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.