November 14, 2011
Hi All,
Hope this email finds you well. I wanted to write a quick update about this past week.
First of all, Lucy flew to Lima Sunday to be there for her appointment at the U.S. Embassy on Monday. She was asked to preach in the church in Zarate which is the church of the National Superintendent of Peru.
She got done preaching Sunday night and called me frantically saying that she forgot her passport. I was freaked to say the least. I found her passport and Gladys and I took a taxi to the airport but at 11 o’clock, everything was closed so we returned to the church.
The next morning, Pastor Leiter and I went to the airport again on his motorcycle and I got off on the wrong side and burnt my leg on the exhaust pipe. I ran inside the airport with Lucy’s passport where they told me I needed to go to another place outside the airport. We got it all signed in and paid for but they said it would not get there until noon and Lucy’s appointment was at 10.
She went to the Embassy and told them what was going on and they gave her until 2 p.m. or else she was going to have to make another appointment.
She arrived back at the embassy at 1:45 with her passport, went inside and Praise the Lord, they gave her a visa and she will be coming to the U.S. in January.
Lucy arrived back in Iquitos Tuesday and we decided to go to our church in Maynas Thursday. This is a new church for us, Lucy had been several times but I had not yet been there as the water had been low and the boats could not reach there.
We found a boat large enough to hang hammocks and took off at 9 a.m. Thursday. At 6:30 p.m. we arrived at an impasse, the water was still to low to cross in the larger boat, plus it had started to rain. We ended up sleeping in our hammocks in the boat, thankful that it had a roof. (Photo: Lucy and I helping a woman grind sugar cane)
The next morning we found a smaller boat that took us further up river. Before we got to the community, there was a waterfall. Lucy wanted us to get out and walk as she said it was really dangerous if the boat tipped. The motorist told her to go to the front of the boat and use the oar to guide us. He then used all the power in the motor and we made it up the waterfall. I was thinking that it was very much like our Christian lives—when we meet with difficulties, we need to put Jesus in the front of the boat to guide it and continue forward with all of our strength.
We finally got to Maynas. It is a small but pretty community. The people from the church welcomed us with open arms and killed one of the chickens that the church was raising to make us soup. We went from house to house getting to know the people and inviting them to the service that night.
That night about 20 adults showed up despite the rain. We had a beautiful service and then informed them of the upcoming year starting with the study for our pastors and leaders in Iquitos in February. In May we will be going there with the medical group from Indiana Wesleyan. (Photo: the church in Maynas)
There is a wonderful group of people in the church there. They work together and have a t.v. and dvd in the church to listen to praise songs. They have a keyboard organ, speakers, microphone and generator. They give their all to the church and had built this church themselves. It is in desperate need of being rebuilt—the boards are all rotting and with the rain, everyone had to keep changing positions to escape the leaky roof. They said they will go out and cut the wood and bring it to the community themselves. They just need the gas and oil to do it. Their desire is to put a metal roof instead of a thatched roof so it will last longer. I am hoping that this can be a project for one of the groups this next year.
(Photo:the church in Maynas)It was a beautiful time there in Maynas. The people were open, loving and giving. I hated to leave but was scheduled to preach Sunday night in Iquitos. We got into a small boat with no roof, full of wood, plantains and yucca at 8 o’clock in the morning. It had rained all night and the river was now very full and we had to be careful of all the logs rushing down river. It continued to rain off and on all the way to Iquitos. It was a grueling 10 and a half hour trip sitting in one place. We would have arrived a little earlier but there were some mechanical problems. Anyway, we arrived safe and sound at 7 pm in Iquitos. I arrived with a bit of bronchitis and stomach problems from the rain. I am doing better now though. (Photo:the inside of the church in Maynas prior to the service)
The trip was wonderful except the boat ride back being so arduous and last night I had many examples to share in the message.
Today we are going to pick up Lucy’s visa and meet with some Norwegian missionaries Lucy knew as a child. We are preparing for our children’s outreach that will be this Saturday and Lucy and I are planning a quick trip to Santa Ana and Tamshiyacu.
I can’t believe how fast time has gone. Lucy will be leaving for her home for Christmas in 2 weeks. If she doesn’t take that boat, there won’t be another boat going there until the 15th of December. She would arrive the 19th and only have a few days with her family.
(Photo: the 10 and a half hour boat ride back)
I will be leaving Iquitos for Lima on the 6th of December and have been asked to speak in various churches there. I then head to the states and arrive the 14th of December. Please have Diet Dr. Pepper, chips and queso awaiting me—just kidding. I am leaving with sadness although excitement that Lucy will be coming in January. It is hard to leave all of the villages where I have grown to love so many people but at the same time, I am excited to see you all. God bless you all and have a wonderful Thanksgiving. See you soon.
In Christ,
Kayleen
No comments:
Post a Comment