Do YOU know who Jonah is?

When we travel the river system we never know what situations we are going to encounter. In 2004 there was a group here in October from Kentucky. Our trip on the river system was on the Arapuins River to the village of Sao Pedro. This village is about 10 hours up the river from Santarem. We had never been to this village before therefore; we needed a contact to escort us into the village. We had contacted a pastor that works on the Arapuins River to escort us to the village.  As we turned into the bay where the village was located we began to notice people at the top of the hill gathering to look and see who was coming to their village. We watched them as well. We docked at the foot of the hill where the village was located and began to prepare for the presentation of the “Jesus” film that evening. As we watched the people at the top of the hill the children began to come down the hill a few at a time. We decided to not give the children a lot of attention until there were more children gathered in a tree on the beach. When the children quit coming we decided to get off the boat and go to the beach where the children were in the tree.

There was an American pastor who was with us who was a ventriloquist. We asked him to get his little dummy “Freckles” and take him with the group to where the children were. As we started toward the tree where the children were, the children began to come down out of the tree to see us. We began to sing songs and play with the children. Then the pastor and Freckles began to tell the story of “Jonah and the whale”. Pastor asked Freckles “Freckles, do you know who Jonah is?” Freckles said “No”. Then Freckles asked the children “Do you know who Jonah is? If you know who Jonah is raise your hand.” All the kids raised their hands that they knew who Jonah was. All of us thought “well, someone has been here before us telling this story”. Then a little boy in the back of the crowd said “Yeah, I know him he is my dad!” Needless to say the ice was broken and we all laughed and had a great time with the children as they learned the story about another man named Jonah!

By the time evening came and we were setting up everything for the film to be shown people in the village had warmed up to us and began to help carry equipment and helped us set everything up. Then after the film was over they helped get everything back to the boat. The village responded very well to the film.

In many cases when we travel from church to church or village to village we find things that are very different for us as Americans. For the most part river communities are very suspicious of strangers. We always have to meet these people where they are and gain their trust. We can never go into a village with the attitude “we know more than they do”. These people teach us as much as we teach them. They teach us how to survive physically and we teach them how to survive spiritually. It becomes an exchange of culture and as we get to know the people they will open up and we can talk about Jesus; the Jesus who loved them so much He died for them. There is something to be learned in all this for us as North Americans. IF we would build

relationships with our neighbors and take the time to give each other a piece of ourselves…..we would be able to share the love of Jesus in a way that is very easy. Each neighborhood in the U.S. is equal to a village in the Amazon region. We have to get to know the people in the village….you have to get to know your neighbors…..we have to gain the trust of the people in the village……..you have to gain the trust of your neighbor……when we have the trust of the people in the village we can tell them about Jesus…….when you have the trust of your neighbor you can tell them about Jesus…..There is no difference!

Until later God bless you INDEED!

God Knows All Our Needs

I am new at this "Blog Thing".  However, I like to tell people the stories of our ministry and how God has blessed us through the years not only on the field where we serve but also how He prepared us for the ministry we have.

I was in Ohio this past weekend to speak in a church.  I had no idea what the church would be like and how the people would receive the message of the ministry the Lord has given us.  I just knew it was His will that I go there.  The pastor had invited me several weeks ago and I was thrilled to be in the presence of the Lord with His people.  I spoke about the different ministries we have and the Lord led me each step through the service.  It is amazing how I sometimes want to tell certain things and He changes my mind and I end up talking about something else.  As I walked through the ministry my heart was burdened all over again for the Prison Ministry we have and for the development of an Abortion Intervention ministry that we desperately need.  After I spoke the pastor asked for any questions that the congregation might have for me.  It was an unusual time because this congreation had several questions about the Abortion Intervention ministry and why we needed it.  They also asked several questions in other areas that I had talked about.  It is unusual that the congregtations, when asked if they have questions, will go ahead and ask the questions they have.  It was a wonderful time of expansion even more into the ministry and the dreams for the future of the ministry.

The pastor then asked the congregation to give a "Love Offering" to the ministry.  The offering was taken and
we continued to talk while an Elder counted the money.  The offering was $50 short of what the pastor knew they were suppose to give.  He told the congregation "We are $50 short of $1000 who is going to give the last $50 for this couple?"  As it turned out several people gave to provide the last $50 to make the offering $1000.  I can't ever remember receiving a Love Offering from a church large or small for that amount of money.  This church had 50 people in attendance max!  I couldn't believe it!!  But God knew what we needed.  I came home and called my husband to tell him what had happened.  I talked to him with tears in my eyes and thankfulness in my heart.  He also felt the same thankfulness and then said "Now, you can pay the taxes before they are due on the 15th!  God always knows our needs and He is right on time every time.  I praise Him for his faithfulness.

I continue to ask for blessings everyday with the expectation of receiving. Why am I always surprised then when they are "BLESSINGS INDEED".  As you walk through your day ask with expectation of receiving and see what God will do.  Don't be surprised with what comes your way!!

God Bless You Indeed!!

Until Later

Why am I here?

Now that you know a little about us and our ministry I want you to know why I have chosen to blog. We have had many adventures in the Amazon Region and because of our love for this area of the world I want to tell you about it.

For the past 2 years we have been visiting two villages that are located close to the city of Obidos. Obidos is about 10 hours up the Amazon River from Santarem. Vila Roberta and Vila Sao Raimundo (Pronounced as Hi-mundo)are locate on the Amazon River about a half hour before arriving in the city of Obidos. These villages are located close enough together that if people need to they can walk from one village to the other. Children from both villages go to the same school, located in the village of Sao Raimundo. The first village we visited was Vila Roberta. The village was completely open to the gospel. It was like they were just waiting for someone to come and tell them about Christ. We spent several days there doing activities with children and visiting with the people in the village and having church services at night.

The first visit, there was several people who made professions of faith. We showed the “Jesus” film on the boat one night and there were about 30 people who came to see the film. Our relationship was building nicely. The second time we went to Vila Roberta we also went to Vila Sao Raimundo. No matter what village we go to we have to ask the village President for permission to come into the village. We explain to him/her what kind of activities we would like to do. We have never been denied this privilege however we thought that Sao Raimundo would be the first for denial. We had been told that the village President was a Macumba Priest who had 19 young boys who were his disciples. First of all Macumba is a form of spirit worship. The worship includes blood sacrifices.

To go into a village like this we have to be prepared spiritually for encounters with the enemy “Satan”. We were granted permission to go into the village and we were granted permission to go into the school that was in that village. The ministry began and we needed to know where the village President wanted us to have service at night. When our representative went to the President he said….”The Padre (Catholic Priest) doesn’t come here anymore and no one uses the Catholic Church why can’t the Baptist use the Catholic Church. So the Baptist used the Catholic Church at night for services. The President sent people to the church to clean and open the church for whoever wanted to come. There were many people who came to church at night. People came to know Christ as their savior. The next time we went back to that village the “President” of the village had changed and the “Macumba Priest” was no longer there. We aren’t sure where he is but we know we prayed for him to either come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ or to be moved out of that place which had been claimed for Christ.

We have been back for the past 2 years to both of these villages and are preparing to build a church half way between the two villages. Please pray for both villages. There has been a piece of property given for the church building to be built. Now money is needed to build the church. These two villages have so much to offer for the Kingdom of Christ. Please pray for those who have made professions of faith to continue to grow in their faith. Please pray for us as we serve in this area for Christ.

This is why I am here!!

Until Later…..God Bless you all INDEED