“Drop by Drop, We Will Achieve…”

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“Drop by Drop, We Will Achieve…”
Latin American Indian Ministries has launched a project to supply wells to the Tikuna Indians of the Amazon region of South America and also help rebuild a Bible Institute to train Amazon Indian leaders.

By Dan Wooding

PASADENA, CA (October 28, 2000) – Latin American Indian Ministries (L.A.I.M.), a group which is committed to encourage, strengthen and support the indigenous communities of Latin American in their efforts to evangelize and disciple their own people, has launched a life-giving project to provide wells for the Tikuna Indians of South America and also to help rebuild a Bible Institute to train Amazon Indian leaders.

Dr. Dale Kietzman, founder and president of L.A.I.M. explained that the Tikuna people have lived for hundreds of years in the majestic Amazon jungle.

“Along the Amazon, where Peru, Colombia and Brazil come together, the largest of the Amazonian tribes makes its home,” said Dr. Kietzman. “These are the Tikuna, with a population of 45,000, scattered in more than 120 villages in Brazil alone. Of these villages, 17 have their own evangelical churches, with the total number of believers estimated at 5,000.

NEED FOR CLEAN WATER IN THE MIDST OF THE RAIN FOREST

“The Tikuna tribes, which has a high rate of natural growth, extreme poverty and isolation from modern society, must confront a problem of clean water, even in the midst of a great rain forest. The people depend on rainwater or, when it doesn’t rain, one the polluted waters of the rivers.

“The general health of the entire population could be greatly improved if relatively shallow wells could be drilled in each of the villages.”

In view of this great need, Dr. Kietzman, who was previously the U.S. Director of Wycliffe Bible Translators and is a founding board member of ASSIST Ministries, has launched an appeal for Christians around the world to help in the well-digging program.

“With the help of concerned friends, we will obtain a well drilling rig, and the necessary means to move it from village to village,” he said. “In comparison to the benefits that will come to all the Tikuna people, this will be a small, but extremely strategic investment.”

Dr. Kietzman added, “Your help will be translated into crystalline drops of water coming from wells in scores of villages. Drop by drop, we will achieve what is needed to help these people get clean life-giving water.”

SUPPORT FOR THE EVANGELIZATION OF THE AMAZON

Dr. Kietzman also asked for prayer and financial support for the leadership of OMITTAS, the Tikuna missionary organization that has the responsibility of administering the first indigenous Bible Institute now in operation on the banks of the Amazon.

“It has received a grant of land near the Tikuna villages of hundreds of acres of jungle land, on which a Korean mission has built a number of frame buildings that have badly deteriorated over the years of neglect.

“The new Bible Institute began its session in January, 2000, with 80 students, representing young people from many of the closer villages, but also from Colombia and Peru. There was even two Yagua Indians among them.

“They are living under very difficult circumstances, without electricity and safe water, with a lack of adequate furnishings, a temporary kitchen and they have to dine while sitting on the floor. The buildings need to be rebuilt or replaced with buildings made of more permanent materials, and shops to build the furnishings are also needed.”

A SERIOUS UNDERTAKING

Dr. Kietzman says that the undertaking is a very serious one. “This generation of leaders and students have made a firm commitment to complete the evangelization of all the Tikuna villages, and of the other people groups that live with them in the vast Amazon jungle,” he stated.

“To support the school and its students, we are presenting a project called ‘Support for the Evangelization of the Amazon,’ which is the goal of these students.”

Dr. Kietzman said that Christians can have a part with them in achieving this objective by helping to build dormitories for 150 students, a new kitchen and dining room, five classrooms and a chapel and, also, a safe dock for handling the riverboats that bring them to and from the school.

“We believe very firmly that your help will allow us to convert these deteriorating and precarious installations into a model institute worthy for the training of Christian workers who will be able to fulfill the dreams of the Tikuna believers to complete the evangelization of the Indian tribes of the Amazon,” he concluded.

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