09/24/04: Tribal Update: Snake Bite Victim

Hello Folks:

We just received a letter from Jacinto, one of our Venezuela partners who is living in Tribal land. A bad virus has hit the communities and nine children have died! Jurariva's children had been real sick too and they had taken off as soon as they could to hike the 26 kilometers for medical help. But alas, his little boy, Carlito, died on the trail so he was buried out t here in the middle of nowhere. And to make things even worse during these days, Camacho, one of the believers, died of a snake bite (see picture). Medicine was administered but it didn't do the trick. Three days later he died. And so Catalina his wife, is left to tend their six children on her own. Gregorio and little Abraham and Luke and the others will truly miss their dad. Please be praying for the physical well-being of the believers there. Pray that they will continue to cling to God's Word in the midst of all this suffering. Pray for the church leaders and the whole Body of Christ, that they will be encouraging one another and be giving each other love and kind words.

We just got back from northern Canada. What made our trip up there so special was 16 inches of snow, no power and phone lines due to all the heavy snow, lots of time beside a hot wood-burning stove, preaching with numb hands in a cold church, incredible northern beauty, and much wonderful fellowship with the saints up there.

Enjoying the adventure in Christ,
Merrill and Teresa