Flowing lazily through the jungle basin of southeastern Perú is the Madre de Dios River, a tributary of the Amazon River.  It was our special delight to survey this area of Perú for the possibility of future missions work.  In this region we researched information on several unreached tribes living up in the headwaters, and discovered the whereabouts of over a dozen other Indian communities. 

     Even more stirring was the news that no missionaries are working in this entire region that has been left unevangelized for several years.

     Pray with us that God will direct us.  We were moved with compassion as we witnessed the sicknesses that plague these dear peoples, and driven to prayer as we recognized the darkness and despair that govern their days without the blessed hope of the Gospel. 

  1) We looked at property that will possibly be donated to us for ministry in this region, including an air boat.
  2) We met with a Peruvian church organization that has extended an offer to sponsor us and/or other GMT missionaries for resident missionary visas.

  3) We met with a Peruvian national which previously worked on the rivers that is interested in assisting us for possible future river ministry.
  4) We got our first taste of Peruvian delicacies.  Thinking that I was serving refried black beans (which seemed like a good choice considering how queasy my stomach was) a Peruvian believer asked me if I liked it.  I said, "I think so, but I haven't tried it yet." He said that he was raised on it and thought it was very good.  This seemed like strange talk for a side of beans, so I asked him, "May I ask just what this is?"  To which he replied, "Cooked chicken blood." The thought of eating blood was almost enough to send me over the top--I spent the next several minutes in the men's restroom trying to keep down breakfast.
  5) When we deboarded the plane in Puerto Maldonado, the provincial capital of the area we surveyed, the first news to greet us was this sign, "Vaccinate! This area is high risk for Yellow Fever.  This disease is fatal!"  Nothing like good news from a far country.  
  6) We played with the Indian children in one community called Puerto Arturo, and got to pet some interesting tropical animals like the ring-tailed jungle cat, played with parrots, and got to see monkeys cackling up in the trees.
     We so appreciate your prayers for us as we stepped out to explore this forgotten corner or Perú. 

 

Bocas del Toro, Panama: The Naso Indian work is doing very well.  Missionaries Ann Buening and Jennifer Norman are just finishing up their first three-month stay with the Naso Indians.  While gaining language proficiency, they are also conducting children's and teen services and training sunday school teachers.  God has opened up many doors for them in neighboring villages. 
     Around the beginning of February, the Jason & Vickie Pennington family are due to arrive, escorted by the Akers family.  Their desire is to work alongside the national ministers to further the evangelistic work. 
     Our national ministers are doing well, and are presently opening up a work in another village.  It is a blessing to be part of this joint work with other GMT missionaries.

Oaxaca, Mexico:  This work is now under the direction of Mexican Pastor Herculano Dominguez.  He has been a tremendous blessing to the believers in the pioneer work of Manantiales, while also pastoring a church in Tehuantepec. 
     The Lord has broadened Pastor Herculano's vision, and he recently contacted me asking me if there were any missionaries that could be sent to him to work alongside him in opening up and visiting new works.  We're praying that God will raise someone up to do just that in this vast jungle and mountain area.  Their are many pockets in the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Chiapas that are still unreached with the Gospel.