June is for TEAMS!

Well, actually May ;-)

I'm not really sure why the recent hiatus from updating this site, but I think it has most to do with travels and a kid.  While Silvia's life has taken the blunt of the impact, I've experienced some notable changes too.  So as we balance family life with ministry and all the comes along, somewhere, the blog got left out.  But here's a bit to catch you up on the happenings in Santarem.

What set the ball rolling was our ministry trip to Japan in February and then two weeks with my family in Illinois.  Once we arrived at home, we joined our PAZ teammates for a three-day retreat in Santarem.

Saturday Cell Group

Coming back from Japan, we really wanted to focus on our cell group ministry.  We lead two groups,
one in our home on Wednesday evenings and the other on Saturday evening in the home of a university student and her mom.

Wednesday Night Cell Group

With plans to join a church-planting team to Japan in 2014 (more about that at a later date), it's especially important that we have everything in order with our ministry responsibilities here in Santarem.  Some of the tasks that we work with could be done from any location, but the on-the-ground ministry trumps it all in importance!  We are focused on raising up leaders to replace us.
Actually, this is always the goal, but now that we have a deadline, time seems to pass more quickly!  Pray with us for healthy growth and solid leaders in our groups!

In May, our Team Season kicked-off.  We've had a group of six university students here for three weeks and running.  Also a team from Peoria, IL was here for just over a week.  Two more teams are arriving mid June.

Leaders in Paracari - Pedro Paulo and his wife

Silvia, Antony and I were able to travel on a boat trip to the Amazon River community of Paracari, just up-river from Santarem about five hours.  It was Antony's first boat trip, so we took lots of pictures.  Our days during these trips are usually packed with activity, out in the hot sun with no respite, but then to substitute our rest time with baby care time, was a bit of a culture change!  Regardless, it was a blast and we were glad to have done it.

Sr Aracu in Paracari

The community was blessed, their church building taking a leap in progress, and their people benefiting from some additional health care.  I was especially impressed by the faith of the local leaders, a blessed couple.  The church has suffered persecution (threats, rock throwing, rumors) but some faithful brothers and sisters toughed it out and the church is on the upswing.  Pray for Pedro Paulo (Peter Paul) and his wife!

I was in Paixiuba last week for a day with the university team, helping prepare the foundation of a new interior church.  Now this week, he'll be heading out to Fordlândia (Fordland, a village founded by Henry Ford in the quest of establishing a rubber plantation).  More to come with pictures when I get home!