Chapter 56: A trip to the villages in Morona with Elio
AS TOLD BY JOHN AGERSTEN
A trip to the villages in Morona by an open boat.
Throughout our second period and the beginning of the Wilhelm family’s time in Peru, we made countless trips to both nearby and distant villages along the Marañon and Morona rivers, often with help from volunteers. The houseboat "Alli Shungo" was a great blessing in this work, especially on the longer trips. When traveling to the closer locations, we also used the speedboat and the open wooden boat. In June and July of 1975, "Alli Shungo" was temporarily out of commission while awaiting a motor part ordered from Lima. During that time, I traveled to Morona in the open wooden boat with Elio Solis, shortly after the major flood in 1975.
We visited villages all the way up to the border with Ecuador and traveled inland to native villages in the tributaries. It was an eventful trip in many ways. In most of the villages, both among the indigenous people and the mixed-heritage communities, many accepted Jesus as their Savior during this trip. In a couple of places, new believers expressed a desire to be baptized. As always, there were many sick people needing medication and treatment. We also saw some be healed through prayer. Due to the recent flooding, there had been few fish in the river. I brought along the fish net I received in Rekefjord, and there was a great celebration when we caught a lot of fish with it.
Storm, rain, and "cold"
While we were in the upper part of Morona, a strong, cold wind accompanied by heavy rain swept through the jungle. This is known in Peru as a "sur" (from the south), referring to cold southern weather coming from the Antarctic. We were soaked several times and eventually had nothing dry to wear. At the military outpost in Puno, we slept in the infirmary. It didn't help much, as even our sleeping bags were quite wet. I noted in my travel log that "we nearly froze to death, and our feet were like ice when we woke up." This happened more than once during the trip. When we stayed overnight in the native huts, we managed to warm ourselves a bit by the fire while preparing food. Usually, the biggest problem on such journeys is the heat, but this time it was the opposite. When the temperature drops to around 16 degrees Celsius, combined with wind and rain, it feels very cold. Wet clothes only made it worse. After a few days, the storm subsided, the sun reappeared, and we were able to dry both our clothes and ourselves.
Throughout our second period and the beginning of the Wilhelm family’s time in Peru, we made countless trips to both nearby and distant villages along the Marañon and Morona rivers, often with help from volunteers. The houseboat "Alli Shungo" was a great blessing in this work, especially on the longer trips. When traveling to the closer locations, we also used the speedboat and the open wooden boat. In June and July of 1975, "Alli Shungo" was temporarily out of commission while awaiting a motor part ordered from Lima. During that time, I traveled to Morona in the open wooden boat with Elio Solis, shortly after the major flood in 1975.
We visited villages all the way up to the border with Ecuador and traveled inland to native villages in the tributaries. It was an eventful trip in many ways. In most of the villages, both among the indigenous people and the mixed-heritage communities, many accepted Jesus as their Savior during this trip. In a couple of places, new believers expressed a desire to be baptized. As always, there were many sick people needing medication and treatment. We also saw some be healed through prayer. Due to the recent flooding, there had been few fish in the river. I brought along the fish net I received in Rekefjord, and there was a great celebration when we caught a lot of fish with it.
Storm, rain, and "cold"
While we were in the upper part of Morona, a strong, cold wind accompanied by heavy rain swept through the jungle. This is known in Peru as a "sur" (from the south), referring to cold southern weather coming from the Antarctic. We were soaked several times and eventually had nothing dry to wear. At the military outpost in Puno, we slept in the infirmary. It didn't help much, as even our sleeping bags were quite wet. I noted in my travel log that "we nearly froze to death, and our feet were like ice when we woke up." This happened more than once during the trip. When we stayed overnight in the native huts, we managed to warm ourselves a bit by the fire while preparing food. Usually, the biggest problem on such journeys is the heat, but this time it was the opposite. When the temperature drops to around 16 degrees Celsius, combined with wind and rain, it feels very cold. Wet clothes only made it worse. After a few days, the storm subsided, the sun reappeared, and we were able to dry both our clothes and ourselves.
My second visit to the Achuar village, Mashumbara
After the trip, I wrote in a letter home: "Even though I experienced the wettest and coldest journey I've ever had, all the positive things that happened outweighed the difficulties." In my travel log, I describe a second visit to Mashumbara, where we had visited as a family in "Alli Shungo" two years earlier:
"After much effort and perseverance, we finally reached the tributary Anaso and entered the Achuar village in Mashumbara. We were warmly received by the man who was our interpreter during the previous visit. He offered us food, and he went around the small village inviting people to a service. The atmosphere was friendlier and more open than when we first came here. People listened attentively to what we shared from God's Word and requested additional services.
The rain continued, but quite a few people came the next day anyway. The indigenous people wake early while it is still dark, drinking their masatto and talking loudly from house to house. It’s hard to fall back asleep during this time. On the third day, people gathered for a service as soon as it was daylight. They didn't want us to leave before hearing more. Several of them were clearly touched by the message, but no one made a decision on the spot. We pray that God's Spirit will continue to work in their hearts through the Word that was sown."
After the trip, I wrote in a letter home: "Even though I experienced the wettest and coldest journey I've ever had, all the positive things that happened outweighed the difficulties." In my travel log, I describe a second visit to Mashumbara, where we had visited as a family in "Alli Shungo" two years earlier:
"After much effort and perseverance, we finally reached the tributary Anaso and entered the Achuar village in Mashumbara. We were warmly received by the man who was our interpreter during the previous visit. He offered us food, and he went around the small village inviting people to a service. The atmosphere was friendlier and more open than when we first came here. People listened attentively to what we shared from God's Word and requested additional services.
The rain continued, but quite a few people came the next day anyway. The indigenous people wake early while it is still dark, drinking their masatto and talking loudly from house to house. It’s hard to fall back asleep during this time. On the third day, people gathered for a service as soon as it was daylight. They didn't want us to leave before hearing more. Several of them were clearly touched by the message, but no one made a decision on the spot. We pray that God's Spirit will continue to work in their hearts through the Word that was sown."
The Wampis village Tipisca Cocha
The year before this trip, in September 1974, I had stayed with the Wampis village by the beautiful Tipisca lake with "Alli Shungo" for three weeks. During that time, I held daily Bible studies, meetings, and conversations. We felt a strong resistance in the spiritual realm during the initial gatherings, even though the villagers themselves had requested me to stay for a longer period during two previous visits, and many had accepted the Gospel and found salvation. I soon realized that the two shaman doctors in the village opposed us and any changes in the villagers that might threaten their power.
However, after I participated in communal work in the fields of one of the villagers, the atmosphere changed. I worked alongside the indigenous people all day. A couple of days later, I also participated in a joint project to build a new house for one of the families. They invited me on a hunting trip as well, and we shot three wild boars. The meat was shared among all in the village, and that evening, many families gathered happily around their fires. "The ice was broken."
Gradually, more and more people began to attend the gatherings in Pancho’s house, who was the first in Tipisca to accept salvation. This did not sit well with the shaman doctors. One evening, I heard one of them shouting and screaming so loudly that it echoed across the river. It sounded absolutely terrifying. Still, people kept coming to the Bible sessions.
A night or so later, I was awakened by a man who asked me to come and pray for his wife, who was having a difficult labor. I went with him to the hut where the woman was clearly experiencing severe difficulties. Some women sat on the floor next to the birthing woman. We prayed for her, and she calmed down. Both mother and child were fine afterward. Later, this man and his wife accepted Christ. Following this event, other sick people also came to be prayed for. The Lord demonstrated His power in such a tangible way that many accepted the Gospel for salvation.
Only a few of the men spoke Spanish. One of the teachers translated while I was teaching. Tipisca Cocha had just recently received a school and two teachers in the village. They were of the Wampis tribe from the Santiago River in the upper Marañon, who had studied at the Wycliffe Bible Translators center in Yarina. They brought with them some Bible portions and a couple of hymnbooks in the Wampis language. During the 24 days I was in Tipisca, twenty villagers came forward seeking prayer and salvation. I also taught about baptism. Two couples, including Pancho and his wife, were baptized before I left.
The year before this trip, in September 1974, I had stayed with the Wampis village by the beautiful Tipisca lake with "Alli Shungo" for three weeks. During that time, I held daily Bible studies, meetings, and conversations. We felt a strong resistance in the spiritual realm during the initial gatherings, even though the villagers themselves had requested me to stay for a longer period during two previous visits, and many had accepted the Gospel and found salvation. I soon realized that the two shaman doctors in the village opposed us and any changes in the villagers that might threaten their power.
However, after I participated in communal work in the fields of one of the villagers, the atmosphere changed. I worked alongside the indigenous people all day. A couple of days later, I also participated in a joint project to build a new house for one of the families. They invited me on a hunting trip as well, and we shot three wild boars. The meat was shared among all in the village, and that evening, many families gathered happily around their fires. "The ice was broken."
Gradually, more and more people began to attend the gatherings in Pancho’s house, who was the first in Tipisca to accept salvation. This did not sit well with the shaman doctors. One evening, I heard one of them shouting and screaming so loudly that it echoed across the river. It sounded absolutely terrifying. Still, people kept coming to the Bible sessions.
A night or so later, I was awakened by a man who asked me to come and pray for his wife, who was having a difficult labor. I went with him to the hut where the woman was clearly experiencing severe difficulties. Some women sat on the floor next to the birthing woman. We prayed for her, and she calmed down. Both mother and child were fine afterward. Later, this man and his wife accepted Christ. Following this event, other sick people also came to be prayed for. The Lord demonstrated His power in such a tangible way that many accepted the Gospel for salvation.
Only a few of the men spoke Spanish. One of the teachers translated while I was teaching. Tipisca Cocha had just recently received a school and two teachers in the village. They were of the Wampis tribe from the Santiago River in the upper Marañon, who had studied at the Wycliffe Bible Translators center in Yarina. They brought with them some Bible portions and a couple of hymnbooks in the Wampis language. During the 24 days I was in Tipisca, twenty villagers came forward seeking prayer and salvation. I also taught about baptism. Two couples, including Pancho and his wife, were baptized before I left.
Visiting Tipisca Cocha again with Elio and starting a church building
So, nearly a year later, we were delighted to revisit the village on this trip, both on the way upriver and on the return trip. Pancho warmly received us, and that evening, we held a service in his house. The next day, we talked with many villagers, including the two teachers. They expressed their desire to build a church similar to those they had seen in the villages of Santiago. We found a suitable spot for the church site. There was great enthusiasm for constructing a church using forest materials and palm leaf roofing, similar to how they build their own huts.
That evening, the house was completely full when the service began. We felt the presence of the Holy Spirit, and many experienced a powerful encounter with God. I noted in my logbook: "Jesus lives."
The very next day, work began on clearing the site and hauling logs for the frame. The following day, six men went to fetch the special logs needed to support the roof. Over the next three days, we continued working on the church, with evening services still happening each night. Elio took a more active role in teaching and spoke with great conviction and power. People continued to gather, and we saw the Lord at work among us.
We then traveled further upstream, visiting many more villages. As I mentioned at the beginning of this chapter, we also visited the Achuar village in the Anaso tributary. On the way back down the river, we stopped again in Tipisca for a couple of days. The roof framework of the church was already in place. However, they had to wait to collect the palm leaves for the roof, because the river was so high that water was still in the forest where the special palm grows. Later, they completed the roof, marking the first church built among the Wampis in Morona. That evening, many more people gathered for the service. It was a beautiful gathering filled with joy and excitement.
The next morning, we bade farewell to our friends. They welcomed us back as soon as possible. On our way downstream along the river, we visited the villages in the lower part of Morona. We passed by some of the places where we had stopped on the way upstream to make it home for the Peruvian Independence Day celebration on July 28. After over three weeks of traveling in an open boat and staying in simple, native huts along the way, I was looking forward to returning home to my family and somewhat more comfortable conditions. At that time, we still had no way to communicate when on such trips. There was always great joy when we returned and found that everything was okay, both with us on the journey and with our families back home.
Relief aid after the flood
From Tipisca and in other villages along the way downriver, we bought bananas, manioc, corn, and some chickens to distribute to our neighbors at Tigre Playa. In Morona, there are higher land areas where the water did not reach during the floods, whereas most fields along the Marañon were submerged for an extended period. As a result, both manioc and banana plants rotted. The people were grateful for the food supplies from Morona, as well as for the bags of rice and beans we ordered to be delivered by riverboat from Iquitos. After the Independence Day celebration, we visited the Awajún tribe in Por Venir and Nueva Esperanza in Potro. The floodwaters had not damaged their crops. We then sailed from there with a boatload of manioc and bananas, bringing joy to many at Tigre Playa. Over time, boats with food supplies arrived from Yurimaguas and other places where crops had not been destroyed. Nonetheless, many families along the Marañón remained in a difficult situation for a long time after this major flood, and it was good to be able to help as much as we could.
So, nearly a year later, we were delighted to revisit the village on this trip, both on the way upriver and on the return trip. Pancho warmly received us, and that evening, we held a service in his house. The next day, we talked with many villagers, including the two teachers. They expressed their desire to build a church similar to those they had seen in the villages of Santiago. We found a suitable spot for the church site. There was great enthusiasm for constructing a church using forest materials and palm leaf roofing, similar to how they build their own huts.
That evening, the house was completely full when the service began. We felt the presence of the Holy Spirit, and many experienced a powerful encounter with God. I noted in my logbook: "Jesus lives."
The very next day, work began on clearing the site and hauling logs for the frame. The following day, six men went to fetch the special logs needed to support the roof. Over the next three days, we continued working on the church, with evening services still happening each night. Elio took a more active role in teaching and spoke with great conviction and power. People continued to gather, and we saw the Lord at work among us.
We then traveled further upstream, visiting many more villages. As I mentioned at the beginning of this chapter, we also visited the Achuar village in the Anaso tributary. On the way back down the river, we stopped again in Tipisca for a couple of days. The roof framework of the church was already in place. However, they had to wait to collect the palm leaves for the roof, because the river was so high that water was still in the forest where the special palm grows. Later, they completed the roof, marking the first church built among the Wampis in Morona. That evening, many more people gathered for the service. It was a beautiful gathering filled with joy and excitement.
The next morning, we bade farewell to our friends. They welcomed us back as soon as possible. On our way downstream along the river, we visited the villages in the lower part of Morona. We passed by some of the places where we had stopped on the way upstream to make it home for the Peruvian Independence Day celebration on July 28. After over three weeks of traveling in an open boat and staying in simple, native huts along the way, I was looking forward to returning home to my family and somewhat more comfortable conditions. At that time, we still had no way to communicate when on such trips. There was always great joy when we returned and found that everything was okay, both with us on the journey and with our families back home.
Relief aid after the flood
From Tipisca and in other villages along the way downriver, we bought bananas, manioc, corn, and some chickens to distribute to our neighbors at Tigre Playa. In Morona, there are higher land areas where the water did not reach during the floods, whereas most fields along the Marañon were submerged for an extended period. As a result, both manioc and banana plants rotted. The people were grateful for the food supplies from Morona, as well as for the bags of rice and beans we ordered to be delivered by riverboat from Iquitos. After the Independence Day celebration, we visited the Awajún tribe in Por Venir and Nueva Esperanza in Potro. The floodwaters had not damaged their crops. We then sailed from there with a boatload of manioc and bananas, bringing joy to many at Tigre Playa. Over time, boats with food supplies arrived from Yurimaguas and other places where crops had not been destroyed. Nonetheless, many families along the Marañón remained in a difficult situation for a long time after this major flood, and it was good to be able to help as much as we could.