Nuevo Pachiza

Along the Paranapura River there is a small church in the community of Nuevo Pachiza. A month ago I was talking with the pastor of the church and he told me that they have a Sunday School for the kids on Sunday mornings but that the teacher was discouraged and did not know what to teach. We decided to visit and have a weekend Vacation Bible School to help. The problem is that the community is only accessible by river. Although I have traveled by river, Jennifer and the children had not. I was worried how to find transportation, how to pack all our stuff and I was worried about the rain. As usual I committed to a date by faith and God worked out all the details.
A believer from the community, who rarely comes to Yurimaguas, "just happened" to be in town a week ago and he is one of the few men from that community that have their own boat and motor.  I "just happened" to run into him and mention our upcoming visit and he offered to transport us. Praise God.
Thursday, my furgon was in the shop for some warranty work and when I went to pick it up it was in a thousand pieces on the floor. They told me it would not be ready until Monday, but we needed it to travel to the port the next morning. We called a couple of local drivers and transport companies but no one answered the phone so at last we called "Uncle" Ricky Hendon, a missionary and servant of God, and he quickly insisted on taking us. What a blessing!
Despite all of God's provision I could not sleep Thursday night. I was worried about my family and the rain and the trip and... Well I was worried about everything. Friday morning I got up early and turned to Matthew 10. I am reading through Matthew right now and "just happened" to be in chapter 10 where in verses 29-31 it says:

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? 

Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside of your Father's Care.

And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

How silly of me to worry.

It is the rainy season here. The locals call it winter which cracks me up and the rains have been relentless. I have been in a canoe in the rain and it is not fun but once again God provided.  On Friday we traveled up river and it was one of the few sunny days we have had here over the last couple of months. Then Friday night the rain came and it rained all weekend. Monday morning when it was time to leave the rain quit again and we had a warm dry ride back. Gracias a Dios.
It was an amazing weekend. We shared Bible stories, played games, sang songs and made crafts. Twenty plus kids came including some that walked 30 minutes in the pouring rain from a neighboring village. Both Saturday and Sunday we started at 9:00am and quit at 4:00pm with a small break for lunch. Once again we left exhausted but with full hearts as it was such a blessing to be there with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Some highlights from our trip:

Random Happenings

We were blessed to have my mom and Beverly here with us to visit last week.  We enjoyed seeing them and all the treasures they brought.  I'm enjoying a Reece's peanut butter cup as I type!  The kids said they most enjoyed snuggling and reading books with Grandma! 

On the banks of the Paranapura River

Lucy wearing a dress Grandma Peery made for her.

We miss good chocolate!

Maggie

While we traveled to Lima to pick them up we did some shopping as well and were blessed to find a source for Bibles in Shawi.  The Bible has not been completely translated but it contains the entire New Testament and portions of the Old Testament.  It has a nice vinyl cover, maps, and cost less than $2!  God is good!

A case of Shawi Bibles

We also finally had the opportunity to buy some quality toys for the kids at the center with funds  given last summer from Burr Oak Church VBS.  Quality toys do not exist in Yurimaguas and this was our first trip back to Lima since arriving.  The kids are really enjoying them - Thank you!

Train and road set is a hit with the boys.

Dollhouse fun for the girls.

While we were there we visited the doctor and orthodontist and had some fun as well.  Maggie played on a playground for the first time - she loves to slide - and we enjoyed things like Papa John's pizza,  tortilla chips, and hot showers!

Sisters sliding

While we were in Lima the closet in our bedroom was finished and as of yesterday for the first time in 6+ months, we are no longer living out of suitcases.  Feeling settled is a wonderful thing!

A whole new meaning to living out of a suitcase.

Upon returning from Lima we also found that baby James has passed the 5 lb. mark.  He continues to gain slowly and is just precious!

Sweet James

Feeling settled only lasted about 3 hours before we began packing!  Friday morning early we're headed on our first family boat trip to a community where we'll host a 2 day Bible school for the children and encourage and train the Sunday School teachers. 

Since we're traveling on the 24th (which is Henry's 5th birthday) we're celebrating a day early!  He loves nature and would prefer to live in a community so he's excited to celebrate here and then again with his first boat trip.  It will be the the furthest adventure into the jungle thus far for Jennifer and the kids and we're excited!

Our birthday boy - he loves nature!

                                                                                                                                ~ Jennifer

Our newest resident . . . James

James after a week with us.

James came to our center not quite 2 weeks ago.  His mother was in the local street market right outside our doors when a woman who asked to see her baby sent her our way for help. 

James when he arrived at 3.3 lbs and 6 weeks old.

James' mother was preparing to leave and take him back to her community.  To get there, you take a boat to the head of the river and then walk a good 4 hours in.  The journey takes several days.  She had been brought to Yurimaguas by plane because of medical issues she was facing during pregnancy due to malnutrition.  Her skin was deteriorating and her hair falling out.  They were unable to help her with injections at the health outpost closest to her community so she was sent here.  She was 7 months pregnant.

While being treated inpatient for her medical issues, she began to hemorrhage and an emergency c-section was performed.  His mother was sick, scared, and alone.  While she had been accompanied into town by a relative, she was basically left alone at the hospital.  She does not speak Spanish and the hospital staff do not speak Shawi.  She from so far in, it's likely she's rarely, if ever, been to Yurimaguas before.  She was in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar food and little family support and she wanted out.  At just 2 weeks postpartum, she took James - born at 7 months gestation and weighing just 4 lbs - from the hospital against medical advice.  She never thought he would live - and it's a miracle he did.

In her malnourished state, she was not producing much if any maternal milk for James.  The only drink she knows is masato, a drink made from yucca, and that is what she gave him.  Four weeks later, she arrived on our doorstep because a stranger told her she needed to bring him here and we could help.  

We immediately bought formula and tried to feed him but without much success.  We also bundled him in warm clothes and blankets as he came with barely any and was so cold.  Premature babies have a difficult time regulating their body temperature and again this speaks to the miraculousness of his still being alive.  The next morning when we couldn't get him into the doctor, we took he and his mom to the emergency room.  In spite of our staff spending most of the first day there with them, she again left the hospital with him against medical advice after being there less than 48 hours.  She again was extremely uncomfortable and alone at the hospital and still didn't think he was going to make it and she was determined to go home.

Fortunately she had left some of her personal belongings here at the center and stopped by to get them on her way out of town.  With the help of another guest translating, I tried to explain to her that if she left with him, he would most certainly die.  She has no access to formula in her community and no way to pay for it even if she did.  It was a difficult conversation and finally I simply told her that if she was unwilling to stay, she should leave the baby - and thus, we now have James.

After his brief stay in the hospital, the IV fluids he'd received gave him enough strength to suck on his bottle and he is now gaining weight, albeit slowely.  

Mom said she'd be back for him but she didn't say when and the journey is long and difficult.  She left assuming he would die.  She did not show any emotion about leaving him.  Perhaps she had never allowed herself to bond because she believed he would die.  Perhaps it's cultural as it is uncommon to show emotion - especially pain or sadness.  Perhaps her life is filled with other greater pain.  I do not know, I do not know his mother.  

I do know that God has a plan for James, if not, he wouldn't still be alive.  He has defied the odds.  While he's here, we're blessed to love on him and see him grow.  At first I assumed God's plans for him were for his future as an adult.  However, after talking with one of our staff today, it occurred to me that God may have a plan for him even as an infant.

You see, James' mother and father are from 2 different communities very far into the jungle.  There are no Christians in their communities.  No one knows the Lord.  No one has come to our center from their communities before.  They have not known of our services and the love of the Lord we're here to share.  The physical needs are great there.  

You see, once James recovers, if his mother returns, his life will be a testimony of God's faithfulness and provision and we can share His love with her.  Perhaps others in physical need will learn to trust us and come with physical needs so we may minister to their spiritual needs.  If she hasn't returned once he's recovered, this opens a door for us to go into their community and share the love of Christ.  

So, I realized that while I was correct that his life is a miracle and God has a plan for it - it is not just a plan for the distant future, but a plan for the immediate future.  Please join us in praying for James' physical recovery and for doors to open for spiritual healing in the lives of his parents and their remote villages.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."                             Jeremiah 29:11

                                                                                                              ~ Jennifer