Jungle Trekking

It has been three months now, since I have come back to the Amazon from the states, and an incredible three months at that. Towards the end of Christmas last year I began to feel and sense in my “spiritual gut” that the Lord was doing new things. I felt that it was the beginning of a “new season.” In that, I wanted to be prepared. Prepared for whatever the Lord wanted to do in and through me. So on January 1^st of 2011, I began a 21 day fast, declaring to the Lord that I was more hungry spiritually, for Him and His kingdom, than any physical hunger I had for food.

I soon realized what the Lord was changing; it was me. He was changing my heart, my focus and my foolish idea of “love.” I began praying for Christ’s unfailing love for His children to consume me. It’s incredible the things that become foolish, that are no longer of importance when you begin praying this prayer. Love begins to smash and break off all that you are, pulling and pushing you into the mold and form of Jesus Christ, until all that’s left is love, and His reflection seen in you. The way I feel for the people here is overwhelming, and I know that it hardly scratches the surface of how the Lord feels for them, yearns for them, how He loves them. It is no longer just about “missions” for me, it’s so much more than that. This place has become my home, the people my family. I long and desire with all of my heart to see the young girls I disciple on Saturday nights, to become revolutionists in their schools; I yearn for revival to explode in my home church, “Ministerio de Misiones”; I pray earnestly for the spirit of religion and animosity between the churches of Leticia to be smothered out by the overwhelming love of Christ; My heart cries out for the tribes of the Amazon, that have lived and died in spiritual darkness, never knowing the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ; I weep for the hundreds of children wondering the streets of the towns and villages, aimlessly, living day to day not knowing the love of the Father. “Then He said to His disciples, 'The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few...” Matt. 9:37

I have heard so many times of the desires of people to go, to reach out and to support – but where are they? Every once in a while we are reminded and hear the stories of great legends and great revivalists – but where are today’s legends? Today’s revivalists? Why have we become so content in following the footsteps of where God has been? I don’t want to follow them any more. I want to be where He is! Wonder why we get so bored doing our little routine dance to church on Sunday, work all week long, and then back all over again? It’s because we’ve become lazy and content our mediocre state of Christianity. Why settle for a single piece of broccoli when the Lord has set a feast before you? When He has such great plans and purposes for your life?

This past week I had the privilege of joining an incredible woman, in the jungles of Colombia, who has eaten the feast the Lord prepared for her. Orchidy Boyd, from Detroit, Michigan, has been working on and off in the Amazon for the last 12 years. She has recently moved into the jungle, into a little hut, on another family’s farm. She has been working with the Yagua people in the community, La Maloka, as a pastor, teacher and friend, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ everywhere she goes. As I spent a week with her, the families and the children of La Maloka, I experienced so many different emotions: love, happiness, exhaustion, sadness, excitement, frustration...

Orchidy and I spent much time discussing the things of the Lord, missions, the history of the Yagua people, and the visions and dreams the Lord has given her for them. Some of the most incredible moments I had, where when Orchidy brought out her flute, me my guitar, and we began to sing God’s praises right there in the middle of the jungle. Wednesday night, we headed up river with the family in the canoe to the community for the church service. Since there is no electricity in the town, we had the service under the starry sky on the soccer court. With just a couple of flashlights and a guitar, we declared the wondrous works and glories of the Lord! It was incredible!

The rest of the week was full of learning about the jungle, the fruits, vegetables and fish of the Amazon, how to cook just about anything over an open fire, canoeing the right way, and all kinds of tricks and shorts cuts “jungle style.” Saturday we headed to Leticia for the night, then Sunday morning back up the river with several pastors, missionaries and friends for the celebration service of the dedication of the ministry’s first boat. We were all loaded down with food, cake, drinks and cameras to capture this great moment. All squished into the wooden rapido, we began our three hour, rainy journey back to La Maloka.

Once there, we all jumped out into the pouring rain, and hauled everything to the church, telling every passerby the church service was about to begin, “Tenemos culto ahorita!” The church soon filled up with children, and a few adults. I grabbed my guitar, Orchidy her clarinet, and we began to worship and praise the Lord. Soon after, Orchidy began to preach to the children, declaring the wonders of the Lord and His desired blessings for them. As I was standing in the back by the door, taking pictures, I saw a young boy walking in the rain up to the church. I watched him as he walked in and headed over to the adults sitting on the floor. All of the sudden there were looks of horror, gasps, and they all began jumping up and running out the door. Soon the whole church was running out and down the hill towards the river. I quickly grabbed someone headed out the door and asked what was going on. A woman had fallen in the river. Orchidy quickly took off running towards the site, as I put my camera away and checked that the packs were secure.

As I reached the crowd, I saw the young woman lying on the floor of a house, her face completely white. I quickly reached for her wrist and felt for a pulse; nothing. Orchidy and the others continued praying for her, as I caught the story of what happened. The woman had, had an epileptic seizure while she was down at the river washing her clothes, and had fallen in. When she didn’t return to the house after a long period of time, her husband had gone down to the river to find her. He found her there, facedown in the water.

Those praying for the woman had by this time headed back to the church, as Orchidy pushed through the onlooking crowd to find her friend, and brother of the deceased woman. When she reached him she wrapped her arms around him, as he suddenly began to sobb. He cried out, “You shouldn’t be here, it’s too dangerous, you should leave.” But, as she continued to hug him she said softly, “No, I’m staying right here.”

She then turned towards the crowd and asked that some of the women would help prepare the body for burial, and that we would hold a funeral service. Then she headed back to the church with the family to prepare.

As I looked over to the crowd to see who would help with the woman, no one had moved. I looked back at the body and saw a sobbing woman had come and was trying to remove the wet clothes. My heart instantly broke when I saw this. I then quickly walked over and begun to help her clean, dress and prepare the body for burial. Soon after we finished, we took down a hammock and placed her inside with a sheet overtop. Then the husband and I, each holding an end of the hammock, headed back up the hill to the church for the service. We laid her gently down on the church’s wooden floor, as people began to quietly walk in and sit down.

I then suddenly felt as though I couldn’t breathe, so I headed outside around the church. The tears came so unexpectedly, flooding down my cheeks at the sadness of it all. I saw nearly no emotion from the people at all. They have all lived such hard lives, they seemed so emotionless, loveless. Only when they know the true love of the Father’s heart, can they know and understand love itself. In hearing the stories and the history of these people, I have still only realized a fraction of the hurt and the abuse they have experienced.

“But, God…” I just love these two words together! But, God has sent Orchidy, and she has been planting seed after seed of His love, and will one day very soon reap a great harvest of souls! The Yagua are seeing love in action. She’s not just talking the talk, but she’s walking it out!

I headed back into the service, picked up my guitar and began to play softly. Soon the family had arrived and sat down and we started to worship. During the service Orchidy began to tell the congregation, of what the brother had said to her; that she should leave, that it was too dangerous there. As she spoke she threw her finger up into the air and said, “I’m not leaving! I am staying right here!” Right then, every power of darkness and every demon in that village heard her declaration that day. It says in John 10:10 that, “The devil comes to steal, kill and destroy….” He had come to try to quench our praises and our celebration that day, but he could not.

That evening, we anointed and prayed over the boat, then helped the family aboard with the body. When we reached the docks in Leticia, the rest of the family was there, waiting to receive them.

While in bed that night, my mind was racing. In one moment we were having a great celebration, and in the next, a funeral service. I had learned so much in such a short amount of time. Watching Orchidy staying calm and taking control of the situation, impressed me so much. I realized that the Lord gives you the strength you need in any situation, and in any circumstance. Our responsibility? To continue singing and declaring the glories of God! “The Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever.” Heb. 13:8. He was just as worthy of our praise before what happened, as He was after. When we give glory, where glory is due, in the midst of whatever we’re going through, the devil is defeated! I love this scripture from Hebrews 12:28 in the NLT, “Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping Him with holy fear and awe...”

God is doing great things, His changing things, He’s moving, and I want to be smack dab in the middle of all of it! I don’t want to be following in the footsteps of where He’s been, I don’t want to be content with a boring mediocre Christian life. All the days of my life, I want to constantly be where He IS and in His perfect will.

The Alabama Team

These past two weeks here in the Amazon have been incredible. A team of 20 people from Alabama met us in Miami, and joined us on our journey down to the Amazon. This team consisted of several high school seniors, ORU alumni, teachers, pastors, wives, a veterinarian and soccer coach. This team came fully prepared, packed and ready to do ministry, and see God’s glory revealed. The day after we arrived in Leticia, we immediately packed up all our gear, jumped on the boat and headed for our missionary friend, Clauber’s home in Brasil. After a quick lunch, we ladies were lead to one of the buildings on the property, where we quickly found out we were doing a women’s conference. The men, right outside, headed up the first soccer camp of the trip, with kids of all ages.

The women’s conference started out with each woman going around, speaking in either Tikuna or Portuguese, of how thankful and excited they were for us to be there. They were so hungry for the word of God! Then after running to grab my guitar, we sang a few songs in Spanish, all praising God together. Then Ms. Pattie, the wife of Pastor Greg, began to preach a message on their importance here on earth. How God desires to use them, and has a plan and purpose for their lives. During the prayer session towards the end, nearly every single woman was in tears, crying out to God in their own languages. It was so incredible! That night I crawled into myhammock, listening to the sounds of the jungle, and dwelling on the thoughts of revival in the Amazon! The next day we headed for Islandia, Peru. We split up into three different groups, one group doing children’s ministry at the local church, one doing a soccer camp in the school’s field, and another doing ministry with a group of adults. As a part of the children’s ministry team, I helped head up the worship for the kids, it was a blast!

We then had several bible stories taught, more songs, coloring, and face painting. In the end we had well over 100 children who went home with gifts of soap, candy, beanie babies, and songs of Jesus in their hearts. That day I realized how much my heart has changed for this place, and these people. It wasn’t just a long, hot day of work, but it was so much more than that this time! I was so in love with these children! After we had finished in Islandia, we girls and several of the men headed back in the boat for Leticia, while the other men headed a few more hours up river for Atalya, Brasil, the last frontier town on the Javari river. They spent the next three days constructing stands, high above the ground for the first water purification system to be installed in Atalya. After they had finished the planning, the building and the installing, the system was complete, and the city held a dedication for it.

Meanwhile, back in Leticia, we held a Pastor’s and wife’s conference at the Waira Hotel. I was so nervous, this was going to be my fist time ever leading worship in Spanish, I thought I was going to be sick. But, as Pastors and wives came in and sat down, I began to think about all the hard work they have been doing and hard times they had been going through for years, and how this was now their time to be ministered to. After much prayer in the team, we finally started the conference, opening up with worship. We began to worship, and the spirit of God fell so heavily.

As they began to cry out to God, the air became so thick with their hunger for more of Him, it almost became unbearable for me to sing anymore. To see their hearts for the Lord, laid right out on the table, so to speak, was so intense, and so powerful. Pastor Greg and his wife Ms. Patti then began to preach and teach about love and respect, using the book, “Love and Respect” by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs. So many times with the pastors here (and I’m sure all over the world), pastors become so busy and bogged down with the pastoral responsibilities, that they forget to nurture their own marriage. The pastor and wife become foreign to each other, and no longer know how to communicate. So needless to say, this was something that needed to be dealt with. We had them turn to each other, the husband say, “I love you” and the woman say, “I respect you.” There were so many tears, kissing and hugging as God restored many marriages that day. Each couple was given a “Love and Respect” book, as well as gift bags filled with jewelry, flashlights and such.

On Thursday and Friday morning, we all headed out to a bible school in Tabatinga, Brasil. The little, one‐room, thatch roof building held around 30 some students. We handed out song sheets to each one, and began to worship. The school was immediately filled with the presence of God, as we shouted out His praises! I was suddenly so overwhelmed that I could do nothing but kneel and cry. To be in a place where 9 hours a day, Monday through Saturday, they are learning about God and His word, so that they can return to their villages and teach others, was breath‐taking. Several of the team members gave their testimonies and teachings. They were translated from English, to Spanish, to Tikuna. After the services, we went out and began to pass out coloring books that taught the children about how to properly take care of and be kind to animals. Dr. Able, a veterinarian, came with the team in hopes of being able to share this material, as well as treat many of the sick and diseased dogs and cats in the Amazon.

As the children colored these books, we painted their faces, passed out candy,

played games, showed and shared the love of Jesus Christ with them.

Thursday afternoon, after we arrived back in Leticia from the bible school in Brasil, Dr. Able headed to the local veterinary clinic to perform a surgery with Dr. Servio. Earlier that week, we held a meeting with the doctor about future plans to work together in helping the stray animals here in the Amazon. Katherine (Amazon Xpeditions Administrator) warned Dr. Able that the doctor may not be receptive to his wanting to help, and may view it as him wanting to take over and ruin his business. So during the beginning of the meeting we spoke with caution, Dr. Able continuously speaking of his want to help, and his vision for the care of the animals. Near the end of the meeting, it was obvious that it had gone well, as the doctors shook hands happily, and exchanged emails.

So that day, when Dr. Able and Dr. Servio, preformed the surgery together, was an incredible day. As I stood there taking photos of each doctor leaning over, working side‐by‐side, I was in awe of the awesome work of God taking place right then and there. The surgery went quickly, and turned out better than expected. As we parted, Dr. Servicio left us with gifts, and a happy goodbye.

The very next week, we held a Women’s conference at the Waira hotel. We had

worship, and spoke about love and respect once again. Many questions were

answered, women restored, and filled with the holy spirit! Towards the end, each lady was given a gift bag that contained everything from lotions and soaps, to jewelry that was donated from women back in the states.

Sunday night we all headed to my home church here in Leticia, “Ministerio de

Misiones.” Pastor Greg, who is always ready in and out of season, was asked to preach. It was a wonderful service as two different cultures combined, ministering side‐by‐side, and praising God together in their own languages. After the service ended we then headed to our “last dinner” together in Leticia. Everyone went around the table, telling of their favorite moments and experiences they had on that trip. I could barely keep the tears in as one‐by‐one, they spoke of the things they saw, how they felt, and their love for the people. They weren’t talking about how hot it was, how many bugs there were, or the hardships they had to endure; they were talking about how they saw this place the same way I see it, how they love the people in ways that I too love them. It touched me so much, that this team had experienced this place the way that could only be described in one way, with the love of Jesus! They then went on to give each one of the Amazon Xpeditions staff members a love offering. Never in my time here in the Amazon, have I been so greatly blessed by a team. Day after day they worked hard, never once complaining, never even letting me take my own plate to wash. They always blessed, encouraged and were always ready to minister. That night, I was told they had not only raised their own funds for this trip, but had gone above and beyond to raise money for the pastors here, for offerings, and for us staff members, I was totally blown away. Sunday night at church I had given a small offering, but for me it was quite a bit at that moment.

During the dinner that night, I received an envelope from the team, with my name written in a big black sharpie on top. It contained over 28 times what I had put in the offering. When I got home I walked over to the bathroom, locked myself in and cried. The Lord has never ceased to bless me. Even in the most unthinkable ways, He continues to bless me.

So to every one of the people in the Alabama team that is reading this blog, thank you so much for blessing me more than you’ll ever know. When I came here to serve you, bless you, and help you; you turned around and served and blessed me. I pray that the Lord will bless each and every single one of you so much more than you could ever imagine. I pray that this year, because you devoted the first part of your year to serving Him, will be so prosperous and fruitful.

I love you all,

God bless,

Heather

"...Unabated Zeal."

As I have been here at home, it's been great to just relax, rest up and refuel. Being home with my family and back in my home church has been such a blessing, and I am extremely thankful.

Yesterday at church, I had the opportunity to go up front with elders and pray for those that needed prayer. As soon after, a woman came up to my Mom and I and said, "Ok, I have two things; One, I want to know what it's like to hear God's voice 24/7, to constantly be hearing the voice of the Lord day and night. Second, I just have this feeling that something big is about to happen, I don't know what it is, but I know something's coming." As she was saying this, she was crying and shaking. You could see her intense hunger for the Lord!

We began to pray and intercede for her, being sensitive to what the Lord wanted to say. Immediately I was reminded of the Welsh revival.

Thursday and Friday night we held "the Burn 24/7" with Sean Feucht at our church. He spoke about the revival and how it began with 15 teenagers in a room, who would not let go of God until He gave them what they sought. That's when revival broke out!

So spoke to the woman, telling her about the revival. I told her that like the youth that would not let go of God, that she was not let Him go until she received that which she was feeling, that which she was hungry for.

Later that day, I could not stop thinking about her and her intense and contagious hunger for God. Oh how I want that hunger! I want the kind of hunger that pleads for Him 24/7, that strives to hear His voice every second of everyday!

On Friday night Sean shared an illustration with us:

That morning he had gone hunting extremely early up at Seeley, MT. As he was trumping around in the snow, he found fresh elk tracks. For hours he followed those elk tracks around and up and down the mountains. He finally became very frustrated and thought to himself, "I don't want to be where this elk has been anymore, I want to be where he IS!"

The church, the body of Christ, has become content on following the tacks of where God HAS BEEN, instead of hungering and striving for where HE IS!

I can't believe that I have settled with following His "tracks", just residing in the places where He has been. When and where did I begin to think it was ok to settle for a mediocre christian life? To hunger for the "hunger of the Lord"? This may not make sense to some reading this, it hardly makes sense to me...all I know is I don't want to follow His tracks anymore. I want to be where He is! Not tomorrow, not the day after, but today!

"So set a fire down in my soul, that I can't contain, that I control. I want more of you God! I want more of you God!" by song artist Will Reagan - "Set a Fire."

Finally!! Another blog!!

Wow! It has been awhile since my last blog, I apologize to all those who have been so patiently waiting.

This past month has been incredible, full of new opportunities, experiences, hopes, dreams and visions. It has as well been my toughest month here, and at times seemingly impossible. Culture shock has slithered its way into my everyday life here in the Amazon. Learning a new language, taking on a new culture and living a new life has been the hardest thing I have ever had to do. Daily I pray that God would grant me grace and strength for that day, and He has been ever so merciful to do just that.

I read this quote the other day, and found it hit extremely close to home:

“I give up my right to a comfortable bed,

And trust God for strength and endurance.

I give up my right to three meals a day,

And trust God for my health and strength.

I give up my right to familiar food,

And trust God for my like and dislikes of food.

I give up my right to dressing fashionably,

And trust God for my self esteem and security in Him.

I give up my right to seeing results

And trust God for accomplishing His purposes and seeing fruit in His timing.

I give up my right to control what I do,

And trust God to control me through His Holy Spirit.

I give up my right to control others,

And trust God to accomplish in them what He wants and in His timing.

I give up my right to control my external circumstances,

And trust God for my circumstances to accomplish His purposes in making me Christ-like.

I give up my right to pleasant circumstances,

And trust God for the privilege of suffering for His names sake.

I give up my right to make decisions,

And trust God for His sovereign hand on my life.

I give up my right to be understood, and trust God for my reputation.” *Terri Hughes of SEND International

Yet through all of this, it is nothing. Nothing compared to the Love of Jesus that I feel everyday. I know without a shadow of a doubt, that I am in His will, and that I am in the right place at the right time. God has taken me through so many things here that I never imagined I would do, I would become, that I would accomplish. Before I ever came here I had always asked God, “Why me? There are so many more qualified people, more skilled, more prepared.” I still find myself asking this question. But, for some reason He has decided to use me, and everyday it is in a new and different way. I never thought I’d be able learn another language, yet now I sing on the worship team and just preached a 5 min message last week – in Spanish. I never thought I’d ever do youth ministry again, but here I am loving and working with them every week. I never ever thought I had any teaching skills, yet I’m teaching English twice a week and have several students now. I never thought I would ever see a revival, but I now get to be a part of the beginning steps of one right here in Leticia! God has been so good to me, has blessed me so much and shown me so much favor.

My weeks are filled with Spanish classes in the mornings, every morning Monday through Friday. It has been so intense and for the past two months, and I think I’ve wanted to quit just about every day. But, as I mentioned before, God has granted me immeasurable grace and strength. I now work only one day a week at the Aljaba, children’s home and school. But, my days have quickly been filled with teaching English, practices and church services, more time spent with the youth, prayer meetings with the children, and extra projects here at the house. It was incredible to see, that even when one door closed, God opened five more!

Another door that has opened, is the opportunity for me to come home a month earlier. This is in order that I might be able to return back to the Amazon in time to greet the first team of the year in January. I am so excited about the plans with this team coming! They will be helping host the Women’s Conference at my home church here in Leticia, as well as a soccer training camp for children and so much more!

I’m so excited to come home and see my family soon, but even more so to return here and be apart of the new plans God has for the Amazon.

I want to thank you all so much for your prayers and support! It was so encouraging the other day to hear that all the elders of my home church in Missoula, MT where praying for me during their elder’s meeting. Thank you all so much, I cannot express how much this means to me. To know that the body of Christ is backing me up is such an incredible feeling. Thank you.

God bless you,

Dios te bendiga,

Heather

"Vivir y Respirar la Vida de Oración"

"Living and Breathing a Life of Prayer."

How many times have we given the passer-by comment, “I’ll be praying for you” and actually gone through with it? What do you consider prayer? Is it the brief “Hello God, it’s me, I’d really like Your help today…Amen” your daily prayer?

This past week Meredith (another missionary here) and I have been really sensing the need for prayer here in Leticia. One morning, during my prayer and devotion time with the Lord, suddenly the idea of starting a House of Prayer here in Leticia popped into my brain. I stopped praying and slowly said, “Ah…Lord, I don’t know if this is you or not, I mean…obviously it has to be, but…I don’t know the first thing about starting a House of Prayer? Where? When? How?” That exact same day I talked to Meredith and had begun to tell her about what the Lord had lain on my heart, about the House of Prayer idea. But, then quickly changed my mind thinking, “Ah, not yet…I’m going to wait for a little more confirmation before I start blabbing my mouth about something.” Well, I didn’t have to wait long, Meredith soon went on to say how that next day she was going to begin the start of many nights of prayer, at La Aljaba children’s home! I got so excited and told her what the Lord had spoken to me that exact morning! In the end we both realized the Lord was telling us something , “PRAYER!”

During my recent devotions the Lord gave me this scripture, Isaiah 62:10-11, “Go through, go through the gates! Prepare the way for the people; Build up, build up the highway, take out the stones, lift up a banner for the peoples! Indeed the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the world: Say to the daughter of Zion, surely your salvation is coming; Behold His reward is with Him.’ And they shall call them The Holy People, The Redeemed of the Lord; and you shall be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken.”

We had been praying and praying for revival, but when was the last time we prayed for prayer? A cultivating life of prayer to be made in our lives? In our cities? In the church no less? Again and again the Lord says to me, “Prayer! Prayer! Prayer!” God is saying to me, “I have called you here to ‘prepare the way for the people,’ to ‘build up the highway,’ to ‘take out the stones’ and to ‘raise up the banner!’ To help prepare the way for REVIVAL!!” To do this there needs to be daily prayer, 24/7 prayer here in Leticia, spreading into the Three Frontiers; Peru, Colombia and Brasil!

Having received this vision, we have begun to run with it! Please keep us in your prayers as we hope to unite with the people, organizations and churches here in prayer. In showing the slight piece of the vision we were given, we hope a great movement of prayer will happen here. We are already beginning to see it!

This past Wednesday night we held our first prayer meeting with the children at La Aljaba children’s home. We gave a short teaching of prayer, the importance of prayer and then led them into a few songs of worship. As we began to pray, the children all got on their knees, faces in their chairs, praying. The glory of God fell, and almost every single one of them had tears rolling down their tiny cheeks, and were crying out to God. It was incredible! In the end we began to sing, “La Nina de tus Ojos” which talks about how we are the apple of God’s eye. They all began to sing, and it was amazing. I could see and feel so many of their little hearts being healed! Jesus had shown up that night, and touched them all.

After celebrating with Meredith that night about what God was doing, I headed out for home. When I got home, not even five minutes later my doorbell rang. Three of the junior high girls from the church were waiting outside the gate with such incredible news! They began to excitingly tell me that they had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit that night at the church’s service! They suddenly began to speak in tongues to “prove” they had! They asked me, “Do you know the language of the Holy Spirit?!” I basically screamed in excitement my answer, “Yes!!! Ahhhh!!! God is so good!!!” That night God wasn’t just working where we were, but was working all around!

For the last two weeks I had been gone on the river with teams, so I had missed two weeks of church services. After everything happened on Wednesday night at La Aljaba, I headed to church Thursday night to hear them teaching on prayer! For the last three weeks now they have been teaching on prayer, the importance of prayer, and how to pray! Wow! I was so blown away! God is speaking His vision all over Leticia, “Prayer! Prayer! Prayer!”

Yesterday I got this ridiculous urge to paint again, the first time being a couple days ago, after a time of prayer for the Amazon. So I headed out, got some supplies, and then began to paint. When I was finished, I stood back, looked and thought, “Ah…well, it’s not Thomas Kinkaid, but it’s not horrible.” It was a picture of the sun rising, with it’s rays slicing through the darkness. I just made it sound so much better right then, than it looks, lol.

Anyways, I left it there on the table to dry overnight, I would figure out what to do with it in the morning. Well, this morning while passing it, I looked down on it, and this song by Hillsong popped into my head. “And His glory appears, like the light from the sun. Age to age He shines! Oh look to the skies, hear the angels cry, singing ‘Holy is the Lord!’” I believe with everything that God has been showing us here, this is His promise to us. That His glory will appear, like the light from the sun! As we begin to cultivate a life of prayer, the Lord’s glory will be made known here in Leticia! Which we believe and are praying will come with revival!

I’m so excited for what God’s doing here! I’m absolutely thrilled to be a part of this, and be a part of the body of Christ here in the Amazon. Again, thank you to all who were praying with us Wednesday night! As you can see God is moving mightily and His glory will be made known! As my grandmother wrote me in an e-mail, “the ground is very fertile.”

Here is just one last scripture. As we begin to teach on prayer here, and the importance of prayer, I hope and pray for the rising up of the second church of Acts. In chapter 4 we read of the persecution the church has gone through, in verse 23 they have just been let go. What do they go on to do? Read this, “…they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: ‘Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: “Why did the nations rage, and the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ.” For truly against your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness that they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.’

And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.” Acts 4:24-31

After this prayer the church of Acts becomes a “Power House” for Christ! There were healings, miracles, signs and wonders left and right! The church became of “one heart and one soul” (verse. 32) and “with great power…gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. “ (verse 33)

Everything that happened with the church of Acts began with prayer.

Acts 2:1, the Day of Pentecost, what where they doing? Praying!

Acts 3:1-10, the Lame Man Healed, Peter and John were on their way to pray.

Acts 4:23 – 31, Annointed with the Holy Spirit, filled with boldness! Again, they were praying!

So with this all being said (in a matter of only 500 pages! Hahaha), we have begun to pray for…well prayer! To teach how to pray, the importance of prayer, and the effects of prayer!

Again, thank you for all YOUR prayers! God is moving!!

Heather

07/27/2010

“Revival!”

For the past month, I have been praying for revival to begin here in Leticia, Colombia. Leticia is a very strategic point in the Amazon, this region is called the “Tres Frontires” meaning the “Three Frontiers.” All three countries, Colombia, Brasil, and Peru connect right here. The revival would be carried into all three countries, and quickly spread throughout each one! The damage to the kingdom of darkness would be immense! The gaining back of ground would be innumerable! “Lord! Send revival!!”

For the past two weeks we have had two teams from the states here in the Amazon. One from Texas, the other from Georgia. The first week was spent in Brasil with AX missionary and good friend, Clauber and his family. One of the many things we did, was build a staircase going down to the river, for the family. About every 6 months, the Amazon river does it’s toll on the stairs, thus creating much work for the family to completely replace it. The men worked on the plans, the cutting, digging and assembling. After many hours of work the new stairs were complete!

As the men were working on that project, I had led the girls over to a small field where the weeds, thorns and vines were as tall as me! Each grabbing a machete we went to work for hours, cutting, chopping, swishing and slashing. The next day, after many hours of hard, hot work, we had leveled the ground. We then all stood back and looked upon what would be the new soccer field, it was awesome!

That night, all 30 of us headed out into the night to a local church for the night’s service. The Georgia team preformed several dramas, and gave testimonies. Speaking on purity, and God’s standpoint on sex. That night several people received healing for broken hearts, and several gave their lives to Christ.

Four days and three church services later we had seen a total of 69 salvations! Praise God!

Sunday our Texas team headed back to the states. They were such an incredible team! They had all worked so hard in everything, kept great attitudes, and really, truly loved these people. Many times they had, had to be ready to minister an entire service in a moment’s notice, but they always held it together. I love seeing people like this working in the kingdom of God!

Monday night was Georgia’s night for the youth at the church. The theme was purity, and how God made and intended sex to be inside the boundaries of marriage. Skits were preformed and testimonies given. However, when the call for “broken hearts” was given, the alter was quickly flooded with youth. As we surround them, praying in tongues, and praying wholeness over them the spirit of God fell! Suddenly, people were slain in the spirit, prophecies after prophecies were given, there were tears and there was laughter. The intensity of the anointing was incredible! I could not help but weep! His presence was just so sweet.

The incredible thing was I had never seen this before here in the Amazon, nothing even close to it! Two hours after the service was supposed to have ended, three fourths of the people were still there, praying in tongues, slain in the spirit, and just sitting, soaking in His presence. The pastor of the church, Pastor Julio, later told us he had never seen anything like that here ever. He had seen it in Bogota on a previous trip, and had ever since been praying for that to come here. The people here in the Amazon have heard of it, but have never expected it, because they’ve never seen it. No more excuses!! Revival’s coming!!!!

Things have begun to shift here, things are changing, winds are blowing, God is moving! Like the rain that is constantly falling here in the rainforest, I believe God’s presence and anointing is beginning to soak the Amazon! Soon and very soon it’s coming, His glory will be made known here!!

The Savannah Team

01/07/2010

These past two weeks have been absolutely amazing! We had a medical team from Savannah, Georgia join us as we headed 8 hours up river, into the jungle, to do clinics.

The day after the team arrived here in Leticia, we pulled out all the medical supply bins left from the last team a few months earlier, and began to prepare for a week on the river. The next day, we headed down to the port with a truck loaded with food, water, personal packs, hammocks, tents, propane, flashlights and tons of bug spray! After about an hour of loading onto the boat, we finally all piled in and were on our way!

As the night rolled in, we stopped overnight at a small community about two hours from our next destination up river; Santa Rosa. Hanging up our hammocks under the starry sky, we all quickly fell asleep. The next morning we decided to hold our fist medical clinic there in the little school by the river. So hulling all the bins off the boat full of medical supplies, we began the setup for the clinic that day. In the back of the room we set up about 5 tables together for the pharmacy, then a table with chairs to the right for “station 1” and another to the left for “station 2.” The line quickly began to filled all the way outside the door and down the stairs. After several hours of translating, prescribing, and handing out the right medications and several vitamins, we packed up and were on our way upriver.

Along the way, we stopped at an Israelite village in Peru for lunch. The Israelites are a people that live in colonies along the Amazon and Javari rivers in Peru. I’m not exactly sure of the ins and outs of this cult, but I do know that they believe that Jesus Christ is a man that lives in Lima, Peru. This creates so much confusion! How do you tell a people about Jesus Christ when they believe they already know him? Learning from AX, apparently they don’t welcome outsiders easily. Infact the last time AX was at Santa Rosa to hold a medical clinic, there were angry men, and the next morning barely anyone had shown up to the clinic. The team had, had to leave early.

So we were a little cautious in having stopped at this village for lunch, so we just stayed out by the river until we were finished. However, after about an hour of having been there a man came over the hill to talk to us. We found out soon that his son was very sick and needed medical attention. George, along with two nurses headed up back up the hill the man towards his house. After they came back, having treated the young boy, we were given bananas and squash, and a very warm goodbye. I was thrilled to have been apart of this new experience! God was doing something there!

We headed another few hours up the river and finally made it to Santa Rosa. As we pulled up, I looked up the steep hill, saw the deep, thick mud, and decided that it was a good time to pull out the boots. George quickly hopped out, hiked up the hill and disappeared over the side. I began praying, as I knew he was asking for permission to stay the night and hold a medical clinic in the morning. As George had gone, a government offical of Peru, by the name of Orlando had gone with him. At the request of George, the man had decided to come with us on our trip up river. Having him along, had opened many doors. Soon George came back and yelled, “Alright! Let’s unload!” Praise God!

Many of the Israelites had come over the hill to watch and help us bring the heavy bins up the muddy hill to the school. As we hung up our hammocks and set up our tents, we soon drew the attention of many children and adults in the community. Some of the ladies from the team and I headed outside with our cameras and limited Spanish, and quickly made many little friends. We were forming relationships with these people who had before despised us. God was beginning to work in them, and we were able to be apart of it.

That night, after a wonderful jump into the Javari river, washing off all the grime and sweat, we began to cook dinner and get ready for the night. Soon a crowd had gathered outside to watch us, so George headed out there to begin the “service.” He began to preach to them, showing them what the bible said, and who Jesus Christ really was. Many people showed up, and were soon participating and asking many questions. It was awesome!

The next morning we set up for the medical clinic. After seeing people for eight hours straight we finally split the team in two, and took shifts to eat and freshen up. Two hours later we finally closed up the clinic. Everyone had received the medical attention they needed, vitamins, and the children were loaded with candy, stickers, balloons and bible tracks telling them of the love of God.

We packed everything up and headed back down to the boat. Waving goodbye to the crowd on the hill, we left for the next village 45 minutes downriver. The next day was our second to last medical clinic. Again it was filled with balloons, candy, soccer and playing with the kids. It was great! Earlier that morning we had been asked to have a church service with the people, and 7 people gave their lives to Christ! Praise God!

After packing up everything once again, we finally headed back out for home.

The trip had been intense, physically hard, and totally mosquito infested. But, God had moved greatly in each community we were in. To hear about the previous visits to these communities, and how unwell the team was received, it’s a total God thing the response we received from the people. Everywhere we went there were seeds planted. Seeds that now need to be watered and cared for. Amazon Xpeditions is now planning on supporting a pastor to go upriver to those communities once a week, stopping in every village to continue the work that was started, to water those seeds planted.

So praise God! Thank you all so much for keeping us in your prayers! God is moving and doing some amazing things here in the Amazon!

The next two weeks will be filled with studying Spanish, volunteering at the children’s home and getting ready for the next team coming on the 9^th.

God Bless!

Heather