We have arrived safely in Peru and had absolutely no problems getting here! Praise the Lord! We are in a city called Nauta and have been staying at a church/school called Comlimento Renevacion (sp??). It has already been such an experience already and the Lord has been faithful to provide for our every need and to speak to us clearly. The people living at the church here have been so hospitable to us and have become part of our family! One of the most encouraging things to me is meeting fellow believers and saints in other parts of the world and joining in community and vision with them. The Christians here have such a strong passion and desire to spread Gods word to the city of Nauta as well as to the people of the Amazon jungle. It is great that the Lord has provided brothers and sisters to us that share that passion with us so we can join together for the sake of the gospel.
Since we have been here, we have walked around the entire city (seriously) and prayed over it, asking the lord to show us what he wanted us to do here. We collectively came up with a vision for the lord to restore relationships within families here, particularly between children and their fathers. This morning, we ran a VBS-type program for the kids in the neighborhoods around here. We played games, made crafts and taught a lesson on the characteristics of God. I´ve found out, in the little spanish that I know, that the kids here love cats! (gatos!). The kids here have really grabbed ahold of our hearts and we are working to pour into the all the love we have!
As for the coming weeks, we will be travelling via boat to various villages along the river and ministering to the people there. We will be doing that until July 19, so keep us in your prayers during that time. Be encouraged that the Lord has his hand on us and that he is being faithful to grow us as a team so that we can pour into others here. I have been reading through several of Paul´s letters since I have been here and have found him referring to the gospel of Christ as a mystery. I have really been meditating on that and finding the truth in it. Christ´s love and the way it transforms our minds and hearts is such a mystery. It is a mystery as to why He brought me thousands of miles away from home to be used here. It is a mystery when he speaks to us in various forms and we all hear/see the same needs. It is a mystery why God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive in Christ even when we were dead in our transgressions.¨(Eph 2:4-5). It is all such a mystery but it draws me in more and more everyday and leads me to love him so much more, and most importantly, it is a mystery that He is faithful to reveal to us slowly in this life.
So pray for us to continuously dip us in his mercy as we roll out of Nauta here in a few days and be encouraged by the mystery that is the love of God!
