Jon had the opportunity to take a two week ministry trip into the Amazon on January 31-Februrary 13, 2015. He was part of a ministry team that consisted of 2 American missionaries, 2 Peruvian pastors, 1 layman from Detroit, 1 Columbian P\pastor, and 2 college interns from the States. He flew from Lima into the Amazon city of Iquitos, the largest populated city in the world that cannot be reached by road.
While some of us waited to meet up with the rest of the team, we took the time to visit an animal park in Iquitos.
The Amazon river floods each year causing the tree roots to be above ground when it goes back down.
This monkey somehow got out of his cage and followed us around for awhile.
The picture below is the pizza delivery motor-taxi. It has its own wood burning stove and chimney to keep it warm.
Pastor Americo is with Jon on their eight hour speed boat trip down the Amazon River from Iquitos to Caballo Cocha.
We taught classes for the pastor's conference. We also took turns preaching for each of the evening services. The path to Monte Carmelo campground was flooded the first day of the conference. With a rain storm hitting us that day, we had to adjust the meeting place further into the village.
Bats hanging from the chapel building and frogs of all different sizes were seen all around making this trip even more unique.
35 pastors and leaders last year attended but this year grew to over 60 in attendance. The evening services grew to over 100 with people who came on a three day boat trip.
Jon was able to teach "Christology" each day at the Pastors conference.
What a joy to be an encouragement to these Pastors and leaders this week.
Many of them who traveled in from outside villages were able to sleep in the dorms on these mattresses brought in for them.
Jon taught them how to play "Uno" and was asked every day to use the cards.
Jon getting his sandals repaired in the village.
Jon preaching for the evening service.
What a delight to see those who gave of their time to cook in the kitchen and be servants for the week.
Jon teaching his "Christology" notes at the conference.
A picture of the guys dorm with mosquito nets.
The scenery over the river was spectacular each night.
The ministry team gets the chance to sing special music along with each church group represented.
Jon was asked to be one of the two witnesses of the civil wedding of a church member. The church wedding was to follow the next day.
We celebrated the wedding vows with a Coca-Cola afterwards.
The ministry team was invited for lunch to the area Pastors house. We had fresh fish.
