Reflections on the Javari

The Javari River cuts a serpentine channel through the jungle.  Often doubling back on itself, glimpses of the river ahead can be spotted through the jungle.  Arriving at that point, however, requires following a long curve that leads far out of the way.  Manel, our guide and boat captain, would often head straight for the river's edge where a channel through the jungle would suddenly open.  These channels would cut through the jungle saving valuable time and fuel, and the towering jungle canopy would provide a respite from the scorching sun.

The Javari River

Through our 9-day trip we sought to explore the region and learn if there was both spiritual and physical needs, but more importantly to seek God's leading on our lives.  I remember reading that anti-terrorism agencies often recognize "chatter" as evidence of an impending attack.  In the absence of clear evidence, different sources may produce evidence that when seen alone is inconclusive, but when viewed collectively it paints a picture of a possible attack, this overwhelming evidence is "chatter".  In this same way, we experienced through conversations and situations this same kind of mounting evidence pointing to God doing something big.  What that means for our future remains to be seen.

Talking to the locals in one of the many Peruvian villages.

Our plan was to travel up-river one day and take 3 days to travel back down, stopping at communities along the way.  Thus we would get a firsthand look at the size and number of communities, presence of any existing churches, and the physical needs of the people.  Stopping at nearly 20 villages (ranging in size from 40-460 people), we found only 2 evangelical churches.  Living mostly in thatched roof houses, their physical needs equaled their spiritual needs.  Our initial thoughts were that we could possibly help in the areas of health and medicine, mosquito nets to prevent malaria (the area has the highest malaria rate in all of Brazil), and water purification.

This fillet was cut from a Piraracu, a large Amazonian fish prized for it's delicious meat.

We stopped in this village and 

spent the night in an empty house

We were warmly welcomed and enjoyed interacting 

with the locals in each place we stopped.

Returning to the town of Atalaia, where our mission base would be located, we continued to seek information about the region.  Countless times we felt like God orchestrated meetings with important contacts.  One such encounter with a single woman who works in the area told us how an American church had donated money to buy a boat to be used for medical trips to the interior.  She wrote them back saying she had no one to send on these trips.  They advised her to keep the money and they would pray that God would send medical personnel.  Realizing that our group could potentially have a doctor and nurse, she concluded that God may be answering these prayers through us.

 Clyde and I talk with the director of the hospital and a worker, the director is on the phone setting up another meeting for us.

This is a gas station in Atalaia, gas is purchased in Peru because it is much cheaper, and sold in 2 liter Coke bottles from roadside stands.

So we are now home, back with our wives, trying to process all that we saw.  Like the shortcut channels we took through the jungle, we often can't see God's path until He reveals it at the last moment.  Please pray with us as we seek the Father and calling for our lives.  And that we would be faithful to go where ever He leads.

Click here for more pictures from our trip.