October 1, 2011
Hi All,
We just got back from Yanashi this morning at 3:30 a.m. Yanashi is usually 12 hours to get there and 24 hours to return as returning is against the current. This was not the case this time though. Due to the river being low, we went as far as the larger boat could take us, then got into a smaller boat to get to Yanashi. This was at night and there are a lot of stingrays, snakes and alligators in this part of Peru so I was hoping we wouldn’t have to push the boat as we sometimes do. This time the boat went fine, but the motor didn’t. Three motors and 5 hours later we arrived at the church soaking wet. I now wish I would have paid more attention to my “Buns of Steel” exercise tape. I was wishing I had them to sit on that board for 5 hours in the rain. We did arrive though and got our mosquito nets set up and went to bed. (Photo: Little Emerson holding a melon)
We thought that we were going to arrive here and find the church leader gone. He had been saying he was going to work driving a boat for a few months but he and his family were there when we arrived. We had a long talk about his commitment to the church and after a while he said he wanted to stay with the church. It is always difficult for the leaders in the jungle churches as they need to be bi-vocational to make a living. He has a wife and 4 children and this year Yanashi flooded so their entire yucca and plantain crops were destroyed. In a few months they should be doing better. (Photo: Eating melon)
We held services the next two evenings and there are several that plan to come to the trainings in October and November. It ended up being a successful trip regarding the church plus we arrived just in time for watermelon and melon season. We ate so many melons I felt like I could have floated back to Iquitos. (Photo: MMMM)
We had to leave Friday at 4 am to catch the boat headed back to Iquitos. It was also full of melons and watermelons. We were loaded down but still made it back to Iquitos at 3:30 am Saturday. (Photo below: The boats loading the watermelons)
I hope you are all doing well. In my last email I told you I was trying to collect money for Christmas for the kids here. Several people have asked me how so I thought I would put it in here for those that are interested. If you want to donate for the kids, send donations to TX/LA District Missions, in care of Alden Griesbach at Collin Creek Community Church, 3701 W. Spring Creek Pkwy Plano, TX.75023. Please attach a note that says Kayleen, Peru Missions, Christmas. Thanks so very much.
We will be headed out to San Juan de Sinchi Cuy this week and then getting ready for the church conference at the end of October. Please pray for me as I have a lot to do between now and then. I need to finish my correspondence course I am taking, I have to preach this next Sunday in Iquitos and I have to prepare my teaching for the church conference. I feel a bit overwhelmed right now but know that God will get me through it. Thanks so much for all of your thoughts and prayers. Please write.
In Christ,
Kayleen.
