The song “Showers of Blessings” comes to mind when writing about the construction in Puerto Maldonado. The second work project was showered with blessings right from the beginning when 30 people arrived on October 23 in Puerto Maldonado to complete the 40/40 house. These were some hard working folks. They worked non-stop for 10 days, putting in 10, 12, even 16 hours a day to get the building ready for the 40/40 missionaries to move in on November 3.

The house was a little behind schedule when the team arrived. The work site had been without power for 10 days when the team arrived. The stucco work inside had been completed the day before the group arrived, but the topping floor slab on the second level was not. So, the team started putting primer on the walls of the first level, tile on the bathroom walls, and plywood ceiling on the trusses of the second level. The floor slab was completed the second day, so we quickly moved upstairs with the primer. A huge blessing was brought in the form of a Graco airless paint sprayer by a church in Idaho. Extreme had not even asked for one, but the pastor there just felt like it could really be used. Boy was he right! Not only did they bring the paint sprayer, but they brought money to buy a generator to run it as well. The power was still out, so they were able to buy a nice 120V/220V generator to power both the paint sprayer and our power tools. The store, where the generator was bought, was owned by a Christian family, and they sold the generator for 33% off since it was for the church. It is great when you can see the hand of God at work.

After the team painted the walls and ceilings, they were finally ready to start tiling. They installed tile on all the floors, 3 bathrooms, 2 laundry rooms, and 2 kitchen counter tops. This is a lot of tile cutting, setting, and grouting! A blessing that arrived with the Puerto Construction 1 team was a small tile saw. It really got a work out. In fact, the motor froze up on it after the first floor. One prayer warrior of a lady prayed over it, the team laid hands on it, took it all apart, cleaned it out, put it back together, and it worked the rest of the project without any trouble. Blessings come in many forms.

The impact ieam had its hand full as well. The impact projects started the second day the team was on the ground. The team organized free English classes that were held in the church. They were held on Saturday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. By the end, there was a good size group coming to learn basic English phrases. The impact group also participated in a door to door ministry that was organized by local pastor Freddy Zapata. Some of the team prepared their testimony, and it was translated into Spanish. They were able to share their testimonies, and it was a very powerful time that stretched everyone that participated.

A group of 12 also made a 2 hour bus ride and a 1 hour walk into the thick Peruvian jungle to show the Jesus film. They were the first American and first missionaries to ever enter this community of Walkamayo. Over 40 locals came forward to accept Christ that evening, and in this town of 900 that was a HUGE impact!

Another group of 3 women went into the darkest area of Puerto to invite women from the Prosti-bars to an event the following day. Three women showed up the following day, and it was a very impactful time of sharing and showing the love of Christ to these women.

Where ever the group went, people heard about God. Whether it was at the kids festivals, concerts in the Plaza, cleanup projects, and even a painting project at a local school, the people of Puerto felt the presence of God.

Both the construction team and the impact team stayed busy and worked hard all the way up till the day of the dedication and inauguration of the new buildings. The work was complete, and they were able to take a break. After a boat trip in the morning and a restful afternoon at a park, the church and house were dedicated in the evening. It was exciting to see over 120 people at the dedication and to watch the 40/40s go explore their new house. It will be awesome to see how God uses this church and the 40/40s, as they begin the church planting process here in Puerto Maldonado.

The entire group left on the on the morning of the 4th. Puerto has been changed in the short 2 weeks that the group was here and now with the arrival of the 40/40 missionaries, Puerto will continue to be changed and transformed for Christ. God provided once again and with no injuries and the building be finished on time there is nothing left to do but say “Thank you Jesus!”.

Please continue to follow the progress of the church planting movement in Puerto Maldonado at www.extremenazarene.org/PuertoCommunities