We first visited Llachapa (pronounced Ja-choppa) in 2012, and from the very first night I spent in the jungle, God gave me a burden for this village.
There was some confusion on our first trips about whether or not there was a church there. Last year, a pastor came to a Train and Multiply training and told us that he was the pastor in Llachapa as well as 4 other villages. It turns out that his main church is in another village and he visits Llachapa as he is available to go, which is once every few months. When he is not in the village, the church is locked and there is no church available to the people.
In April, we stopped and talked with one of the Christian leaders in the village. He told us that since Pachita (Nancy Kopf) has been coming to Llachapa to bring Bibles to the people, the village has changed. It used to be a dark place, he said, but now, people are hungry for the things of God.
There was some confusion on our first trips about whether or not there was a church there. Last year, a pastor came to a Train and Multiply training and told us that he was the pastor in Llachapa as well as 4 other villages. It turns out that his main church is in another village and he visits Llachapa as he is available to go, which is once every few months. When he is not in the village, the church is locked and there is no church available to the people.
In April, we stopped and talked with one of the Christian leaders in the village. He told us that since Pachita (Nancy Kopf) has been coming to Llachapa to bring Bibles to the people, the village has changed. It used to be a dark place, he said, but now, people are hungry for the things of God.
We encouraged him to begin meeting on a regular basis to worship God with the other believers in the village. At first, he said they didn't have a church, but we shared with him that the church is not the building, it is the Body of Christ. We can worship God anywhere. We don't have to have a building. We gave him a set of Train and Multiply materials and told him we would love to work with them to begin a church in the village that meets regularly. We are not trying to compete with the other organization, but we are all part of the Body of Christ with the same purpose - to worship God, encourage believers, and reach the lost with the Gospel of Christ.
Last Monday, May 30, our newly formed Napo Mission Team consisting of Pastor Gilberto from Zungaro Cocha and Edwin and his wife and daughter, the man we met in Belen whom God had called to be a missionary, left for a trip to Llachapa. We Skyped with them before they left and prayed with them for God to lead them, and speak through them and that God would be glorified in everything they did.
When they arrived at the village, they began inviting people to a service to be held Monday evening. That night, Edwin's wife led the singing, Edwin led the service and Pastor Gilberto preached and many from the village came.
Tuesday, Pastor Gilberto led the service and Edwin preached.
When they arrived at the village, they began inviting people to a service to be held Monday evening. That night, Edwin's wife led the singing, Edwin led the service and Pastor Gilberto preached and many from the village came.
Tuesday, Pastor Gilberto led the service and Edwin preached.
Meanwhile, in the nearby village of Sucasari, a little boy was sick. His parents began to worry and discussed whether or not to take him to the Shaman in another village for healing. They were worried that they didn't have money to pay the Shaman, but they did have some meat they had preserved that they could sell to get the money.
They began making arrangements to take the boy to the Shaman. Another family in the village decided to go with them to support them. The two families got into their boat and headed toward the Shaman's village, planning to stop in Llachapa to sell the meat.
When they arrived in Llachapa, they heard preaching coming from the community center. They went there, probably thinking that they may find someone there to buy their meat so they could get on their way. They went inside and sat down. As Edwin preached, the Holy Spirit began to convict them. God spoke directly into their hearts and when the invitation was given, both families went forward to accept Christ. After they prayed, they told the team how they happened to be there. At that point, they prayed for the little boy and God healed him!
They began making arrangements to take the boy to the Shaman. Another family in the village decided to go with them to support them. The two families got into their boat and headed toward the Shaman's village, planning to stop in Llachapa to sell the meat.
When they arrived in Llachapa, they heard preaching coming from the community center. They went there, probably thinking that they may find someone there to buy their meat so they could get on their way. They went inside and sat down. As Edwin preached, the Holy Spirit began to convict them. God spoke directly into their hearts and when the invitation was given, both families went forward to accept Christ. After they prayed, they told the team how they happened to be there. At that point, they prayed for the little boy and God healed him!
Edwin's wife, the two families who accepted Christ, including the little boy, completely healed, and Pastor Gilberto.
The continued preaching through Wednesday, and over the three days in the village, 8 people accepted Christ for the first time, 11 people rededicated their lives to the Lord, and many were encouraged in their faith.
Our team tells us that the people here are so hungry for God and His Word. Please pray with us that God will raise up a leader in the village who desires to be a pastor to disciple these people.
We've been invited to come and do training in this village in August or September, and we were also invited by the Religious Education teacher at the local High School to come and share God's Word with the 160 students who attend there. She asked us to specifically talk to them about their purpose in life and the importance of responsible behavior and life choices. Please pray for us as we prepare to glorify God in this opportunity.
To God be the Glory!!
Our team tells us that the people here are so hungry for God and His Word. Please pray with us that God will raise up a leader in the village who desires to be a pastor to disciple these people.
We've been invited to come and do training in this village in August or September, and we were also invited by the Religious Education teacher at the local High School to come and share God's Word with the 160 students who attend there. She asked us to specifically talk to them about their purpose in life and the importance of responsible behavior and life choices. Please pray for us as we prepare to glorify God in this opportunity.
To God be the Glory!!
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