The Secret

It is difficult to understand poverty. Everyday I see friends, brothers, and sisters in Christ that struggle to find their next meal. Yet they are content, even joyful. It is strange that many of my impoverished friends live content while some of my rich friends live discontent. Those content Christians living in extreme poverty must have some secret.

It hit me full on in the face the other night when I was walking down the street after dark carrying home some food for my family. We had just returned home from a six-day trip upriver. It was long and grueling but also amazing. We went to a distant river system that is difficult to access, and as a result the people struggle. Physical and spiritual needs abound. We, my family and Jennifer’s cousin Rachel Peery, went to encourage and bless the believers.  

Our trip began with a four and a half hours on the boat ride.  Once we reached the mouth of the river, we found the water very low. It had been raining in Yurimaguas off and on for a week and the rivers were all flooded so I was surprised to find it so low. We started heading up the river only to get stuck immediately. Rachel got out and pushed the boat while I drove, and after about 10 minutes we had made it only a few hundred yards. I decided we were in trouble; so we turned around and went back to the nearest community.  As we sat there trying to decide what to do, I spoke to a man and explained our situation. He said he owned a peque-peque, which is a motor designed for shallow water, and that he could put it on our boat and take us for a small fee. Soon we were back in business!

Lucy with some of her friends.

As we arrived at the community of Nuevo Jerusalen, we were greeted by 40 children. Some of them were on the beach a half mile from the village waiting for us. They ran along the river chasing the boat. To say they were excited is an understatement.

In the next two days, we taught Sunday school three times, held church service, showed the Jesus film twice, and had a medical clinic. At the clinic, Rachel, an ER nurse by trade, attended everyone in the community with problems. Most had parasite and fungal problems, but one man had boils on his leg and could not walk. It was a continual problem for him causing him to lay in bed for a week or more at a time. Rachel was able to treat him giving him some much needed relief. Another night we were woken late, as a nearby child had an extremely high fever, and Rachel was again able to help. We are thankful for her service.

Maggie taking a nap with a Shawi mother.

After two days, and some rain to fill the river, we left to head to the next village. Pastor Santos, pastor of the church in Nuevo Jerusalen, said he would go with us to help guide us as I did not know the river well. I was extremely thankful for his help, especially when I realized he had to walk two and a half hours the next day to get back home.

When we arrived at Nuevo Moyabamba, we were again warmly greeted. It was also very busy as we did Sunday school for 60 children twice, another medical clinic, and showed the Jesus film twice more.

The pastor of the church in Nuevo Moyobamba was not there, and when I asked they said he was in a distant community because his three-year-old son was sick. He had been gone for over a month. Yet on the day we arrived, he did as well. Walking 7 hours back home, he had come to get a pig. He had visited the local health outpost, and they said his son needed to go to Yurimaguas for medical treatment. He did not have the money to take his wife and kids to Yurimaguas for an extended stay, so he came to get one of his pigs to sell. We offered to help pay his passage and told him his son and wife could stay at the Hogar were we live in Yurimaguas. He said he would bring them to town as soon as he was able. The next day he left for the 7 hour walk back, this time with a pig in tow. Please pray for Pastor Juan and his family.

Rainbow in Nuevo Moyobamba.

After our time in Nuevo Moyobamba, we returned to Nuevo Jerusalen to check on the sick children. They were 100 percent better and running and playing like normal. Pastor Santos asked us to give him a ride back to Yurimaguas. I said sure as we were headed that way anyway. He said his son needed a uniform for school, and so he wanted to come to Yurimaguas with a few plantains to sell and buy a new uniform.  He was soon in the boat with his wife and three youngest kids.

Late in the afternoon, we arrived exhausted. It was a grueling trip. We were so glad for a cold shower and fresh clothes. But then hunger set in, and I went looking for food. And so that is why I was walking home in the dark, after our long six-day trip, with food in hand. Then I ran into Pastor Santos. He, along with his family, was scrounging the streets looking for scraps of wood. He explained that he had bought a couple of fish for his family for supper but that they needed firewood to cook. They were not upset, not sad, in fact they were all smiling, as they always are. They were thankful for what they had. What was the secret to their contentment and joy?

Rachel handing out medicine.

In the words of Paul:

I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and being hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

-Philippians 4:12-13

There is the secret.

My strength does not come from possessions, not from comfort, not from security.

My strength comes from Christ. 

Henry with one of is new friends.