Last week Amy and I headed down river with five of our kids, four american girls and seven Peruvians. As we navigated the muddy waters of the Huallaga river we cruised through a torrential downpour and then into a furnace of thick humidity. Our river cuts through one of the eastern ranges of the Andes mountains and then flows into the lower Amazon basin. The scenery is breathtaking!  Along the way it was as if God was unfolding a stunning canvas of His art-work with rainbow’s, waterfalls and vibrantly green foliage covering mountains that were shrouded in fog. All of creation screams of our God’s greatness! 

That afternoon we finally arrived in the port of one of my favorite villages: “Callanayacu”. Immediately we were greeted by a small crowd of excited brothers and sisters. They had not received the message that we were coming and yet there was plenty of joyful backslapping, vigorous handshakes and bone crushing hugs.  Before we knew it, one of the brothers was leading us down a beautiful jungle path so we could see an epic waterfall and enjoy a nice swim in one of the many hidden lakes in that area.  It all looked like a stunning scene from the garden of Eden.  

After an unforgettable afternoon in paradise we hiked back to the village square where there was a town meeting in process.  The whole village was assembled and after they were done making some decisions about buying paint for the communal house I stood up and congratulated everyone on their village unity and work ethic….. from there I opened up the scriptures and I pointed to Christ as the only One that can give true and lasting unity.  It was a really unique open door that the Lord provided.  Many people were there that would never have come to our planned open air preaching (which we did a few hours later) nevertheless, everyone was “all-ears” for about 30 minutes and it resulted in several good one on one conversations.    

After we had eaten dinner (coconuts and chicken and rice) everyone gathered, once again, in the main square and I preached on Malachi 3:16. Just as I began the electricity went out and it was immediately really dark, and really quiet…. No microphone, no lights, no moon, just a billion stars that were looking down on us from the heavens.  As I preached into the darkness it seemed that my voice echoed out of the village and off into the jungle.  You could see the faint silhouettes of men, women and children listening. Some were near, some were far, some were in the doorways of their houses and some stood on the edge of town.  But all seemed to be listening intently and looking into the heavens as they considered the spiritual state of their soul. 

We had a rather uncomfortable night of sleep in our tents which we set up on the boarded floor of the church building.  Nevertheless, we were up early and began our new day with personal prayer and bible.  Stephany, Gretty and Cesia are awesome with the village kids. Our young men, Javen, Eber and Fernando, are leading music and helping me preach. Jorge and Yuri are tending to the boat and do all the heavy lifting while Amy and Bria are translating for the american girls who are eager to help with evangelism and really anything they can do.   

On this trip I preached three to five times a day and as a result I shredded my vocal chords. I need to always be careful to not lose my voice but it’s hard to hold back when you see lost and desperate souls sitting all around the main square hanging on every word of the message being preached. Most of the open air meetings on this trip left the listeners kinda stunned and contemplating their spiritual state.  Praise the Lord for His work of conviction!    

On the way the way to the next village we stopped at our favorite thermal hot springs for a scalding hot shower! Boiling water comes right out of the ground and then splits into two waterfalls. It’s a great place to rest, and refocus.... and get burned if you're not careful :/  Everyone loved the experience and the recharge it brought. 

Missions quote for the day by George Whitefield: "I believe that I was never more acceptable to my Master than when I was standing to teach those hearers in the open field. I now preach to ten times more people than I would if I had been confined to the churches."  

Going through some difficult times.... 

After a recent trip, I returned home with quite the stomachache.  At times it feels like I'm on my death bed. When I finally went in for a check-up at the clinic here it was confirmed that I have two intestinal parasites..... Don't worry, I'm on meds now and the parasites should be gone soon :)    

On a different front, we've been going through a very painful case of discipline for fornication in our local assembly here in Tarapoto. A brother that is very dear to our family and to the whole assembly fell hard and it has really shaken everyone.  Moral failures like this always serve as a massive warning that any of us are capable of the worst of sins and we must keep our eyes on Jesus and our steps in conformity with the Spirit.  

On yet a different level, and even more difficult, a separate brother that I led to the Lord years ago and who then went on to plant several churches has now apostatized. He's left the faith, left the church, left his wife, left his son and has completely embraced a lifestyle of wickedness. He refuses to be reasoned with…. HEARTBREAKING! 

But, there's always incredible hope in Christ. There's an indomitable joy in the midst of suffering and sorrow. There really is so much to be encouraged about! Oh the joy in Christ even.... (especially)... in the midst of difficulties!  "As sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing everything" (2Cor 6:10). 

The spiritual battle can be felt on every side.  "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the full armor of God that you may be able to resist in the evil day." 

-After preaching in the market last week, several interested visitors showed up at church on Sunday morning... That was encouraging. 

-About 100 indigenous natives came to a conference I was preaching at.  Most of them traveled 2 or 3 days by foot. I taught for 6 hours a day, 10 days straight.  Their hunger for God's word was incredible!  That was encouraging. 

-I’ve been trying to meet with a few guys most mornings at 5:30am to read and pray and work out together. The whole morning routine takes about two and a half hours.  It's pretty cool to see a growing passion for the Lord in these guys! ......That's encouraging.  

Bible verse for the day:   "As sorrowful yet always rejoicing" (2 Cor 6:10)

Micah for the Tuttle's

BACK IN PERU!

Three weeks ago we arrived in our beloved Tarapoto Peru.  It's so good to be back!  We left Dubuque IA right in between two big snow storms and -10F temperatures..... When we arrived in Tarapoto it was +90F and super humid. I guess you could call us "snow-birds" :)  The reality is that here in Peru school is out and these are the summer vacation months when most of the youth are available for camps and capacitation courses and missions trips.  It's a strategic time to be here!  We are pretty much settled in now and we've started to kick things into high gear.  Please pray for us and the many opportunities we will have here during the next several months.                                                                            

INTERNSHIP

Our oldest son Javen and his wife Autumn have accompanied us and they will be here for the duration of this trip (until early May).  Autumn has been focusing on the intercultural studies major at Emmaus Bible College and to wrap up her four year degree she is required to do a missions internship outside of the USA.  What better place to do it than in Peru?! She has been commended through CMML for the next four months and will be getting a first hand over-seas missions experience. Autumn is studying spanish, getting acquainted with the culture, accompanying Javen and I on pastoral visits, going on river trips and trying to employ her gifts in every way she can.  We are so glad that Javen and Autumn are here with us! Please pray for them as they adapt to all the changes :)

OUR TARAPOTO CHURCH

Our church here in town is doing well!  It used to be that whenever we left Tarapoto for a few months the church would really struggle.  Happily, that is no longer the case!  There are about eighty saints that are led by three elders who are doing a good job of preaching and teaching and shepherding the flock.  We also have several older women who are discipling the younger women, while at the same time are carrying on a solid children's ministry. In addition to all of this, many of the youth have really stepped up and are eagerly taking on many ministry responsibilities. About half of the church is made up of young people (18-30 year-olds) for which we are praising the Lord!

EVANGELISM 

Souls! Souls! While walking through the streets and markets and plazas and observing precious souls on every side it is hard to resist the urge to publicly proclaim the hope that is offered in Christ. Jesus said he saw the people "like sheep without a shepherd" Isn't it like that today... Isn't it like that everywhere? Open air preaching, one on one evangelism, house to house gospel work... just do something!  There's nothing like jumping up on a table and preaching your heart out.  Please pray for my vocal cords :)  .... Every time I do this it produces amazing one on one conversations with interested individuals.  You basically find three groups of people: Some mock, some want to hear more and some believe (see Acts 17:32-34).  Oh how we long to see more in the "some believed" category!    

MISSIONS QUOTE FOR THE DAY BY FRANCIS XAVIER: 

"Tell the students to give up their small ambitions and come eastward to preach the gospel of Christ." 

Micah for the Tuttle's