The Wild West of Guyana

Last week I was invited to the wild northwest Guyana area called Port Kaituma—like a backwards type of mountain town. (not very politically correct statement) We flew in at 10 in the morning greeted by the resident dogs at the airport, 4 wheel drive trucks covered with red dirt and plenty people that want to carry your bags or do just about anything to earn a little money from the “White Man.” Port Kaituma is a small town on the Kaituma River about 60 miles from the Atlantic Ocean close to Venezuela. If you remember—this was only 30 minutes from Jim Jones’s old area back in 1978!

The riverside Port Kaituma is located right on the side of a hill. Conversations have been had with local thieves taunting the missionary about the possibility of stealing his boat and motor. Stealing seems to be a local past time there. You don’t want to be out there after dark.

The house I stayed was tucked in between the jungle and the river about 15 minutes by boat from the port. We faced the river with boat shed right in front. Since school was out for Easter the Indian boys and girls starting at age 5 or 6 took their canoes out any time after 6 to play in their “front yard.” I saw moms out there too catching the family’s breakfast with nets too. We ate chicken and rice on all 3 days with oatmeal for breakfast and 3 eggs each for supper with bread. No wives around to catch fish.  I suffered through with instant coffee—reminded me of college days when I thought it was great!

I was invited to Port Kaituma by another missionary working there so that I could lead a seminar on Discipleship. Amerindian pastors and church leaders (both groups are original residents since the time of Columbus) from 3 different Indian Nations were the focus. All of the men came by a couple of small boats with outboard motors or dugout canoes for the 2 days of teaching. We met for 5 hours on Tuesday with break-out groups and discussion questions added in. We could have gone for 8 hours I am sure. This way they want me to come back.  I have been asked twice now but for now I need to press on where I am at.

The next day we went to one of the villages 30 some miles up the Kaituma/Cibu Rivers where we attended a Wednesday afternoon service. Since it was the missionary’s last time there it was quite touching how they loved him. I felt a little like Timothy in the New Testament when Paul left an area for a long time--tears and hugs all around. About 67 came to the send off service out of a village of 250 before we wound and twisted out way through lily pads and water type growth in the river as our “speed boat” tried to reach “home” before dark. I fly out the next day.

To quote the Port Kaituma missionary about another project he had going on:
“Another noteworthy thing going on is the Carib Project. People from the U.S. and Surinam have worked closely with a group of our Carib Indians from the jungle to produce a Carib version of the Jesus film. The results have been phenomenal. While they were working on the part about the Crucifixion one of the men had tears in his eyes and he said with great emotion, "When my people see this, they will believe!" Yesterday, on Easter Sunday, we showed that part of the film about the final days of Jesus and up to the resurrection. One of the other men, not known for emotion at all, sat and wept as he could see what Jesus had done for him. There is no way for me to adequately describe the emotion and impact this film is having on these Caribs...one can only imagine the impact this film will have on the thousands of Caribs who are still in darkness.”

Thanks for your prayers in my small part of the Great Commission. I would love to go back but I am really needed right where I am stationed at now so pray for these men to listen to God and allow Him to raise them up and keep them encouraged. Terri was fine without trouble from the mosquitoes and had a great time with the wife and 3 boys of the missionary’s family. She was a big encouragement to Wendy and the Lord protected us all around.