At the end of January, we received heartbreaking news from the jungle; that the Huallaga River had flooded like never before and that we had lost all of our possessions, including our van that was completely submerged under the current of the river. The brothers and sisters did all that they could to protect their houses and possessions from the river, but the river won. Entire houses were brought to the ground. The crops and animals were carried away with the river.
The people are now spending the night under tarps outside. There is no food, and it continues to rain. Dengue fever and malaria pose an increasing threat. In one of the towns next to us, in La Libertad where there is a church plant that I am helping with, the water reached all the way to the roofs of some of the houses. Certainly there is going to be a terrible famine in our towns in the coming days. My wife’s relatives and the brothers and sisters that we know in Lima have all recommended that we do not travel there until the waters lessen, because of my wife’s health and my respiratory problems.
It seems that we have lost almost everything, but we have peace, thanks to God who took us out of San Rafael in time, before the floods arrived. My wife does not know how to swim, and neither does my son David. It would have also been very harmful for our health. But it hurts my heart to know that my brothers and sisters in Christ are suffering. We can only pray.
In fact, the Lord has already heard our prayers. A church in Biavo is sending provisions to the believers that have been affected by the floods. We pray that our van can be repaired, since it is the primary way that I travel to visit all of the churches. Also, the motorcycle was submerged in the river. I use the motorcycle everyday to visit families and to evangelize. We can only hope in the Lord and see what comes of it all.
Please pray for the families affected by the damage from the Huallaga River. Pray that the People of God might trust Him and hope like never before in the sufficiency of our good Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
