Life on the Streets of Santo Antonio da Ica

In this age of fast paced technology and

I’ve never met children with such a remarkable ability to entertain themselves with anything. Since a soccer or volley ball costs nearly R$40 and most families are mostly concerned with having enough food, the children are forced to be creative went it comes to entertainment. A can some string and a plastic bag soon becomes a kite. Any thing found on the side of the road has potential to become a play thing. If a ball is available it’s played with until its in shreds by every child in the neighborhood. If the kids aren’t playing soccer or volleyball then they can be found down at the ports making mud slides into the river. From sun up to way past sun down the children of the Amazon are always playing on every street, in every vacant lot, and anywhere they feel like playing. The sad reality however, is that they are out often times because of the deplorable conditions at home. Poverty grips the region like a debilitating disease. Socialism has crippled the people. Farmers stopped planting, teachers have stopped teaching and most government funded jobs are filled by workers who don't care to work and know they can’t be fired. As long as the government sends their checks every month most people seem content to remain in their impoverished conditions.

Those who strive for more and wish to encourage those around them are up against a stubborn wall of lethargic ideology. Diligence, gratitude, graciousness, and conscientiousness are words without meaning for most people in this area. The pastors I have had the pleasure of hearing teach since I’ve been in the Amazon speak with such passion and love pleading with their congregations to live lives worthy of the calling to which they have been called. Loving one another as Christ loves us is a theme often repeated. Satan is having a heyday in Santo Antonio do Ica distracting the hearts of God’s people and turning their eyes to themselves and not to their savior.

However, there is a beautiful simplicity about this culture that has pushed me nearer to my God. I come from a culture and country where every earthly comfort is available to me and finding personal fulfillment is almost a must. In the Amazon just having cheese and carrots in the grocery store or consistent electricity, is exciting. I’ve been driven to my knees and all the silly distractions that pulled me away so easily before have fallen away. Just to be able to praise my Savior and love like him overwhelms me with joy. No matter what our circumstances, as believers, we are all called to one purpose. Wade through the external distractions of your life and take a deeper look at your hearts condition. My prayer is that after some close inspection and heart work, you will be able to see yourself and your God in truth, and more clearly see the hearts of those God has placed on your path to love as he would.