The Tufty Club (by Raymond Elliott)

Thankfully, the fact that I’m only 21 means my brain still has the capacity to remember even the earliest reaches of my youth. One such memory that I share with many of my own generation and the ones that came before me is my afternoons spent being educated in the rules of the road by everyone’s favourite member of the vermin community...Tufty the squirrel.

Since those lessons (along with witnessing what happens to squirrels that don’t quite have the same wisdom as our dear friend Tufty) I, along with everyone around me, have had a healthy respect for the road and traffic.

Despite what the paintings in the Manaus theatre suggest it seems that Tufty never made it to the Amazon. 

Every second spent on the roads, which seem to have been modelled after the Grand Canyon, is a cacophonous mix of tooting horns, shouting people, dodgy engines and squealing brakes. I half expect that at any moment I’ll see Dick Dastardly and all his bandits from wacky races to come ploughing down the street (not that I would even notice because it seems everyone here got their driving license from cartoon network).

   

It is the only place in the world I have ever heard someone casually use the line “it’s safer to just pull out whether someone is coming or not because if you pause to avoid a side on collision you will just get hit from the back”. The government have been kind enough to put stop signs anywhere they deem necessary but believe me when I say they may as well have saved their money and not bothered.

Maybe I’m making it sound worse than it is but to the uninitiated its best just to do exactly what you see the locals do when it comes to crossing the road; wait when they wait, walk when they walk and when they run, pray!

Driving around town on the back of Marty’s motorbike has certainly been an experience and it’s a great way to get around but Tufty, if you are reading this, perhaps you wouldn’t mind coming out of retirement for a while?

A Heart Issue (by Raymond Elliott)

It seems like a long time has passed since I decided that taking a trip away was exactly what God wanted for me at the end of my university life but in reality it has only been a few months. When I signed on the dotted line that ensured I would be spending two months in Brazil I had a fairly strong idea as to what it would be like. When I told people that I would be living in an area 24 hours up the Amazon river from the nearest city the image people created of what this place is like was fairly similar to my own...

Many envisioned me trawling up the river in some kind of canoe for 24 hours dodging overgrown trees, avoiding 10 foot snakes and wrestling with any monkeys who tried to plunder our ship. While I knew this wouldn’t quite be the case I couldn’t help but think the truth may not be quite so different. After all, I was going to the Amazon Rainforest.

After several weeks of imagining myself sleeping in a hammock every night surrounded by people with piercings made of bone poking out of their faces I decided I needed to do a bit of self educating on what life is like in Maues. So, in true western world fashion, I turned to the font of knowledge...Google. Unsurprisingly however, even Google doesn’t know much about this corner of God’s green earth but I had seen enough to know that when I arrived I wouldn’t be greeted by a tribe of people who throw spears at passing planes.

The first few weeks here were an education of the highest degree; I couldn’t have pictured this place if I tried. The differences between Maues and sunny Belfast couldn’t be much greater and yet still the similarities are equally astounding. Praise the Lord for their equal interest in flushing toilets, spuds and houses made of brick. All these little things made settling in much easier than I had imagined but the incongruity between how I pictured Maues and what it actually is has taught me a lesson... How I see something and how it actually is are two totally different things.

I’m not surprised by this though because it is something about our human nature that we all know so well. We are quick to think we know all about something or someone, we are quick to give our own evaluations and we are quick to assume we are right. It seems the only thing in this area of our nature that we aren’t quick at is realising that our judgements are incorrect at best and sinful at worst.

Throughout my time here I have come into contact with all sorts of people, drug addicts and traffickers, the poor and the rich, the honest and the corrupt but I have also met a fair few Christians who have a past that was more than questionable. Thankfully though we have a God whose ways are higher than our ways and whose thoughts are higher than our thoughts. Those who I would have written off due to their outward appearance and lifestyles God has chosen to help build his kingdom in Maues. There is no denying that these people come to God with a lot of baggage and they don’t get everything right from the word go but 1^st Samuel  16:7 says “man judges by outward appearance but God sees the heart”.

Now that I have seen the heart of Maues I know what it is like, it’s not all spiders the size of dogs and crazy looking tribes who eat monkey brains through a straw. It is a city of people who need the love and power of Jesus. It is far from perfect and it is undeniably in need of God’s restoration but I have come to love it, flaws and all. This is what happens when God helps us see the heart; we are moved to love, even in spite of imperfection.

My Brothers and sisters here have an incredible heart for God and a passion to see Jesus worshipped and glorified. They have been blessed with great leaders who in turn have been blessed with vision and purpose from God. It’s great to know that even if the world doesn’t see what the servants of Christ are doing here God does and He is pleased. It is even better to know that when we are in Christ we have the capacity to see as He sees. Through my experiences here God has helped me look past outward appearances, look past people’s issues, look past my own judgements and see the heart. 

Patricia's Amazon Report

The Elim Cathedral of Hope team of 6 – Pastor Jan, Dwayne, Judy, James, Trish and Dave arrived in Manaus just after midnight on Tuesday 20 March. We quickly picked the Irishman! We were here to help Marty do God´s work. We quickly noticed the vultures – where are the parrots?
Marty instructed us on how to stay safe at the port and we saluted the Rainbow Warrior as we boarded the Lady Cristina. As we set off, we were lucky enough to see the "Meeting of the Waters" when the "white" Solimoes River meets the "black" Rio Negro.
Sleeping aboard in hammocks gained a varied response. In the morning we saw some Amazonian beauties – river dolphins, green parrots and some insects on steroids! We were surprised to see power-lines alongside the river.
As we arrived in Maues, we quickly learnt of the friendliness of these people and their immaculate presentation. We enjoyed riding places on the back of Marty´s truck. We met Rebeca, Rosa, Daniel and Elizabeth, and enjoyed the delicious lunch they had prepared. Cupuacu mousse – delicious! We are building the house for Rosa. She has helped Rebeca and family for many, many years.
We noticed that most people in Maues walk, some have scooters, and the odd person has a car or truck. The roads are worse than our earthquake affected Christchurch roads.
We visit the new school community and are praying for Marty´s vision to bring the people in this area of Maues to the Lord. We learn how Rebeca will also educates the parents. As we continue driving about, we notice dogs everywhere! Scratching and skinny, they don´t look healthy. Marty adds that most people call their dog ´Dog´! And they don´t walk their dogs like we do.
We have to keep reminding ourselves not to flush the loo paper!
The people of Maues continue to be patient and warm. Their pace in life is slower.
It´s Thursday and the work has begun – men to the building site and ladies to school.
The classroom is traditional. These 4 and 5 year olds sit at a desk for their 3 hour session. They learn songs, the alphabet and colour-in. Then they are fed and for most, this will be their food for the day. We visit the building site in the afternoon where the boys have the house frame up already. The ladies go with Pastora Jackie and Rebeca to visit homes. The first is a real eye-opener. There are 11 people living in a house that looks like a tree-hut, with no glass in the windows. It is dirty and the people are embarrassed as they are cooking up their only food for the day, a bit of chicken.
Later at the Davison´s house, we listen to Marty and Rebeca as they tell about Maues and their experiences. We learn that Rosa has prayed for this house for 19 years! Friday morning we saw the children singing and praying at school. We shared photos, blew bubbles and made sheep with them. In the afternoon, the boys continued working on the house foundations and the roof, with the ladies painting the roof panels. Rebeca and Abigail marked a boundary with lovely plants.
We attended Church on Friday night and felt so welcome. Everyone greets us with smiles, kisses and cuddles. The youth did a beautiful dance for us. They are excited that we are here for them.
Saturday morning saw the roof almost complete. The Women’s Conference started in the afternoon, and the women had decorated the Church wonderfully. Pastor Jan preached a great message on ´Dreams´, and the altar call amazed us all. These people are hungry for God, but need healing and forgiveness in their lives. There has been much abuse suffered.
The Women’s Conference continued on Sunday with a delicious breakfast, followed by the women completing a collage of their dreams. Most would love a husband, house or car.
The men spent Sunday morning at the new school community in extreme heat. In the afternoon we visited the YWAM jungle base.
Sunday evening the boys did us proud with a haka, we presented the Church with an NZ flag, and Jan preached another great message. We prayed over these people again.
On Monday morning, Rosa´s husband Japoka was late to the building site. His cousin had been murdered last night in Maues. Homicide is high in Maues as it´s a bit like the ´Wild West´ and people take the law into their own hands.
The women made up and delivered grocery hampers to needy families. We were so pleased to hear that one family had been praying for food that very day as they had nothing to feed the children. God´s timing is great! We visited a house where 5 people slept in one bed.
Tuesday and school continues to get better as the children get to know us. They run up to us for cuddles! Today Jan and Judy are teaching action songs and we´re making sheep, NZ flags and snowflakes.
The whole group delivered hampers in the afternoon and were amazed when we saw a 5 year old child working with his parents. We were happy to help these families with sick children.
Wednesday and the progress on the building site is amazing. 3 walls completed, windows in, the septic tank is at least 2m deep. The interior bedroom and bathroom walls are nearly up and plumbing has begun. All with half a suitcase of tools!
The ladies learn to make ‘Bon Bons’ (sweets) in the afternoon – a great fundraiser for the community.
On Thursday, only the top of the wall between the bathroom and bedroom is left to build. The plumbing to the kitchen sink is complete and the leveling around the house is done.
Lunchtime saw the surprise arrival of our Pastor Clinton! What a great surprise!
On Friday morning the boys came to school and kicked a rugby ball around with the children. The children sang and danced for us and presented us with nice gifts which they had made.
In the afternoon we boated to Miri Maues, a small community near St John’s on the Amazon River. We saw guarana growing. We attended their cell group and prayed with them. They are faced with strong opposition to Christianity.
On Saturday morning we swam in the Amazon! What a highlight! It was so warm.
When we arrived back in Maues, Pastor Tinho and Pastora Jackie had prepared lunch and it was the best fish that we have ever eaten. It´s 40 degrees celcius today and we are feeling a bit weary. We rest in the afternoon.
In the evening we attend cell groups and are happy to see the same as we would see in our homes.
Sunday 1 April – Palm Sunday. James, Dave and Trish were baptized in the Amazon River by Pastor Clinton, Pastor Tinho and Marty. This was a moving experience.
In the afternoon we handed over the new house to Rosa and family and this too was very humbling. They were most grateful.
Pastor Clinton preached at Church on Sunday evening and the congregation loved his humour!
The next day, Marty accompanied us to Manaus and ensured our comfort and safety to the very end. Marty and Rebeca have been amazing in providing our every need and organising our programme, building materials, food, the lot!
Marty and Rebeca are amazing people of God that have such a heart for others and are changing this community. We are so pleased that we could meet them and encourage them, as they did us, and we look forward to our next visit to see more of the fruit of their labour.
Love from the Elim Cathedral of Hope, Amazon Missions Team 2012

When God builds the house..........

March already, my endeavour to post a blog every month has been somewhat thwarted by the poor internet connection and other priorities......that is my excuse anyway.

Do you remember the A-team.....soldiers of fortune.....Mr T........Hannibal had this saying “I love it when a plan comes together!”

It is with great excitement that I want to share with you that work on the construction of the next Living Word School has got underway. The school is located in the Barrio Novo area of Maues, which is one of the neediest areas of the city.

God really planted this seed in our hearts several years ago. My vision is to reach the river people in the surrounding areas outside of Maues. Pastor Tinho’s vision is to reach people through the vision of ‘cell’ groups in Maues. Yet fantastically God put it on our hearts individually that we had to buy and build in this area. When I shared with Pastor Tinho the burden I was then feeling about ‘taking land’, he jumped up and excitedly took me in his car around locations in the same Barrio which were possibilities and which he had been praying into.

Now three years later, ground has been purchased, the undergrowth cleared, the ground skimmed and the outline of the foundations are being marked out! I love it when HIS plans come together.

We are just at the beginning of Project Rescue, please pray as we take each new step forward.