Lago Central

A few posts back I mentioned that I was about to leave on a trip to the Tapajós River community of Lago Central.  Well, I’ve long since returned but have been swamped with things to get done and thus have slacked off a bit on my communications efforts.  So here’s to getting back on  track!

This trip was with a team from upstate New York, associated with fellow missionaries Edson and Kelly Lee (Go here to see Edson’s pictures.  They are fabulous).  They were a split of men and women here to do both church construction and health ministry.  I was also blessed to have with us my fiancé, Silvia.  This was especially exciting for us as it was our first boat trip together!  Of course with that came much teasing that I was rather distracted, but I wouldn’t hear it!  This was also the first time I’ve been out during the rainy season.  This made for some slow mornings waiting for the rain to stop, but also provided some cool weather.  I also experienced what I believe was the hardest downpour I’ve EVER seen.

We set out on the Portador da Luz on a cheerful Monday morning for the  3.5 hour trip up the Tapajós River.  Once we were there, some fine navigating was required to get through the channel to the lake where the community is situated.  Because of this, access to this place by boat is only available for a portion of the year.  Once the river resides, you would have to walk several kilometers from the river to get there.

That afternoon we started up on the construction right away.  This church  is just in it’s infant stage of constructions.  When we got there, about half of the foundation was done.  So we finished digging the trench for this and hauling sand as well for the concrete.  We also got to break up some large rocks to use in the foundation.  The nurses fired up the clinic and saw some patients as well.  That evening we held a small service at some believers’ home next to the church site.  This is the first time I’ve ever been carried away by huge, man-eating, blood-sucking, life-taking mosquitoes.  Thankfully they didn’t take me far and some deet was within reach…

The next morning we were greeted by a nice rain shower which pushed  back the start of our construction work, but after a nice breakfast and some devotion time, the rain backed off and we were able to get started.  We brought with us on the boat thousands of clay bricks, cement, water filters, and fiber roof tiles.  So we began unloading those items as well as making cement and laying blocks…the church was starting to take on some shape!  The clinic was under way again and stayed busy most of the day.  Again we hosted a service in the evening.  The local PAZ worker Francisco opened and the boat captain, Pastor Geraldo preached a strong message about living for the Lord.  The team was also able to share a couple testimonies and a skit.  I really appreciated the worship!   We know God was working there!

On Wednesday, much of the same happed, a bit of rain, some church  construction and a health clinic.  This was the last night we would be there so we planned the “grand finale” worship service.  We had some more great worship, complements of Pr. Geraldo, and then another skit by the team.  One of the team members had a miraculous healing in her life and shared her testimony.  After that we had a strong time of prayer for healing and miracles in the people lives.  Then Pr. Renaldo, the supervisor over this church, shared the gospel message and shared his testimony of the Lord’s faithfulness in his life.  In the end, the evidence of the Lord’s hand and Spirit over this community was present as we were able to praise God with the angles as 3 people came to faith in Christ!

On the last day, we headed were greeted by a nice steady rain all morning.  I few people still came for the clinic (some from far away and across the lake in the rain) and us men consigned to being soaked and worked on the church.  This isn’t as bad as it sounds, as working in the rain is often preferred over the hot Amazonian sun, although, not the best conditions for laying block.

That afternoon, we headed back to the city, having witnessed the movement of the Holy Spirit.  I see on a weekly basis, almost hundreds of people coming to faith in Christ, and all for His glory!  Disciples-making-Disciples!  May I never stop praising God for being blessed in participating in His miraculous life-giving ministry here in the Amazon Basin of Brazil!

Please pray with us for Francisco, the PAZ worker in Lago Central.  This man is volunteering to lead this church and minister to the people there, on top of his fishing and carpentry work.  These people don’t have much, but they’ll give it up for the sake of the Gospel…


JAE