August 3, 2011

Hi All,

Hope this update finds you all doing well. I wanted to write and inform you of the last several weeks. As you know per my last update, the team from TX/LA left on July 18^th and on July 23^rd we had 11 people arrive from a youth group from Lima. This was very exciting for me as I keep praying for the more mature churches of Peru to adopt the younger churches here in the jungle.

The youth arrived Saturday night and Sunday morning we set out for Nauta in a bus, then Amazonas by boat. The community of Amazonas once again turned out to help us get our cargo up the hill and get us settled. Amazonas is one of my favorite communities as the church there is very united and willing to help. We didn’t bring the gas stove so cooked with wood which all of the church members went out to bring us each day as well as water.

The group from Lima was ready to work and had children’s services, then a time to talk about sexual abuse with the children and a service that night.

The next morning we went in two’s to do door to door evangelizing which was a huge success. We also divided up into male and female groups to have a round table discussion. Many of the women of the community opened up and talked as I have never seen before. It was a time of healing some old wounds for many and that night’s service was packed with standing room only.

Wednesday morning we started the return trip to Iquitos and that afternoon went to the park to evangelize. One of the youth was in a Christian “beat box” group and knew how to flow. He has several cd’s out and is very talented. This of course drew a crowd and 3 people accepted Christ that day in the park which was awesome.

Thursday we headed out to San Juan de Sinchi Cuy where we had to walk an hour to the community. About a month ago I fell while walking to this community and hurt my arm. My arm had been hurting horribly for that month but while in Amazonas, a man looked at it and said it was out of its socket and popped it back in. Finally I am feeling some relief from that.

We arrive in San Juan and had a children’s service then played soccer against the entire community in which Lima lost every game. That night we held a service in the house and then went to bed.

The next day we did door to door evangelism which was more difficult in this community. There is more opposition here and in reality it is a somewhat tough ground. The people accepted us into their homes though and a large number of them came to the service that night.

Saturday we returned to Iquitos and had a service with the youth that night and then all of the youth went to the Boulevard and did their mimes ect with great success.

Sunday we had Sunday School in the morning and then a vegilia that night which is a service that lasts all night. I couldn’t believe how these kids kept going. I was so exhausted I could hardly stand up but they just kept at it.

Monday and Tuesday we had days of traveling around Iquitos visiting various places and last night we had some tearful good byes. Overall it was a tremendous success for all with the youth encouraging all of the churches.

Please pray for us here as we have another team arriving Sunday and I have a lot of work to do between now and then. I also have to go to immigration to ask for an extended stay. I am exhausted and keep getting bronchitis with not enough time to heal so please pray for my health. In between these teams we also have to get things ready for the construction team that is coming at the end of August. Don’t get me wrong. I love doing this. Just please pray for health and strength to keep moving forward. God is moving in big ways this year in the Amazon and it is an honor for me to be able to be here to see it. Thanks for all of your prayers and support.

In His Service

Kayleen