring about much needed freedom in communities that have only known certury upon century slavery and bondage. Pray for these days as they will be strategic in light of the events that have been happening in the jungle recently.