3/4/04: After months of preparing-studying Spanish and memorizing the stories of the Bible-and with thousands of people praying for the opportunity for our team to witness to the Amarakaeri, we have in the past two days seen God bring it all together. It's been a long time coming, but the long-awaited season of the evangelism of the Amarakaeri people group has arrived.

 Last night, our team began telling the story of God's word to about 10 men and women. We left-off after the story of Abraham and Isaac. When we got together to pick-up the story tonight, our group was joined by 15 or more new people. So we reviewed all we had already done. Then, continuing with the story, we shared through the prophesies of Isaiah. Our last night with this group shall be tomorrow, when we will tell of the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

 Along with delivering God's message to these people, we spend our time here in the jungle researching the world-view of the indigenous, learning phrases in their language Harakmbut, reading, practicing stories, bathing and playing in the river, cooking humble meals over the fire, writing, talking about future trips, praying together, and even playing volleyball.

 Concerning volleyball. I heard that a few years ago, the Peruvian women's volleyball team won the silver medal in the Olympics. Well, I think that afterwards, they all moved here to the village of Shintuya. Only that could explain why we've now lost to the girls two days in a row. They're good and all; and the rumor is that they practice everyday, but in the end, our losing streak is nothing short of pathetic. Still, I don't fret. We'll turn it around tomorrow. I think we just need to stretch a bit more before the game.


3/11/04: Glory to God for all He has done! After two weeks in the jungle, I am now back at the camp, showered, shaven, and ready to journey, yet again, deep into the jungle. Tis easy to honestly confess such rediness following so many miracles that I have indeed recently witnessed.

 Some of the prayers that were faithfuly lifted-up by so many prior to this past trip include: an opportunity to share the gospel with the Amarakaeri, the ability to find members of this people group, guidance as to what villages we should engage, a man of peace, a contact to go with us into the villages deeper in the jungle, for the Amarakaeri to have dreams or visions of the coming message, for salvation among the Amarakaeri, and for a believer who speaks the heart language to go with us to tell the Good News in their heart language Harakmbut. During our short stay in Shintuya, we saw God our Father answer every single one of these prayer requests. Every one!

 The salvation of two of the Amarkaeri men and all that has thus far followed, loudly shouts the faithfulness of God. Our recent trip to Shintuya, all that transpired there, was covered in the paint of God's perfect providence.