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February 1976 Newsletter
COLOMBIAN CHRISTIAN MISSION
Dale and Jeanie Meade
San José del Guaviare in Colombia, South America
Volume 4, Issue 2 February, 1976
TYPICAL JUNGLE TRAVEL
(PHOTOS)
Wendy takes a trip into the jungle. Narrow jungle trails lead us to services at different Christian homes.
BUSINESS AS USUAL
The last month has found us busy as usual. So many things have happened that it is hard to choose one event to describe. Permit me to mention a few of the more outstanding happenings. Perhaps the first should be our change in the work force. Warren Sanders has left San Jose on a more or less permanent basis due to the health of his wife. He had pretty much withdrawn from the missionary effort several months ago so it really doesn't add to our work. However it does leave us to our own when it comes to making important decisions concerning the work. Please pray that God will give us wisdom beyond our years to guide the work onward.
Attendance at the Jobo church has increased. We now often have 50 or more present for services. That makes the Jobo church one of the largest congregations in the Vaupes. They are now going to build a church building to worship in. As the work grows, (five baptisms in December) it has been beset by petty bickering and personality clashes. We have been hard pressed to teach true Christian love and forgiveness. We hope to overcome these obstacles so that the Jobo church can be a real leader in this region. Their evangelism has been very effective. For a distance of about six to seven miles along the Jobo trail, every family but two contains baptized believers. These two families has shown increased interest. This leaves no family in the neighborhood to evangelize. Hopefully now we can turn their interest and zeal to other areas.
The Nueva Tolima preaching point has finally been converted into a church. Seven "interested persons" were baptized there in December to become the charter members. The church is currently being served by members of the Jobo church on a rotation basis, with Phil Banta and me assisting. The assembly is still small, feeble and is located in a very difficult area. They need your prayers as they are bound to encounter some difficult times ahead.
I have used the chain saw to cut wood for the church building in El Jobo (it will be of logs), to cut fence posts for a Colombian brother, and to build a bridge in a cooperative community project. The latter is a great way to build good relations within a neighborhood as we have been evangelizing there. The motorcycle has also been a great help. I have already put almost 200 miles on it. Many of these activities would have required that I spend many days away from home or would have been impossible to attend. It is a great convenience as well as a timesaver. In spite of frequent "spills" due to mud, etc. it has been a real blessing.
Yet, it has been business as usual, but the business has left us worn out. But tiredness brings contentment when it has been in the service of the Lord. Those who serve the Master know what I mean. Those who are not active, well, try it, you'll like it.