The Work Begins

When training is completed all of the guys who have made it through have the option to work on our team. After this last training all 5 guys decided that they wanted to work with us!! We were really excited because that rarely happens. These last few months we have been getting ready to send two of the guys out to the Huitoto. “Getting ready” can comprise of many different things depending on the village location, supplies, etc. This time we had to have a boat motor repaired, buy a tail and props for the motor, research the costs of boats and the guys had to raise funds to make the 2-month trip. Getting ready to go on a trip is exciting but at the same time can be very stressful. We had hoped to leave last month but because of issues with the motor and the guys being unable to raise sufficient funds has set us back. Raising money as national missionaries is very difficult especially when you have to travel so far – the Huitoto live so far away that it is necessary to take a floatplane for part of the trip, as you can imagine, this is very expensive. But the guys have been very diligent and have raised and worked for the money to get out there. Hopefully it will be sufficient for the 2-month journey. The getting ready stage is finally over and the guys will be heading out tomorrow!!

Since the Huitoto live on the border of Peru and Colombia the area is very dangerous and we have to be very careful. Adam will go with the guys on the floatplane to the town of Estretcho. They will take the motor with them on the plane and once they arrive in Estretcho Adam will find a boat and buy it for the trip. (For obvious reason’s he has to buy the boat up there even though it’s more expensive).


When Adam went out and researched the Huitoto earlier this year he found 3 communities that were excited about having us there and wanting to learn more about storying, etc. The boys (Eliseo and Nestor) will pick one of these communities to live in for the next 2 months. Since they will only be there for a couple of months this trip will consist of helping out the community by working alongside them and getting to know them as a people. If the opportunity to share a story becomes available they will definitely share but for the most part this trip will be a time to become a trusted member of the community as they learn their culture and language.

While getting ready for the trip we were given the amazing opportunity to teach house church classes to some local pastors and church members. All of the guys from training were able to come for an entire week and help Adam teach about the church. It was a rewarding and exciting time as they learned how the body works together as a whole and that church is something we can have anywhere – not just in a building!


Not only did we learn a great deal ourselves while teaching the classes but we were also able to make new friends and become part of their lives. Which has been really good for Jessica. Having been pregnant and now learning to become a mom and take care of our family it has been hard for her to make good friends. But in this one week her Spanish improved and she was given 4 new friends. God is good!!!


We are so excited about finally getting out to the Huitoto and hope that this first trip goes well – we will all be coveting your prayers during this new and exciting journey!!


PRAYER REQUESTS:


- Our next project will be researching a new people group a little closer to home. We are hoping to send the other three guys out to this community. The first step for this project will be researching this new Indian tribe. Adam will be researching them with a couple of other missionaries, hopefully in December. Then we would like to send our guys out to their community. However, the guys (Juan, Felix and Pedro) will need to raise a substantial amount of money to make such a trip – this task will be even more difficult because all three are from the same church. Please pray that God will provide the money that they need to reach these people.


- Pray for Adam, Eliseo and Nestor as they travel out to the Huitoto. That they will be safe and that the community they will be in will receive them with open arms and will be hungry to hear about the gospel.


- Pray for the house churches that are growing rapidly here in the city of Iquitos.