I couldn’t find an English translation for these types of trees, but in the past they were just used for cooking. Now they are used for making houses and fine furniture. It’s pretty impressive to see hundreds of these tied together and floating down the river. A shelter is set up on them, a motor attached for steering, and boats tie up to shuttle supplies back and forth for the long journey. Quite a different way of life.
Television has an interesting way of portraying life in other countries. My husband and I are frequently asked about living and retiring in Costa Rica because cable television shows indicate that living abroad in San Jose, Costa Rica is paradise. In fact, it was ranked number one in the Happy Planet Index (2009), and was reported to have a life expectancy second only to Canada, and the highest life satisfaction of all countries. Much of my ministry life in San Jose, however, is spent among the urban poor, in two barrios, Rio Azul and La Carpio, two areas that contrast sharply to the picture painted by world journalists. The average monthly income in this community of 40,000 inhabitants is less than $225 USD, while inflation hovers around 10.9% or more. In these areas, corrugated tin and scrap-metal shanties crowd the pothole-laden streets, and both areas receive tonnage of San Jose garbage daily. Odors mix in the air and one realizes that the needs are great, despite attempts of local government and non-profit organizations in addressing health, nutrition, public safety and societal issues. Last Friday, as I practiced the art of midwifery in a community clinic, I was overwhelmed as a young woman took off a handcrafted beaded necklace and placed it in my hands, covering my hands with her work-worn ones. Giving me this item cost her much. Later, during my long commute, I secretly wept and prayed for the indigent women and children in Costa Rica, and my small role in helping to alleviate their suffering. Despite the public image that La Carpio receives as a crime-ridden squatters’ community, there is heart buried deep in community calloused by social injustice, and the love of Christ can bring forth joy, healing and hope from urban poverty.
Ninety minutes across town, I was invited to a Iadies’ neighborhood Bible study where we spent several hours in a low-income neighborhood studying the Bible and singing praises with women who walk closely with Him despite poverty, diabetes, blindness, and age. Experiencing such joy reminds me that remaining in Christ as in the analogy of the vine and branches, will produce fruit despite the tempests of life. Missionaries in earlier decades( 70’s and 80’s) planted the seeds in this community and firm, unshakable roots have dug deep. My prayer is that wherever my family and I roam, that seeds will be planted, and even though we may not see full branches and beautiful fruit during our time here, that God, the cultivator and Master gardener will reap a plentiful harvest in years to come throughout Latin America and the world.
The Ucayali River is one of the highways of the jungle in Peru. Huge rafts of logs tied together ply the rapid water, stopping in Pucallpa for the sawmill and export to the world. A ReachGlobal partner church in Pucallpa has as one of its primary ministries the evangelization and disciple-making of the tribal villages far into this Amazonian region. The Evangelista (pictured above) is a key tool in this outreach effort. With this “lancha” (boat) many unreached people are now accessible. Pray for the people of Pucallpa as they use available resources to build God’s church with the gospel, discipleship and compassion works.
We joined a ReachGlobal group going upriver on the Uciyali to provide medical care in Shapibo villages that have no access to healthcare. This group, from Hershey Evangelical Free Church, will spend two days traveling before reaching their seven village destination then spend a week going from village to village providing care along with the Gospel. We essentially hitched a ride for a couple of hours then we jumped ship onto a chulapa (large motorized canoe) and went back to Pucallpa to spend an evening with our partner church pastoral staff. Pictured here are ReachGlobal personnel and two pastors from Trinity Church who have come on this trip to learn more about what is happening in missions in Peru.
Benjamin is learning how to take both primary and b-roll video on this trip. Post-production will be a blast. And yes, he really is that tall. And for those who notice these things, those are 12.5 EEE shoes he’s wearing. Peruvians are shocked when they hear he’s fourteen years old. They think he should be 18 or older. They just don’t grow them his size down here.
Two years ago Mark Lewis and I came to Chincha Peru to see how ReachGlobal could help with the recovery after a devastating earthquake that left 40,0000 homes destroyed. On that trip we met Johny (on my left) who was leading his small community of 300 families in rebuilding their lives. When people who have next to nothing lose even that, it can be overwhelming. TouchGlobal (the compassion outreach arm of our mission), under the direction of Mark Lewis (second from right) began a ministry partnered with Food for the Hungry, the Evangelical Free churches of Lima and teams from the USA. The Lima churches sent Felix (far right) and his family to Chincha to work with our missionaries, locals and teams from both the USA and Lima. Since then a number of homes have been rebuilt, trust has grown within the three communities we are working, and four home Bible studies along with a youth ministry of 40 teens are thriving. This has truly been a testament to how the church can show in practical ways how the Gospel is truth and how God can open doors in the most hardened of communities.
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