Weekend on the Puinahua River

Pilot Chris Borcherding making all of his equipment adjustments

On Friday, February 25 at 10:20 am we departed the airbase in our Lake Renegade amphibious airplane heading toward the capital of the Puinahua district on the

Miqueas is ready to fly!

Lower Ucayali River. I traveled with Chris

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and a great missionary and friend, Miqueas Rojas, who were very supportive in the activities that took place over the weekend.

 

The people come out to welcome us

After two hours of flight we landed for a brief visit in the village of Las Palmas. They were happy we were able to visit with them for a few minutes and also to see our plane come to their village.

Disembarking in Las Palma

The chapel in Las Palmas

Llegando a Bretaña  - District capital of Puinahua

Then we took off for Bretaña. We arrived at the port of this village at 1:00 pm. Several people along with our brethren were waiting for us in the river to watch our aircraft land in the water. It was the first time that our amphibious airplane traveled to this place and it called the attention of many.

We began our visits with the district Mayor elect of Puinahua, our dear brother Robinson Hidalgo. He was a great leader of our church in Manco Capac (a nearby town), but at a certain point in his life he decided to enter politics and for many years he worked as a councilman, a charge that caused his spiritual life to grow cold.

During the visit we had with him, God spoke to him through His word and he understood that only by the grace of God was he in that position.  We urged him to ask God for wisdom to govern the people with the principles of heaven and that he may be as faithful as Daniel was in the past as he encounters adversities because of his faith.

He told us his testimony and admitted that he was not walking right with God, but since God has allowed him to attain that position, in gratitude he plans to help finish the church being built in Bretaña. It will be a beautiful building with cement floors and nicely finished wood. Also after finishing the temple of Bretaña will start building the temple of Manco Capac. He also told us that his administration has designated the Sabbath as the day of rest. In that municipality they do not work on that day - all employees, councilors, etc.  They rest on this day from their labors.  It is a beautiful way to testify of the true day of rest.

He also told us about ten projects that have already been approved in the district for the good of the community.  We ended the visit by challenging him to be a different kind of leader than the others, who would not be bought for a few bucks or take a slice of the pie that belongs to the people.   We prayed and said our goodbyes until we would meet at his home to welcome the Sabbath.

Then we headed to the

home of brother Teddy, who was a leader of the group in Las Palmas and was now residing in Bretaña. Teddy was living with his woman outside of marriage. When we went to visit him we encouraged him to get married right away by taking advantage of the civil marriage was to take place in the church. He and his wife began to get their papers in order and within hours they were ready to get married.

On Sabbath, the 26^th of February, the day’s activities began with a video about the true Sabbath. The mayor invited all his rulers and authorities. We dedicated twenty little ones to the Lord and then began the civil wedding ceremony. Nine couples were married, and then we had the marriage blessing.

Bretana chapel

Civil mass wedding

Sealing their marriage

Baby dedication

Baptising Bro. Teddy Yumabato and his new wife

20 souls ready to seal their pact with God in the baptismal waters of the Puinahua River

At the end of the blessing we went to the river for baptism. That day, twenty new brothers were born into the kingdom of heaven. There was a celebration in the skies!  At the start of the baptism,

the sun began to make its way through the clouds and shone while our brothers were baptized. At the end of the baptismal ceremony the clouds covered up the sun and the sky returned to its previous state.

New believers from San Carlos

 On Saturday afternoon we gathered again to welcome our new brothers. We gave them their Bibles and certificates and meditated on the word of the Lord.  That Sabbath was truly beautiful.  The community was impacted because of the good impression made on the  authorities who attended the church.  They were very pleased with the messages and want the work to continue growing there. We left a beautiful testimony that we hope will produce more fruit in the future.

On Saturday night we had one more visit - a young couple living together who want to quickly settle their legal status so that they can marry and be baptized.

Early on Sunday, we prepared our things and then we prayed and said our goodbyes at the port in Bretaña, district capital of Puinahua.

Pr. Aholiab Lozano