Marañón River visit and Estrecho, Peru

We departed May 3rd on a commercial flight to the beautiful city of Iquitos. Upon landing we headed to Masusa port to board the public launch Gilmer I for the 24 hr. trip up the Maranon River. We finally arrived at BW David Saboya’s home base, Santa Rita de Castilla, at 6pm.

Our visit began in Leoncio Prado with two days of encouragement and further training in stewardship and other topics. The brethren are very active and enthusiastic and have already built their own chapel. Now they are putting the final touches on, such as the door, window screen and frames.

Leaving Iquitos

Our beds

My wife enjoying the trip in her hammock

Heading to Leoncio Prado

Chapel in Leoncio Prado

Next stop: back to Santa Rita to share the Sabbath with the brethren from Leoncio Prado and Santa Rita. We had a beautiful day of praising God and studying His Word. We stayed in Santa Rita through Sunday.

Sacred service in Santa Rita

We enjoyed the six hour trip to San Rogue aboard the Eduardo IV. Monday morning we awoke to the sad news that one of their teachers had committed suicide during the night. His wife had been at the home of a colleague and was devastated to learn what had happened. The whole community was a buzz. This couple’s situation was terrible: the husband was very jealous and was often abusive to his wife. We went to visit the widow, who is also a teacher. She confirmed that the day before he had disfigured her face, after which, he took his own life. We shared with her about Jesus and her need to seek solace in Him. We then rejoined the small group of brethren that we have there for a short meeting.

Brethren in San Roque

Off to San Jose de Parinari

San Jose de Parinari was our next stop. We were with them two days ministering to their spiritual needs. We challenged them to finish constructing their chapel this year.

Arriving in Parinari

Enjoying the wonderful meal

Brethren of San Jose de Parinari

Next stop: Santa Rita

We again spent time in Santa Rita before the nine hours back to Iquitos, during which I prepared for my trip to Estrecho, a community along the Colombian border.

My wife stayed in Iquitos at the house of an acquaintance until I returned. The trip by river takes 14 days but by air it is only 45 minutes.

The plane that took me to Estrecho

Arriving in Estrecho

Estrecho is the capital of Putumayo district and lies on the shores of the river of the same name. The Adventist church entered this area in 2004 and 2005 but, unfortunately, was not able to continue ministering here until now. My purpose for this visit was to see how our brethren there are faring. Of those baptized members left in 2005 there remains only two faithful families that have not let go of their faith. I met with them a lot during the few days I was with them. God willing, we hope to be able to send a Bible worker to the area and make the work grow for the glory and honor of our loving God.

Plaza

Estrecho wharf

Colombian tug

The delicious Copoazu: a Brazilian fruit

The Sánchez family sends greetings to all the brethren who will one day come here and help them, as well as for all their brethren in Christ in all places.

Brethren of Estrecho

Waiting room at the Estrecho airport

Peruvian Air Force Twin Otter

Iquitos

We thank God for all His care and love for us and for all our brethren in the world. - Pr. Aholiab Lozano

Mision Caleb - Youth evangelize Iparia

This year Peru Projects received the challenge to conduct a Misión Caleb program in our territory. (Note: Misión Caleb is a special program where young lay people - Caleb’s – go conduct missionary campaign and civil service in a community where there is no Adventist presence) All the preparations were made for an April program so we could take advantage of Holy Week (Easter – when all churches have special week long programs).

We chose the community of Iparía, which is the capital of its district with the same name. Because the evangelistic work has been absent here for years we have returned to revive our message through a 10-day campaign by the Caleb’s. During these ten days the inhabitants of Iparía received messages of hope and were called to make the best decision of their lives.

Seven consecrated young people left Pucallpa Wednesday, the 13th of April, for Iparía on the public launch Cesar. Several young people also left Amaquiría for Iparía at the same time. They all arrived Thursday and immediately began fixing up the badly dilapidated chapel and going door to door to hand out invitations for the nightly meetings which were to begin the coming Sunday.

On Sabbath we held a consecration program and the chapel was filled with several visitors. Sunday we held a community outreach day where we painted parts of the plaza and cut the grass and weeds along the perimeter of the medical post. We also participated in the civic ceremony of raising the national flag in front of the municipal building.

Aner Ruiz and Pr. Aholiab on the way to Iparia

Unloading all the luggage and equipment

Finding their living quarters

Beginning the extensive repairs

Mowing the lawn

The team that mowed the Clinics lawn

Almost finished

Mission complete!

Preparing to receive the Sabbath

Sunday: civic work, painting the plaza

Decorating committee

Sunday afternoon we all headed to the airport to meet our evening evangelist, Pr. Heyssen Cordero of the MOP, via Peru Projects airplane.

With his arrival the decorating committee was able to begin preparing the chapel for our evening meetings, which had the central theme “Decisions”.

Pr. Heysen Cordero arriving

The Caleb 2.0 team

Minister of the Word: Pr. Heysen Cordero 

All week we took the message of Hope, that Christ would return soon and the need to make the best decision, to many families. About 70 people attended our meetings!
The Devil worked very hard to impede our plans, making it a very difficult week. He brought many obstacles with our equipment but we could also see the hand of God opening the way to solve each of these difficulties. Every morning at 5:00 a.m. the Caleb team knelt and connected with their Creator and Savior.

Inviting Iparia house by house

Visiting those showing interest

Early morning Word of power

Pr. Cordero giving the message of Hope

Giving Bible studies

Inviting the community over the public PA system

High school teachers with book "There is Still Hope"

City workers with book "There is Still Hope"

The Clinic personnel also received the book

Sabbath was a real spiritual feast! We met in the chapel for our services and even though we experienced very intense heat that day the chapel was full of people. During the Call all the people who had made their decision to surrender their lives to Jesus came forward: that day 25 people were reborn for the Kingdom of Heaven.

Misión Caleb was a real blessing for Iparía. One could see how the Holy Spirit worked on the hearts of those people who today are part of the Adventist family and are preparing to receive Jesus in the clouds of heaven.

Pr. Aholiab Lozano