The Next Step

Quite some time has passed since my last blog entry. I have finished with the theological training in Iquitos and I'm beginning the next step in Pucallpa. In this entry I would like to summarize the last half of the Iquitos phase and touch lightly our short time in Pucallpa.

Iquitos

Following the Iquitos project we continued with our classes until our graduation a week ago. We had many experiences both good and bad. We had sickness and some of the team had family crisis back in the states. We had/have culture shock, but I am assured that it will pass. The group has had to overcome partner difficulties (cultural/language/personality conflicts). In spite of all these negative things, it has been a pleasure for me to see group grow closer because of those difficulties. Life does definitely get easier as your Spanish skills improve. In Iquitos we also had a few comforts of home at a local restaurant called the Yellow Rose of Texas. I personally occasioned the Rose quite often as they serve pancakes, BBQ, Chile, Chicken and Dumplings and lastly they had decent drip coffee. With sadness and excitement for a new adventure, the Pucallpa and Iquitos cohorts bid their farewells on the barge headed for Pucallpa. For me personally it was very difficult to say goodbye to friends that have things in common with me that no other person ever will, the trials, successes and comradeship that happened in Iquitos Peru.

Pucallpa

After 5 days on a barge heading upstream (i,e south) on the Amazon river system, we arrived at Pucallpa. Stretching our sore bodies from sleeping in hammocks, we carried our tremendous amount of luggage of the barge to be happily greeted by the Fosters (our support family). We live in a walled compound that is comprised of the church, the rooms, the kitchen and various church offices. I love my new accommodations. It really feels good to have my suitcases unpacked for the first time in 9 months. I was really excited to find a local store that sells soda other than Coke. I'm excited over pop? Am I crazy? yeah probably, I live in Peru.

I saw the community that my partner and I will be working in and I'm very eager to start but I'm having trepidations as well to be starting. While I am a bit fearful I do, for the first time, feel that we have all the material we need to do our job a little more effectively( curriculum, bibles, propaganda etc.). What I need from ya'll back home, is many hours in prayer. Please pray for the spirit to be poured out in Pucallpa, the unity of our team, the personal spiritual growth of each member in the team and finally for the "Baby Christians" that we will have to leave after 6 months.

I hope this letter finds everyone well with much blessings

Timothy Mong

First entry.

Greetings to you my dear brothers and sisters in the Coquille Church of the Nazarene, together will all my other generous supporters

I am writing today in order to maintain the good faith which you placed in me and the call to missions. It is my intention, to inform you of the most eventful stories which I have had the pleasure of experiencing in Peru. My first three months I lived in Arequipa, studying Spanish. I lived with a Peruvian family, eating Peruvian food and trying to grasp the simplest of phrases. I studied Spanish for three months, finally placing myself in the pre-advanced level.

My most memorable event in Arequipa was the district baptisms. We were driven out to a hot springs in a bus, in which of course all the seats were taken and most of stood for the 2 hour drive. At the springs we had the pleasure of seeing eight new baptisms. Thanks be to God that the church in Arequipa is growing steadily, being the major part of the 300 Nazarenes in the south of Peru (I don’t know how many Christians are in the south, only how many Nazarenes).

After language school, we came to Iquitos where I am today. We have theology classes five days a week. This consists of classes in the morning and practices in the afternoons at local Nazarene churches. Glory be to God! Your support has seen fruit come to harvest. Three weeks ago, my partner, I and my pastor went to a local house in which an entire family came to Christ. The family owns four bars which they now say they are going to close. I say again all glory be to God!

This last week I had the privilege of participating in the local medical campaign. The clinic treated up to 1200 patients, wow! What’s more, there are 250 confirmed decisions for Christ! The local pastors will follow up with the new believers. Glory be to God that a one week project can touch so many lives. On the last day of the clinic, we all got some excitement. Towards the end of the day, a lady comes screaming into the clinic “!Fuego Fuego! !Ya ha consumado la mitad de mi casa! !Va a destruir toda la cuadra!” which means “ Fire Fire! It has already consumed half of my house! It’s going to destroy the entire block!” We all then grabbed buckets and rushed to the wells and threw bucket after bucket after bucket on the fire till the village had put it out. Amazingly the fire was stopped in only one (house the entire block is connected by thatch roofs).

I want to thank you all so much for your support. Your support made this practical and because of your prayers God made this possible.

Sincerest thanks

Timothy Scott Mong, 40/40 missionary