God's goodness to me in 2023

 If I had to choose a verse to encapsulate what 2023 represented for me, it would be Psalm 71:20

"Though you have made me see troubles, 

many and bitter,

you will restore my life again; 

from the depths of the earth; 

you will again bring me up."

After three long years, we were finally able to reclaim the freedoms that we enjoyed before the pandemic. I could go to the beach whenever and for as long as I felt like, I could hug my friends without restrictions, and we could resume activities like camp fully in person. I truly felt like my life was restored again, especially in the area of community and friendships, and also a deepening in my relationship with God.

In my happy place :)

One of the major highlights of 2023 was that my sisters were finally able to come home, along with their husbands and children, for the first time since Daddy died. The last time we were together was in June 2019. This year Mummy turned 70, and her birthday wish was to be together with all her children and grandchildren in the same place. As a bonus, her sister came too! We rented a beautiful villa in Tobago with a massive pool. It was also the first time that all the grandchildren were able to meet one another in person, so it was truly a precious time of making memories together.

The entire clan

Cousin love!

Soaking in the Nylon Pool

We planned out our itinerary a month in advance: which day we would be hitting the beach, visiting a fort, feeding hummingbirds, or swimming in a waterfall. On the day we left, a cousin who I don't regularly communicate with messaged me to say that I was on her mind, and that she prayed for God to "send His angels of protection to surround you and everything and everyone that concerns you" and that she prayed Psalm 91 over my life. I told her that the entire family was heading to Tobago, and asked for prayers for protection over our house against bush fires, because we had been experiencing a very dry dry season. The very next evening, upon returning home from a wonderful morning on the beach, we received a call from our neighbour that the empty lot next to our house was on fire, and that our driveway was full of smoke, as the fire started spreading to our yard. They called the fire services and thankfully they responded in time to get it under control. We thank God that His angels of protection were truly surrounding everything that concerned us, as my cousin prayed the day before.

Our sunset in Tobago later that evening

My family is truly a gift from God that I am grateful for every day. God has used them to provide for my needs so I can focus on the ministry He has called me to. I don't have to worry about what I will eat or where I will sleep on any given day because of their provision. The children God has blessed my siblings with bring me great joy, and I thank God for the unbridled love I receive from each one of them.

Can't do life without them 

I had my share of car drama this year. I was hosting some missionaries from the States in April at our home in south. We had just finished visiting the Wild Fowl Trust and San Fernando Hill, and while on Mosquito Creek I realized that my engine was overheating. Thankfully I was able to get to the section where the lanes were dual and pull aside. All the radiator coolant was leaking out on the road. A couple minutes after we stopped a car pulled in front to help. The driver was a mechanic, and he was able to diagnose that the radiator was cracked and needed to be replaced. Thankfully we were only five minutes away from home so we were able to fill it up and get home safely, and there is a radiator business 2 minutes away from where we live. Another time, I got a flat tire, and there were 4 able-bodied men on site to repair it. The favor and provision of God!

The mechanic only had one functioning arm
but that didn't stop him from helping

This year did not come without the challenges of illness. I had the cold a couple times, but it was a bout of gastro that had me floored in June this year. It was the week leading up to the ISCF campworkers retreat and I know I had been going non-stop since January so when I started feeling the symptoms at the beginning of the week I thought I was just tired. I had a hike to Maracas Waterfall planned on the Thursday that I really wanted to go to, and God gave me the strength to make it. He also provided persons to support over the weekend so I didn't have to do all the running around I usually would. At one point I was literally lying down on the floor, but the program went on and by the end of the retreat all my symptoms were gone, thank God for His miracle-working power!

Only by God's grace and strength was I able
to make it to Maracas waterfall 

Another major blessing for me this year was in the area of community. As a single woman in ministry, it is so vital to have relationships that can encourage and pour into me. There are those who have been a part of my life since I was a child; others who are a part of my church family; still others who I have met in my various ministry assignments along the way. It is comforting to know that I have safe places to offload and get advice (and sometimes a good buff) and refreshing and support from.

Journeying together for the past 30 years

Part of my church family :)

I can testify that this year I have grown in intimacy with my Heavenly Father. I have been reminded that He values relationship with me more than what I can do for Him; that rest is a vital part of my service to God because I cannot pour out of a vessel that is empty; that prayer is not just about me talking to God but also being able to hear from Him; that just because I have a bad day that doesn't mean I have failed and every day is a new opportunity to start again.

My newest sister Nikita has played a major role
in my spiritual development this year

My birthmonth this year was nothing short of epic: a beautiful blend of ministry and enjoying nature with valued friends. It started off partnering with Christafari at an evangelistic event that our church had in Eddie Hart grounds. While they were on stage, members of our church mingled with the persons who stopped to listen and had conversations with them about God. Before the concert started, however, I was invited to be a part of a music video they were filming - for those who missed it you can check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqhzU1hzbjU

On the Sunday before my birthday, my sister organized a Zoom party for me with all my nephews and my niece and it was hilarious and sweet at the same time. On my actual birthday, which was in the middle of the week, I took a couple friends to explore a new beach with me on the north coast. Around this time there was a lot of rain so I wasn't sure that we would be able to go, but God who knows the desires of my heart paused the rain on that day so we were able to enjoy a lovely sea bath before the rains came pouring down.

Yarra river that leads to the beach - stunningly beautiful!

Ice cream run with the family later that evening

The next day I served with ITNAC visiting homes in Debe that had been severely affected by flooding when a river in the area burst its banks after a couple days of consistent rain. It was a blessing for me to be a blessing to these families as we took food hampers and cleaning supplies and a message of the hope of Christ. They were so grateful to have someone who they could share their stories with, and were thankful for the help they received.

Getting ready to head out with Susan and Timothy- great vibez!

The following week, I invited some girls from Point Fortin to our home for an empowering session on vision. Nikita shared with them the importance of setting goals and having a vision for what they wanted their life to look like, and then we gave them materials to create their own vision boards. It was encouraging to see what their came up with; some of them wrote down areas in their life that they wanted God to change, others outlined their goals and dreams. In conversation with some of them afterwards, they shared how they put their vision boards on their bedroom walls at home to remind them of what they had to work towards.

Older women teaching the younger women

Later that week a couple friends and I rented a yacht and went down the islands for the day. We experienced some heavy rain showers earlier that week, and I was concerned about if we would still be able to make it, but the boatman assured me that "everything nice and we ready to jump out" so we did! The weather was glorious, the company was hilarious and the lime was fantabulous. We praised and worshipped on the way to the beach, had a lovely time in the water, and soaked in a beautiful sunset on the way back. I truly felt the favor and love of God all over me on that day.

I think this picture says it all...

Since June only had 30 days, my celebrations extended into the first few days of July 😁 My good friends and prayer partners from my high school days took me to brunch and we had a lovely time. I also had the pleasure of hosting my sister from another mother for a few days when she visited from Miami. She always takes such good care of me whenever I pass through by her on my way to other destinations, so it was my pleasure to return the favor. It was lovely to be able to trade stories in person rather than over the phone, and to have her here in person for the first time in years.

The kind of friendships that endure through the years

The kind of friends who are good for your soul

After a busy season of ministry in July/August full of Vacation Bible School and ISCF camp and a mission trip to Guyana (you can read about it here in case you missed it   https://adropindeocean.blogspot.com/2023/09/the-goodness-of-god-in-guyana.html) I took a vacation in September to visit some dear friends in Barbados. I was thoroughly spoiled during my time there. My hosts took exceptional care of me, my friends outdid themselves in their hospitality, God provided the best sunrises and sunsets, and the conversations and connections were so refreshing. I truly felt the love during my time there, and it was wonderful to reconnect with friends I had not seen for years.

This family has a special place in my heart

Thandi took such good care of me 💓

Exploring the East coast with Melissa

Pastor took me on my first ever submarine adventure!

I do not have the words to express how much I value those who have continued to support me in the ministry God has called me to. I could honestly not do it without your love and encouragement. Those who have prayed for me, checked in with me at random times, made regular or surprise financial contributions - I pray God will pour on you exceeding and abundantly more than you can ask or imagine. I don't know what is in store for me in 2024, but I know that with God on my side and the support of my community, it will be well.

God showing up and showing off

Bringing hope to the hurting

A few years ago Inter School Christian Fellowship (ISCF) began partnering with youth leaders with a passion for evangelism in a program called "School Tours". They would visit schools that either had an ISCF group, or was planning to start an ISCF group, and put on a program that included songs, drama, dance and testimonies. At the end of the program, the gospel would be shared, and the names of those who responded to the salvation call would be passed on to the ISCF clubs in the schools for follow up. I was never involved in these outreaches before, but this year I felt God nudging me in that direction. I thought I would help with praying for the students after the program, but God clearly had more in mind.

Dramatic presentation depicting Jesus taking
the burden of our sins

I was invited to attend a meeting on the Saturday before the School Tours began. We spent time in prayer for the outreach, then the rehearsals began. We used songs with lyrics that pointed to the new life that is available in Christ despite mistakes of the past. For each song, we did a skit to dramatize the message in the song. The skits covered topics such as alcoholism, drug abuse, incest, rape, homosexuality, abortion, suicide and searching for identity and acceptance. For each skit, we rotated the persons playing the different roles, because we were not guaranteed to have the same persons available for every school visit and wanted everyone to feel confident to jump in any role as needed.

Had to bring out my acting skills :)

This term we visited schools in the East, from St. Augustine to Sangre Grande, over a period of 5 weeks. Most weeks we visited one school in the morning and another one at lunchtime on Tuesdays and Thursdays. In some of the schools, we had the privilege of sharing with the entire school body during their morning assembly. In other schools, we were given the lunch period so we had to invite students to join us, and they did in their numbers. At a few schools, there were specific classes which were assigned to come to our presentations. We walked with our PA system and used whatever space was granted to us, from auditoriums to drama theatres to adjoining classrooms. Hundreds of students heard the gospel message through our presentations.

In some schools there was standing room only

It was amazing to me how the culture in each school was so different. In some students the students were eager to find out why we were there and what we came to do. In others, we had to work a bit harder to get the students interested. Some schools encouraged the students to stay back afterwards if they needed prayer or someone to talk to; others were very strict about when we had to finish and wrap up so the students could go to their classes. But in every single school we visited, God was at work in powerful ways.

Students responding to the invitation
to surrender their lives to Christ

After sharing the skits and our testimonies, students recognized that they could identify with many of the issues which were highlighted. They came up to us afterwards to talk, some of them breaking down in tears so all we could do was pray for them. Some students shared about struggles they were dealing with that they had never spoken about before with anyone. It was a beautiful to see how sharing our stories of how God transformed our lives impacted these young people, and gave us an opportunity to encourage them with the hope that is available in Christ. One student who was struggling with suicidal thoughts shared how they almost didn't come to school that day, but God ensured that they came so they could hear the message that God is a present help in any difficulty they may be experiencing.

Members of the team praying with
a student afterwards

One conversation that stood out to me was with a student who was experiencing some major challenges at home. She mentioned that she thought that things would get better if she gave her life to Christ. I shared with her that having a relationship with God doesn't guarantee that life would be problem free, but the difference is that we will have His help and strength to endure the challenges. We recognized that our young people are dealing with a lot of serious issues, and many of them don't have the necessary support systems available. We are trusting God that those who took that step of faith to open up would respond to the invitation to attend the ISCF meetings where they can get the spiritual support they need.

On one side of the bristol board we wrote what our life
was like before Christ; the other side detailed life with Christ

At one school we visited, there was no ISCF Club, because there was no teacher who had agreed to run the group. When we visited, one of the staffworkers asked the Principal if he could think of one Christian who might be willing to lead the group, and he suggested someone. The staffworker spoke to her, and she agreed to serve as the sponsor! At that same school, one student expressed her surprise at how many of her peers responded to the call to commit their lives to Christ. She thought that she was the only Christian in her school. We are grateful to God that they now know that they are not alone in their journey of living for Jesus.

There was no stage at this school, so students
stood on benches so they wouldn't miss any of the action

We thank God for the doors which were opened to allow us to minister to students in these schools, and we pray that for every student who made that commitment of faith, that they would be willing to take the next steps to grow in their relationship with Christ. Please continue to lift up our young people in prayer, especially those who are dealing with serious issues, that they would find strength in Christ to endure and overcome.

Challenge Completed (late post from the end of 2021)

This picture sums up how I feel about 2021.

To say that this year was a challenge is an understatement. There was so much sickness and death surrounding me. Someone even commented that it seemed like all my nice friends were dying. Never before has our mortality been so real and impossible to ignore than in 2021. Since the pandemic hit in 2020, it has caused a pause, a shifting in focus, a realignment of thinking about what really matters for eternity: relationship with God, and relationship with others.

How can we prepare for the inevitable? Many times when someone dies people say that they have gone to a better place. But in Mattew 7:21-28 God makes it very clear:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

It is one thing to say that we know about God, but do we really know God, and does He know us? This is where relationship comes in. The more time we spend with God, in His Word and through prayer, the more we will get to know His heart, and the more we will know what changes we need to make to please Him, and what His will is for our lives. We cannot say that we love God if we are not prepared to keep Him commands (1 John 5:3)

This is my prayer for myself, and for all my friends and family in 2022: that we would increase in our knowledge of God and grow in our intimacy with Him, so we can hear clearly when He speaks and be willing to follow His directives. Once we do this, we will be able to overcome every obstacle that comes our way, no matter how challenging it may seem.

I was reading Psalm 13 this morning, where David was expressing how he wrestled with his thoughts, day after day having sorrow in his heart, and I know this is something many of us can relate to with the amount of losses we experienced in 2021. But in the closing verses of verses 5 and 6 we see a shift in his focus, which could only have happened because of his relationship with God, when he said:

“But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for He has been good to me.”

In the midst of the challenge that was 2021, where I lost someone from almost every single family I am a part of - my Ekklesia family, my immediate family, my Grenadian family, my friends who are family, my extended family, my ITNAC family, my church family – I can testify of the Lord’s goodness to me:

* The emotional support provided by Lorraine Isidore, Laura Hunter and Purdey Rambharath in the months leading up to Daddy’s passing

* The help provided by Kathy Ogunbona, Lydia Obeng, Joel Dowlath and Sarah R. Dowlath after Daddy died, and the joy their children brought

* The wee hour of the morning conversations with Martha Wame, and Jaemie Gina Music when I couldn’t sleep in the days following Daddy’s passing

* The lifting of my spirits by Erica Edwards, Kerry Ann Duncan and Yvette Primus when I had to spend my birthday in quarantine 3 days after Daddy died and they brought food and flowers

* Avonelle Hector Joseph for always checking in with me even in the midst of her personal pain and all that was on her plate

* The opportunity I had to travel and be reunited with my sisters and nephews after 2 long years apart

* The comfort I received from Kathy Ogunbona and Lydia Obeng in Baltimore when I found out that my cousin died

* The comfort I received from Laura Hunter in Florida when I found out that Keisha and Danny died

* The privilege of going to a beach in Miami after being locked out of our beaches at home for 7 long months

* Reversing into a man’s car by mistake the day before I left for Tobago and he being so gracious about it and not making it into a big scene

* The joy of being in Tobago 2 days after our beaches were finally opened in December

* The support and care shown by too many of you to mention

I am truly honored to be blessed with such a loving and supportive community who God used to carry me through the challenge that was 2021. I don’t know what 2022 holds, but I know that the same God who sustained me through 2021 is more than able to take me through 2022. See less

The goodness of God in Guyana

Samaritan Outreach Ministries International (SOMI) is a short-term missions agency that aims to share the good news of Jesus in remote villages that most people are reluctant to go to because of how difficult it is to get there. I had been on two trips with SOMI before, so I was excited when I found out in April this year that another trip was being planned to the interior of Guyana in August. For once, the dates did not conflict with ISCF camp, so I made the commitment to go. 

In the lead up to the trip, however, I started questioning the wisdom of my decision. I had a packed calendar of activities, both ministry and leisure, from the beginning of July straight through to the day before I left for Guyana: a regional conference, Vacation Bible Schools, a baptism, ISCF Camps, a family trip to Tobago, limes with childhood friends. It is only by the grace of God that I was able to fit in the preparations for the Guyana trip in between these activities and embark on one of my most meaning mission trips to date.

So happy I said yes to this trip!

God's hand of protection and favour over us was evident from the start of this trip to the very end. Before we left the airport, I experienced a mini crisis when I realized that I didn't have my passport; it had fallen out of my pocket when I retrieved my luggage from the carousel. Thankfully I realized it was missing within a few minutes, and the person who picked it up had handed it to an airport official, who was searching the floor for me. 

Securing our luggage on top of the bus to
maximise our space inside :)

We had been warned about the condition of the road we would have to take to get to Potarineau - the village we were going to be ministering at. In the past, team members had to ride on the back of trucks for hours, and then transfer over to a cart pulled by a bull to get to the village. If the rains fell, the trail would turn to mud and on more than one occasion, they had to get out to push the truck when it got stuck. However in recent years since the discovery of oil, the government was able to invest in improving the roads, even the ones through the jungle, so we were able to make the 15 hour journey in an air-conditioned bus! God knew what my body and mind needed after the intense schedule I had prior to this trip, so He ensured that we had no drama on the way in to Potarineau.

Driving on solid roads instead of a mud trail

We even got some rest and breakfast at this
rest stop along the trail

We drove onto this pontoon to cross the Essequibo
River first thing in the morning 

We arrived in Lethem at 11am the next morning - this is a small town at the other end of the jungle trail. We had lunch and bought supplies we would need for the village, including fans which were solar-powered - these were welcome blessings to take us through the hot nights at our base. The drive to the village from Lethem took only two hours, thanks again to the improved roads. The Chief welcomed us to Potarineau, and expressed his hope that our programs would help with some of the social ills they were experiencing. After settling in, we spent some time in prayer for a fruitful four days of ministry. Our base had running water, supplied by a tank that was filled with water that was pumped from a well. Flushing toilets, an indoor shower and bunk beds were considered luxuries for a SOMI trip!

One of many stunning sunsets seen from our base

We awoke early the next morning to prepare the materials needed for our outreach to the children. On that first day, approximately 40 children and teenagers came out. They were very excited and engaged in all the activities we prepared to bring across the messages that God loved them no matter what and that God was with them through all the difficulties of life. There were songs, games, craft and prizes, as well as the Bible focus on the life of Joseph. We challenged them to invite more children and the next day we had over 100 children! The teens who came out were invited to the Youth outreach after lunch, and we saw many of the children coming out to the evening meetings with their families as well.

Sorting and prepping materials

Keeping the early birds occupied on the first day

Let the games begin!

I loved hearing the squeals of laughter during the activities

Acting out the story of Joseph

Special guest you would only find when
you do children's ministry in the Interior :)

We solicited the assistance of the teenagers when it was time for craft, and they did an excellent job helping the younger ones. The review games we had after each lesson showed that the children understood and remembered the biblical truths that we shared. On the last day we gave an invitation for those who wanted to commit their lives to Jesus, and over 20 of them responded. We are grateful to God for the strength He provided so we could effectively minister to these precious ones, and we pray that the seeds of His Word which were sown in their hearts would find good soil on which to grow and bring forth much fruit.

Grateful for the assistance of the teens during craft time

Every child left with a craft to remind
them of the biblical truth taught that day

Full house for our last day of ministry

Precious ones who responded honto the call to
surrender their lives to Christ

My primary ministry responsibility was the outreach to women. On the first ministry day, 6 ladies showed up. We had a lovely time of fellowship, with each lady sharing honestly about where they were at in their relationship with God, and identifying what needed to be changed in order for them to be closer to God. They were grateful for times when missionaries come and teach God's Word to enable them to draw closer to Him, but we challenged them to hold each other accountable for the commitments they made to get closer to Christ.

It was a privilege to pour into the lives of these
women during our time in the village

Most of the women who came that first day were from the church, so we decided that the next day, we would take the meeting to the benab at the center of the village, where we had noticed women the day before making costumes in preparation for Amerindian heritage month in September. During these sessions, we shared about the forgiveness from sins that is available in Christ, and the freedom from guilt and condemnation that is found in Him. One exercise required them to write their sins on a piece of paper, and then cover it with 1 John 1:9 as an illustration of how our sins were covered by Jesus' blood once we confess them. One lady commented that her paper was not big enough for all her sins. Please pray for these women, that they will find the peace and lasting joy that is freely available in Jesus.

Engaging in the session while making their costumes

Team member Shamdai was called upon to introduce an additional ministry to encourage more ladies from the village to come out - teaching them to cook Trinidadian dishes. Those who were free met in the morning period and learnt to make delicacies such as coconut bake, kuchorie and sweet bread. During these times of cooking, she shared a short word of encouragement with them, and they spent time in prayer and worship in the indigenous tribal languages of those who were present. Those who turned out for the afternoon ministry sessions benefited greatly from these culinary efforts :)

Sharing the sweetbread

During the final session for the women, we shared about the power of the Holy Spirit in enabling us to live in a way that is pleasing to God. The ladies were challenged to move beyond accepting Jesus as Saviour, and truly make Him the Lord and Master of their lives. We also shared about the fruit of the Spirit, and encouraged them to examine their lives to see which fruit they needed God's help in cultivating. We are trusting God to continue to help those who made commitments that day to live fully surrendered to Him.

Who needs chairs when you have hammocks?

Team member Ria was responsible for the outreach to the teenagers. We initially planned for them to meet in the church building, but when no one showed up on the first day, we changed the location to the football field in the village and this made a huge difference. Ria shared with them about their identity in Christ, and challenged them to think about their goals and what they needed to do to achieve them. On the last day we invited them to consider whether or not they were truly surrendered to Christ, and if they were happy with where they currently were in their relationship with God. We praise God for the four teenagers who stepped forward, indicating that they wanted to make a change and let God be the Master of their lives! It was also encouraging that one of them overcame her shyness and agreed to pray the closing prayer.

So encouraged that they came out even
when rain clouds were threatening

Competition to see who can build the
tallest tower out of paper

The proud winners

Closing challenge on the last day

The ministry to the men of the village was a bit more challenging. Although when we drove around the village on the first day to invite them to the sessions they agreed to come out, no one did. The men from our team resorted to meeting the men of the village where they were, having one on one conversations in hammocks, or conversing with a group of them who were drinking beers outside of the village shop. It was good to see the men accompany their families to the night meetings though, where team members took turns presenting the gospel. On the final night of meetings, one team member was privileged to lead one of the men who attended with his family to Christ!

First night of meetings

After our first day in Potarineau, persons from neighbouring villages who had been invited by our hosting pastor started showing up. Families from Katoonarib, Mappi and Shulinab drove for hours so they could benefit from the sessions we delivered. They walked with their hammocks to sleep in, and meals were provided by the women in the church from the supplies which we purchased, so they were well taken care of. On the second to last night, we had the evening session at the benab to encourage more persons from the community to attend and the turnout was great. We had an extended time of worship, praising God in different languages as groups from the neighbouring villages took turns in leading the singing. It was a beautiful glimpse of what heaven would be like with every nation, tribe and tongue uniting to worship the true and living God.

Worship team from a neighbouring village

The church was packed for the final night of ministry. It was encouraging to see many women from the community who came to ladies' ministry in attendance. Team leader Sunil shared about the need for forgiveness towards others in order for us to be forgiven by God. The team was able to pray with those who came forward after the message. After sharing a meal with those who came, there were over two more hours of worship and testimony - the service concluded just before midnight! We trust God that His Word that went out to all who attended would not return to Him void, but would accomplish the purpose for which it was sent.

Full house for our final night of ministry

Sunil shared his personal testimony about the 
freedom that comes when we forgive others

Team members interceding for those who
came up for prayer

Feeding the bellies after feeding the souls

From the first day we arrived, our hosting pastor issued a call for persons who wanted to get baptized to indicate so that it could have been done while we were there. It wasn't until our last day that four persons responded - one young lady, two teenagers and one little girl. I spoke with each of them to ensure they understood the significance of baptism, and they all indicated their readiness to make this public declaration of their faith in Christ. That afternoon we journeyed to the river where we were able to participate in this joyous milestone in the lives of these four precious souls. 

The baptism candidates

Making her public declaration of faith

The journey back to Georgetown was filled with much more drama than the journey into Potarineau. A few hours after leaving Lethem, there was a sudden heavy downpour with high winds that pulled our bus with our high load from side to side. God brought us safely through that storm, but a few hours later our engine suddenly stopped. Within minutes we were surrounded by other buses - two in front, one to the side, and one behind. The drivers and passengers jumped out and someone was able to diagnose and rectify our problem. A little further along the trail we had an issue with our brakes, but thankfully we were able to get to the nearest village where we got the tools we needed to fix it. Lastly, with just a few hours more driving to go, we hit a pothole hard, and the damage left us unable to drive in anything higher than first gear. After crawling at 30km/h for a few more hours, we finally were able to find someone who was able to fix the problem.

The code of the jungle trail: No bus left behind!

The day we left Potarineau, I was not ready to go. I wrote letters to some of the girls I had gotten particularly close to, to encourage them to remain close to Christ. As I reflected on some of the people we met in the village, I thought of Matthew 9:36 - When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. During our time of ministry there we were like Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:6, planting seeds of truths from God's word into the hearts of the villagers. God has already provided the 'Apollos' to water the seeds in the form of Milisa, who wants to continue with the children's ministry, and Semone, who has agreed to lead the women's minstry. These two women saw the impact of these ministries while we were in the village, and after we left, indicated their willingness to continue what God has started. We have no doubt that God will bring the increase, and that the village of Potarineau will be transformed, one life at a time. Please keep these precious souls in your prayers.