Hola from Iquitos! We´ve only been here for a week, and already God is doing amazing things, and our team has become a family. With random dancing, camu camu ice cream, lots of late night mn hang outs, and eating suri (a giant grub that tastes slightly like chicken), the trip has been full of exciting adventures so far and we have had lots of time to bond and get to know each other. One of the coolest things about our group is the sense of community that we all felt right from the start, and I LOVE coming together with the other members of my group whether it be to pray, share struggles and experiences, or just laugh and have a good time.
Over the past few days, the team has lead worship and church services at a local church and one of the nearby schools, and on Monday we started working at the prison in Iquitos. Eoghan and I have been blessed to, along with Kristen, Kat, and Jesse, lead worship in al of the services so far, and have the opportunity to se the passion and excitement with which the people of Iquitos worship. Each person we have come in contact with has had an affect on me in some way, and I am amazed to see that, while I was coming to bless others through Christ, in many ways it has been the other way around. For example, while at the prison yesterday and earlier today, I had the chance to speak with Fernando, a ninteen year old that has been coming to the services in the morning. I learned that he had lost both of his parents by the time he was nine years old, was arrested when he was fourteen, and in addition to beng completely torn by his story, was in awe at the amount of compassion, kindness, and friendship he showed to us. I can´t wait to continue our work there, and know God is blessing these people in big ways.
Above all else, I´ve been completely wrecked for Jesus. I´ve watched friends be transformed, suffering lifted and destroyed, and listened as a man proclaimed freedom from a childhood illness. In sharing my own testimony, I felt many of my own doubts and fears lifted, and am excited to learn what it is to be a biblical man.
I am absolutely stoked for the rest of the trip! Next Tuesday, we leave for a small town called Riquena, which is in the jungle! We men are looking forward to cayman wresting, indefinite beard growing, and whatever other masculine endeavors we can think of, and hope to come back with most of our clothes made from alligator skin.
Buenos Tardes!
En Dios,
Grant
