WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING?

Yes, we are still very involved in the Amazon. We just haven't been writing on this blog. Instead we are sending out newsletters to those that are interested. We wish to protect our indigenous brothers and sisters and many times we share very sensitive information which would not be wise to publish publicly.

If you wish to be on our mailing list please drop us an email @ amazonmom@comcast.net

We look forward to hearing from you and sharing what God is doing in the Amazon jungle.

Colombia Indigenous Network Formed

In September, 2007 an Indigenous gathering of Spiritual leaders throughout the Amazon Region took place in Iquitos, Peru. One of the goals of this gathering was to establish a Trans-Amazonian Network in which they could continue to communicate with one another in order to work side-by-side and encourage one another. Besides the establishment of an umbrella outreach, like the Trans-Amazonian net, each country was then challenged to start their own network within their borders. At that meeting, only Brazil had an existing net. Today, 3½ years later, Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Peru have begun their own networks.

In January, 2011 Colombia joined the ranks after a meeting which took place in Villavicencio. One of the main challenges in Colombia is the inability to communicate in a rapid fashion. Due to many years of civil war in Colombia, short wave radios and satellite telephones have not been used in the tribal villages because it would lead to attacks by the opposing military factions. So, for many years, the only way to communicate with one another is by hand carried letter. Back in November, 2010 thirty tribal leaders were sent invitations to attend the network conference to be held in January, 2011. By faith, the conference was planned without a real good knowledge if the invited leaders either received the invitations or if they were even planning to attend. When January 18th arrived, the scheduled first day of the event, 95% of the leaders invited were in attendance!

This particular gathering was characterized by a tremendous spirit of unity among the indigenous brothers. At least 19 of the 80+ tribes in Colombia were represented and they were genuinely excited about creating their own entity. As has occurred in the other network initiatives in the Amazon Region, these leaders were encouraged by the fact that the network is headed up only by the Indigenous with the Foreigners and Nationals availing themselves as advisors only when asked to by the Tribal leadership.

One thing that seemingly is separating Colombia from the rest of the region is that the Indigenous have an open door to the National Government. Newly elected Colombian President, Juan Miguel Santos, is making the Tribal people in his country a priority. This is a radically different approach to what we have personally witnessed in both Peru and Brazil. Please pray that President Santos follows up on his promises and that the Gospel can make great strides in the next 4 years due to the open doors in Colombia.

Trans Am Meetings Go Well!

Wow! What a week it has been. We met in Lima with the Trans Am Committee. This is comprised of indigenous leaders from the 6 countries of the Amazon Region. Many things were discussed. Meetings were long (aren’t they all), but with a wealth of information.

Dr. Dan Rickett spoke on Partnerships and explained what they are and what they aren’t especially in a Christian context. So many foreign missionaries enter into indigenous areas and impose their agenda on the indigenous without ever even consulting with them and asking what their needs are or what they would like to see in their futures. They control everything and the indigenous just politely say “yes” because that’s how they are, non confrontational. The foreigner teaches like they would in their own culture and think that contextualization is putting something into Spanish. Very enlightening information.

Empowerment centers were also a subject of discussion with Phil Goddard leading those discussions. We are getting closer and closer to make them a reality. So excited to see the possibilities and making this dream come true for our indigenous brothers. Many ideas of what to be taught and how to make them truly a partnership venture between the 3 waves of missions. Property possibilities are on the horizon as well.

A new team has been formed for South America Alteco. So far there are 6 of us: Irma Espinoza, Juan Carlos and Zulema Sanchez, Ken and I and Elmer Terrazas. There are so many things that will be accomplished by this team in the future. There is a list of things already in the works.

We also had the privilege of celebrating our anniversary (cake and all) with our indigenous brothers and the whole South American team. Thanks for making it memorable! One we'll never forget.

We are so excited to see how God has already answered so many prayers and is opening up so many doors. He is the one doing these great and amazing things for the Amazon Region!

Leaving is Bittersweet

Today we left Yurimaguas. It was a bittersweet time. It’s always great to reconnect with friends, but it’s hard to hear of the struggles. Before we left we asked that you pray for some fallen leaders. The update on that request is a follows; one leader repented and was restored, one lost face and left the jungle altogether and is somewhere in Lima and the other left his wife and is now living with another younger woman somewhere out of the Shawi area. Please continue to pray for them even though we haven’t divulged their names. Also pray for the other leaders that remain faithful but could so easily be tempted by the enemy as is the case with anyone wanting to follow the will of God.


Pray also that rain will come before the annual conference in January or it will be very difficult for many to arrive. The river is quite low. Rainfall has been sparse. It seems to have gone all to Colombia where they are experiencing floods and the rain continues to fall and say it will through April.

Pray for us as we continue to travel back to Lima.

In Yurimaguas

We arrived without incident in Yurimaguas. The highway over the mountain was unobstructed and the driver drove at a good speed. We however arrived to rain. It started out as sprinkles but within about 30 minutes we got downpours throughout the night. The good thing was that there wasn’t an air conditioned room so the rain at least help us stay cool.


We were able to visit Pancho and the family or at least the part that is left living here. Tarsila and her family (she now has a daughter) are living about 1 ½ hours from here. Bastiluz is now living with her uncle in Lima and has a job as a nanny. Well, kids everywhere grow up.

It feels very strange being in Yurimaguas. When we left in April our heartstrings were very attached and it was so hard to leave. Now it really doesn’t feel like we belong in so many ways. Our friendships remain intact, but it just feels totally different. God is helping us get some sort of closure to move on the the next step He has prepared for us. We really aren’t sure what He may require of us but we are ready.

Pray for us this week as we reconnect and say goodbye, too.

Finally warmth!!

We spent the last couple of days in Lima getting some necessary things accomplished. Got to meet with Irma Espinoza and Joey and Suzanne Johnson (and of course meet Oakley).It great to be back in Lima. Alot of things have changed in just a short 6 months. They even put a traffic light right outside the hotel and they are cracking down on jaywalkers with a fine of around $30. Watch where ya step!

Today we finally made it to Tarapoto and it is 90+ degrees and absolutely feels wonderful. We LOVE the heat and the warm tropical breezes. It's been great reconnected with friends here. We only stay one night and head over to Yurimaguas. Not my favorite city, but some of my favorite people live there....the Chayahuita (Shawi). We are looking forward to catching up with leaders. Oscar Pua and Jesus Pua are coming to town so we can talk with them. We miss having face to face time with them, however, we faithfully keep in touch by phone. Nice that they have a phone in their village.

Please pray for safety as we head over the mountain in the morning. You all celebrate Thanksgiving and winter and we enjoy heat!! We will praying for you all as well as you spend time with family and friends.

Have ticket HOPE to travel

Last night in Quito was quite the challenge. We arrived early enough to get through all the necessary rites of passage (getting boarding passes, checking in luggage, paying airport taxes, and security), however, once we got to our gate there was a loud protest at the neighboring gate. They were LOUD!! Screaming and yelling insued and then came security and police.

It appears that some 20 people were left stranded for at least the whole day (some say they had been there a week, but we were told since 3AM). However long they seemed to have been forgotten by the airlines and they wanted a resolution which is quite understandable. These people were actually threatening to hijack our plane, so the airline started asking people on our flight including us to wait until the morning to fly. We agreed to do so. Then at the very last minute they decided to give the people that had been waiting the vouchers and hotel accomodations instead.

We did make it into Lima although an hour or so late, but safely. Please continue to pray as we move forward this week to Yurimaguas. Thanks!!