“We have, in a way, felt abandoned,” the young Aymara church leader struggled to get the words out, overwhelmed with emotion. Tears flowed freely down the cheeks of the local church members as well as the visiting Maranatha Volunteers International delegation. 

Noe Coila, the young leader of the Adventist Church on the floating islands of Los Uros, Peru, was overcome while thanking Maranatha leaders after learning their congregation was selected as part of the “1,000 Churches in 1,000 Days” initiative. This project will construct 1,000 urgently needed houses of worship in countries where Seventh-day Adventist membership is swiftly increasing. [See ANN Bulletin, May 13, 2003;

]http://www.adventist.org/news/data/2003/04/1052835404/index.html.en]<p>Coila says that the group felt isolated in their efforts to build a new church on the island, part of their plan to reach out to other residents of Los Uros.  </p>

Los Uros is a group of 41 floating islands built from the tortora reed that grows in Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake at 12,500 feet (3,810 m) above sea level.  </p>

The first Adventist congregation on Los Uros was established in 1963. Eventually about 90 percent of the islands’ 1,200 inhabitants became Adventist, according to local church officials. In 1985 a schism caused most of the island population to leave the church, with only a few families remaining, according to Abraham Huamani, communication director for the Lake Titicaca region.</p>

Presently the church has grown to 63 members mostly due to the efforts of young church leaders like Noe who have returned to the islands after studying on the mainland.  </p>

Maranatha president Don Noble, part of an advance study team visiting prospective project sites, was touched by Coila’s presentation of a small replica of the islanders’ reed balsas or boats, as a memento of the visit. Coila shared his vision for reclaiming the remaining island population and bringing them back into their new church.</p>

“I think that’s a commitment they made today. So we made a commitment too. They need a church,” said Noble. “So we’ve made a commitment and were going to ask others to help us, join us, so we can give hope to these folks.”</p>

“These are Adventists for sure,” remarked Carroll Rushold of the Maranatha fact-finding team. “You know why? They all have Adventist smiles on their faces. When you see them, you know.”</p>

Today the group worships in a small building typical of many on the island group. It is constructed by driving wooden posts deep into the tortora reed island floor. The thatched tortora walls rest on a wooden frame and are topped by a tin roof.  </p>

Because the island is literally made of dry tortora reed that is piled high enough to create a semi-solid floor, the islands are constantly rebuilt as the reeds rot. Buildings must also be torn down and rebuilt as a result of water damage.</p>

The men and women of the church moved a floating island to a remote area so that they could have a special place to worship away from the interference of tourists who flock to the islands. The church, however, is located near a heavily traveled waterway where local members feel it will be a great testimony to passing boats, both tourist and local.</p>

With the help of Maranatha and their “1,000 Churches in 1,000 Days” initiative, the members of Los Uros hope to have a new temple that is properly built on flotation devices with water resistant material. </p>

Noe is confident that a new house of worship will help the church grow on this island group.</p>

“Today, we have 63 members and when we have a place where we can praise Christ, we will win more souls—we think perhaps 500 members,” said Coila.</p>

The efforts of the Adventist members of Los Uros are paying off. The boatman who ferried the Maranatha delegation to the church island in a typical balsa, a raft boat that the locals build from tortora reeds, said he had left the church in 1985, but added with distinct certainty, “I’m returning. I’m going back.”</p>

Los Uros is the mythical birthplace of Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo who, according to Inca legend, were summoned from the depths of Lake Titicaca by Inti, the Sun god, to give birth to the mighty Incan Empire. The residents of Los Uros are thought by many scholars to be the remaining members of the Uros (people of the lake), a pre-Inca group that was thought to be lost. There are also a significant number of Aymara people.</p>

The people live almost entirely from the tortora reed from which they make their islands, their homes, medicine, souvenirs (to sell to thousands of tourists for income), boats and food.</p>

Coila, who was one of the first Uro born and raised on the island to study on the mainland and return to work with his own people, feels that the new church will have a great significance for the entire island. “For the islands, it’s significant that in around ‘86 almost everyone here was Adventist, and now I believe that they will all return to God’s way,” says Coila.</p>

As the Maranatha delegation departed the tiny floating island, the sound of a hymn wafted above the sounds of the engine. The entire church had congregated on the shores of the reed island and waved—many with tears in their eyes, all with broad smiles—as they sang in their delicately high voices: Maranata, El Señor Viene! (Maranatha, the Lord is coming!) 

As the boat gathered speed and cruised across the deep blue waters to the mainland, the last audible notes of the hymn lingered: Hope is a song for my heart/Maranatha, the Lord is coming. 

The trip was short—less than an hour—but according to the Maranatha team, it was the highlight of their trip to this Andean nation.  </p>

For the church members of Los Uros, it was a pivotal moment in their lives—they had hope once again. A new church would help realize their dream of bringing back those members who had left the church.  </p>

Neither group felt abandoned—they were all a part of a larger global family.</p>