I spent last week in the jungle town of Yurimaguas where I taught at "Capacitación Biblica". This is a yearly event where brothers and sisters come from many of the surrounding villages for an intense two weeks of Bible training. Each class session was two hours long and I taught three classes: the gospel of Mark, the book of 1 Samuel, and "the Christian Home". Six hours of teaching in a hot and stuffy cement building with a metal roof made it feel like we were in a slow cooker oven, but the sweat pouring down my face only reminded me of my desire to burn brightly and to keep trying to set others on fire for the Lord!
In the afternoons and evenings I wrapped up each day by preaching either in the open air or in one of the various church meetings in town. Then at night, after a few hours of small group conversations with some of the students I would finally be able to curl up on a bench in the church building and try to get a little sleep. It was grueling, it was hard, I didn't sleep much and my vocal cords took a hit..... but it was awesome! I was constantly reminded about how at the end of our life we will wish that we had given more of ourselves to living for that day when every tribe, nation, people, and language will bow down at the throne and sing the praises of our Savior who delights in our efforts to make His name great.
One huge highlight of the week for me was the opportunity to go on a evening missions trip to an outlying village with a brother that I led to the Lord about ten years ago. Brother Llin (to my left in the picture below) came to faith in Christ when he heard me preaching in one of the plazas in Yurimaguas.... Ever since then he's been a tireless evangelist and a faithful shepherd of souls! The guy now knows his bible better than almost anyone and he has led many to faith in Christ. In the course of the last several years He has started a few village churches and has faithfully pastored the flock at his local assembly. It was a great joy to go with him (and two of the men that he's discipling) to the village of 'Jeverillos' where he is starting a new work. When we arrived villagers ran up to the motokar and kept exclaiming with great emotion: "Pastor Llin! Pastor Llin!" Everyone was so excited to see him! It was amazing to see a small crowd gather around to give him countless hugs and heaps of backslaps. We had a blast going from hut to hut sharing the gospel and praying for people. At dinner time there were families that were almost fighting over who would be able to host us with a meal of fish, rice and plantains! The love that these people had for Llin spoke volumes about his work there! After an awesome open air meeting we finally said our goodbyes at about midnight and started the one hour drive back to Yurimaguas. It was late and we were spent but our hearts were overflowing!
My experience with Llin, seeing his growth and his work in the Lord, filled me with an ever growing zeal to be poured out for Christ. Visiting this new work set my heart on fire! It was moving to see crowds of people who live in poverty but who also live with a passion for God's word. I was reminded that we owe the gospel to the world, to old people, to young people, to rich people and to poor people, to the best people and to the worst people. Yes, as Christians we are in debt to the nations! Llin is a great example of how missions should work! Please pray that the Lord would raise up more evangelists, pastors and teacher like him!
Missions quote for the day by David Platt: "What if we took away the cool music and the cushioned chairs, what if the screens are gone and the stage is no longer decorated what if the air-conditioning is off and the comforts are removed? Would God's word still be enough for His people to come together? Is His word enough for us?"
Micah for the Tuttle's
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