4/20/04:  Through the deep jungle, we walked through deep mud?our feet sinking into the ground with every other step?as our team and the men of Masenawa loaded onto a cart and then pushed huge, heavy tablets of wood that had been previously carved out of even bigger tree trunks. Through three or four such trips, we spent most of yesterday working.

            The brotherhood here is wonderful and hard to describe. To just work with these native men who know the jungle, accept us, are proud of their Amarakaeri heritage, and are related themselves, has produced a sort of known yet unseen spirit of comoradity among us all?even within our first few days here.

            I so enjoyed walking with Timoteo, Danielle, Alejo, Clemente, Juan, Hermo, Eloi, and Eban through their jungle as we ate fruit and as they taught us so much. Walking down trails, they would point out fresh tiger tracks, trees that will later bear fruit, plants that are good for medicine, wood that is good for building boats, roots that are good for fishing, ants that give you pain for 24 hours, huge scorpians, and leaves that are good for constructing roofs for houses. All-the-whild, they also helped us learn more Harakmbut. Apparently, this adventure is quite educational as well.

            After a hard day or work and a cool shower at the spring, we all sat outside together again last night telling the next three stories of our eveangelism track, singing praises to God, and praying to our Father in all languages. We again lifted-up Lydia.

            It was an emotional thing?praying for healing for Lydia that is?for as we did, this old and aching lady fought through much pain just so she could bow on her sore and hurt knees. With groans and the help of a walking stick, she finally made it to her knees, folded her wrinkled hands together in front of her bowed head, and then we prayed. It was a sight of faith and humility?not to mention a special kind of strength?that I have rarely been privlidged to see; a sight that I will not soon forget.