Integrity Fellowship Team

We have just finished with another great team here in Yurimaguas. Chad Fife and Brad Scott from Integrity Fellowship Church in Wayne, Michigan led a team of 10 youth and young adults who are youth camp leaders. They have been “doing” youth camps in Michigan for 20 years and have it down to a science. Chad and Brad have been coordinating with Susan over the past several months to bring the camp experience to the farm with the idea of introducing it to some of the Chayahuita youth. The mere idea is pretty radical, because they are not only introducing something completely different than the Chayahuita (as well as the mestizo Peruvians) have ever experienced, but to do so also requires crossing over not just one, but two cultural barriers.

There was some concern initially that the Chayahuita tend to be a bit stoic and stand-offish. Nobody was sure how they would react to situations where they would be asked to step out of their comfort zone and interact with others in close quarters. After all of the smoke cleared, I think that everybody involved agreed that the week was an incredible success. The Chayahuita youth participated beyond anyone’s expectation and really seemed to enjoy every part of the experience.

It is the hope of us all that the Chayahuita youth will take this idea and incorporate it into the local churches in their communities. Chad, Brad and their whole team are already planning for a follow-up trip in the future.

Thanks much to the Integrity Fellowship Team for blessing us with your presence!