Not only was the trip to the Amazon an amazing experience for each one of us but it also afforded us the oppurtunity to meet some new friends.  Each one of them was special and unique and each one of them is someone I wish you could meet. 

Jorge was the first person to accept Christ from the village of Jemptes.  About a year ago someone told him about Jesus and it changed his life.  He heard that there was a missionary in Sucua who taught new believers how to live for God and tell others in his village. So Jorge made the trip to Sucua and does so each month although it takes two days to get there.  He is being trained to be a Pastor for this village.  He has a great love for God and took extra special care of us to have rice and meat ready to eat each day we were there.  His life is not an easy one.  He faces persecution from most of his village for his faith in Jesus and yet stands strong.  Please pray for Jorge and his family.  About two weeks ago his four month old grandchild died of an infection.  I went to see the grave and with tears we prayed together with the family that God would give great grace.

 Idalgo is a little eight year old boy who captivated all of us.  He is small for his age but has a huge smile that seemed to radiate joy.  He and a few other young boys like Jefferson and Yani were like are masqots working with us following us around and just watching us. One day angie taught him to snap his fingers.  With great determination he did it until he mastered it.  All of our group seemed to go out of their way to encourge Idalgo and the other children by giving them candy, or like one day when Woody played a game of tag with them.  One of the last images that I will remember is on the day we left the village seeing Ildalgo waving to us and thinking Lord I pray that I will see him in heaven. What a great day that will be.

Pastors Angel, Francisco and Oratio are Shaur Pastors who came to help us build and encourage this new church.  Please pray for them as they oversee not only their own churches but rotate into these many villages on a monthly basis to teach and encourge.   Please Pray for Oratio whose wife was beaten by a madman who burst into their home just two months ago.  It was a direct attack of the enemy on their lives and we know that God is helping them.  At times we forget that the enemy is working and that we need to pray.  That is true in Ecuador and in our Nation and church as well.

Finally I wish that you could meet the "New Friends"  who accepted Jesus as their Lord the last night we were there.  Several people, Martin, Iraiz, Lenny, Angie, Sunil and Kevin shared their testimonies and then we brought a word about the fact that God knows your name.  At the end of the meeting outside under the new church structure an altar call was given by Pastor Francisco and twelve people made a decision to follow Jesus.  These will also faced persecution.  Would you please pray with me that God who is so wonderfully faithful will protect these new friends and grow them to live for Jesus and touch their world.  One day we will see them face to face in Heaven and we will all rejoice that God has been so awesome to each one of us for allowing our lives to affect others. 

These new friends are only the beginning of what God will do because you were willing to pray and to send and to go.  May God give us a renewed heart to see new friends find Jesus.  Next Installment ""Divine Timing"