EMAFMaranhão
19/05/2011 . Canarias Island
Churches Planted
Canarias Island
Located on the border between Maranhão and Piauí, the Canarias Island is formed
by the Delta of the Parnaíba River. Access to the island is made by boat, from
Parnaíba (Piaui). The inhabitants are fishermen or small farmers living in
villages. There are 5 communities on the Island of Canarias, the village of
"Canarias" being one of them. The number of inhabitants on the island
is of approximately 4.000. A small number of inhabitants does not live in the
villages, but in isolated areas. They depend on the cultivation of the land.
Since August 2001, with the implantation of the mission base, the ministry has
grown rapidly, above all human expectation - praise be to the Lord!
Canárias
There is a clear difference between the
"Canárias" and the other communities. Canárias is more structured,
having a generator that functions for some hours at night, not being, however,
sufficient to keep ice to cool the fish. There is a school with three classes,
relatively well organized, compared to other schools in the fishermen villages
of our coast. There is also a small Catholic church. We have already reaped
fruit from the Canarias and a church has been planted there. There is an
average of 140 adults and 100 children attending the meetings.
Torto
An average of 70 adults and 90 children
attend the meetings at the church planted at Torto. The church building is used
daily during three periods: a school for children from first to fourth grade in
the morning and the afternoon, and 65 students studying in the Literacy Project
at night.
Caiçara
Caiçara is a village located near the
Delta. The trip lasts about an hour and fifteen minutes by fast launch, and is
one of the most beautiful trips, where the gifts of nature can be appreciated.
When the tide is low it is easy to find aligators, capivara, monkeys, snakes,
storks, and many fishermen along the shores. The roar of the sea reflects the
Power of God. The dark nights reveal beautiful starlit skes ...It is clear that
we cannot exclude the bugs and mosquitoes that mess with our nerves!!
The village is made up of about forty houses, forming
a population of three hundred and fifty inhabitants. Today there is a school
and light, but for a long time they lived in complete darkness.
The inhabitants are very suspicious, laid back,
aggressive and sarcastic. There are many young people, and they play ball,
party and drink. There is no marriage, but they "stay together" as
they say, and this begins early for the girls. The children are peaceful, love
to learn, but are slow, probably because of the way they live and eat. They are
loving, and they are a joy to work with.
The water comes from a rain barrel, and very scarce,
especially during drought time.
As for the question of health, they depend on witch
doctors, because they do nor receive proper medical attention, unless they go
to Canarias and Parnaiba, that are far away.
Basic sanitation is inexistent.
They are fascinated by television that recently came
to the village.
There were no churches or the presence of religion
until the Gospel arrived, however today there is a Catholic church and it was
built right opposite our Bible school!
The presence of missionaries and the formation of the
church there has been of great importance, principally to awaken them to the
need man has of God.
The work is slow, but we feel that the Gospel has lead
the community to know something different: the great love of God for them, and
how they are valuable, because, certainly, for years, they never imagined that
there was a God that could love them without demanding something in return. It
seems unbelievable, but they had never heard about creation, the flood or even
about the Word of God.
We are really privileged to be used by God to take the
Message of Love and Freedom to the people who live in a country like ours.
