So this last trip was a trip to open eyes. No, not my eyes, but the eyes of those who will be tomorrow’s ministers and the spiritual leaders of our urbanized cultures. The Lord continues to give me amazing opportunities to share my passion for the un-reached and I ask you to continue to pray for wisdom that I might not miss a single opportunity.
This time, through a series of unexpected events I was able to take a childhood friend who is now a seminary student along with his wife to see first hand what tribal church planting is all about. There’s just no better way for someone to understand this passion we share than walking the trails themselves – and that is just what we did.
After grabbing a bite at a sidewalk sandwich stand my friends were very concerned for my apparently unacceptable social status – singleness! Determined to give me a hand the wife asked me if they could introduce me to a young lady they thought I might like. I hesitated for a second not knowing how to get out of that pickle in a culturally acceptable way.
Then it hit me – the perfect answer. So I replied, “Only on one condition.” “Oh, and what is that?,” she asked. “Only if you and your husband accept to go on one of these trips I’ve been making to visit a tribal work!” Her husband whipped his head around to see if I was serious even though he was driving the car and without batting an eye his wife said, “Sure.”
Not believing they would come through with their end of the deal I made them shake on it and began making plans. A month later we were off to visit the Waiãpi tribe in the remote jungles! And who said singleness is a detriment to ministry. =) Wink, wink….you just have to be creative.
We spent 10 days visiting the work amongst the Waiãpi where my Uncle works and had a really special time. The Lord really took care of us allowing it to rain when we needed it to too and keeping it from raining when we needed sun. We were able to give a hand to the team that lives there and the couple I took along got a first time experience in a wide range of events. We spent one day in the village, mowed the center (took two days to do so), cut wood with a chain saw for a elevated vegetable garden, expanded a new trail through the jungle, and deepened a well that just wasn’t cutting it!
Just about every day the Waiãpi would stop by the center and we got to watch my Uncle administer malaria tests, care for wounds, feed hungry mouths, fix outboard motors, and most importantly disciple wounded hearts all in their language. It was a privilege for me to watch my Uncle doing the very thing I hope to do some day. I believe it was even more of a privilege for that couple to taste a little bit of what this ministry entails.
At the end of those 10 days we left at 4:00 AM taking a two hour trip down river in the pitch black darkness of a moonless night in a tiny out board motor canoe. After a couple scares, rapids, and getting turned around we made it safely to the little community where we were to catch our bus. The last leg of the trip was a long nights flight back to the capital city of Brasilia. But here we are once again back in civilization with hearts full of thankfulness for a great trip.
My heart beats stronger still as my passion grows. I’m sure this couple is going through a whole range of emotions and reactions of their own. But one thing they have told me and one thing I know for sure, their lives will never be the same. It is my prayer that what they have seen and heard they will share with those who haven’t and that some how that will make its way back around to reaching those who have never heard of the blessed hope that we share!
P.S. I’ve uploaded a bunch of pictures on facebook. Check them out when you get the chance.