Josué of Uquena

Last week, some US Midwesterners ventured down here to Santarém and blessed me.  Three of the men were from Illinois and my home church denomination as well.  It was a quick trip for them, but filled with activities none the less.  The main portion of the trip was a boat trip on the Tapajós River to a community named Uquena.

This community has a local PAZ worker there named Josué who is a strong man of God.  He has gained much respect in the community as the president, gaining for them government subsidized housing, a school building and teacher for first through fourth grades, and now water filters through PAZ.

During our team’s time there, we were able to install over ten water filters in people’s homes as well as train Josué in installing and maintaining  these filters.  He will be responsible for installing the remaining twenty or so filters in the community.  There are a total of thirty-two families in the community, so each family should have one filter in their home.

The amazing part of this trip is the ability of the Gospel to penetrate the hearts of man.  In the two days we were there, fourteen people expressed faith in Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior!  This is the true living water!  I thank God for a man like Josué that will now be responsible for discipling these new believers and teaching them the ways of the Lord.  Praise God for the opportunities to share His Gospel through water filter installations and a movie!

An hours walk up the path along the Tapajós River will lead you to the community of Mapirí.  The first night of our trip we visited this community to encourage the one Christian family there.  We took a couple water filters to install and with the help of a bull and oxcart were able to take our equipment to show a film as well.  So that evening about twenty-five people showed up for the film and then Pastor Renaldo shared the Gospel.  In the name of Christ, six people found faith in Christ!  Josué will continue to make the walk to meet with these new believers “just down the road.”

Please join with me in praising God for His continued work in the Amazon Basin!  He is placing his hands all over through men like Josué.  Pray for their safety and strength and for their families!  These men are sacrificing the little they have for the sake of the kingdom!  They  encounter resistance, but press on towards the Goal!  Also, please pray for the resources to come in to build a church in Uquena!  God is going to use it for mighty purposes!  Go here if you would like to help!

Praising the One and Only God who Saves,

JAE

 

P. S. Just for fun, here’s a picture of me up in an Açai tree!