Changes and Growing

As things in our ministry change it is exciting to know that it is GOD that directs our paths. He allows the bumps in the road to cause us to remember to rely on Him and nobody else. We have been truly blessed with being able to see some of the results of our time with the Chayahuita here in Peru. They are realizing that they can make their own decisions and while the foreigner can offer many things they are not the ones that will control what they as a tribe do. They are responsible for the spiritual welfare of their own people.

There is a renewed sense of urgency of sharing the Gospel and they have been trained to share it in their own heart language and in a culturally relevant way which is causing many to understand for the first time. They are realizing that they have God given talents and gifts to use for His glory the same as the foreigner does and that we are all truly brothers and sisters in the Lord.

Many, with a renewed self esteem, are going ahead and studying past high school. Others are being trained in the business world to start businesses in their own area with their own people. There is for the first time a sense of hope for their future that doesn’t rely on the outside world of the foreigner.

We feel in many ways we have learned so much more than what we have taught. They have shared with us, from their own hearts, that they consider us as one of their own. This makes it more difficult to leave Yurimaguas, but we know they are in good hands. We will still be plenty of contact with the Chayahuita. There are several projects we will continue to be involved with in partnership with them. We will be back often.Ken will remain the Advisor to the tribe, at their request, as well as Advisor to the newly formed Peruvian Indigenous Network.

The hope for the future is that many other indigenous will be able to have this same hope both spiritually and financially. There is a new realization of the importance of the indigenous in the Amazon Basin; however, there is still racial inequality. Hopefully, as the indigenous networks throughout the countries of the Amazon Basin are formed, our indigenous brothers and sisters will be encouraged and realize they are not alone.