Chapter 39: The Village of San Juan
AS TOLD BY JOHN AGERSTEN
The first visit to San Juan
San Juan is a good-sized village located along the Marañon River upstream from the mouth of the Morona tributary, west of Tigre Playa. It took about 5 hours to travel from Tigre Playa to San Juan with the houseboat or longboat. However, this time could be cut in half by using the speedboat. Liv Haug and Edith Aateigen were the first missionaries to visit this village in 1971 while we were on furlough in Norway. They told us that they had been able to borrow the school for a meeting, and a lot of people attended. Many women and children were present, but also a group of men. Some of them were clearly drunk, and one of them was Humberto. When the invitation was given to accept Jesus as their savior, Humberto stepped forward. It was probably mostly to show off, but he was struck to the ground by a powerful force, as he later recounted. He was overwhelmed with guilt and sorrow. At that moment, he asked God for forgiveness for his sins. When he stood up again, he was completely sober! Liv and Edith talked with Humberto and gave him a New Testament before bidding farewell to the new believers and moving on to other villages. |
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The next day, Humberto was visited by his old drinking buddies, who insisted he needed a drink now. However, Humberto was determined - he had decided to quit drinking. His friends predicted it wouldn't take many days before he went back to his old ways, but a miracle had happened to Humberto. Since that day, he was free from his addiction to alcohol.
He already had a large family, and more children came along in due time. They lived in poverty, with very little to spare. The children wore worn-out clothes, and Humberto's spending on alcohol had left little for other necessities. However, after his conversion, a transformation took place in Humberto's outlook. He embarked on improving their home, starting with repairing the dilapidated roof. Humberto also dedicated time and effort to cultivating more bananas and cassava, essential staples in the diet of jungle dwellers. His neighbors and relatives could see the remarkable change in Humberto's life, and he eagerly shared his testimony whenever the opportunity arose.
He already had a large family, and more children came along in due time. They lived in poverty, with very little to spare. The children wore worn-out clothes, and Humberto's spending on alcohol had left little for other necessities. However, after his conversion, a transformation took place in Humberto's outlook. He embarked on improving their home, starting with repairing the dilapidated roof. Humberto also dedicated time and effort to cultivating more bananas and cassava, essential staples in the diet of jungle dwellers. His neighbors and relatives could see the remarkable change in Humberto's life, and he eagerly shared his testimony whenever the opportunity arose.
Later visits to San Juan and Sappo Playa
When we returned to Tigre Playa in August 1972 after a year back in Norway, we heard about what had happened in San Juan. We soon traveled to visit the new believers there, including Humberto and his family. Together, we rejoiced over the transformation that had taken place in his life. Over time, more individuals in the village embraced the Gospel. Humberto's brothers and their families also accepted Jesus, and eventually, even his elderly parents came to faith. Our visits to San Juan became quite frequent as more and more people in the community welcomed the message of hope and salvation.
When we returned to Tigre Playa in August 1972 after a year back in Norway, we heard about what had happened in San Juan. We soon traveled to visit the new believers there, including Humberto and his family. Together, we rejoiced over the transformation that had taken place in his life. Over time, more individuals in the village embraced the Gospel. Humberto's brothers and their families also accepted Jesus, and eventually, even his elderly parents came to faith. Our visits to San Juan became quite frequent as more and more people in the community welcomed the message of hope and salvation.
Sometime later, Humberto rowed for five hours up the river and arrived at the small village of Sappo Playa, where he had relatives. They had heard rumors about what had happened in San Juan. Upon his arrival, they gathered in one of the huts to listen to Humberto's story. He boldly shared his testimony of his conversion and its impact on his life. Inspired by his words, several of his relatives expressed a desire to experience the same transformation. Eventually, after rowing the long distance back to Tigre Playa, Humberto sought help from us. "Many in Sappo Playa want to be saved," he said, "but I know too little to guide them." Alongside Humberto, Rudolf and I gladly traveled up to the village, towing his canoe behind us.
The small village of Sappo Playa consisted of only four small houses where everyone was related. When we arrived, they gathered in the largest house, which was still quite small. We engaged in conversations and shared teachings from the Word of God for a couple of days. During the final service, we invited those who wished to be saved to come forward for prayer. That evening, 11 individuals stepped up. The village underwent a significant transformation, and a few years later, they changed the name of the village to Betel.
The small village of Sappo Playa consisted of only four small houses where everyone was related. When we arrived, they gathered in the largest house, which was still quite small. We engaged in conversations and shared teachings from the Word of God for a couple of days. During the final service, we invited those who wished to be saved to come forward for prayer. That evening, 11 individuals stepped up. The village underwent a significant transformation, and a few years later, they changed the name of the village to Betel.
The new believers attend Bible Study weeks
We started annual Bible weeks at Tigre Playa early on, where we provided teaching for the new believers. These gatherings were truly festive occasions. The participants typically brought bananas, cassava, dried/smoked wild boar meat, chickens, and turtles for the communal meals during the Bible week. Here, the newcomers received fundamental instruction. Those without Bibles were provided with them, along with a hymnbook in many cases. This sparked a great interest in learning to read, and those with some reading skills improved through reading the Bible. We also taught about the significance of baptism. Many desired to be baptized and sought to marry legally. However, for this, they had to make the long journey up to Borja, which was then the center of the Manseriche district. It was later relocated to Saramiriza, which emerged as the largest village during the time of the oil company.
Over the years, Rudolf and I ended up driving quite a few couples up the rough river to Borja so they could be legally wed by the mayor. When Humberto and his wife went to get married, four other couples joined them. They sat on benches in front of the mayor, surrounded by their youngest children. The mayor went through the marriage ritual and asked all together if they wanted to marry their spouse. Everyone responded loudly in unison, "YES." "Now you're married; sign here or place your fingerprint on the document," were the mayor's concluding words at the brief marriage ceremony. Several women could not write or read, so they had to "sign" using fingerprints. I asked the mayor about payment. He responded that it cost nothing, but I was welcome to bring him a case of beer! Well, I was not going to bring him beer, but I bought him some sodas and gave him a Bible.
There were quite a few such trips with the same purpose to the mayor's office in Borja in the following years. Nowadays, it costs a lot to have personal documents you need to be approved for marriage. Additionally, the municipal office charges a hefty fee for the marriage ceremony.
We started annual Bible weeks at Tigre Playa early on, where we provided teaching for the new believers. These gatherings were truly festive occasions. The participants typically brought bananas, cassava, dried/smoked wild boar meat, chickens, and turtles for the communal meals during the Bible week. Here, the newcomers received fundamental instruction. Those without Bibles were provided with them, along with a hymnbook in many cases. This sparked a great interest in learning to read, and those with some reading skills improved through reading the Bible. We also taught about the significance of baptism. Many desired to be baptized and sought to marry legally. However, for this, they had to make the long journey up to Borja, which was then the center of the Manseriche district. It was later relocated to Saramiriza, which emerged as the largest village during the time of the oil company.
Over the years, Rudolf and I ended up driving quite a few couples up the rough river to Borja so they could be legally wed by the mayor. When Humberto and his wife went to get married, four other couples joined them. They sat on benches in front of the mayor, surrounded by their youngest children. The mayor went through the marriage ritual and asked all together if they wanted to marry their spouse. Everyone responded loudly in unison, "YES." "Now you're married; sign here or place your fingerprint on the document," were the mayor's concluding words at the brief marriage ceremony. Several women could not write or read, so they had to "sign" using fingerprints. I asked the mayor about payment. He responded that it cost nothing, but I was welcome to bring him a case of beer! Well, I was not going to bring him beer, but I bought him some sodas and gave him a Bible.
There were quite a few such trips with the same purpose to the mayor's office in Borja in the following years. Nowadays, it costs a lot to have personal documents you need to be approved for marriage. Additionally, the municipal office charges a hefty fee for the marriage ceremony.
Hans Svartdahl from Norway visits San Juan
In 1973, we had our first visit from Norway when the mission secretary, Hans Svartdal, arrived by seaplane from Iquitos. We then traveled up to San Juan for some services at Humberto's house. Many people gathered. Humberto and his wife were now legally married and wanted to be baptized, becoming the first in San Juan to do so. Hans Svartdal officiated the baptism in the Marañon River, and it was a blessed moment for all of us.
During his time in San Juan, Hans Svartdal asked about the location of the toilet. He was a bit taken aback by the response: "Anywhere." We explained to him that he could simply walk into the jungle behind the huts and bring a stick with him. When Svartdal asked what the stick was for, the response he got was, "You'll find out." In times of need, one must adapt, so he had no choice but to go. When he returned, he seemed quite subdued. He shared that he had his hands full chasing away the pigs. "It's the worst thing I've ever experienced," was his feedback from the "toilet" visit in San Juan.
The church in San Juan continues to grow despite challenges
During the 1970s, several of the children of the new believers faced difficulties at school. Bullying was one issue, but in some places, the teachers would force them to pray to Maria. Additionally, a Catholic nun visited the village and informed the parents that the school was Catholic, and Peru was a Catholic country. "Therefore, the school is not for the evangelical Christians," she declared. Upon hearing about this, on my next trip to Iquitos, I bought a book containing Peru's educational laws. It explicitly stated that there was freedom of religion in Peru, both in schools and in society at large. I made copies of the most relevant pages and presented them to the teacher in San Juan, and later to other places facing the same issue. The teachers involved realized they had gone too far and stopped harassing the evangelical students. Parents could breathe a sigh of relief knowing their children still had the right to attend school.
In the mid-70s, we asked Humberto and his family if they would relocate to San Lorenzo to be part of the ministry in the church there. It was an important ministry in the largest village in the area, located further down the Marañon River from Tigre Playa. We had started house meetings there in 1972. Humberto agreed to the move, and for several years he led the congregation there.
The pictures below are from the church in San Juan many years after the first visits there in the 1970s. The church has continued to grow steadily even until this day.
In 1973, we had our first visit from Norway when the mission secretary, Hans Svartdal, arrived by seaplane from Iquitos. We then traveled up to San Juan for some services at Humberto's house. Many people gathered. Humberto and his wife were now legally married and wanted to be baptized, becoming the first in San Juan to do so. Hans Svartdal officiated the baptism in the Marañon River, and it was a blessed moment for all of us.
During his time in San Juan, Hans Svartdal asked about the location of the toilet. He was a bit taken aback by the response: "Anywhere." We explained to him that he could simply walk into the jungle behind the huts and bring a stick with him. When Svartdal asked what the stick was for, the response he got was, "You'll find out." In times of need, one must adapt, so he had no choice but to go. When he returned, he seemed quite subdued. He shared that he had his hands full chasing away the pigs. "It's the worst thing I've ever experienced," was his feedback from the "toilet" visit in San Juan.
The church in San Juan continues to grow despite challenges
During the 1970s, several of the children of the new believers faced difficulties at school. Bullying was one issue, but in some places, the teachers would force them to pray to Maria. Additionally, a Catholic nun visited the village and informed the parents that the school was Catholic, and Peru was a Catholic country. "Therefore, the school is not for the evangelical Christians," she declared. Upon hearing about this, on my next trip to Iquitos, I bought a book containing Peru's educational laws. It explicitly stated that there was freedom of religion in Peru, both in schools and in society at large. I made copies of the most relevant pages and presented them to the teacher in San Juan, and later to other places facing the same issue. The teachers involved realized they had gone too far and stopped harassing the evangelical students. Parents could breathe a sigh of relief knowing their children still had the right to attend school.
In the mid-70s, we asked Humberto and his family if they would relocate to San Lorenzo to be part of the ministry in the church there. It was an important ministry in the largest village in the area, located further down the Marañon River from Tigre Playa. We had started house meetings there in 1972. Humberto agreed to the move, and for several years he led the congregation there.
The pictures below are from the church in San Juan many years after the first visits there in the 1970s. The church has continued to grow steadily even until this day.
