After our time in Iquitos, we travelled down the Amazon River about 9 hours to a town called Caballococha. It is there that pastors from all around have come to receive seminary training and taking classes for the last five years. This will be Jon's third year assisting and the first graduating class. This is Matthew's first time down the Amazon. He didn't start off good by throwing-up in the boat before taking off. Thankfully they were able to get it cleaned up in time.
This is the first year that they offered movies but we preferred seeing the sights outside.
Stopping along the way at different villages where the children would sell items.
Pastor Sean has started a new church on the back side of town. It was exciting to hear how he started meeting in his house until it further grew into purchasing land and building the church building.
Matthew adapting to the heat and recovering from the boat trip to start the week.
Some great fellowship with the workers who arranged the conference.
We were able to enjoy fresh coconut water.
The camp kitchen where most of the meals were prepared.
There were bats hanging in the chapel and a bees nest under the pulpit but it wasn't a distraction to them who were accustomed to it all.
Children playing with their homemade scooter in the streets.
The gas stations in town were pop bottles filled with gas at the street corners.
Jon was able to preach each night and offer counsel throughout the conference.
Jon also taught rope tricks and different evangelism tools.
A fun past-time for the area was jumping off the bridge into the river on the hot days. It was rainy season which results in the river rising each week to a point where it goes into their homes.
Dragonflies were seen throughout the week.
Typical way of washing clothes in the Amazon was in the river.
Motorcycles and motor taxis were available in and around the town.
Jon was invited to preach in different churches in the Amazon.
What a blessing to see the heart of the people to pray and desire to learn from God's Word.
They even offered children's classes so that the parents could participate in the Seminary classes.
The river was getting higher each day but the motor taxis still drove through these areas to transport us to the camp.
Matthew and I enjoyed our leisure time by playing soccer, jumping off the bridge, and games with the others.
Washing dishes at camp.
Nicole, who has grown up in this town her whole life, was fearful of jumping from the bridge. This was her first time doing it. My last trip resulted in her attempting but never doing it after over two hours of coaching. This year after one and a half hours of coaching, she finally took the plunge but still has the fear of doing it again.
Matthew assisted with the children's games at times.
Town trash pick-up day was a tractor driving through and people throwing their trash into the wagon.
Matthew had the opportunity to learn how to drive a motor taxi by himself.
Matthew was asked to play the piano for the graduation ceremony.
These four pastors are from churches in Colombia who have participated the last five years in this training.
The two youngest students to train for the ministry and receive their certificates.
Pastor Walmert, Pastor Jon, Matthew, and Alejandro all came in together to teach or assist at the conference.
Praying for Edward and his wife who have been taking the classes and seeking God's Will.
(Our jungle trip continues on our next blog where we traveled further down the Amazon River till we reached the Colombia and Brazil borders)
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