Missouri Teens Minister to 150 Shuar in Ecuadorian Jungle

The Shuar women who welcomed the teen group with a traditional dance and singing.  The beads they are wearing around their waists and ankles make a percussion sound when they move.

The crowd was so thick when the van first pulled in that the team could barely get out of the van!  The women pictured here is Pastor Deb Laws, former missionary to Spain, who was the Bible teacher/song leader of the group.

The crowd was huge both days!

Facepainting....

Puppets....  Mary was a big help to Deb.  She sang, translated, read from the Bible or the puppet script.... whatever was needed!  Landon also helped by playing games with the kids and holding a lot of babies....

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For two days in the jungle of Ecuador, 150 children and their parents, many of whom walked 1-to-2 hours from their homes, descended upon Centro Yuu, an indigenous Shuar village.  As the Work & Witness team vans drove into the village, joyful children running alongside immediately surrounded the vans.  In fact, the team had a hard time exiting their vans because of the crowd!

On Dec. 29 & 30, a group of teens from the Eldon, Missouri, church along with their adult leaders traveled to the Shuar village for a two-day kids ministry event complete with clowns, face-painting, balloons, puppets, games, and Bible stories.  Pastor Deb Laws (former missionary to Spain) and youth pastor Mike Edinger led the activities along with Mary Hall, daughter of missionaries Stan & Sherri Hall, who also served as translator.

The Nazarene church is the only evangelical church serving in this jungle area.  Several villagers kicked off the event with singing and an indigenous dance to welcome the ministry team.

While the teens pray that their messages influenced these children and their families, several commented that their lives would never be the same again.  Kristi Mueller shares how God expanded her faith:  “We were running out of bread and Coke to share, and I prayed there would be enough, that no one would be left out.  By the time we got through, everyone had gotten some, and there was some left.  It reminded me of the story of Jesus and the bread and fishes.  He did it again!"

The teens distributed over 175 health/toiletry kits to everyone in attendance.  In addition, another 50 family kits were left with the Shuar pastor to distribute to families in the future.  Another teen, Erin Vernon, conveyed the impact of this trip:  "We have so much in this country, and they don't even have their needs met.  And yet, they are still happy with what they have.  I have realized that I am spoiled, but I am changing.”