We are making our way down the Amazon to Parintins. As I look out on the water I see the Linda Esperanca (Beautiful Hope) which is the other Amazon Outreach boat that is carrying a separate mission team from SMU and Watermark Church. It was a great experience to fly down with their group. So far everyone from both of our groups are doing well by God's Grace. Chris Malinowski seems to be feeling better! As I understand it from Pastor Elmer - the Aguas De Amor (Waters of Love) - the water well drilling boat - is in front of us up the river a bit. Our prayer is to drill a water well in the village of Abrao (Abraham). Please pray for this because we have been facing challenges in even having the possibility of drilling - but God knows what is best! Pure water from a well allows the precious people in the villages to not get sick.
Only a God like ours could provide for 3 missions boats to be humming up the Amazon to do His work!! It continues to show me the Love in His Heart for these people. It takes so much for us to get to them but I have never regreted any efforts to do so over the past 19 years. This trip has a special place in my heart because my 18 year old daughter Landen is the leader. When I led my first trip to the Amazon in 1991 - she was just a one year old. There is no greater joy in this life than to see your children grow up to love this same Wonderful Savior and to see them serve Him with Passion.
This is our first official time to send an email from our brand new satellite systems that Len Benckenstein so graciously has donated to Amazon Outreach. Our hearts desire is to keep those of you who are back home praying and those of you who sacrifically donated so that we might be here - more aware of what God is doing each day on the river. It has been somewhat "comical" that I carried the satellite system down here on the plane with me. In order to do that I was only able to bring just a handful of personal belongings. I packed my clothes in a checked bag. Wouldn't you know that out of 44 people and about 75 bags - mine was the only bag that did not make it down here!!!! If you see pictures of me from this trip I probably will be wearing the same thing every day!!! I know God is teaching me something from even this lost bag. Do I really NEED all the things that seem to make me "comfortable" in this life? As we pass by some of the thousands of villages down here I see people who only have one pair of clothes period - at best. They frequently seem much more happy and content than me. I am reminded today with as I look at my handful of personal belongings that I have - that Jesus carried out His ministry without all the STUFF that seems to weigh us down. It is somewwhat fun and freeing to not have a bunch of things to keep up with... Maybe I should put that more into practice in my every day life... Simplicity.
Pray for us that we would bring Hope with there is no Hope. Christ is the answer to all the world's needs and cares. We simply want to make His Name more famous this week.
With much love from ALL the group! Christ Is Life!!! Johnson Ellis
No comments:
Post a Comment