In January we participated in the beach wedding of our disciples. We decided that weddings are much more fun and entertaining when you're not the bride and groom! The day after the wedding I got an emergency call from our construction supervisor pleading for me to take our 4x4 truck out to a construction site the next day. Easy right? So I got the ferry the next day at noon, crossed the Amazon River, then drove out to the site. I was able to help out the team of Americans working there for a few hours. That night I was supposed to catch a bus back to the ferry at 3:00 AM, but missed it because of a night rain. So instead, the next morning, I was taken to another community to catch a boat back to Santarem! Flexibility is the name of the game here.
After that we were able to get focused again on our cell groups. We were really missing our friends and disciples. Pray with us for their spiritual growth. One couple that we disciple ran into some difficult times in December and has not been committed ever since. Please pray for us to have wisdom in helping them resolve their issues. We know only the Holy Spirit in them can bring lasting change!
At the end of January, we set out on a 4-day outreach to the villages of Villa Socorro and Araçi. We took many young people from the city church to help with ministry. We had health clinics, dental care, water filter maintenance, door-to-door evangelism and house visits, and a couple night time worship services. These two communities have had PAZ churches for quite some time, so the focus of this trip was support. The local workers and congregation was encouraged and strengthened.
The following week, the first weekend in February, we had our annual PAZ Missionary Retreat. All of the missionaries came to Santarem and stayed in a hotel together for three days. We had wonderful fellowship with our team as well as several hours of member card teaching by a specialist from the United States. It was surely refreshing and great to see how we can care for each other.
The week after that we set out on another 5-day outreach, but this time to three communities that do not yet have PAZ church plants! This was a really exciting trip on the Tapajós River. Our team of missionaries again held health clinics and helped restore water filters in that region. One of the communities was especially closed to any outside influence, but through this health clinic has opened up to receiving outside people more readily. All three communities that we traveled to have welcomed us back! Locals are in place and ready to begin leading weekly cell group meetings. This is one of the most satisfying experiences of missionary life in the Amazon Basin, seeing people with no hope, lost in darkness, being pulled into the Kingdom of Light! Pray for the Gospel to go forth in Marituba, Serraria, and Pinhel.
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| Night time Worship Service |
Then to top it all off, Silvia made an overnight trip with just the health team to the village of Serra do Moises, where the were able to hold a health clinic and worship service, supporting the local church.
Thank you all for partnering with us in the Amazon Basin. But it's not us, it's God! We strive to be a simple channel for you to be involved with the global expansion of the Kingdom of God, taking the Gospel to the Nations! We're blessed by you all! And so are the people of the Amazon Basin of Brazil.
Praises
Wonderful start to 2012
Time of learning and restoration at the PAZ Missionary Retreat
Growth in our cell groups
Prayer Requests
Strong growth in our cell groups
Family/Ministry balance and marriage intimacy
Wisdom in ministry planning as we look at our short-term and long-term activities and goals
In the Name of Christ,
John & Silvia
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