April 2015 ARRIBA Ministry In The Jungle

From April 6 through the 18 the three ARRIBA students, Jason, Kellie and Rachel, and I traveled in the Amazon jungle of Peru to three villages. We were accompanied by two national missionaries, Delsie Córdova and Christopher Cardeñoso. Due to excessive rains this year and flooding we were not able to go to the villages we had gone to in the past. Instead, God lead us to the village of Amazonas were we had not been since 2010 and to a village we had never visited, 9th of October.

FLOODING

School girls trying to stay dry

Ladies walking on the "sidewalk."

Our transportation between the villages

VILLAGE OF AMAZONAS

The church building in Amazonas

Evening service

Our housing in Amazonas. It belongs to
Pastor Pedro.

We used tents to avoid mosquitoes.

Pastor Chris teaching the men's class on discipleship.

Kellie, Rachel and Delsie taught a ladies' class on Philippians.

Delsie working with some of the children at kid's club in Amazonas.

The location of the kid's club.

Preaching in Amazonas

Special music from Delsie and ARRIBA

Some of the kids and the closing program

The ladies showing their handcraft

In Amazonas there were at least 7 children who made professions of faith. I talked with Tony and Juan Carlos who prayed and put their trust in Christ for salvation. They have attended church for three years.

Some of the church members who came to say goodbye to us.

VILLAGE OF 9TH OF OCTOBER

The family who started the church in 9th of October. Pastor Jorge (red shirt) started the church over 30 years ago. Five years ago he had a stroke and can no longer see well enough to study his Bible and preach. His son, Leister, (in the green shirt) who is only 20 years old has been the pastor for the last two years. Please pray that he will be able to receive Biblical training at a Bible college.

Ready to eat!

Pastor Chris teaching

Evening service

Kid's club in 9th of October. Again, many children attended. On the last day there were about 20 professions of faith in Christ.

Jason leading games

Rachel teaching "Duck, Duck, Goose."

Pastor Jorge's older brother died the day before we left. He was unsaved. Pastor Chris was a big help and encouragement to the pastor and other family members who know the Lord. 

QUICK STOP AT 28TH OF JULY

We stopped for lunch in 28 of July with Pastor Felipe and the believers here. The village was too flooded to stay longer.

The flooded village of 28th of July. The church is the green building.

Pastor Jose from Grau, Pastor Chris, Jim and Pastor Felipe.
(l. to rt.)

The ARRIBA students going to one final kids' club in 28th of July. 

Please pray for the children who accepted Christ during these two weeks. Our desire is to see fruit that remains. Pray for the pastors of the two villages we ministered in: Pastor Pedro in Amazonas and Pastor Leiter in 9th of October. Please pray they will be faithful, resist temptations and be filled with wisdom as they lead the believers there in the jungle.

Pray for the 3 ARRIBA students who have just returned to the States that they will be focused on praying and considering their future role in being workers sent by the Lord into His fields.

Chinchil Mission Trip October 2014

First of all, we'd like to thank you for your prayers for our mission trip to the mountain village of Chinchil where Pastor Josué Tinta is faithfully serving the Lord. Our team consisted of three young ladies from El Manantial Baptist Church, this year's three ARRIBA students, a former ARRIBA student, and a national missionary Delsi Córdova.

Pastor Josué met us in the town of Huacrachuco to take us to Chinchil

After a 3 hour ride in a minivan, we hiked the final hour and a half to Chinchil

Every morning we were able to have special meetings with the students in the schools. Here Eli and Vicky are practicing their drama for the elementary school program.

Singing with the students at the elementary school

Delsi speaking to the high school students

In the mornings Jim taught the adults a study of the Gospel of John chapters 1-8

Different families from the church provided our meals

Noah, Jason and Emily "rounding up" the children for Kids' Club each afternoon

Game time has always been a special time for the children

The ARRIBA students had the opportunity to share object lessons with the children in Spanish 

Each day we had over 100 children who came to the Kids' Club

The Gospel was presented through the lessons and many stayed after the last day to ask us about trusting Christ as their Savior. We were able to talk with many of their need of a Savior and about twenty children/teens made professions of faith.

Monday through Thursday Jim  preached in the evenings

The men from the church singing a special

The ladies with their crafts from the ladies' meetings which Becky taught in the afternoons on Titus 2:4-5.

ARRIBA students and Delsi with some of the children after an evening service

Please pray for Pastor Josué, Zarela and their family as they serve the Lord in Chinchil.

2014 ARRIBA Jungle Trip

Each year in March/April the ARRIBA students and I have the opportunity to share God's Word for two weeks in Peru's Amazon jungle. This year we headed  first to the community of  28 de Julio (28th of July) and the following week was spent in the larger village of Grau. This year's ARRIBA students, Sam and Rachel along with two other young ladies, (Savannah Froese working at BMM's school for MKs  and Delsi Cordova a national missionary) held kids' clubs and ladies' meetings during the day. While they were working with the children and ladies, I had a daily Bible study with several men each week on Christ's crucifixion in our place and our salvation. In the evenings Sam and I took turns preaching in special services.

Setting off for a 3 hour boat ride to 28 de Julio.

This is 28 de Julio. We slept in tents on the porch of the first house on the left and ate our meals at Pastor Felipe's house next door.

Rachel working with a craft for kids' club in 28 de Julio.

The kids with the finished craft showing Christ's birth, death and resurrection

Sam leading games

Game time on the beach

Ladies Meeting in 28 de Julio

Sam preaching in the evening service
 *FYI - it's not cold in the jungle. The jacket is only to keep the mosquitoes from biting!

Rachel and Savannah at church with some of the kids

Sam leading the kids at the VBS closing program at church

The 4 men I taught the week we were here in 28 de Julio. Pastor Felipe is to my left as you look at the picture.

These are the 4 men in my class in Grau.

In Grau we set up our tents in a community center close to the church. The table for studying and eating was a blessing!

Sam in Grau leading games with a group of the smallest kids

In Grau the ARRIBA students had an hour to speak to the high school students. They got to present the Gospel to about 60 students who eventually filled the room.