THEN THE TIDE TURNS
by Erwin Bourne—January 25, 2002
Dear Pastor Kennedy, Calvary Church and Friends of
Mission AMA,
Did someone just say “Hold it?” Yes, I know that
missionary Jean just went to the bank this afternoon
to withdraw an urgently needed $50,000 pesos which
amounts to only $28.00 U.S. The bank machine got
confused and spit out $500.000 Colombian pesos which
amounts to $228.00 U.S. Maybe I’m confused, or maybe
Jean was confused! Only by a single digit—One “0!”.
SOMETIMES WHEN OUR FUNDS RUN LOW,
THEN OUR FAITH LEAPS HIGH!
Last night Jean and I scraped together our last peso
to meet a family’s need for #5,000 pesos (just a taxi
fare at night). The scripture keeps crossing my mind:
“Freely ye have received, freely give” (Mt. 10:8
NIV). God has richly blessed our lives and ministry,
so neither Jean nor I can be stingy.
We just returned from a genuine faith-building trip to
Iquitos with Black Buffalo. All the faith-building
stories told by this prophetic Indian leader inspired
us day by day. And we watched Buffalo’s faith in
action as we traveled the River country with this man
of God. “I’m feeling strongly led to start
net-working with you on the Amazon,” he told us.
“I’ve wanted to work along the Amazon ever since I was
a small boy. So here’s my chance! I’m going to start
sending you money each month so you can build the
churches you want to in these three frontiers.”
Then we visited a Christian radio station which we
have been in touch with in Iquitos, Peru. Buffalo
again got excited. “With a higher tower and a little
more equipment, this station can reach all 350,000
people living in this city. Maybe we should turn this
into an all-Christian TV station.”
And finally, faith went over the top! Before leaving
Leticia, I had arranged with Hermano Manases,
President of AMA in Peru, to show us some possible
sites in Iquitos where AMA could have its base. So
when we found time between services, we boarded two
moto-taxis (three-wheeled motorcycles with a top) and
headed straight for “The White House.” Wow! We have
“The Casa Grande” in Leticia, Colombia, with its seven
bathrooms, and now here we were in Iquitos, Peru,
looking at “The White House” which also has seven
bathrooms, and offices, and apartments, and a large
church auditorium. This all quite takes one’s breath.
However, you must keep praying and believing. It’s
not ours yet. Maybe in another several weeks.
Iquitos could be the base to reach numbers of
indigenous villages, even as far as the frontier of
Peru /Equador. Now check your purser! Marius, also
from California, is sitting in the Casa Grande—
“Erwin and Jean, my wife and I have been living out
there on your river launch. The men have been sawing
lumber with your “Wood-Mizer” saw mill, and building
the church at the Ticuna village at Erené. You know
we’re from California, but we are here getting
involved with evangelism—not just construction but
total evangelism. I’m Wesleyan, and I’m not about to
run off with your projects. I want to net-work with
AMA. You know the rivers, you have the men and
equipment. Let us furnish the money.”
“I’M NOT GOING BY WHAT PEOPLE SAY,
I’M GOING BY WHAT GOD SAYS!”
“Hermano Marius” I responded, “we’ve been friends for
several years, and I appreciate your offer. Here’s my
hand in fellowship and collaboration in evangelizing
the indigenous peoples in the regions beyond.
“You’ve been talking about your brother-in-law, Tito,
who lives over in Lima, Peru, on the coast. I’ve got
something here I need to talk with him about.” With
that, I unrolled the blueprints that John Larson and I
worked on out in Colorado Springs. Instantly Marius
liked the idea and the plan. He said he would take
these drawings to Tito who is a professional
architect. They would do the architectural work for
free. I should just give Tito any further suggestions
or changes that I would like worked into the plan.
Brother Bill and other interested parties, the tide
has turned. The launch is with Brother John and
Einor. Furthermore, I have a letter written by
Rebecca Stence concerning her nursing work in the
villages. I will send you a copy that I first must
prepare. Black Buffalo had a heart to heart talk with
this crew. The Tide is Turning! Yours for the
AMAZON OUTREACH,
Yours for OUTREACH AMAZON—
Erwin and Jean Bourne