French Guiana Update
by Aubry Tyler SOC Director
My trip started out with a delay in Trinidad, where I worked for two days with the Suriname Embassy to acquire a visa. Since the attempted terror attack by men from Suriname that was spoiled in Trinidad, the process has changed. The Lord gave us favor with the Ambassador of Suriname, and we were given a five years visa. Praise God!
I arrived in Paramaribo, Suriname in time to graduate the school that was run there by our director from Trinidad, Bro. Rodney. We had fifty-five students to graduate. The Lord moved mightily both during their testimonies, and as we challenged them with the Word of God. Bro. Rodney is a product of the School of Christ. He has become a great help to me and the SOC for reaching out and setting up new schools in new areas.
After the graduation, I had a four hour van ride to the town of Albina were we had to get into a dugout boat and travel by river to the village of Balatie. This is an Amerindian village that is situated south of Albina and is best accessed by boat.
We held the school for three weeks in the village of Balatie where pastor Toby Fraser had agreed to house the school in their facility. The women stayed in one of the houses in the village near the church, and the men stayed in hammocks in the church and under outdoor huts. The river was the normal place for bathing and washing clothes/dishes. What a boot camp this had become to make soldiers for Christ! We had many who registered to attend, but some dropped out for various reasons. We did not allow the enemy to discourage the work, and we continued classes. It was a humbling experience to see God begin to change the lives of those who attended. They were crying and moaning as God began to convict.
The power of the pure Word of God came as a crushing hammer, destroying the idols of a false gospel they had been fed for so long. The testimonies that came forth from the pastors and leaders were filled with repentance and brokenness, as well as a gratitude for the pure Gospel. As always, in the three days of fasting the students experienced the overwhelming presence of God and miracles began taking place. Diabetes, vision, and back problems were all healed during these days of fasting. To God be the glory!
We left the French school as well as the Surinamese school with pastor Toby, and he is excited about the possibility of reaching over one hundred villages up and down the river and all the way into the interior. He told me we have the tool to see revival come, and he knows we will see it come to the nation of French Guiana.
With tears in their eyes, the pastors said over and over that they thank God for Bro. Clendennen and the people that have helped to send them the school. This would not be possible, unless we continue to finish the vision of making disciples of all men.
In Christ,
Aubry Tyler
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