Panoramic Ponderings: ...Into all the World....

Hey friends!

I am back from the jungles of the north of Brazil, suddenly very thankful for citylife... electricty, water, the absence of snakes..

I had a great time in Porto Velho at the Amazon Conference for Fronteir Missions! It was held at the YWAM base in Porto Velho, which is a community literally in the middle of nowhere. It rained almost everyday, and when it wasn't raining it was scorching humid hot - being so close to the equator, I have never felt heat so intense in my life.. I thought my skin was going to melt. On Saturday night our water and electricity suddenly decided to disappear, and we were left to take bucket showers and walk by candle-light. The first thing I was told when I was arrived was, "take your flashlight - there are snakes everywhere." Oh good.. just what I wanted to hear..

Almost there!

There are the roads I walked on.. I basically wore socks of mud the whole time :)

The conference itself was amazing - we had speakers from all over the world who came to share and give seminars and workshops on various topics surrounding unreached people groups; church planting, malaria/healthcare, strategies to go into an unreached area, missions in the arabic/chinese world, multiplication of the indigenous church etc.

The conference was divided into a few different areas; strategies and issues on unreached groups in general, the unreached muslim world, and unreached indigenous tribes in the Amazon. For the latter, we had Eli Ticuna - an indigenous pastor share with us. He said something that stuck in my heart, "There are only 2 voices you must hear. The voice of God, and the voice of the indigenous people deep in the jungles of the Amazon crying out - who will save us?"

Me with Eli Ticuna

A heard a statistic that really stuck with me: 95% out of every 100 missionares are already working in a place where the gospel is known and there is a church. FIVE % are working in an unreached area where nobody has heard the name of Jesus - the jungles of the Amazon are part of this 5%. God really confirmed in my heart during this time that I am to be the answer to this call. I made so many contacts while I was there - heard the stories from people who have worked and lived with indigenous tribes for 20 years, learning the language, the customs, and bringing salvation to a lost world. I was inspired, but more than that.. it was confirmed in my heart, my purpose here in this world.

An issue that really stirred my heart was the conflict surrounding Infanticide within the tribes. Infanticide is the murder of babies and children - many tribes practice this ritual as part of their culture. There is a lot of fear surrounding evil spirits and when a baby is born with a twin, born to a single mother, or born handicapped or with physical disabilities the tribes believe evil will come if they do not murder the child immediately - often times burrying him/her alive. It is a destructive lie the enemy is using to take life of innocent children. If you've never seen the incredible story of Hakani, go here and took a look:

http://www.hakani.org/en/

One of the indigenous couples attending the conference had a baby during the week, and this was their baby dedication: in a hammock!

There is widespread political conflict surrounding this issue as well - there is a government organization called FUNAI that is delegated to work with indigenous affairs, and preserve the culture of indigenous people. They argue that infanticide is a cultural right and the Brazilian constitution does not apply to the tribes in the Amazon. As such, it is actually illegal for missionaries, especially foreigners, to go anywhere near certain tribes in the Amazon area. It makes me realize there is a long road ahead of me with big challenges.. but also that there is a bigger God that goes before me :)