News from Feijo

Received the following text from Rhonda late Wednesday evening, “Hey, we planted a house church in Feijo!”.

13-15 July-Brazil 2008

Sorry for the delay in updating the blog.  We have been involved in a lot of activities and ministry and internet access has been limited.

Sunday morning at FBC Tarauaca included a good discussion with two small group leaders and six leaders-to-be!  The questions they asked and the challenges they face in fostering community among believers are very similar to what we encounter in the US.  They wanted to know our structure/method and though we shared the various ways we do small group we emphasized that we don´t expect a US approach to be better than what they are led to do by the Holy Spirit.  We are very deliberate in what we say as we don´t want to pass US-isms to the interior–we are stressing that they strive to practice what the Bible says about small groups/house churches. 

Dennis and Brandi planned to observe the children´s Sunday school activities but their presense resulted in the teachers deferring to them instead of leading.  Since we have encountered numerus unplanned events, they were prepared with material and were able to respond.  What they encountered is too typical and makes our desire to`observe without influencing very difficult.

We arose early Monday for our trip to Feijo.  We concluded our stay at the hotel with a prayer over the hotel and our hosts.  Then a quick trip to Pastor Edinaldo´s home for a final goodbye where we learned they plan to join us in Feijo on Tuesday.  Our last activity in Tarauca was pick up Duane Howe (the missionary from Crueiro do Sul) and locate 20 liter water bottles.  We found Duane at his hotel and the water bottles on our third stop..suprised they were so rare.  We have been using them to refill smaller bottles.  This approach has decreased the expense of safe drinking water for the team, along with food, this is a critical issue.

Upon arrival at Feijo, we dropped Duane at his hotel and then went to ours where we met a friend of Alcynaia´s.  She had arranged a visit to one of the local schools in hopes we could get access later in the week.  We planned an afternoon visit as well as a time conducting children´s activities at a park downtown.  The visit to the school went well and included an invitation to another school nearby.  We agreed to return Tuesday morning and then headed for the park downtown.  For the prayerwalking we broke into teams and departed in different directions from the park praying for open heavens…hearts…homes…highways…hands.  We also prayed for the local government and places of commerce…education…religion…community–for all to glorify God.  It was a huge experience to move along the streets and pray for this city in expectation of what God will do.  One of our interpreters conveyed this was a new experience for him and that he felt he was actually making a difference in the future of Feijo–He was!

We returned to the park and found it easy to take some balls, frisbees, and an American presence to initate a spontaneous activity time which provided us an opportunity to share Bible stories and to share the Good News with older spectators.

Duane brought three little girls he had encountered and invited to the park.  Later several of us walked them home to one of the local neighborhoods that ended up being several miles away…not far to those kids but notable for us.  We had a chance to share the gospel with the family, where a sister accepted Christ.  We also learned enough about the local area to discern this neighborhood might be a good area to focus on.  We walked some more and located a public park which would make a good location for activities.   We returned to the downtown park, located the rest of the team, and had a meal before returning to our hotel after dark–it had been a good day.

Tuesday morning found us at the school before 900am.  The teachers gathered all the children for songs and a story about Joseph´s coat of many colors.  This was followed by an activity of tearing up and glueing colored paper to a picture of Joseph and his coat.  It was very cool to see our whole team-Americans and Brazilians-as well as the teachers all on the floor working with the children. 

Pastor Edinaldo and his wife Carole joined us before we finished and introduced us to Silas, a young man who is part of the lay leadership of FBC Feijo.  This church is currently without a pastor and Silas agreed to join us later in the afternoon for our activities.

We departed the school for our targeted neighborhood-Esperanca-for some prayerwalking and children activites.  All went very well, except it was very hot, even for the locals.  We continue to believe this is the area we should focus on during this visit to Feijo.

I have spent my time giving you insight into some of our activities.  I trust you recognize we are spending some long days in ministry but it is not about the activity.  There are many spiritual aspects that I have not included but will as time permits.  I have to go now as we are moving from downtown to Esperanca and I would like to ride in the van versus walk.  But here is one nugget for you that is rich for us…Esperanca in Portuguese means HOPE.

Joe sends.

Saturday, July 12

The team went to the community along the river today.  Dennis, Brandi, and Joanderson were on a sandbar at the river.  The rest of the team spread out on the elevated boardwalks inviting children to come down to the river and play games and hear stories–instant backyard Bible club.  Had a large group of kids playing ball, throwing frsbees, and a huge game of duck-duck-chicken!  Anticipate we will be doing same thing in the Feijo park area and along the river.

Sunday Pastor Edinaldo’s church will celebrate their 4-year anniversary.  Along with regular services, there will be a bike race and a party to follow.  It is of particular interest that at the time Pastor Edinaldo was beginning to shepherd the church at Tarauaca, Emmanuel began their partnership with the state of Acre in Brazil.  Connect the dots…

Have arrived in Tarauaca

The team arrived in Tarauaca late Thursday night – bad roads.  They are on their way now to visit in the school.  Plans are for a 3:00pm Back Yard Bible club with the children and a 5:00pm meet with the youth.  As always, pray, and then pray some more!

Traveling to Tarauaca-The Interior Adventure Begins

We launch via van o/a 800EST.  The team is prepared and ready to go-bug spray, dictionaries, water, and road food.

We have been told the road is in good shape though some local rains have been occurring.  We have a driver who is familiar with the trip and who will be facilitating our movements for the next 8 days–pray for our travel needs in and out of the interior.

Pastor Edinaldo and the church are excited and anticipating our arrival.  We plan on arriving o/a 5pm and will be having dinner with our Tarauaca family.  It will be a huge celebration tonight and busy times through Sunday.  Pray for our time with local pastors, the children´s ministry, street evangelism, and for us to be sensitive to where God is at work.  We anticipate that plans will change and we remain flexible and ready to jon Him. 

New plans for Feijo are underway as changes to original plans have occurred.  We know God is at work in Feijo.  We are totally sure of God and His soverignty and recognize our toal dependence upon Him in the midst of our current uncertainties. 

Pray and then pray more…for the team, for the work, for God to be worshiped throughout Acre.  Your partnership through prayer is essential. 

Posturing for the Harvest.  Joe

Rio Branco Days

The team had a good night’s rest Monday night in Manaus.  No problem with checkin or flight to Rio Branco on Tuesday.  They were met by Abud and Alsynia, Edson, and Joanderson (translator).  For those of you who have traveled to Brazil before with one of EBC’s mission teams, they are staying at the Guapindaia again. The plans for Wednesday are to visit Alsynia’s school in the morning, meet with Jeff Nelson from Project Rescue for lunch, and worship at Pastor Adus Marcus’s church Wed pm.    Abud, Alsynia, Jeff Nelson, Enderson, Adus Marcus are all folks we have worked with over the past 4 years; in other words, our partners in Brazil.

Please note that Joe has learned how to say Theresa at home, my son has been ill in Portuguese.  The team will launch for Tarauaca on Thursday.  Specific prayer requests as they go are that the credit cards will work in the interior.  One of the card companies locked a card down today as a precautionary safety measure against theft.  Hopefully, that has been taken care of.  The plans are shifting for Feijo and the team will have to make and implement something different.  Apparently, the pastor has not made it on the field there yet.  Pray for the team as they continue to move forward in spite of the changes and uncertainties. Thank you for partnering with us in prayer.  Col. 1:9-13.

News from Manaus – connecting the dots…

 All flights ran on time so the team got to Manuas as scheduled and then spent an hour  processing through Immigration. 

Arrived at the hotel with a few minutes to spare before meeting one of the local missionary couples for dinner - Bill and Sylvia - have a daughter that will be starting UWF in Pensacola this fall.  Bill and Sylvia will be working for Aaron Epps when they arrive late July. 

Team is doing well – headed for some much needed rest.

Brazil Team 2008 is traveling

The team, along with our drivers, Kelly and Dannette Finley, met at EBC Sunday evening at 7:30.  After turning in their final paperwork, they headed for the Orlando airport.  They are presently in line waiting to board the flight to Manaus.  Daniel Bowers with his team from Teen Missions Int’l is ahead of them in the line.  Supreme God, Holy God, move and guide us as we go.  May we see where God is leading on this great adventure!

- 1 day and we depart for Brazil 2008

We’re all busy with final preparations and addressing last minute changes.  Please be in prayer for Dave and Jo Marcotte as they were planning on transporting the team to Orlando.  As a result of Dave’s recent back surgery and complications, they are unable to go and are in much need of our prayers and God’s intervention.  Kelly and Dannette Finley are now standing in and providing our transportation.  Much thanks for their flexibility and service.

Our partners in Brazil are also making preparations for our arrival.  Pastor Sebastian from Rio Branco (pastor of Igreja Batista Da Colina – Church of the Hills -  Aaron and Tiffany Epps were members there - and VP of the Acre State Convention) will possibly be traveling with us to the interior.  Pastor Edinaldo and family will be our host in Tarauaca.  We will be celebrating the 4th Anniversary of Pastor Edinaldo’s church. (He says “we are having a party.”)  We hope to make arrangements to meet with Pastor Sherley  and have him accompany us to Feijo.  Pray for God’s plan for reaching cities in the interior to become clear to these men as well as their individual and corporate role.  Pray for us as we discern how to best share our vision for planting churches in the interior to insure others understand and feel free to ask questions and shape the vision for their communities.

We learned that the rain stopped early this year but there have been recent downpours that could possibly hinder bus travel along our destination.  Pray for clear, mudless roads that allow the bus to travel.

We also learned that congratulations are in order for Wilson (our road trip enabler) and his wife Sheila as they are expecting a baby in a few months!   And finally we learned that we will be sharing our flight to Brazil with Daniel Bowers and his team from Teen Missions Int’l as they travel to Manaus also!!  Daniel will head to the northeast coast of Brazil – the mouth of the Amazon; we will head to the southwestern portion of the Amazon – the headwaters.  What is God up to?

 

Pastor Edinaldo and family

Pastor Sabastian and Aaron Epps

Team and Prayer Request