It has
been a long time dream of our team to be able to host a conference for indigenous
missionaries to indigenous people. These men and women work tirelessly in their
own communities to bring the light and life of Christ to dark places. Because
they work in their own communities, often in incredibly isolated places, it can
be very difficult for these brothers and sisters to receive any type of
encouragement or refreshment.
River Beni- view from our hostel
Our goal was to be able to provide them a week of
respite, refreshment and spiritual renewal away from their daily grind. Most of
the time these are the pastors and missionaries who are leading, planning and
directing their own church conferences, so we wanted to give them a place to
come and just receive the Word. Even pastors and teachers need space to heal,
refresh and rejuvenate them to be able to continue doing the work God has
called them to. They are only human too, struggling with their own challenges,
fears and doubts. 
This December we were blessed to have
a team come from Summit Church en Español (in NC) to help bring this dream to
fruition. I had the privilege of
accompanying this team (along with Ezer while Jason stayed home with the other boys) to a small town in rural Bolivia, Rurrenabaque.
This
team was great because they were basically responsible for putting together
this conference. The pastor from the church brought the messages each morning
and evening. I was even able to sit and enjoy the encouraging messages this
Pastor spoke. There were several from the church’s worship team and brought
incredible music to this tiny church in the middle of nowhere. Others were
caring for the missionary kids- allowing them to enjoy fun crafts, songs and
times of teaching, allowing the MKs to relax for a week instead of just being
the missionary kid with high expectations for model behavior. Other team
members were able to spend time in prayer and counseling individuals and
couples. I know of one couple in particular that benefited from the pastoral
counseling as they were on the verge of separation.
Some of
the highlights for me included:
Ezer's first plane ride was in a Cessna. He did great!
Hearing from several indigenous missionaries
about the work they were doing in their own communities. - Meal times! The team and the participants all ate together, and the fellowship was sweet!
Fish was served for lunch after a morning session on Jonah - The night each family/indigenous group represented there sang worship songs in their own languages! It was a little foretaste of every tribe and tongue giving praise to the Lord.
- Volleyball! Although I was just a spectator (hard to play volleyball with a baby in your arms), the joy, fellowship and laughter was infectious and a testimony to enjoying good things as a body of believers.
