This past week the team and I have been ministering to the local youth and children of Leticia, Colombia. It’s been awesome! Friday we did something a little different however. After a 20 minute drive outside of Leticia, we were dropped off at the side of the road on a trail. There were no markings, no signs, nothing but the trail leading off into the jungle. We were going to visit a family that was living off the land in the middle of the Amazon rainforest. The hour and a half hike in was incredible; hearing all the screeching sounds of the jungle was intimidating and exciting all at once.
Finally we arrived to an opening containing two small huts and a larger one. The entire family, including sons, their wives and children gathered into the larger hut with us. Then we began church! This family used to go to church in town, but due to the expensive journey (the cost of a taxi), they have been unable to attend. So we brought church to them. We began to sing songs they knew in Spanish, all clapping and singing in unison to the same, one true God. We then spent the rest of the day with the family, picking and eating fruits, coconuts and other jungle tasties. One of which included the “Mojojoi.” A very fat, short, white worm! Once again, I have eaten a worm…only this time it was alive! Ah! As my leader handed me the bowl of moving worms he told me, “They gave this delicacy to us and we must eat them. They will be very offended if we don’t.” I have to say, when they called telling us it was time for desert I didn’t expect this. I then got it out of my leader it was a joke, however I knew there would be a time where this might just be the delicacy, and I would need to eat it. After a long time of pondering, picking up the worms, eyeballing them, and more pondering…I finally said, “Ok.” Surrounded by cameras and camcorders from team members, I bit off the butt (one of the women demonstrated how to eat them), sucked the insides in, danced around squeeling a little, then finally put the rest of the worm in, and chomped down. “Eeeeeee!!!!!” Is all that could be heard on the recordings, hahaha! After the swallowing, and tongue being shown, it was all gone. “Whew…what’s next?!” Hahaha!
Yesterday we held our first VBS! Our entire theme was Noah’s Ark, and how we must have faith and obedience in God. We had an incredible time with the children, playing games, learning the story, eating snacks (which just so happened to be animal crackers!) and doing crafts! The kids loved it! Then in the end we brought them all back together and learned a memory verse, “ 2 Corinthinas 5:7, ‘For we walk by faith and not by sight.’” The kids learned how Noah listened to God’s voice and had faith and believe God.
Also that morning we held our youth purity conference with the older kids of the La Alajaba. We had a time of worship and prayer, then began with our video and teachings. It went really good! I then began to share with the girls some of the things God had placed on my heart, just being very open and honest. Wow! The presence of God became strong, and soon several of the girls began crying as we began to pray for them all. In the end I could tell several of them had been set free of some strongholds they’d been holding onto. God is good!!!
Then at the end of the night we headed to a local pastor, Julio’s church. We had been invited to merge our worship team in with his for the service that Saturday night. What a great service! Also the night before (Friday night) we’d also done a youth purity conference with the youth and worship as well. Whew! Busy, busy, busy! There is no shortage of ministry needs around here for sure!
Today we had another service at Julio’s church, where two other team members and I were able to worship together with the worship team. We sang several songs in English and in Spanish. It was so awesome to worship together with the body of Christ!
I’ve gotten to meet several amazing women at this new church, and am excited to have gotten so close so fast! One of which speaks a little English and wants to learn more, and help me with my Spanish. It’s just been really awesome the people God is placing in my life already, so encouraging!
Well! That’s it for now, Wednesday we head out up river into Peru about 6 hours! We’ll be doing some ministry there, so please keep the team in your prayers!
Thanks for all your prayers already! We have been shown so much favor in so many areas, that we know without a doubt it’s God!
God bless,
Heather
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