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.
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
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