Dad Sends the Rain

As we piled into our canoes I could sense excitement rising up in us! As we trekked along we quickly began to realize that this would be a difficult trip.

What was supposed to take 1.5 hours, took 4 hours because the water level was so low in the river. Soon, exhaustion and we began to yarp. We would only have to make this trip twice (there and back) but the villagers needed rain. As our students dragged our huge canoes, most barefoot stepping on sharp rocks, we yarped, "Dad please bring the rain for these people!"

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When we finally arrived at the village, sunburnt because the water had washed away any of our efforts to protect our skin, I sat in our canoe gazing up at the primitive village. Thoughts rushed through my mind, "Dad, do I really get to do this? This feels like a dream."

One day, while we were preparing lunch in the village, something miraculous happened. All of a sudden the rains came! The once crystal blue river water turned into rushing coffee, taking along with it whole rainforest trees, root and all! Dad had answered our yarps! The people in the village were so excited and went down to the river! Most of the river's banks had disappeared and all were left astonished at how fast the water was raging.

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After talking to the chief we found out that the village had not gotten a major rain since January (now it was May). The canoe drivers had nearly abandoned any hope of coming to get us near the city's edge the day before. Imagine how hard it was for them to drag those canoes... With 9 of us pulling each canoe upriver it took us 4 hours, but when the boat drivers travelled it was only 2 people per canoe. The trip seemed impossible but they felt deep down inside of them that they needed to come and get us. The chief said that his tribe was extremely encouraged by our visit and that Dad had showed them all the blessings you receive when you are obedient. Most of the villagers had heard of Him but most of them had no real relationship with the Him. Dad used our team to water the seeds previous followers had planted.

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We also shared stories from the word orally.

They responded with question afetr question about my Dad:

"If Dad is a loving, how can there be so much pain and sin in the world?

How can He let all of these things happen?

We tried to answer their questions as best as we could. However, while we listened to all their questions and comments, I could see how He was stirring the hearts of his people.

The people of Embera Puru were searching for Him!