Family
Nine days ago Amy traveled to the States for a homeschool conference where she is participating as one of the speakers and coordinators. We are missing her greatly here in Tarapoto and we anxiously look forward to her return next week. Amy is really good at educating our kids and she loves participating in these conferences where there's a lot of mutual encouragement and learning going on with the moms. In Amy's absence I'm trying to be Mom and Dad to our 5 older kids (Ellia went with mommy). Last week the kids participated in a one day river trip, some evangelism in the main square and lots of work in the bible institute. This week they are all studying church history, creationism and apologetics. I have them on a strenuous weight lifting program accompanied by a very strict diet of jungle rat meat (high protein). Concrete work and ditch digging are on the list for tomorrow. Things seem to be going fairly well ..... the kids are praying more than normal. I think they want mom to come home ASAP!

Institute
Apart from IBEM selva we have a bible institute for assembly elders that live along the river. We started this a few years ago and it has been a real help to the churches from the lower Huallaga. We usually do the study in one of the villages where we have an intensive week of classes every two months. This is designed to better prepare the "campo" preachers who have families and cannot come to live with us for a whole school year. Last week we tried something new and brought eight of those "campo" preachers into Tarapoto to do their intensive week of classes here at IBEM selva. It was an action packed week as we combined students from the two groups for meals, ministry and parts of the study. I taught Church history for eight hours each day, read through the whole book of Acts out-loud with the students and tried to spend some individual time with each one of these men so as to encourage them in their ministries. Everyone on the team (the Mattix family, the Cacho family and Dahly) did a tremendous job of coordinating, helping and making the week a real success. Lots of study, lots of discipleship, lots of singing, lots of fun!


River trip
Jesse Mattix had extended family visiting and we had sister "Yoon Koh" from Houston Texas here for a few days so we decided it would be exciting to do a quick river trip. We piled about 25 people into our boat and cruised down the river to take the "campo preachers" back to their respective villages. It made for a quick and fun one day excursion where we got to see some spectacular landscape. As the boat motored through the canyon we took in the towering mountains which were covered in ample, vibrant-green vegetation and shrouded in the fogy morning mist. After dropping of the "campo preachers" and saying our goodbyes we cruised back up river and visited a thermal hot springs and then a powerful waterfall. We had a great time swimming, laughing and exploring Gods creation.


Construction
It has been exciting to go forward with the Bible institute ministry here in Tarapoto. We weren't sure if we were going to be able to build it but God has been providing and we've been constructing. This last month we were able to add another dorm room, two more bathrooms and two more showers. We are becoming more and more prepared for bigger groups and extra students in the future. We hope that this ministry will have a real and eternal impact, not only on those that are coming to study, but also on those who the students will in turn disciple and then on and on goes the multiplication process. In 2 Tim 2:2 Paul said to Timothy "And what you have learned from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." That is our goal!


Missions quote for the day by David Platt: "In a world where everything revolves around yourself.... protect yourself, promote yourself, comfort yourself, and take care of yourself, Jesus says, "Crucify yourself."

Micah for the Tuttle's