The Box

I was headed back to San Francisco, for very exciting reasons. Four of the new believers in San Francisco have been coming to the discipleship center for training. One of the things we teach is that the training they receive is not just for them, but they need to return home and share it with their neighbors. So I was excited the day they called and said that they had been sharing Jesus with a nearby village and some of the people have come to Christ. Then they asked if I would visit for the baptisms. What a great reason to head back.

The journey starts with a two-hour pickup truck ride. So I went to the truck stop to get a ride. I arrived at 11:30 because the road is under construction and only open from 12:00-12:45 during the day. I found a seat and waited as the truck filled up with passengers and cargo. I waited and waited and started to get frustrated and nervous. I had a plan to meet a pastor at 2:00 and we were going to walk two more hours together to San Francisco. It was now 12:30 and the truck driver was still loading the truck. Someone had bought rebar, which comes in 30-foot-long bars, and was trying to tie it to the pickup bed. If we did not make it onto the road by 12:45 it would be closed until 8:00pm, effectively canceling my trip.

Many times we are delayed for a purpose. Our plan is not necessarily God’s plan. And this was the case for me as I saw a hearse pull up to the truck stop. They pulled a simple wood coffin out of the back and loaded it in a truck. And then out of the front climbed Jose, a friend of mine. Jose is one of the disciples that regularly attends trainings at the discipleship center. He lives in a distant village and is new in the Lord. I jumped out of the truck and asked him what was happening. He could only respond that his uncle had passed away.  We only had a moment as now both trucks were running and the drivers were waiting. So instead of asking him details, we prayed. When we finished tears were streaming down Jose’s face. It is a rare thing to see a Shawi show such emotion. I knew his heart was broken.

Then we climbed in and took off. Jose’s truck in front of mine. When we got to the road it was 12:47 and it was closed, but after some negotiating with the guard, he saw the coffin and let us through. For the next two hours we followed that truck down the bumpy dirt road. The coffin did not fit in the truck bed so it was hanging out the back, tied down with some rope. As we drove I prayed for Jose and the people in his village. And I began to think about the coffin, a simple wood box. It’s destination: three hours in a truck followed by four hours in a dugout canoe. Then carried to a cemetery out in the jungle where it will be buried and marked with a wooden cross. Ten years from now the wood will rot away and the wood box will be forgotten. But that is the same for you and me. We will die. Our bodies are destined for the wood box. And although it might be marked with stone instead of wood, it will still be forgotten. It all seems so permanent.

It was with those thoughts that I finally got out of the truck. I was late but the pastor was waiting for me with a pleasant surprise. He had brought a boat and said we could go half way by boat before walking. The river was too low to go all the way. So we jumped in the boat and 30 minutes later arrived at the village of Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa is a very exciting place as a year ago there were only 5 believers in the village, but today there are over 30 and they have appointed leaders and are building a church. The leaders have been coming to the discipleship center for training. One of the new believers invited us to his house for lunch before we continued walking. There I was able to visit and get to know him and his family over a bowl of fish soup.

Then an amazing thing happened! After lunch we walked out of his house to see that the river had risen two feet during the 30 minutes we had spent eating. Although it was sunny where we were it must have rained up in the mountains. Praise the Lord! He provided water and we continued on in the boat. Many of the believers in Santa Rosa decided to join us and climbed in the boat, with 15 people we were riding low. The old boat was full of cracks and holes and was taking on water as fast as we could bail, but we made it to San Francisco safely.

Church Service in San Francisco

After dark service began. They asked me to speak so I told the story of David being anointed by Samuel. I told them that just as God had chosen David for the task of king, God has also chosen them for the task of sharing his gospel. The service went until midnight. We sat around and talked and drank chicha until 1:00am. Then we all fell asleep on the porch of a house. At 4:00am one of the guys woke up and grabbed a guitar and for an hour they all sang hymns and prayed together. What an amazing way to start the day.

After chicken soup for breakfast, service began again. They asked how many were planning to be baptized and 4 people raised their hands. Praise God! These 4 people were trusting in God because the believers in San Francisco were sharing their faith. Then they asked me to speak again. I told the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch.  I explained that as followers of Christ their job is to be as Philip, obedient to the Lord and sharing the good news. Then I gave a simple invitation and 6 people received Christ. Afterwards we all walked down to the river and 10 people were baptized.

Baptism in the river

After service I started the long trip home. The river had dropped overnight and we spent more time out of the boat pushing then we did in the boat. It was so slow that some of the people walked and actually arrived before the boat. Then I jumped in the back of a pickup.

All wet and squished between plantains and boxes of papaya for two hours, my thoughts returned to the box. Our bodies are destined for the box, but our souls have a different destiny. That destiny is also permanent. And this weekend the destiny of 6 people changed.  God changed their eternity.

I returned home at 7:00pm, tired but full of joy. Praising God for what He is doing in, around, and through San Francisco. Praising Him that He is calling the people and through His mercy, changing destinies.

The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off- for all whom the Lord our God will call.  

-Acts 2:39

The new believers coming forward to declare their faith.

Rethinking Discipleship

Discipleship is hard. It is not easy to take on the challenge of walking beside younger believers and guiding them. And I am the problem. I am North American. I want to institutionalize discipleship. I want a program with a curriculum and when someone completes the program, boom, they have been discipled!  But life does not work like that. Discipleship does not look the same for all people.

We currently have 2 groups going through discipleship.  After having such a great response from the first group and their desire to invite more people, we decided to start a second group for 2 reasons.  First, we don’t want the newcomers to miss out on any of the material.  Secondly, our first group bonded really well: sharing, encouraging one another, and studying together after class.  We desire for the disciples to have this comradery and support amongst each other and felt it would be good to keep the groups small, so last week we had the first session with our new group, 10 men and 5 women.

The main part of what we do is tell Bible stories, beginning in Genesis, and let them respond to the stories. We ask questions to engage them and get them to think critically. It is supposed to be like a small group where everyone is invited to participate. But last week did not work out that way. I would tell a story and ask the questions and everyone would just stare at me. No response. I pushed and prodded and begged but nothing.

Then one of the men asked if we had a guitar. We do not but we borrowed one from a believer that lives nearby and as soon as the guitar showed up, they started playing and never put it down. We would hear them singing and playing at 11:00pm and then again at 4:00am. We also found access to a Shawi hymnal and had copies made. So each of them asked for a copy of the hymnal and they loved it.

I began to look at the hymns and realized something. They are awesome, each one has a beautiful message.

One of my favorites reads:

Come let us rejoice

We will work for God

All glory to Him

For Him we will live

For Him we will die

I was learning something. Maybe my idea of a cut and dried curriculum is wrong. Maybe we need to be more adaptable with discipleship. To some people the stories are powerful, to others the worship, to others the fellowship. Jesus’ command in Mathew 28 is to: “teach

them to obey everything I have commanded you.” But he never said how. Maybe I should take a fresh look at how we do discipleship.

The point really hit home for me on the last night. During that evening’s church service, I asked each person to share for 3-5 minutes about something they had learned during the week. I was expecting a Bible verse or some thoughts about the stories but instead many shared a song.

Those who did share a verse said it was their first time ever sharing something publicly and admitted that they were very nervous. Most of them were between the age of 17-23 and so this was a completely new experience. One them even admitted that he had never opened a Bible before this week.

The point is this: Do not get caught up in traditional methods. Disciples are not made in a classroom. We are all commanded to make disciples and I believe discipleship needs to be centered in God’s word but let us also remember that discipleship is life, eating together, living together, working together, mourning together, celebrating together and worshiping together. We all have a role in completing the great commission.

Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

Carry Your Cross

Last week 14 men and 2 women traveled to the discipleship center to learn more about God. They came from 9 different communities in all corners of the jungle. They came by boat, motorcar, walking and in the back of pickup trucks. They came in through the rain and the sun to hear God’s word. It was a great week. We ate and fellowshipped together, played soccer, and spent many hours together in the word of God.

Eating Together

Watching the Jesus Film together

They were so hungry for knowledge of God. We would study all day together and then have church service in the evening until 9:00pm. Afterwards they would ask to leave the generator on until 11 or 12 at night to continue reading and studying. Then they were up at 5:00am singing hymns to start the day before digging back into the word. It was exciting to see their desire for God.

One afternoon we were studying together when someone read to Luke 14:27: And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

The question was posed to the group: What does this verse mean? What does it mean to take up your cross?

The room went silent for a few awkward moments as the men pondered the statement. Finally, someone spoke up and said, “I think that means as disciples we may have to suffer to follow Christ.”

Again the room went silent as that statement began to sink in to each of the new believers in Christ. Then finally someone spoke again, “We have come here to be disciples. We have come on long boat rides in the rain. We have walked through mud and rode in the back of pickup trucks in the hot sun. We have left our village, homes, families and fields to come here and be prepared for the work God has for us. We are carrying our crosses and following Christ.”

I was amazed by the statement.  Such deep understanding can only come from the Holy Spirit. These new believers understand what it means to carry the cross. They understand that a life devoted to Christ is not necessarily an easy life. They understand the cost of discipleship. 

Lucy helping prepare chicha

Jennifer helping clean fish

Henry with his pet birds

Thank you for all your prayers. Please continue to pray as we have scheduled the next discipleship course for May. Before then there is a lot of work to do to continue improving the facilities and preparing and translating materials.

Shawi Discipleship Center Update

Things have been moving along at the Shawi Discipleship Center. Next week we begin our first discipleship course and we are almost ready. New Shawi believers will come from all over the district to be taught God’s word in their native language. We do not know how many will come but it could be as many as 40 people. We have been working around the clock for a month to get ready.

First we had an old house with a thatch roof in bad need of repair. We took off the roof and removed all the interior walls that were full of termites and other jungle creatures. Then we built a new metal roof with a small porch. After fumigating and cleaning we now have a house for people to stay.

Next we had a kitchen and dinning room area that needed repairs. We sanded and refinished all the wood windows and rescreened the entire room. Having screens makes it a nice place to eat and hang out and not get attacked by mosquitos.

Then we needed water. This is one of the biggest problems at the center as there is no well. There was a water collection system that stored rain water in large tanks but all the pipes were broken and all the gutters were clogged and falling down. It took a few days to redo the entire system but we got it up and running again. Then we hooked it up to the old showers and rehabbed the showers. The tanks were full and everything seemed to working great when Thursday a cow got loose and somehow went into the water tank room and destroyed all the new plumbing. To make things worse we did not realize it until almost all of the 10,000 litters of water drained out of the tanks. We repaired the plumbing but suddenly had no water. We talked through back up plans that included bringing water from the river a mile and a half away. Then Friday it rained all day filling the tanks. God provides. But we still have an urgent need for a well.

Then there was the issue of power. There is no electricity at the center but there used to be power lines connecting a generator to each of the buildings. All the wiring in all the buildings was unsafe so we had to rewire lights and outlets in all the buildings. Then we had to install new poles and reinstall the power lines. After buying a small generator we have power for the facility.

It has been a lot of work but the work has just begun. Next week Shawi brothers and sisters will travel from remote villages to the center and the important work begins. Please join us in praying for this time. Prayer for safe travels of the brothers and sisters. Pray for the facilities. Pray for the provision of food and for the cooks. But most importantly pray that these new believers understand God’s love for them and would be equipped to return to their villages to share this new knowledge with their neighbors and friends.

Hope

Jamie is from a distant village that until recently was unreached with the gospel. The village is located on a small stream a day boat ride from Yurimaguas. Because it is so remote the people struggle and lack basic needs such as food, clean water and basic health care.

A little over a year ago a Shawi pastor friend of ours visited the village and preached the gospel. Jamie and his wife received Christ and changed their lives. They begged for the pastor to come back and tell them more about Jesus. The pastor started to visit them on a regular basis often bringing clothes or food to bless them as well as teaching them more about Christ. More believers came to Christ and last November they built a small church in which to meet. Jamie, being one of the most experienced believers in the village, was put in charge of the fledgling church. This new believer was now the pastor. His desire for God’s word grew and he began to travel to Yurimaguas every few months to attend Bible classes.

But about a month ago we received bad news. Jamie’s wife had given birth to twins out in the village and died from complications. The pastor that visits them came to Yurimaguas when he heard the news to buy fuel so he could go visit. Not knowing the situation with the babies, we sent him upriver to visit Jamie with bottles and formula as well. The pastor visited and Jamie seemed to be in good spirits. Knowing that his wife was in heaven was his consolation. He had peace that passed all understanding. But the twins were at risk. They decided to bring them back to Yurimaguas so they could be at the children’s home where they could receive regular nourishment.  Their aunt and her 2 young children came as well to help care for them.

They were in the home for a couple of weeks and all seemed well. They were taken to the doctor for check ups and were eating and growing.

Last week Jamie came to town for more Bible classes and to visit the twins. He was attending classes during the day and visiting the twins every afternoon and evening. One evening he noticed that one of the babies had diarrhea and shallow breathing. The staff sent the baby straight to the emergency room. It is common practice here to send babies with diarrhea or fever straight to the ER. We figured that they would treat the baby and send him back home. So we were surprised when we received a call around midnight that the baby wasn’t expected to make it.  Around 1:30am, the baby passed away.

The rest of the day was a blur. Jamie wanted to return home right away to bury his child. We spent the morning getting things in order. We prayed and cried. I shared with the other pastors at the Bible class what had happened and they took up an offering to help Jamie get home. Finally, I drove Jamie down to the port with a small white casket and we loaded it on a boat.  I will never forget the image of the boat pulling out of the port and Jamie turning to wave good bye with the casket by his side. He had a long journey before him to go bury his baby next to his wife.  

My heart breaks for Jamie. He returns home as a modern day Job. In the face of his trials he will be a witness to the many unbelievers in his village. But he needs strength. He needs our prayers. He has many difficult days ahead as he faces life, raising his other 9 children and leading his church without his wife. But there is good news, Jamie has hope. Knowing that someday he will see them again his hope is not in this life but what is to come.

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.  -Thessalonians 4:13-14

Shawi Discipleship Center

We have now been in Peru three years. In some ways it seems like it was just yesterday that we arrived yet we have seen and learned so much.   Over the past few years, we have traveled to many villages in order to encourage believers.  We have done children’s programming, medical clinics, and visited on many front porches over a bowl of chicha.  This past year, we spent 4 months living in a Shawi village to learn more about their language and culture. 

It’s been a blessing to witness the work God is doing in the Shawi church over the past few years.  One of the pastor’s we work with is realizing his call to evangelize his own people. He often travels by river and walks many hours to visit remote villages with the gospel.  Through your support, we are able to help provide fuel for him to travel.  In the last few years, he planted 7 new churches.  And there are other pastors with the same passion who are evangelizing on other river systems.

We’re so excited to see God moving and hear testimonies of lives being changed.  Throughout our travels, talking with Shawi church leadership, and spending time in the village this past year, God has laid on our hearts a need for basic level discipleship and training for new believers.  Susan, the missionary we work alongside, hosts a Bible Institute in Spanish for Shawi pastors in Yurimaguas.  However, many of the new believers are from more remote villages, only have a conversational level of Spanish, and lack basic Bible knowledge.  Some of the Shawi pastors have asked us for help in discipling these new believers. Therefore, we’re seeking to add to the training offered by introducing a basic discipleship training course, offered in Shawi, so that new believers can hear and understand the truth of God’s word in their heart language.

Since many of these communities are remote, a day by boat and then a 3-9 hour walk, bringing the pastors in to a central location will be more effective for reaching and raising up new leadership in each of these remote locations.  Missionary Ventures owns an existing property outside of Yurimaguas, that was once used for discipleship and agricultural development.  The property has been let go over the last number of years but we’re planning to rehab the facility and begin to use it to make disciples.

We hope to offer several trainings yet this year using an orality based discipleship model.  We will let the power of the Holy Spirit work as believers hear Bible stories for the first time and discover the beauty within scripture.  Our first series will go from Creation to Jesus followed by stories of Jesus himself.  We look forward to using this model and facility to offer trainings in leadership, worship, and children’s ministry as well in the future.  We will continue to travel, taking our disciples along, teaching them and watching them practice new skills.  This will provide experience to them and help encourage the local Shawi church.

First though, there is much work to be done in rehabilitating the facility.  Our first 3 obstacles to begin hosting training are lodging, water, and power.  There is a wooden house with thatch roof that can be salvaged but will need a new roof and floor boards replaced.  We hope to put in a well but will also rehab old water tanks and guttering for collecting rain water.  We will either need to put in a generator and repair wiring or purchase and install solar panels to provide power so that we can hold church service after dark.  And that is just the beginning.  Screens need repaired, roofs need replaced, and additional housing needs built.

Over time we’ll work to beautify the property, but we’d also like to begin some subsistence farming to provide both income to offset the cost of our national staff and to provide food during training cycles and for the children’s home in Yurimaguas.

We have been so blessed these past 3 years by the prayer and financial support we’ve received as well as visits of encouragement we’ve had from family, friends, and the body of Christ.  We are so excited about this direction the Lord has given us and the opportunity to go and make disciples but we cannot do it alone.  We ask you to prayerfully consider how God might be calling you to be a part of making disciples among the Shawi as well. 

Perhaps he’s calling you to pray for strength for our new believers.  This past week we learned that a leader of one of the new church plants lost his wife minutes after she gave birth to twins.  He is now a single father of 10 children.  Please pray for strength for Jaime and that he may know peace that passes all understanding. 

Perhaps God’s laid it on your heart to come and work alongside us here for a time rehabbing the discipleship training center and seeing how God is moving here first hand. We are putting together a work team to come in the summer. Let us know if you are interested.

Or perhaps he’s call you to financially support the work.  Please visit this link to give directly to the work at the Shawi Discipleship Center. 

However it is the Lord leads you, we invite you to join us as we work together to make disciples of all nations.

“Notwithstanding any other statements in this communication, please remember that any contributions to MV are under MV’s full discretion and control as required by IRS regulations.”

Motor Problems

Here is a video with some of the challenges of traveling the rivers. Click here for the link.