and...



Check it out! All we need is a lid and then to bury this monster.
We are SO close to being able to use this!! :)

The hall is still mud bricks and cement floor, but swept up looks WAY better!
Now... we just need water hooked up and we'll be all set to break these in! :)

and...



We're SO close to move in day... hopefully this week!
We're just waiting on the septic tank and water hookup!

...to be continued :)

Dear friends and family,

OK, normally I would try not to write in discouraging fashion... I don't want to discourage, but after thinking it through for several weeks I've decided that I will share some of our stressful situation so that you can pray more fervently and with more knowledge.

For these past two months of construction, we've been living with the neighbors, a Canadian woman married to a Peruvian. They are adopting a baby boy whose mother had abandoned him. Two weeks ago the mom came to the house and kidnapped him from right under Bria's nose. Everything turned to pandemonium, screams and commotion.  I ran to the car....  and the chase was on.  Four of the construction guys were with me as we caught up to the kidnappers at a gas station about two miles down the road.  We couldn't really do anything as she screamed at us and to everyone around that we were the bad guys.

We didn't touch her, or the baby, we couldn't do anything except just try to stay with her.  She switched motor cars about 4 times to get away. Finally she hid out in a friends house.....   
 
When our friends showed up they went into the house to rescue their adoptive son. Once again it was pandemonium, screams and commotion.   The police came, and not knowing the truth they hit and kicked the dad and took him to the police station.  Since then our host family is commonly either in court or with the lawyers either trying to stay out of jail or trying to keep their son.

For a few days we were expecting the police to come, who have a warrant for our host couple's arrest. One night they even went to a hotel to escape, and here we were left in the house waiting for the police to come and search the house. This is all new to us and seems to get more interesting (complicated) every day.  We know that God put us in the middle of all this for a reason..... but we are beginning to feel uncomfortable. It has been very stressful for our family.  

To add to it all.... one of the workers fell in the big hole! From the very top... 20 feet down. He dislocated a bone in his wrist, had a big gash on his head and several bruised ribs. But when I first saw him, I thought he was dead at the bottom of the pit. After much difficulty getting him out I ran him to the hospital where he spent a day and a half.  Now he's recuperating at home.  He'll be out for at least a month.  It could have been a lot worse. But even through this difficult time, I have had many chances to share the gospel with him and pray for him too.

The day the brick-layer fell, someone on the job-site stole 160 soles (+/- 5 days wages) out of another workers' wallet. Since then there has been a lot of distrust between workers. 

Through all of this we really feel the spiritual battle and much prayer is needed. I can't mention all the details, but I can say that I don't remember ever having such a time of serious trial... Things are quite difficult right now.... Pray that we would trust God moment by moment, putting all things into His hands.  Please pray... really pray. 

-Micah for the Tuttle's

Micah talks about what they are doing to dig out not one but two septic tanks. One pit is rectangular and about 3 meters (9ft) deep and the other is round and will be 6 meters (18ft) deep!

Almost exactly one month ago we posted here about work projects on the property!
We've been SUPER busy, but we've gotten SO. MUCH. done in the last 4 weeks!
Have a look...

April Projects' status:

• Fill the open outside walls in with brick so as to be more secure DONE!
• DIG the TWO septic tanks -- still digging! almost done! will have to line with cement soon! 
• Finish up the window and door frames so that they can have doors and windows made for them DONE!
• Windows with screen to keep out the bugs DONE!
• Doors, inside and out DONE!
• A toilet, sink and shower DONE!
• A basic kitchen counter and sink -- this is next on the list! 

New Projects (started by the mini-work team):

• Mud, sand, prime walls in the big room - DONE! 
• Wire downstairs with lights and plugs - DONE! 
• Install, sand, prime and paint rails on front outside wall - DONE! 
• Front arched windows - DONE! 
• Guest house - IN PROGRESS (see pictures below!)  

Upcoming Projects:

• Paint walls in big room
• Mud, sand, prime walls in small room
• Glass in arched windows and doors 
• Kitchen counter and sink
• Connect water to kitchen & bath
• Raise water tank on tower for water pressure
• Line septic tank w/ brick and cement 
• Wash things in storage & transfer to property
• MOVE IN! 

Here in Tarapoto, God has given us a tremendous opportunity to serve Him. In the chapter that He is currently writing of our lives, we're continuing the building of something that hopefully will be of great use in His service; not just the part that obviously won't last forever, but we're looking forward to figuring out ways for it to bear TONS of imperishable fruit. :)

We arrived late last Friday night. Since then Micah has been itching to get started on the MANY projects needed to be finished on the property before we can actually move in. We're hoping (somewhat wishfully), to be able to move over there in just a couple of weeks. We shall see. In order of priority, our current projects:

• filling the open outside walls in with brick so as to be more secure
• digging the septic TWO tanks (this will take a couple of weeks of pure grunt work - they will have a combined depth of 27 feet deep! oh yeah!)
• finishing up the window and door frames so that they can have doors and windows made for them
• windows with screen to keep out the bugs
• doors
• a toilet, sink and shower
• a basic kitchen counter and sink

...and with those basic necessities we'll be all set to move in!




We are constantly in awe at what the LORD is making possible here! Thank you for praying and for supporting the work! :)

How is it possible that these months have already happened?  Oh my. 

Well, we are alive (albeit barely) after two VERY amazingly busy months.  Thank you to those of you who have reminded us that we are completely out of touch by not posting for two whole months!  Perhaps you all will understand when I get finished with this update :) 

July.
Basically we were in Trujillo for the entire month.  We left Tarapoto on the 2nd (right on the tail end of a river trip that last week of June) and arrived back here the 29th.  During that time, Micah was IBEM for the third week of classes (doing devotional, class on Psalms, eating lunch with the students, practical studies and fun nights in the evenings).  No internet during all this time.  The following week, we hosted a very good friend and co-worker from the US for 10 wonderful days.  Only a few days after saying goodbye, we received Amy's mom on the 21st just in time to pack up for heading back to Tarapoto.  We made the LONG drive basically in one long haul this time because of it being Peru's Independence day and there being no room at any of the inns.  We made it without issue even with another passenger in our already too small vehicle. 

August.
The first weekend Micah traveled all the way back to the coast to participate as one of the key speakers in a national youth convention in Chiclayo.  He was back for a few days before leaving to speak again at the bilingual church in Sisa's 14th anniversary the next weekend.  It was VERY nice to have Amy's mom here during all that time.  The day after Micah got back, Amy traveled with her mom to spend a few days in Lima together before her mom flew home.  While at-home-daddy, Micah was also working full bore on installing the bathrooms in the church preparing for a young people's retreat coming up this coming weekend.  Today, Micah left for a 5-day river trip.  He took Bria with him and Lord willing they will be back on Friday.  Saturday, the young people from Yurimaguas arrive for a three day 'retreat', but we're both pretty sure they'll go home wanting nothing but rest after the packed schedule he's lined up for them!  And then August will be over.

Phew!  So you may now understand why you haven't heard from us!  :)

Please keep praying!  We have some important decisions to make in the very near future, we are looking to the future and are dependent on the Lord's guidance.  Pray that the Lord would bless the work of our hands.  Pray that we would stay tightly knit to Him as well as to each other!

Pictures coming soon!  stay tuned :)

The picture below is a picture taken during the Sunday morning Lord's Supper. Less people come in the mornings, but we are content that all the core group of believers are able to fellowship during this meeting. The kids meet for Sunday School in the back during this first service, the Bible Hour. The Breaking of Bread service follows with everyone present. Though every week there are a few glitches, we are enjoying working them out one by one.


The women have been really anxious to start meeting, as they haven't officially met for almost a year now. Here's a picture of our group this last Thursday. For the next few months, Amy will be co-teaching through 'Encuentros con Jesucristo', Moments with Jesus Christ. Pray for us as this is admittedly not the season for Amy to be involved in ministry outside the home, but the Lord is stretching us both in many different areas.


January through February has definitely been termed the season of visitors. Though it is rather disruptive to the regularity of life, we hope it will be this way EVERY year! :) It is summertime on this part of the globe, so classes are out, and most take advantage of their vacation time. Also, due to the fact that Bible Capacitation courses [Capacitacion Biblica] take place in Yurimaguas during February, and because Tarapoto is on the way to Yurimaguas, we've had LOTS of guests. We have enjoyed having all of them (14) as well as short-termers (2). All the kids especially enjoy the visitors despite the fact the boys have had to forfeit their room since the middle of January. Our house is not really adequate for guests, so we are thinking to look for another rental house when our contract comes up in August, with at least a couple of guest rooms! This picture was one of the more recent fun guest-filled days...


Thank you for praying for us, we can use every ounce of grace granted! These months have not been without trial, and we thank the Lord that His grace is sufficient and that His power is made perfect in weakness. We are so grateful for all your love and support.

In Him,
the tuttles

Did you know that we are breaking in the new building this week?! woohoo! Though it doesn't have lights, a door, flooring, or bars on the windows, we are going ahead and taking advantage of the larger space for the KIDS campaign. We wanted to hold the meetings there in order to invite the neighborhood kids (it's on a new street) so they and their parents can start to feel comfortable coming to our new building! It is summer vacation here, so we actually have 2 kids campaigns planned for this month!! We're really excited!

Please pray that this opportunity to use the new building will bring many interested souls.

We'd like to introduce to you all, an amazing young lady, Dhaly! She has been VERY busy working with us this month. She is here doing her missions practicum to finish her course for Bible school. The first week she accompanied Micah and the boys on the river trip, and was in charge of the meetings for the women and children. The second week, she was in Yurimaguas with the church there... she put on a 5-day club + daily women's mtgs + a course for Sunday School teachers, all in one week! BU-SY! Last week, she did the women's meetings here in Tarapoto and THIS week she is in charge of the Kids Campaign we are hosting. Thankfully, another young person from Trujillo flew here at the beginning of this week, and he has been a really big help with the kids as well.

Did we happen to mention to her the fact that most people after just ONE week of working with Micah are totally dead dog tired?! I'm not sure we thought of it at the time she asked us! :)

But, we sure are happy that she's here. ;)


Capacitacion Biblica Yurimaguas is about to begin... so we've seen several passers-through and one surprise guest arrived today. Antonio's luggage didn't make it onto the same bus he arrived on, so he's being detained and will be spending the night in our living room (all our other bedrooms are already booked beyond their recommended double-occupancy!).

Micah will be teaching next week in Yurimaguas, so you can pray for all of us. That his classes will be well-received and that those of us left behind will be able to accomplish much on the school front while he is away.

Amy for all

We're advancing! After several weeks break for the holidays, this week we've begun again to work on the church building. We've received several designated gifts [THANK YOU!!] for that purpose and we're now able to put those funds to use! We should be able to finish the roof, and we're EXCITED! Have a look at the video:



Thanks for your prayers for this! We're hoping to have the roof on and perhaps move services there, even at this rough stage... by the end of this month!!

Are you excited!?


PS. we'll be posting a plethora of pictures muy PRONTO ;)

An Introduction of sorts to the Work in Tarapoto

Senior missionaries, Bert and Colleen Elliot worked for nearly 40 years in the jungle town of Yurimaguas. During those years, they planted several assemblies in that town (a few of which are healthy and carrying on mission work among the river churches) and then nearly 40 more assemblies along the banks of the Huallaga river. I (Micah) have had opportunity to visit many of these churches and speak with various believers in these areas and I cannot begin to explain how great of an impact the Elliot's have left on this seemingly forgotten corner of the world.

Presently, there is tremendous need for follow-up work. Twenty years have come and gone since the Elliot's left this region and now many of those original assemblies are in great need of spiritual encouragement, biblical training and a renewed passion for evangelism.

About a year ago, as a family, we were able to make a visit to Yurimaguas in order to `spy out the land' and to begin to intelligently pray about the possibility of God using us in this region. On that trip we stopped over in the town of Tarapoto (only a 2 hour drive from Yurimaguas) and found that it would be a very a strategic town for a church plant, with relatively close access to the river, while at the same time being a suitable place for our family to call "home".

After a three month trial, much prayer, and much advice-seeking, we decided to make the move. So here we are, living and working in the jungle town of Tarapoto. Six months ago, we began meeting with about 10 believers, and now have grown to about 35 who come to services currently being held in our house, Wednesdays and Sundays. Our hope and prayer is that this new church would become a mission-minded assembly that would reach out to the river villages and be characterized by a genuine faith, evangelism and love for the brethren.

We have been in desperate need of a building practically from the beginning. None of our homes are quite adequate for hosting Sunday school classes and we've found it rather imposing on healthy family life for one house to have all 5 weekly meetings.

The latest developments

God's provision has bought us a small piece of land (measuring 24' x 60') as well as materials for the first rough stage of building (a one-room meeting place with columns, thatched roof, half-height walls and a concrete floor). This building will serve a provisional purpose over the next few years, while we save for a future meeting place that would be bigger and better situated. The believers here over the last several years have been saving to come up with more than half of the money needed to get us to where we are now, which would really excite anyone able to understand their true poverty. We have recently started the excavation work, and will pour the cement for the columns in the next several days. Everyone is eager to work and brothers and sisters alike, all are contributing to the construction project.

For those of you who may be interested, we are now going to share a few of the grisly financial details. :) So far, including the purchase of the lot, expenses have totaled about $5,000. To complete the project as planned, we are praying for about $8,000 more. That would provide a finished meeting room to seat 85, three Sunday school rooms, kitchen, bathroom & office. Yes, that's a church building for $13,000! We'd be thrilled if the Lord would provide all or part of this amount very soon so that we can grow out of our living room and into the next stage of mission-minded church development.

By His Grace,

Micah and Amy Tuttle

a picture of the property last week before the columns