First Month

June 4, 2011

Hi All,

I can’t believe I have already been here a month. Time has been flying and we have been really busy preparing for all the teams coming this year. This is such a blessing to have 7 teams coming. It is just difficult communicating with the jungle communities and takes a face to face visit to do the coordination due to limited phone service.

After we returned from Amazonas, I was very sick. I couldn’t go with Lucy and Pastor Juan to our new church in Maynas. I was so disappointed but I was having severe stomach problems and it is a nine hour boat ride with no bathroom. It actually turned out well since I did not get out of bed for the next 2 days. I finally ended up having to go to the doctor and get antibiotics but now am feeling much better. (Of course I didn’t lose any weight with all of this).

Fortunately Lucy had classes in the seminary the next week and I was able to get over the bug. We also had several women’s events to help pay the electric and water bill of the church. We sold cecina, which is dried pork and chicken with yucca and we made enough to pay the bills.

Sunday was also my birthday. Saturday night at the women’s meeting we had popcorn, crackers and soda. They sang happy birthday and I got the customary egg on my head. Sunday night after church, we had cake and soda and Pastor Leiter pushed my face into the cake. It was a lot of fun.

Tuesday morning we started to head out to San Juan de Sinchi Cuy but it was pouring and we ended up having to wait until Wednesday. We got out there and we played soccer with the kids (I ended up kicking more than just the ball). We then held a children’s service and then had to send them home to bathe before church.

Church service was awesome with more than 60 children and many youth and adults attending. We had a 2hour church service and the people still did not want to leave. We played games and told stories. This is a difficult community and there are many who do not want us there, but little by little God is winning over the hearts of the people.

We returned Thursday for church service in Iquitos. Yesterday we made more plans for the teams and practiced “Open the Eyes of my Heart” in English. It is starting to sound pretty good.

Sunday is the Presidential election here in Peru so we had to be back in Iquitos for them to vote. We in the house here, Pastor Leiter, Gladys, Lucy, Dayer and I are going to buy the ingredients to make a cake for election day. Mmmm.

Monday we will be headed out to Tamshiyacu and Santa Ana to finish the arrangements for the teams. When we return, I have to preach on the 15^th, then the team arrives on the 18^th so we will be very busy making the purchases. As I explained in another email, it is not quite the same as in the states as everything has to be purchased at different times and can only be as much as the moto carros can hold so we have to make many trips.

(Photo: Moto Carro)

I am very excited to see what God will do through these teams. Please pray for their health and that the hearts of the people be open to the Lord. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. Please write.

In Christ,

Kayleen