Meet Victor Chico and Gabriela, his lovely bride. They had just completed their required civil ceremony in the city the day before their church wedding. In Argentina all religious wedding ceremonies must be preceded by a judicial ceremony before a justice of the peace.Victor was a "baby in arms" 20 years ago when God literally slapped me in the chest as I was speeding past their dock heading home after a long day of ministry with Pastor Cocholo and his wife, Lilia. We turned around and tied up to the fragile dock in front of their little humble shack. That evening standing on the dock, Victor's parents, Juan and Juana Chico, received Jesus Christ as their Savior. Everything changed for them. Their deep depression over the loss of their four year old son, Juancito, to a brain tumor... turned into the hope of seeing him in heaven one day soon. With no prompting, except from the Spirit of God, Juan immediately quit his heavy drinking and smoking... and songs of joy flooded in where depression had been suggesting suicide.
Now that same "little baby in arms", Victor, 20 years later is a musician and a worship leader at Bethel Island Church, located deep in the heart of the Parana River Delta, three hours trip by boat from the mainland. Victor begged me to be at their wedding ceremony the 25th of February, but sadly I was not able.
The bride, Gabriela, and her father arrive at the dock of Bethel Island Church aboard the "Nelly", one of our five church bus boats. This is the same boat that hit a submerged tree trunk and sank about a year ago. It is now totally restored.
They stand on the dock for a photo.
(Click on any picture to enlarge for better viewing)
Pastor Justo Urquiza, known by everyone as Cocholo, ties the knot.
A life-time Christian commitment is being sealed.
Background: It was 1982 when we purchased the "Messenger of Peace" boat and began our part of the ministry in the Parana Delta River Islands. There are no roads and no bridges. The grocery store boat arrives once a week and if you have money you can buy something to eat. Most men work planting and harvesting hundreds of acres of trees for paper pulp and boxes. I have seen 75 year old men with every muscle trembling as they hand-carried huge logs across a gang plank to load them on a barge. Life was very hard back then in these islands... and still is. Many people live isolated, some not seeing another human face for days. Sin of all kinds was rampant, alcohol abuse was a serious problem and very few families were legally married. In fact there was no way to have a legal marriage without traveling by expensive bus boat many hours to the city. I met old timers that had never seen the city, or any city for that matter, and they were only 50 miles away from Buenos Aires. Incest was far too common. Broken homes and broken lives abounded.
From the very start many hearts were open and many came to Christ and their lives started to change. Pastor Cocholo and Lilia and their faithful team are still reaching deep into this labyrinth of thousands of islands carrying the love of Jesus to the lost... every month. Shoes for little bare feet, warm jackets for the cold winters, nice used clothing (In fact that's where Frances' nice dresses and jackets ended up) are shared with the needy. Powdered milk, safe water, food, clinical education and help by doctors and dentists all this and more touch these remote people. But most importantly the "Jesus-change" has arrived for every open heart.
Sin has not been eradicated. But there has been a notable positive change in the culture in many areas. The Apostle Paul wrote: "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes..." (Romans 1:16) The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not just another religion with its candles and ceremonies. This is the power of God to make you and me into brand new creations. "Old things pass away. Behold all things are made new!" (2 Cor. 5:17)
So... to God be the glory!
Ralph
