In Pucallpa

We had a long trip from Huanuco to Pucallpa in two mini-vans, pick-up truck and motorcycle for all our bags and 24 of us (our 15, Julio & his daughter Camilla, Dr. Salada, Isaac Mendoza, Van and Christian [two missionaries aided the church plant at Mil Palmeras] and Gabe, Christian's son). Bob, Christian and Jeremy took turns driving the cycle the 9 hours during the trip, so that allowed for more bags to be kept on the truck rather than stacked on top of our vans.

The scenary was just amazing as we went along. We started in the mountains, went down about 5000 feet during the day. So from mountains to foothills to "jungle" vegatation and fruits.

I was amazed by the farmers in the mountains. They were planting on slopes of more than 60 degrees and getting really wonderful crops. We saw lots of corn, beans, wheat and different flowing other crops we could not identify. Tractors would not be effective at all with these farmers.

As we traveled yesterday, for an hour or so we followed this one river down the mountain and saw the results of the power of this river when it flows full. Parts of our road were washed away (marked by rocks painted white and red placed on the road to keep us from going near) and large rocks were being moved around by this water. At one place, we had to stop for a half hour to allow the construction vehicles work at a place of another partial road wash out. They were moving rocks from futher up the hill down into the river to try to shore up the bank holding our road in place. Further down the road, we saw the places where new roads had to be created since they had lost the battle with the water currents.

We were greeted once we finally made it to Pucallpa by many church members who were playing soccer right across the drive way from Mil Palmeras church site, which is located on the South American Mission (SAM) compound, where many of the mission folks live. We sorted through our bags and finally got off to our hotel where we could wash the dust and dirt of the day off and unpack for the next week or so.

Supper was a wonderful chinese/peruvian meal made by one of their church members, which was truely outstanding, especially where it was made: in the middle of the Peru! We got to meet the other SAM missionaries and families that are working with Julio and Olga Chiang in the church plant, Mil Palmeras, and got to hear about the growth and vision of Mil Palmeras from bible study to Easter service to a regular preaching time to a time of music, worship, teaching and preaching.

Prayers requests for the next days: a good night sleep and rest from many days of traveling; good communications as we start into our work projects tomorrow (Wed.); praise the Lord for safety in travel over the last 3 days; pray for the growing church at Mil Palmeras.