Day 1 on the Amazon

A simple dinner, a quick change of clothing, lots and lots of bug spray later, we were groupred from our boat home Linda Espranca unto a small get boat to carry us to shore.  Complete darkness immediatley surrounds us.  No sound but the crashing waves of the river hitting the shore bank.

 

Guided only by small flashlights, we bravely cross the thin metal bar bridge, stairs that definitely have seen better days, and fields of unknown construction.  We cross this sleepy dark town, passing empty houses and dimly lit local hangouts.  It is Saturday night here, and it does not seem to carry the same glamour United States has.  Here, a few people gather at outdoor patios, with music softly playing in the background.

 

"Scorpion." Someone from our group said.

 

This caused another in the group to jump up and scream.  It is the Amazon River afterall.  The jumper fantically waved the flashlight at the ground while leaping from leg to leg to avoid the dreaded insect.

 

Nearly everyone in the group chuckled.  It wasn't the insect, But rather the band Scorpion that was playing on the television at the local hangout.

 

A 10 minute quick walk later, we see the only brightly lit building from the darkness.  There was a crowd outside,  The pastor was of small stature but big spirit was standing by the door, greeting everyone in his congregation by name.

 

Our team was rushed into the brightly lit church.  A few rows of plastic chairs followed by another few rows of wooden benches.  Little to no decoration except a few colorful drapes at the center of the altar and hung at the ceiling.  Small fans along the wall circle the air in this small place.

 

The pastor opened the service with Psalm 24:
"The earth is the Lord's, and all it contrains,
the world and those who dwell in it."

 

The congregation loudly replied to the pastor.  We understood little to nothing.  Stood when the congregation stood, and sat when they sat.  Familiar tunes begin to play, some of us began to mutter the lyrics in English, doing our best to fit in.

 

But God had better plans than just letting us fit in.

 

The pastor grabbed the guitar and began singing a tune obviously familiar to his congregation, but not to our foreign ears.  Unable to pretend we knew any further, we shut our lips, closed our eyes, and was suddently hit by God's presence.

 

In this small church of no air conditioning, no songbooks, no fancy artwork/equipments, God is present. His Spirit was filling this place wall to wall.  Only with our eyes closed and hearts aligned, we understood that nothing mattered by God now.

 

We look at the faces of everyone here.  This is what worshipping is.  In a town so far away from it all, In this town of unpaved roads and limited supplies, these people worshipped the Lord.  This small town possibly forgotten by most, has not been forgotten by God.

 

As our sister Rebehak shared tonight, she leaned on Jesus through Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust the LORD with all your hearts,
and lean not on your own understanding,
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will set your paths straight."

 

This small town has little understanding of the world. It leans not on science, reason, philosophy, nor anything else us from the U.S. are so easily distracted by.  Instead, this simple life town trusts in the LORD.  With glowing faces, they shouted their acknowledgements to the LORD proudly.

 

And God is here.
He is here indeed.