Where do I begin??

If I tried to fill you in on everything that has been happening in our lives since our last update, I think it would take up more space than the blogging site would allow!  So I’ll just try to briefly bring you up to speed…

Bible Course at Piquiatuba Church in June

Bible Courses in the Communities…

We held our first intensive Bible course in the river communities of Piquiatuba  and Prainha in June.  Many local workers and leaders showed up from the river communities to learn more about how to be better leaders and how to be more effective in the Lord’s work.  It was exciting to hear testimonies after the course of how much more enthusiastic the workers are, making plans to win friends and family members for Jesus and plant churches in neighboring communities.  We hope to hold another Bible course about how to be good disciples and disciplers before the end of the year.  God is using these courses of fundamental Bible teachings and excellent leadership training to raise up much-needed workers for His harvest.  In the weeks, months and years to come, we believe we will see exponential growth in His work in these communities due to the knowledge and vision passed on in these teachings.  Please continue to agree with us in faith for this Bible course to produce leaders and missionaries for the Lord’s harvest!

Conferences and Events…

The Destiny Team, from left to right - Pr. Chris, Jamie from Oregon, Joshua, Jennifer, Miriam, and Josiah

We held a Family Conference in Piquiatuba June 26-27, that ended with a moving baptism at the riverside.   Pr. Chris McCall came with a team from Destiny Fellowship in Biloxi to be our conference speaker.  It was a wonderful conference where many were touched and families transformed by God’s wonder-working power.  We also held a Missions Conference in the river community of Nazare, and a Family Conference in the river community of Apace (so far our furthest community, about 12 hours up-river).  We also held an event in the community of Santa Rosa to raise money for their church  building.  The Lord

Nezi from Aramanai

is busy, busy, busy at work!  Please continue to cover all these communities in prayer – for victory, for the Lord’s peace to reign and His truth to be known!

Praise Report from the River Community of Aramanai!

Those of you who have followed our updates for some time now will remember that the community of Aramanai has been a dream of ours for years.  On a recent trip to that area, our main contact in the community, Nezi, finally gave her life to the Lord!  For a long time now we have tried to win Nezi for Jesus, but she has always refused and said she would get saved when she turned 65.  Well, this time the Holy Spirit went before us and prepared her heart, and she decided to receive Jesus!! While we were in Aramanai, we visited the local Catholic leader, Eduardo.  We have also been trying to build a relationship with him and win him for Jesus.  Eduardo was the person who shut down our last attempt to bring the Gospel to Aramanai.  He has now grown to like Josiah and me, and I finally got to meet his wife, Franca, and love up on her a little.  As the Catholic leader, Eduardo is a very influential man in the community.  When he finally receives Jesus, the community will likely follow in his footsteps!

New Church Plant in Sao Pedro

Praise the Lord, a new church plant has just opened up in the community of Sao Pedro!  This community has been so closed to the Gospel until now.  A family from our church in Alter do Chao recently moved there and started a weekly Bible study, and it’s growing!  The couple being trained up to be the local workers in Sao Pedro, Valdenilson and his wife Regina, are super excited about starting a church there.  In obedience to His Word, we have been praying for the Lord to send workers to His harvest, and He has been more than faithful!!  Continue to agree with us in faith!

First Aid Practical in Boating License Course

Boating License Course

Praise the Lord the boating license course finally started on June 6 and will continue through September 5 (3 months, ouch).  It has been a little difficult maintaining all our normal responsibilities now with this class every morning, but God has given us much grace and favor.  And now I can explain to you how a turbo-charged motor works just as well as the next guy… or at least come close.    In September, we will have our formal graduation and receive our licenses.  Although it has taken up much of our precious time, the course has actually been very interesting, and even fun at times with practical classes where they leave you in the middle of the river to swim to shore (when I came to think that was “fun” I may never know).

The Trimaran Prototype is on its Way!

We have now received about 40% of the funds necessary to build our trimaran prototype, and the plans are underway to start building soon!  We are super excited that God has heard our prayer and has touched the hearts of His children around the world to give to this worthy cause.  The trimaran will provide a much more stable and economical means of transportation for church-planting and supervision.  Please continue to pray with us for the rest of the funds to come in, and for the whole process of planning and building to go smoothly without hiccups.  We hope you can make it down for the maiden voyage!  :)

 

As always we covet your prayers in every area of our lives.  There are some situations we pass through and realize that the outcome is 100% due to the team of powerful prayer warriors we having fighting the battle with us from all around the world.  We would love to be able to personally thank every single one of you who has consistently lifted us up in prayer, and somehow repay you for the difference you have made in our lives.  But we know that in Heaven you will receive your reward, all of us soldiers will stand together as Jesus welcomes us in saying “Well done, good and faithful servant!”  Until then, we are together on the front lines in this spiritual battle for souls of the Amazon!

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