by Glenda Williams, BNC correspondent
GENEVA, Ala. (BNc) — Jerry O. Davidson, missionary to the Amerindians villages in Guyana, recently completed another mission trip June 24-July 16. Efforts were focused on St. Cuthbert’s Mission Village and Kopinang Village.
Those participating in the campaign included 20 Americans, two Trinidadians and approximately 25 from Guyana. Among the Americans were six members from the youth group at the New Union church in Manchester, Tenn. They were led by Mark Williams.
The purpose of this trip was to conduct Vacation Bible School and a campaign for Christ. The VBS was scheduled to begin at 6:30 each evening. 178 children attended every night and were there 30 minutes early ready to study the Bible.
The campaign for Christ reaped 200 in attendance each night. Total visible results for the time period of the three-week effort were 55 restorations, 31 baptisms and three weddings.
The evangelistic services in Kopinang Village were conducted under an open galvanized roof shed which is the village marketplace. Using a string of light bulbs powered by a small gas generator, there was enough light for those attending to follow along in the Bible during the sermon.
Davidson reported buying a gallon of gas for the generator and paying $15.00 U.S. currency for it.
For the first time Davidson took in solar lights that had been donated by Christians in the states. The people in the village were amazed and happy to have one of the lights.
Juanita Skybar, a leading woman in Kopinang, was fortunate enough to receive a solar light for her own. She said, “I hope I use it the right way.” Juanita lives in a wood frame house. She personally transported boards 1″ x 12″ x 20′ that were cut with a chain saw in the jungle, one at a time on her back, until she had enough to build her house. Her husband was in the hospital in Brazil.
After the first two weeks, many of the team members had to return home, leaving six behind to work another week. The village of Kopinang is located in an area that has no roads leading into it. The remaining team of six had to fly into the village. With no electricity or running water, most people live under open sheds. 
Some had two sides walled to block the wind from their cooking area. In that area they have three large stones positioned so they can insert wood between the stones to make their fire. A cooking pot is then placed on the stones over the heat. The people farm to produce their food. Some of the villagers also mine for diamonds. Those who do this work are referred to as “pork knockers”.
During the period of October 11-25, twenty Americans will travel to Guyana and form two teams to work in Yupukari and Karasabai villages. During October 25-29, three Americans are returning to Kopinang village to do follow-up work.
Jerry Davidson has an excellent power-point presentation about the work they are doing in Guyana. He may be reached for an appointment at 251-510-9350.
2010-08-26 at 12:49 pm
The work in Guyana has been going on a long time with success. I remember making three trips in the 1990s with the Webb Chapel Church of Christ team, led by Brother David Lusk. During one bible study, I sat on the front porch quietly waiting for the lady of the house to speak. She was swaying gently back and forth in a hammock constructed right by the porch.
I had made up my mind to just ‘do what she did’…so I sat totally silent as she smiled peering up into the evening sky without saying a word. I had began the study with some OT stories. As we sat not speaking, I watched a monkey run along her privacy fence, I heard people walk by outside the wall, I watched the trees moving in a gentle wind.
My mind was made up…I would not speak again until she did. Several minutes later she said, “I know the story you told about Abraham.” With delight, I responed, “Really? Where did you hear it?” She said a friend had told her in a church she had attended years ago. Then, we began to have a good discussion and study.
I am an American, I am a talkative Christian, I am not the most patient man on the block, I felt the press of time – day and days we had before going home. But….
I simply decided to ‘move at the speed of the receptive listener.’ I now believe the lady will be waiting for judgment in Paradise.
We must be patient as we teach the people around the world and across the fence in our backyards. I loved my work in Guyana, and I believe people will be living in Heaven because we went to tell them about the One who created them, and the One who sacrificed Himself to redeem them. God be with everyone who teaches a soul how to obey the Lord. Don Petty, Lewisville, Texas.
2010-09-09 at 3:57 pm
Well said, Don. I want to make sure that Jerry Davidson sees your comment. God bless you.