Mission Resources International
Mission Resources International
Please pray for us as we get some much needed rest and as we adjust to being back home.
Susan Harding
Steve Harding
Vanessa Ramsey
Alyssa Hood
Brenda Esters
Michael Brooks
Mary Tillberry
Lisa Torbett
Marci McCarver
Tony McCarver
Penny Davis
Sabrina Mobilio
Jason Carney
Ken Brooks
Riding through the jungle to Santa Teresita before we got the flat
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The Jesuit Mission in San Jose de Chiquitos. As a treat we had some down time in the morning and enjoyed a tour. Later that evening we had another surprise compliments of Toni Mercado. We returned to the church for a private performance by the Orchestra of the Mission of San Jose de Chiquitos.
Tony McCarver, president of MRI, takes a moment before the day gets underway.
Mary and Sabrina take a break before we set out to Fua.
Back to work on the church, Vanessa, Michael, and Steve set to work on attaching the roof.
Caesar, MRI's newest missionary, helping with the roof. Caesar and his wife, Mirtha, live in Poza Verde with the Ayore.
Tony getting ready to examine the progress on the church. As some of us head out to Santa Teresita, the men go with Placido and the Ayore into the jungle to cut down trees to be used in the church building.
On our way to Santa Teresita, another Ayore settlement further into the jungle. We almost didn't get to go. There was a dispute between the two villages (Fua and Santa Teresita). A non-Ayore (not one of us) had been given a chainsaw by one group to remove trees, and the other group took it away from him stating he had no business being there.
It's important to stress we were the first team to go to into Fua and Santa Teresita. Toni and Placido had been there before, but never taken in a team. We were fortunate to have with us, as friends, Ayore from Poza Verde to help break the ice. Here, Benial stands next to Sabrina.
On our way we drove over a stump and got a flat. Here Toni is assessing the situation. We quickly discovered we didn't know where to find the jack (it was under the hood!!). Fortunately, Diane knew how to change a tire. She quickly took charge of the situation which was a relief to us all. In the middle of the jungle it didn't take long for the mosquitoes to discover our misfortune. We were all very thankful to have mosquito spray.
One really cool benefit of our situation was we got to know some of our new friends from Fua a little better. As Dan later said, much more of my ministry occurs by what happens to interfere with it.
Some of the Ayore boys found a large log to place under the axle and, since we couldn't find the jack, the only alternative was to lift the truck up as they pushed it under. After two unsuccessful tries, Toni lead us in prayer, and we succeeded...
As we are fixing the tire, some of the boys have gone out into the jungle to get help. They find them in the jungle cutting down the trees for the church. We no sooner finish changing it when Placido, Caesar, and Jason arrive to help.
We are once again on our way!!
A cross stands alone in a field in Santa Teresita
A church building in Santa Teresita.
Sabrina gets the robin's eggs ready for the David and Goliath story and vacation bible school.
Some of the boys that are with us run ahead to help us gather up the children in the village. Meanwhile some of our group go with Toni to have a study with the ladies.
After we tell the story with the flannel graph, Sabrina quizzes our students about the story. Jose, Toni and Placido's son, translates for us. Most of who participate are from Fua. Only a small group from Santa Teresita join in. There is much to do there in building relationships. According to Toni, it was that way in Poza Verde in the beginning as well.
Jose and one of the boys from Fua getting to know each other better.
Lisa hands out bags for the five smooth stones. Note that age doesn't make a difference among the Ayore when it comes to participating in our VBS's. We frequently have all ages, from the very young to the very old.
Young Benial uses Dan's truck as a table to decorate his bag.
One boy from Santa Teresita joins in on the fun.
Marci taking a picture with the boys from Santa Teresita.
While some of us are having VBS with the children, the rest of our group are having a time of fellowship with the ladies. They shared a message and decorated caboodles. Toni felt making the crosses would be too difficult on this first short meeting.
One of the ladies with her son.
Saying goodbye to Santa Teresita. It was a short visit, but hopefully not the last for us.
Back at Fua, a young girl gathers water.
Later that evening, some of us return to the church in San Jose de Chiquitos to have vacation bible school. It's a sweet church, which we all agree, reminds us very much of the church in Pailon.
Marci prepares the students for the video by telling them the events leading up to the story of David and Goliath
Lisa explains how to decorate the bags while Jenny translates.
The children show off their bags.
It has been a long day. We go back to our rooms and get some much needed rest.