What an amazing time we had! Blessed by team Miller - Joe,
Danny and Ryan came down from Maple City Chapel to pour into the people of
Peru. We saw sweat, tears, and miracles in just a couple of days. Here is a
quick idea of what it looked like:
Monday:
Team Miller arrived in Tarapoto after 30 hours of travel. We
boarded a van and headed over the mountains to Yurimaguas. Along the way we stopped
and hiked to a waterfall to stretch our legs. Once in Yurimaguas we went to the
afternoon market for a snack of grubs, ants, and exotic fruits. After dinner the
team went back to the hotel but in typical Yurimaguas fashion the power went
out, rendering the AC useless.
Tuesday:
Everyone got up early to head upriver. After
breakfast we loaded everything into the boat and began the journey. We arrived in
the village by noon and the Shawi brothers had been working all morning hauling
sand from the river to the church. In the afternoon, we prepared the floor for concrete
by leveling it out then tamping it with an old log. Then we mixed and poured five
bags of cement. The sweat poured and we did not finish until well after dark. We
all jumped in the river for a moonlight bath before crawling into our hammocks
for the night.
Wednesday:
Ten Shawi men showed up to help with the concrete floor. Some
of them are not believers in Christ but just wanted to pitch in and help. We
worked all day mixing and pouring 30 bags of cement, a monumental task. We ate
chicken soup for breakfast and rice and eggs for lunch. The new concrete floor
looked great but we calculated that we are going to 5-6 bags short of completing
the church. In the evening we had church service and Joe preached.
Thursday:
After a breakfast of sardines and a devotional led by Ryan
we were back to work. We poured 24 bags of cement. It is so much work hauling
sand, hand mixing the sand with the cement, and then hauling water to mix it
again before pouring it into place and finishing it. Everyone worked hard. As
the men poured concrete, the women cooked all day over an open fire. At the end
of the day we calculated again and thought we might have enough cement to finish
the church, a miracle from God as we should have been 5 bags short.
Friday:
We finished the floor and had four bags of cement left
over! This leaves no doubt in anyone’s mind that God did a miracle, providing
what we needed and more. The floor looks great despite having to go back and
fix footprints from chickens, dogs, cows, and small children. Team Miller was tired
but full of joy. In the afternoon we went to the nearby village to visit with
some people and we visited the pastor’s house and fields. We were planning on
having church service in the evening but the rain moved in making it difficult
for the believers to walk in the mud and rain. Instead we shared a meal with a
couple of families living near the church and just spent some time talking and
praising God for what He did the last few days. It was a beautiful time
gathered around the campfire with my friends.
Saturday:
We were up early once again to begin the trip back to
Yurimaguas. We stopped in Munichis to visit the mission owned farm. Once back in
Yurimaguas, we were all glad to have a shower and clean up before heading out
for a late lunch. We ate at the Rio Huallaga Hotel where we can overlook the
Huallaga River and watch the boats come and go and enjoy the breeze.
Afterward we walked to the port and ate ice cream.
Sunday:
It was another hot and sweaty day in the jungle. Joe gave the morning message. The pastor invited us
back to share at the evening service as well. In the evening Danny, Ryan and
Joe all shared. The believers were greatly encouraged.
Monday:
On the way back to Tarapoto we stopped at another waterfall.
This one was a long, tough hike but worth it as Team Miller took turns jumping
off the 30-foot waterfall into the fresh mountain water. After a nice lunch and
some tourist shopping in Tarapoto the team began their long and difficult
journey back home.
What an awesome week! We were so encouraged by the
team’s visit. They selflessly poured into the Shawi believers, the Yurimaguas
church, and our family. They endured long days, hot nights, loud roosters, bug
bites, flooded rivers, mud and back pain, all with a smile on their faces and joy
in their hearts never once complaining. They were an example of what it means
to “Go and Be the Church.” Thank you Maple City Chapel and thank you team
Miller.
