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There is no doubt this project has been talked about for years now it is happening people are proud of the project. You can see A giant banner alongside one freshly paved stretch of the $2.75bn (£1.7bn) highway declaring “Once a promise, now a reality.”

Many environmentalists and social commentators are warning that the highway will bring a whole string of new problems. One thing many are afraid of is the increase risk of AIDS being transmitted to the populations. The truth is the local people are not prepared for what is happening to them. I spoke with Professor Patricia Garcia of University of Cayetano and she explained about the fear of STDs and AIDS increasing because of the Highway.

In an article written in the Guardian last year one leading academic has suggested, “It’s not roads that destroy the Amazon, it’s the people that come because the road provides better access,” Ernesto Raez, director of the Centre for Environmental Sustainability at Cayetano Heredia University in Lima agreed with this “We shouldn’t blame these people – most of whom are very impoverished. The problem is that the authorities are too weak to control this influx.”

There is also the Madre de Dios region, which has long been a draw for wildcat goldminers, who believe they will make their fortune because the price of gold has risen considerably over the past few years.

The article in the Guardian continues, “Rainforest destruction is not the only concern. Aguirre, the governor of Madre de Dios, warns the road could also aid South American drug cartels. Recent years have seen Peru become one of the world’s leading cocaine producers, with Mexican, Colombian and Brazilian gangs continuing to extend their tentacles into the country. “I wouldn’t be surprised if this road became one of main drug-trafficking routes in the next few years,”

So Peru is changing yet the needs of the poor still remain. Our work in the Vine Trust is to continue to make alliances around the world with like minded people in order that we can change lives for the good I guess our motto holds good ‘ Connecting People To Change lives”

Well it’s really all very exciting! We’re trying to make sure that the work we do in partnership with Union Biblical is the best it can be. Like everything in our lives it is foolish to sit back and expect nothing to change. Life is all about change and we in the Vine Trust recognise that everything we do in Peru has to be monitored and improved upon. We also realise that Peru itself is changing and with it comes governments that are changing their attitudes to the way homes for abandoned children are run. It’s all very positive and great to see a change in policy.

However the changes in policy means that we will be faced with increased numbers of professional staff to be employed resulting in greater costs. Yet it’s difficult to complain when you know that the end result should mean a much better service for the children of Peru.

All these changes will mean in the long term that we may not always have boys staying for long extended periods in the homes. While it is true that many of the boys have been abandoned, others may never tell the real story behind their misfortune. The new rules means that homes will require to have a phycologist and a social worker on the staff of each home.

Having a social worker on the staff means that a greater opportunity will arise for children to be reunited with their parents and their parents traced down and encouraged to find ways to reintegrate their children back into family life. No doubt there will always be a need for children to be looked after but the opportunity for children to be adopted by Peruvian parents is also an option that seems now to be gaining favour in government circles.

Today I met with quite a few inspirational people who have a real desire to be change makers here Peru. Already the change is coming about. It’s ten years since we brought the first Amazon Hope over from Scotland. Ten years on Peru is a much changed place. it’ seems to me that it’s time we all gave this nation a clap on the back for he way they have and are working to make this country a more democratic and tolerant place in which to live

I also wish to record my thanks to the members of the Committee who made the decision today. If the truth be told, I feel a bit like Peter, I’m thinking about the challenge of getting out of the boat and stepping into the water and I’m praying, Lord help me keep my eyes on you, or I’ll drown.

I wrote a song many years ago along with my song writing partners Iain Jamieson and Campbell Dye, it was all about stepping out and trusting. I have much to learn and find out about the job and no doubt I’ll make my fair share of mistakes but I’m looking forward to the opportunities that will come our way to serve together.

Step into the water

Your heart is beating fast and furious like a drum
And your throat is parched with a very dry thirst
Your time has come you can’t delay you must go
The tide is in, your time has come, go with the flow

Don’t second glance, this is your chance
Step intro the water
Don’t hesitate, you’ll be too late
Step into the water.

Your steps are slow, your faith is low, your on the edge
the fear of failure grips your soul and you turn to go
Yet from the sea adventure calls and mystery wins
the oceans vast your hook is cast love’s got to last

Don’t second glance, this is your chance
Step intro the water
Don’t hesitate, you’ll be too late
Step into the water.

Walk with hope discover faith on the edge of doubt
Don’t be afraid to be afraid, don’t shut love out
I have a friend and you have a friend
Who can walk on water
faith is the key, lesson are free, to walk on the sea

Don’t second glance, this is your chance
Step intro the water
Don’t hesitate, you’ll be too late
Step into the water.

Click here if you want to hear a blast from the mid 90s

However we know it doesn’t work like that . People only come when they know there is a place for them. The quote of course comes from the film ‘Field of Dreams’. Why am I thinking about all this ? Well yesterday I visited the ‘Field of Miracles’. This is the name of the site on which the Leaning Tower of Pisa is built.

There is great controversy about the tower. Architects and historians have been debating the issues surrounding the leaning tower for centuries. Some have argued that it is folly. A tower built without counting the cost. Others of-course take another view all together. They argue that the clue is to be found in the name “Field of Miracles” On this site all three buildings are leaning one way or another to a lesser or greater degree, so perhaps the architects were saying something about perpendicular buildings?

They argue this was all intentional. No medieval mason would have continued building a slanting tower unless he was making a point.

They continue to argue this is more than a site showing off the cleverness of human ingenuity. It is seeking to point the human mind to the God who can do things off the wall – the God of miracles.

Could the architect be saying here is a kind if miracle – a tower leaning some 17 degrees yet still standing. Like the God who says here is a ‘burning bush still burning’

The thing is believers and non believers all come. They come from all over to see something different. To see a folly but perhaps to return home believing a miracle!

I guess the builder would identify with the quote. ‘ You build it; they will come. Yes they still come after 700 or 800 years. So do they come to see a folly to look at an architects mistaken enthusiasm or do they come to wonder?

Could it be the same intrigue that continues to attract men and woman to Jesus Christ? Is he the folly or is he more?

Is it not that he refuses to conform to what we think God should be. He offers an alternative narrative to life. He says “try to keep it – you lose it. If your prepared to lose it you find it. Do the unthinkable therein lies the miracle.

It’s interesting why people come to look on the folly of the cross to wonder at the point of such amazingI can never forget the picture that I saw on a Mega Church wall on one of my visits to the United States. It simply read ” You Build It : They Will Come.” Underneath was a picture of Noah waiting for he animals to arrive. It has stayed in my mind because I fear that too often we all play safe we want the people to come to whatever, before we’ve built the Ark. However we know it doesn’t work like that . People only come when they know there is a place for them. The quote of course comes from the film ‘Field of Dreams’ Why am I thinking about all this well yesterday I visited the ‘Field of Miracles’. This is the site on which the Leaning Tower of Pisa is built. There is great controversy about the tower. Architects and historians have been debating the issues surrounding the leaning tower.

Some have argued that it is folly. A tower built without counting the cost. Others of-course take another view all together. They argue that the clue is to be found in the name if the field on which all three buildings are leaning p
one way or another to a lesser or greater extent.

They argue this was all intentional. No medieval mason would have continued building a slanting tower unless he was making a point.

Come here is a miracle a tower leaning some 17 degrees yet still standing. It’s a miracle and they come from all over to see something different . To see a folly but perhaps to return home believing a miracle. I guess the builder would identify with the quote. ‘ You build it; they will come. Yes they still come after 700 or 800 years.

It’s interesting why people come to look on the folly of the cross ? In the Kelvin Hall Glasgow the most viewed exhibit is Salvador Dali’s St John if the Cross. It has been reviled even slashed yet many return believing the miracle. God has redeemed a lost world and in Christ he has reached out to touch people like you and me.

There is a distinct history in belief being connected with follies. The Pisa Tower shed light on another meaning of miracle for me.

There is a distinct history in belief being connected with follies. The Pisa Tower shed s light on another meaning of miracle for me.

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I have no doubt that all these issues have a certain complexity about them however one cannot but feel a sense of compassion and empathy for Douad and his family. It might be interesting to reflect a little bit more on some of the issues. We’ll find ourselves when we do straying into theology, politics and issues of peace and justice. One thing I’m certain of we all have a duty to ensure that extremist where every they are found are not allowed to radicalise and polarise communities. When this happens it is people like Douad and their families who suffer.

These tribal people live in the North West part of Peru on the Ampiyacu River. Before Amazon Hope visited this part of Amazonia both tribes who live across the river from each other and speak completely different languages had very little contact. Now thanks to the medical ship coming into the area both tribes have become good friends. They meet and socialise when the ship arrives. Last week both tribes put on an amazing dance and we were welcomed as always by both of the chiefs. I had a bit of fun calling out “Ola Victor” to the chief of the Bora I remembered him from past visits. Unfortunately to him all we gringos look the same. So not only are we saving lives in the rain forest we are also doing our bit for international relations. I’m pictured here with well known art designer of furniture Alastair Munro from Inverness who was looking to develop a whole new Amazonia line in furniture for his winter collection of 2012. Mr Munro was also greatly interested in the ancient low tonal jungle drum of the Bora. This drum is used for communication between members of the tribe who might be isolated in the forest. The drum might be calling them to return to the main tribal camp for refreshments after a long hard day at work. Mr Munro who finds texting and mobiles somewhat challenging is exploring this drum as an environmental alternative to the intrusive mobile masts that are appearing all over the highlands of Scotland. Mr Munro commented that he believed he could reproduce the drum and it could be used as an alternative communication strategy for the Highlands during this time of austerity. Munro continued to suggest that this solution to communication should not be promoted as primitive but rather understood as appealing to the minimalist approach which so often is the source of good design and art.

Oh and of course we are helping the local economy as we purchase the ancient tribal art which ranges from painting to the poison arrow and blow pipe if required. I myself stuck to the art work while one of our party Hazel Taylor who works for a charitable foundation,bought a blow pipe. Now I’m not quite sure who she is planning to kill. All I can say is if you recognise her please what ever you do don’t turn your back on her. And above all watch your neck these arrows are deadly. The thing is looking at Hazel you wouldn’t believe that poison could melt in her mouth? But if you look closely you’ll notice that the tribal woman in the rear of the picture is eying her up rather suspiciously. The thing is the Bora woman are noted for their insight into human nature.

Finally it was the selection of Alice Stewart that caused the greatest of concern to Her husband Gordon. Alice caught the eye of Chief Victor and he insisted that Alice join his group of women dancers to explore the Bora mating system through the dance of the cobra. First of all Alice had to have her make up applied by one of the tribal artists. Immediately after the dance Mrs Stewart who is a giant of a man compared to Chief Victor made it plain that Alice would be returning to Scotland. However some people on the ship reported that they heard Alice sigh a little as the speed boat pulled out to head back to Iquitos some four hours down the river. Later in the day Chief Victor who is a fan of the 1970s band Dr Hook, was beating out the tune “Living Next Door To Alice” on the Jungle Drums. have a listen to the tune below.

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It was way back in 2001 that I first heard the name of Tom Dunn being mentioned by my colleague Willie MacPherson. Willie had first met Tom when he was the Chief Naval Architect for BAE Systems on the Clyde. Tom caught the vision of the Vine Trust and has helped to make the vision of taking a ship to the Amazon to change the lives of the poor a reality.

For the past ten years he has been our principal advisor in reconstructing the ships we have at present on the Amazon. I have always been amazed at Tom’s willingness to help with this work until I learned that all his life he had harboured a desire to serve God in some way in Amazonia. Here was a man who designed ships to be used in war zones now turning his skills to design and redesign Amazon Hope 1 and Amazon Hope 2 in order to take health care to over 100,000 people in the remote Amazon. I truly think Tom believed that God had given him this unique opportunity to use his naval skills in this way.

I remember having a conversation with Tom when we were sailing Amazon hope 2 around the UK in 2005/6. “Tom” I said, “What size of ships do you normally work on?” He stopped for a moment looked at me in the eye, then turning and pointing to a huge war ship berthed in Leith said quite unassumingly ” What about that one”

I want to go tomorrow to pay tribute to a man who connected with the work of the trust and through that connection has been able to change the lives of many people in Amazonia for the better, but more than that he has had a profound effect on many people who live in his home town of Greenock through the work of the Bernard Court Mission of which he was proud to be Superintendent, a job which his father and grandfather had before him.

Sadly as we’ll say farewell to a great friend of the Trust , we know he is starting out on another life changing voyage. As his ship sails over the celestial horizon, and we say “there she goes”, passing from time into eternity and our voices are silenced, others on the shoreline will be singing hymns of triumph and other voices will be heard saying ” See here she comes” death for the christian is not the end it is the gateway that leads to a new perspective on the meaning and purpose of living.

God is in the business of reconciling, he is the great cosmic peacemaker. Yet so often religion is blamed for the cause of so much war and violence. The truth is God is able to do what none of us can do by ourselves or even in community. He is able to reconcile justice and mercy. He does this through the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. Understanding this reconciliation for me, is like looking at a diamond that has many sides to it. When we seek to emphasise one side over another we miss the glory of the diamond shining as a whole. Perhaps this is a good analogy to reflect more upon here South Africa the home of so many precious stones. Perhaps we have more to learn about reconciliation in South Africa than we might first think.

Moving around South Africa peace and reconciliation is continually brought to mind as you see Blacks and Whites working together to try and create the “rainbow nation” that Mandela has striven to build. Standing in Desmond Tutu’s St George’s Cathedral, you couldn’t help be moved to see the hand of God at work in bringing about a peaceful solution out of the evils of apartheid . I’m sure its not all rosy in the garden but its at least a country where peace and reconciliation have been modelled on gospel principles. The man worshipping next to me, said,” We’ve been through some dark days but we can see the rainbow”

Surely this was an appropriate theme to be considering here in South Africa. At the heart of this text is a global mission. God is bringing together all kinds of people who have been at odds with Him and each other to fulfil this great truth. This text reminds us that God wants to bring all people into his heart.

As Christians we believe that he has called the Church to be the agent to bring this about. The Lausanne Congress was reminding church leaders from around the world that the Church is a global identity. This had been emphasised at the first great Missionary Conference in Edinburgh in 1910. Archbishop Temple described it as ” the great new fact of our time” – a truly worldwide Christian church. Temple was referring to the realisation that many were coming to back then, that the church as a global identity has much to say to a world that is broken apart by injustice and poverty. If we are going to be effective churches and Christians today, we need to begin breaking down the walls that exist even among ourselves at a local level.

Its made me see the significance of the Church Without Walls Movement for our Church of Scotland. Have a look at this video and encourage others to look at it and lets make sure we don’t lose what God has already started to do in our Church. Remember at this event many hundreds of people re-dedicated themselves to the cause of Christ after hearing Dr John Sentamu the Archbishop of York address the crowd.

We have a global commission and a local mission and both of these will only take root when we hold fast for the unity of the Church not only of Scotland but the Church in Scotland.

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Here is an amazing fact about Scotland and its place in world mission history. In the introduction to the book entitled ” Edinburgh 2010 Then and Now”, edited by Ken Ross and David Kerr, they ask the question, why was Edinburgh chosen as the conference venue for the very first missionary conference relating to the evangelisation of the world? The answer is that Scotland had an importance world wide for mission far beyond its size of its population. Here’s what they say, ” It had produced some of the most celebrated figures in he modern missionary movement; Robert Moffat, Alexander Duff, David Livingstone, John Philip, James Legge, Mary Slessor, to name but a few”. They go on to say that it had established some of the most highly regarded centres of mission work, such as Lovedale in South Africa, Livingstonia in Malawi, and the Scottish educational institutions in India. It was because of this work that was supported from within the Scottish Churches that they were sure of the success of the first missionary conference in Edinburgh in 1910.

One footnote to all this I notice that Jack McConnell the previous first minister of Scotland has been talking today in the news about the significance of the Scottish contribution at the moment to the present regeneration of Malawi, he likens it to the “Scots Second Coming”. The truth of the matter is that it has been through the churches in Malawi that aid has been able to be given to the poor. The Scottish government are aware of the importance of these links.

Perhaps we can all pray that there will be a new found confidence in the power of the gospel to unite the world and let us pray that Scotland once again will play her part.

Tweeling is about 20 kilometres from Frankfort. We stumbled across this small community while looking for breakfast. It made me wonder what people in this small town do to live. We drove round the town in less than 5 minutes and headed for Frankfort still hungry looking for our breakfast. It was while in Frankfurt that we came across this fast food shop where we had a great breakfast. As Willie is rapidly becoming the “The Spoof Food Guide have a listen as he explains the delights of this particular establishment.

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