All of a sudden it is the end of January and the first month of this new year has already passed.
Our solar panels needed cleaning. A long pole with a broom connected at the end helped to get the job done.
We have been sorting things out in our house in Lawa because on January 23d Anneke Kempeneers moved in from Maripasoula. That means making two households into one. For her ministry with the youth it is important to be closer to the Wayana youth leaders and the youth. Since we don’t live in Lawa all year round, but also in Apetina and near Paramaribo, we offered to let her live in ‘our’ house in Lawa. We reverse the roles, normally she came to stay with us and from now on we will stay with her.
From Tabiki/Maripasoula with the canoe. We had our lawnmower fixed in the city. For one of our neighbors we could bring a new washing machine along.
After a quick visit from Marco to the city (as it turned out after a checkup by the dentist) to extract a tooth whose root no longer wanted to cooperate, we have been busy planning, for ourselves, but also for the annual planning of the churches along the Lawa river. This still is sometimes difficult for the older leaders, especially if there is also a price tag attached to the activities. We see that the group of bible school students are more into thinking this way. Very nice to be able to advise from the sideline. We also see growth in this respect.
Last Sunday we had a meeting with the church leaders in our house after church to discuss the year plan for 2023.
Amepun and Susina are looking forward to visit Canada again this year.
Together with World Team Canada we made a 3-year plan (2023 – 2025) with a budget. The plan envisages three Wayana couples visiting three different places in Canada for three months at a time over the next three years. We believe the Lord shows three regions: Alberta (Calgary), Manitoba (Winnipeg), and Quebec (Montreal).
We plan a research trip to Montreal at the beginning of June. Through the NEFC (Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada) we came into contact with a number of mission workers from UIM (United Indigenous Missions). They have worked there for 20 years and are connecting with several people in a nearby reserve. They would like assistance from a Wayana couple. Together with Ipomadi, the Grand Chief of the Wayana in Lawa, we will visit for more than a week to investigate the possibilities together with NEFC and UIM. We believe that God will bring us in touch with a Wayana couple that is fluent in French and called by Him to join this team.
An old friend came to pay us a visit. Rifi helped us paint our roof in Apetina. He is married now and they have two children.
Next Thursday, Paul Muzzin will come to Lawa for a 4-day visit. He filmed our Wayana team in Canada for a few weeks last summer. He visits to record how the Wayana’s live. We expect it to be some full days together. We plan to fly to the city with Paul on Monday, February 6.
Marjolein turned the apples Marco brought from the city into a nice Applepie in order to celebrate her birthday on January 22
We have quite a few boxes already packed to bring along to our home in Republic. We also booked our flight to the Netherlands for the end of April. Marco has to be in Florence for World Team meetings at the beginning of May. This gives us the opportunity to visit Marjolein’s parents again. Marjolein’s father hopes to turn 89 in April.
Early morning view of the sunset on the river