The Outreach Phase

Only 7 days and we will be in the Amazon jungle for the start of our outreach phase.  We are feeling excited and yet a little apprehensive at this point.  We are excited for our outreach phase to begin, but we are going to be spending two weeks in the jungle to start.  We think the jungle is an amazing adventure, but it is also hard because it is the polar opposite of everything we are used to in Montana.  The heat in the jungle coupled with the billions of mosquitoes make it tough at times, but we think it is going to be an amazing expreience none the less.  Today we found out who is going to be on our outreach team, (since there are 30 of us we had to break into 3 teams of 10), and we are excited because we have a good team.  Please be praying for us throughout these next several of weeks, both for our spiritual and physical well-being.  We suspect that another person on our team may be in the begining stages of dengue and many others have been fighting sickness as well.  We really want to be at full strength when we go into the outreach and we could really use all of your prayers.  Also pray for me because I am going to be the primary translator for our team.  I am nervous about this but I know god is going to use it to grow me in many ways.  Luckily, there are two other individuals that are going to be doing some translating as well. 

Here is a schedule of where we are going to be heading over the next 2 1/2 months:

Two weeks in the Amazon Jungle (Peru)
One week in Iquitos (Peru)
One week in Chiclayo (Peru)
One week in Arequipa (Peru)
One week in Cochabamba (Bolivia)
One week in Santa Cruz (Bolivia)
One week in La Paz (Bolivia)
One week in Cuzco (Peru)
One week in Lima (Peru)
Back to Iquitos for graduation

We are excited about our schedule and for what God is going to do in and through us during this time.  Pray that we would be growing in our faith daily and that we would be able to share the love of Christ with everyone we come into contact with.  We love you all.

2nd Mini Outreach

Hey everybody!  We just finished our second mini outreach in Iquitos this last weekend and everything went really well.  We are really tired right now but we are doing pretty well.  So this last weekend our team of thirty broke up into two teams of 15 with three leaders each.  It started Friday at around noon and ended Sunday night at about 11:30.  It was a bit of a grueling schedule but I really think it was a good experience.  Throughout the weekend we held various dramatic arts programs in parks, streets, a church that was hosting us, and even a women´s prison.  For each of these programs we did coreographies to draw in crowds and then we were able to share the gospel through different dramas and gospel presentations at the end.  I especially enjoyed our time in the women´s prison because we got a chance to play volleybal with the inmates which was really amazing.   I got the chance to preach a short sermon to a group of sawmill workers and overall it was warmly received.  Afterwards I was able to talk to a middle aged man named Dernel and encourage him to to start going to church.  He was familiar with the church we were working with so he came Sunday night to one of the services.  I was also able to procure a bible for him and when  I  gave it to him, it was amazing to see just how much it meant to him.  If you could keep him in your prayers I would appreciate it.  Pray that Christ is able to get a hold of his life so that he can lead his family and also be a leader in his work and community.  Mindy also got a chance to preach a small message this weekend and she did quite well.  She thought she was going to preach to a group of teenagers and adults but it ended up being a group of 40 children and almost no adults.  She was a bit stressed as she had to make some adjustments at the last minute but she did a great job.   God was really amazing throughout this time and He really got us through when we were tired and worn out.  Thanks to all of you who were praying for us for this time. 

Mindy has not been feeling well these last couple of days with a head cold and joint pain so please pray for her. Also pray that the Lord would continue to sustain us as we are feeling tired and many in are group are sick including one leader with dengue. Pray also for next week as our base is hosting the national conference for YWAM Peru next week.  We love you all and we miss you greatly.