I
received this story from one of our participants on an Ambassador trip (4 weeks) to the Amazon Jungle last summer.
Traveling in Small Boats, Sleeping in Hammocks, Eating Wild Bananas & Turtle, Miles from Modern Civilization . . .
Wow! What an adventure! My name is Amber Grayford and I was on the Ambassador Team to the Amazon Jungle, Peru the summer of 2006. I had wanted to go on a mission trip for a long time, but I never really looked into it for various reasons. Then one of my close friends went on a trip to the Dominican Republic with AIM, and she came back with awesome stories. I talked with God (and my parents) about going on a trip, and we all agreed it was time I went.
Our team of 23 flew to a city called Iquitos, which is located in the jungle on the Amazon River. There we met a local missionary, Pastor Jorge; he was our guide to the six villages we stayed in. In the mornings, we would go from hut to hut, praying for the sick and just talking with people. Many of them were so lonely; just the fact that we cared about them was powerful. In the afternoons, we put together Vacation Bible School programs for the kids (skits, Bible verses, games, and songs), which was a big success. At one village, we had over 150 kids squeeze into the tiny church!
Every night, we told as many people as we could (news travels fast in the Amazon!) that we were having a service. Hundreds of people came, some of them because all of the white gringos made them curious! Through music, drama (my favorite part!), testimonies, and powerful sermons, we shared the Good News of our Savior. The Holy Spirit was truly at work; almost every night, people came forward to accept Christ and change their lives. Many came asking to be prayed for, even those who hadn’t fully accepted the Lord, because they saw that this was indeed a great and mighty God we served.
During our time in the jungle, we truly witnessed God as the great Healer. Story after story poured forth as fevers left, severe headaches ceased, upset stomachs were made well—one man bedridden with malaria, got up the next day, walked around, and said he felt much much better! We were in awe.
I had never been with a group of people my age who were so on fire for the Lord. I will never forget the love and devotion our team members showed for one another and for the people we met. We had to learn to trust God completely for everything. Going on a 4 week trip allowed us to experience the hard aspects of ministry as well as the good. Being sick is never fun, but honestly, I am very glad for even that experience; it was another adventure that helped me rely on the Lord. We all discovered that serving God is not easy nor is it always pleasant, but it is always worth it.
I believe that we can (and should) serve God right here where we are, but I really encourage every Christian to go on a mission trip at least once. This trip was not only an opportunity to share Christ, but an amazing growing experience, and the most incredible adventure of my life. I believe I am a better witness here in the states because of what God taught me in the Amazon Jungle.
My desire to serve God has grown 10 times. Right now I am studying Communications at a Christ-centered university, with the dream to spread Christ through books/magazines, motivational speaking, radio, internet, and film. Drama is my passion, and so I’m hoping to form an evangelistic drama team to present in downtown parks. In March, I will have the privilege to go with a group of university students for an 8-day mission trip to an orphanage in Mexico.
I believe that everyday can be a mission trip, if we see the need—and respond to it. Since the trip, I have been really trying to take each day as an opportunity to witness about Christ. Seemingly “little” things like, being patient, and thanking the Lord out loud, are things God can use to touch many hearts. I pray that this story of what God did in my life will encourage you. As we say in the Amazon, “
Dios le
bendiga!”
If you are interested in having this same type of experience and going on a trip yourself, check out all the Ambassador trips we offer at
http://www.adventures.org/a/nextstep/sum_am.asp
