How Far Would You Go
Would you drive 40 minutes for a Bible conference? Two or three hours? Meet Mario Shaba of the Mayuruna tribe in western Brazil—who trekked sixteen days by foot (both ways!), canoe, and boat with his wife, three kids, and newborn to attend a Christian Indigenous Bible conference in the Amazon.
Mario didn’t stand out at first, but when we learned of his extreme commitment, we were in awe. His passion to share Christ led him to sacrifice greatly, even though his family lives far below the poverty line. He had recently completed the training for a rare, well-paying teaching job but lacked the final certification—simply because he couldn’t afford the 450 Reais ($100 US) fee.
When we heard this, we didn’t hesitate: “We are the Body of Christ—we can help with that!” Just like the early Church in Acts 2:44-45, believers came together to meet the need. Mario wept with gratitude, knowing this small provision would open doors for him to teach both academics and the Gospel to his unreached people.
Thank you for your prayers, generosity, and partnership—God is moving in powerful ways!
Peace Proceeds Healing
A young mother approached us at the recent conference, describing her debilitating chronic migraines and asking for prayer. She recounted how, out of desperation for relief, she had turned her back on the Lord and her husband as she consulted a local witch doctor.
Not surprisingly, the headaches persisted. She stood before us because she wanted to run back to the Lord and ask Him for relief. The Holy Spirit pointed out to us that first it was necessary for her to apologize to the Lord for turning to the dark side for help. She cried in shame and quickly agreed that she was willing to return to the Lord, her “First Love” of 21 years.
​
Next, the Holy Spirit directed us that before we could pray for her headaches to leave, she needed to apologize to her husband for stepping outside of his God-ordained spiritual covering for her.
​
Once again, she immediately agreed and wanted to ask for forgiveness for hurting him in this manner. As she apologized, her husband surprisingly also apologized for speaking harsh words with her and not helping her out more with the children, in a manner uncharacteristic of men in their Indigenous culture.
Our prayers continued as the couple faced one another with tears and apologies flowing between them. That sweet moment of repentance and reconciliation will be monumental in their marriage. The next day, the woman worshiped and sang with such freedom and peace, glowing as she surrendered
herself entirely to the Lord. Meanwhile,
her husband, unusually, tended to the
two little children with a softer look
about him. The transformation in
both was remarkable.
As we make peace in our hearts
with God and man, it releases the
amazing power of Christ to heal:
in our hearts, within our bodies,
and in our relationships.
​
Such Cultural Differences
Years ago, Alan, our Alaskan cousins, and I traveled with an Indigenous team deep into the jungles of southern Guyana. Our guides, including Shushu, an Indigenous student from our Brazilian Bible training center, led us to the remote Wai Wai village of Gunns. The journey took five days each way—by truck, tractor-pulled trailer, and finally, a 25-foot dugout canoe navigating endless rivers. Their wisdom and survival skills kept us safe in the jungle.
One village we passed through displayed remarkable generosity, allowing the young boys with us to gather bushels of fruit for our journey—a kindness rarely seen in the city. As we traveled, we marveled at our guides’ harmony in setting up camp: one caught fish, another gathered firewood, and a third hung hammocks. We did our best to assist, hoping not to add to their workload. Each night, fresh piranha and rice felt like a feast. Their way of life was so different from ours, yet their care for us left a lasting impression.
Recently, I was reminded of this when Shushu contacted me from Georgetown, Guyana’s capital. He had brought his mother for cataract treatment but was unprepared for city life. Unlike
the jungle, where food and shelter were freely
available, he suddenly needed money for
transportation and meals. The cultural shift was
overwhelming.
By God’s provision, we connected him with our
new Guyanese director, Sam Frederick, an
Indigenous man fluent in both cultures. Just
as we once relied on Shushu in the jungle, he
now depended on the Body of Christ in the city.
Scripture teaches that we are one Body with
diverse gifts, each supporting the other in
love. This experience reminded me how
essential that unity is. How grateful we are
for the Body of Christ!
More Audio Bibles Going Out!
“Thank you so much for this gift (to share the Gospel) that you are sending for the people of Yanomami. This is a powerful tool to the tribe that lives in the jungle.” —Paulo Nunes, Executive Director of CONPLEI
“We are very encouraged by your efforts to help our people here. CONPLEI alone does not go too far, but with your partnership, we go even farther.” —Henrique Terena, President of CONPLEI
Did you receive our latest print publication? Make sure you're on our mailing list! Sign Up Here >>
Join our mailing list!
Fill out the form below. You can also follow us on social media.
