There and Back Again – The Jungle Journey – A Missionary’s Tale
The first of many journeys to the jungle began at four a.m. in the morning. The team included Pastor Conrado, having a vision of a country changed, Aldemar, a servant’s heart, Ferne, the indigenous missionary, and Kevin. They drove three hours to the airport and boarded a small prop plane for the forty minute flight into the jungle. There are no roads to where they were going. The only alternative route is a five hour drive to the Pacific coast followed by a twelve hour boat trip.
Demonic opposition was apparent from the start, a new “king” had been selected for the indigenous tribe by the vote of each village “chief.” This new king was not open to the gospel. He canceled the meeting of the tribal chiefs planned by the former pagan high priestess, the tachi-nabee, who was saved during Ferne’s previous visit. A new tachi-nabee has risen to power in the deep jungle villages challenging her authority.
Because of the presence of guerilla groups and narco-terrorists in the jungle, it was decided they would not stay overnight in the jungle on this trip. The first night the team ministered in a local church in the town that would be the home base for trips into the indigenous jungle village. The inhabitants of the town are, for the most part, the descendents of African slaves brought in by the Spaniards to work in the gold mines and plantations. As the team was walking back from the small church through the dark street, they passed a group of young people standing in front of a small store. As they walked by, a young girl turned and stared directly at Kevin. In perfect Midwestern English she said, “Hello Prophet”, a not so subtle demonic hint that the forces of the god of this world knew the team was there and the team should know that they were there also.
The next morning, the missionaries decided to move ahead as planned and seek an audience with the new king. The adventure began with a thirty minute ride in a wooden launch. Every mile or so the boat would pull up to the bank. Ferne would call out in a sound similar to the call of the giant parrots. From the jungle a reply would echo and soon three or four smiling indigenous would appear and climb into the launch. After several stops there were sixteen people crammed into this little riverboat taxi. When the team arrived at the village the king was not there so it was decided that they would wait in the hut that was being used as a school for the children.
It is very important to respect the authority structure when evangelizing indigenous tribes. As the team sat there waiting, groups of the tribe would wander over and climb up into the hut. Ferne was laughing and joking with them and soon the king came in from the jungle. The group gathering at the hut had grown to about thirty. Pastor Conrado shared with the people that God had sent the team to bless their village. Kevin explained that God loved this tribe so much that He sent him there to tell them about Jesus even if it meant giving up his life to do so. The countenance of the king began to soften. Kevin went on to tell them that God loved them so much that he already sent His only Son to earth and He did give His life for them.
By now the entire village had gathered and there was no room for all of them around the small hut. The king suggested that they go to the main house and hear more about this God. After a time of formal greeting and introductions, Pastor Conrado began to share. The Holy Spirit prophetically gave Kevin a scripture. Pastor Conrado used it and the walls of pride surrounding their traditional forms of pagan worship began to break down.
Hebrews 1:1-3 (Amplified Version) IN MANY separate revelations [each of which set forth a portion of the Truth] and in different ways God spoke of old to [our] forefathers in and by the prophets, (2) [But] in the last of these days He has spoken to us in [the person of a] Son, Whom He appointed Heir and lawful Owner of all things, also by and through Whom He created the worlds and the reaches of space and the ages of time [He made, produced, built, operated, and arranged them in order]. (3) He is the sole expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the out-raying or radiance of the divine], and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God's] nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty word of power. When He had by offering Himself accomplished our cleansing of sins and riddance of guilt, He sat down at the right hand of the divine Majesty on high,
Conrado explained that as a part of the process of progressive revelation God had sent the missionaries there to tell the tribe more about Him and specifically about Jesus Christ His Son. Ferne began to preach about Jesus in their native tongue reading the Scripture about Him from the New Testament translation just completed last year. It took 25 years of work to complete the translation into their language. The Holy Spirit filled that jungle hut as each family gathered around their newly received copy of the New Testament . For two hours Ferne preached Jesus Christ crucified and risen! Several times Ferne began weeping as he shared the gospel with his tribe, a thing unheard of for man to do in public! As Ferne asked his people if they would like to receive Jesus, slowly hands began to raise all over the hut. Kevin looked to his left where the king was seated on the floor. He watched as a miracle took place. With a wide smile the king raised his hand signaling that he, too, wanted to serve Jesus. By now the entire tribe had raised their hands! There were approximately 40 or more. It is difficult to estimate because they wander around while listening.
The team prayed with them and ministered to the people praying for the sick, most of them women and children. The Holy Spirit was poured out among them. The king invited the team to come back the next day and share more about Jesus!
The tribe was fascinated by Kevin towering over them at 6’2”. The women average about 4’8” and the men about 5’. They wanted to learn English words telling Kevin that English was easier for them to pronounce than Spanish. They were amazed as he sat and ate lunch with them, sharing their grilled shark, rice and green bananas. It was surprisingly tasty.
The team returned the next day. Hacento, the village teacher, motioned for Kevin to join him and Pastor Conrado at the site where he was constructing his new hut. Pointing up the hill to a place at the edge of the jungle he told Kevin, “We are giving you this piece of land in our village and when you are ready we will clear it and build a house for you and your wife.” Thus fulfilling the scripture:
Mark 10:29-30 Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother of father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.
Ferne taught the entire village about Jesus’ love for them that day. As the missionaries were getting into the launch to return to the town, the women of the village came running down to the river bank to catch up with Pastor Conrado. They wanted to know when Ferne could come back to tell them more about Jesus!
That night the team ministered in the small black church again. Kevin preached from Psalms 95:3 “For the LORD is a great God, And a great King above all gods.” The African ancestral influences on the Pacific coast people include witchcraft, voodoo and demonic worship. About 20 people prayed to receive Jesus that night. God did many miracles of healing. When Kevin gave a call for the sick to come forward for prayer the entire church came forward! As the team was out ministering in the crowd, Kevin passed by a young girl about 12 years of age. She was thrown to the floor and began thrashing around and vomiting. As Kevin bent over her to cast out the demons that were tormenting her, her entire body lifted off the floor about six inches and slammed back down. After raising and slamming to the floor two more times, her body began to lift again. Kevin forced her back to the floor and commanded the demons to come out in Jesus’ name. She was instantly set free, “For the LORD is a great God, And a great King above all gods.”
The missionaries returned home safely and full of the joy of the Holy Spirit. Sunday, the Pastor of the small church in the town called. He was very excited to report that nine of the indigenous tribe had traveled the two hours down river in the village’s two canoes to attend his church. They told the pastor that the entire village wanted to come but they were selected for this week and a different group would come next week.
The missionary team paid for the village’s outboard motor to be repaired this week. A member of the church in the town has for sale a new large wooden launch that will carry about thirty people. He is offering it to the village people at cost, about 1,300,000 pesos which is approximately $550 USD. He wants to sell it to the people at his cost for building it so they may have safe and more comfortable transportation to come to town for church and commerce.
We will be returning very soon to share more of the gospel. We have plans to build two outhouses and drill a freshwater well. The cost of the hand well drilling equipment is about $895 USD and is available from the web site: www.hydromissions.com/products.htm. The materials for both of the outhouses cost about $200 USD. At the present time, they use rain water collected in a large container on top of their main house. Their ‘outhouse’ is a very short distance from the main house. It is a log that they sit on and has been placed there for that purpose. It is not at all sanitary or private. Expenses for the next trip for Christine and Kevin will be about $600.
Thank you for all your prayers and support. God is truly moving in miraculous ways on behalf of your committment to praying and supporting His work. The above mentioned projects are intended to demonstrate the practical aspects of the gospel to the tribe. Funding for these projects are not covered by our current budget. We will train the village people concerning the use and benefits of latrines and fresh water. They, likewise, will train the next villages.
2Ti 2:2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
If you would like to help with additional finances for the above projects you can visit our website at: www.faithworksinaction.com and click on the “donate now icon” or send your donations through Trinity Chapel according to the instructions on the website. Please earmark funds designated for this project with a specific notation.
You can enjoy viewing the pictures we have put on the website, as well. As you view the pictures, ask God about how he would have you praying specifically for the different faces you see in the images. We will also be posting a video very soon.