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
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