JP:
Can you please help me post the following blogs? I have the first template setup on Constant Contact and I know that you know how to work Constant Contact. Julie, I am sending this to you as well so that if JP is away and is unable to send it can you send it through Constant Contact?. I have two blogs that will need to go out individually. I am sorry that I can not send pictures but there is a 70k size limit on this Satelite phone. PLEASE SPELL CHECK!!!
June 6th/7th Travel Day
Hello everyone. Well, travel day went by with quite a blur. We took for granted the complexities of managing 30 peoples' itineraries, as well as the complexities of getting so many people on ONE flight into Manaus!!! The rain came to Dallas and caused our flights to be cancelled. We waited in the airport until 2:30 a.m.only to find out that there was no hope to get a flight to Miami in order to connect with our flight to Manaus. We went home understanding that our trip would be cut short or cancelled altogether. Our four team members who flew in from Calgary Canada stayed with us at our house for the few hours of sleep we were able to get. We all woke in the total amazement that the trip likely was done. The 16 kids on the trip were all thoroughly distraught. They thought they had lost their chance to share Jesus with the Amazon River people. But, we knew that God had a plan. At 8:00 a.m. Jed Thompson, Executive Director of Amazon Outreach called me and said that the earliest we could get to Manaus was Sunday Night. We were supposed to be on the River Thursday night and now the trip would be reduced to only 3 days of reaching the river people. Jed said that it was our call if we wanted to cancel and re-schedule the trip. But, we knew the focus of our group was to go when God sent us. So, we told Jed that God must have a plan and if He intended for us to be there only 3 days, then he had reasons. WE WERE SOLD OUT! WE WERE COMMITTED. Jed said to sit tight and await further direction. After that, Sara Nelson, who is moving back from Calgary to Castle Hills {Yeah!!} joined her husband Tom to go and close on their house purchase. Melissa Workley and her family decided to kill time by going to a movie. We started to go to our favorite Mexican Food joint for lunch. Basically, everyone were getting back to normal life back at home. I think we were resigned to the fact that the trip might be over, but a least on hold for a few days. Just then, I received a text from Jed, "Get to the airport as fast as you can. Some people will be boarding a flight at 2:25 p.m. {45 minutes from now} We sent out an emergency communication to everyone. Sara Nelson and her husband Tom got up from the closing table and proceeded to the airport. The closing would have to wait. Melissa Workley gathered her familyand lef the movie theater. We all ascended upon the airport immediately. We left in waves. But, by midnight {actually 1:15 a.m.} everyone was in Miami. God wanted us to know how complex these logistics were but also wanted us to see His total control on the situation. Long story.....but, everyone had tickets to Manaus the next morning except for Corbin and I. For us, we had to get to the ticket counter by 4:30 a.m. and prepare to beg and plead to let us on the flight. Corbin was told the night before that the there was only business class tickets availalbe and that each ticket would cost $3,000! We definitely did not have $6,000. We could have sold Corbin's guitar but we would have still been $5,990 short! {seriously! have you seen this man's guitar?? he would have been better off buying one off of one of the river people!!} Corbin and I marched down to the ticket office praying all the way but TOTALLY knowing that God had it handled! Miraculously, there were regular seats available and we jumped on the flight for $300 a piece. We gladly paid and ran out before they could change their minds. We made it and Corbin got to keep his guitar!!
After approximately 40 hours of travel we were finally on the River. Never again will we take travel to the Amazon for granted, nor will we ever doubt that God is in control! We boarded the boat, our home for the next week, only one day delayed! We were greated by wonderful translators and an amazing team from Community Church in Manaus. The river mission has been their heart for four years. They are so GREAT! We were immediatlely brothers and sisters. We worship at night and in the morning in English and Porteguese! We stand side by side, ONE CHURCH!
Away we go, taking God's lead! What an amazing start!
DAY 1, JACITARA
We awoke after our first night sleeping in a hammock! The night was actually cool....ok...COLD. and I was the only person who didn't bring warm weather gear!!! We are now at the village of Jacitara. Here, there are about 20 families and one confirmed believer. Vacation Bible School was a HUGE hit with the children! Paul and Aaron Schmidt managed the eye exams and distribution of eyewear. The last guy in line was LoLo, the patriarch of the village. His entire family was beside him doting all over him. He need 2.0's...his eyes were pretty bad! He was so happy. His wife and daughter and granddaughter were surrounding him and he they all looked so happy for him. He was so appreciative that invited us {the entire team} to lunch at his home. Of course, we had to pass. "OK" he said, I will still wait for you to come". We will him again later in the afternoon. Our Mission Kids team have been loving on the Amazon River children and they are having a great time seeing God work through them. No whining, no moaning. Just having fun serving Him.
The men are much harder to reach. On guy {18 yrs. old} says he does not believe and "don't bother him with that stuff". The only way to get through to the guys is to earn their trust. It takes longer than a day. But, as our Community Church friends keep coming, they will continue to gain more trust. All of the guys have their hair cuts that match soccer stars. Mohawks and bleeched hair are the trend. They all watch MMA on saturday night on the one TV located in the covered area where we held VBS. Gyula Kalman would have had immediate credibility! We need to get him down here! This afternoon we did the one social thing that the guys are receptive to...we played Soccer! The soccer gain went well and thanks to our Brazilian friends from Community Church, we actually held our own! Jonathan Aldis had an insane header that saved a goal. Both Aaron Schmidt and myself slipped in the mud and slid down into the amazon water... VERY Muddy! Corbin showed off his crazy moves! In the end we lost 3-2. But, we truly gained their respect. It was now dark and time to board the boat. Now, the men who hardly cared, stopped playing soccer and sat down and watched us leave. Small steps in a HUGE mission! We gathered back on boat ate, showered and worshiped our awesome God. The music and melody whether in Portuguese or English is surreal! God is sure with us! We hopped in our hammocks, I took some Motrin to hopefully dull the pains from the soccer game and fell asleep with anticipation for what God would have in store for the next day.
