Brazil Update: March 2018

“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee,
but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.”

Micah 6:8

Greetings in Christ,

Coming back from the U.S. is always exciting, filled with great encouragement, more focused in vision, restocked with some of the simpler pleasures in life, and knowing that we are returning to what we were created to do.  At the same time, perhaps less spoken of, is the sense of separation we go through, leaving family and friends behind, leaving the ease of North American life, the simplicity of buying anything your heart desires or the confidence of being able to fix something that is broken in the house without having to ‘MacGyver” it.

Here we are, back in-country for a week. We returned March 5th and now are working our way back into a routine with home schooling, repairing the things that somehow break even when we were not here, and preparing for our next trip into the village which will be next week, Lord willing.

We went to Church last night and reconnected with our other group of friends and family, (the first being in the U.S.) and yet, oddly, we sense a separation between us.  This “sense” exists, whether those friends and family are here or in the U.S.  So, we rely on the truth of God’s Word, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ”. 2 Cor. 5:20 Ambassadors…….”people who are residents in a foreign land, people who try to be part of that foreign culture but are actually never integrated fully into it…they are representatives of and spokesman for the country they are from.”(my personal definition) This is how we felt before coming to a foreign land.  And in reality, how we feel being here now.

We pray continually for the peace that passes all understanding (Phil 4:7), discernment (1Co2:14), the love of Christ to pour out of us (Eph 3:19) and mercy and grace to be the things which shine forth. (Micah 6:8)

Next week, after arriving in the village, I, Brad, plan to take a trip on the Indian boat for 14 hrs further up river and do another Bible Conference in a village we have previously visited two other times, and where we are hoping to possibly start a church plant later this year.  Melissa will stay in village #1, with plans to do Women’s training in both villages #1 and #2, #2 being where we are planting a church and have new believers.

When I return from up river, we will start Baptism classes in village #2 and continue with leadership training in both 1 and 2.

Please pray for this trip.  Please pray for the people whom we are ministering to.  Pray for strong leaders to be developed, a good children’s ministry to start in village #2, and for someone to be called to go up to village #3 to start a church plant.  Also pray for the other villages downstream, those who have been asking for us to bring the Word of God to them. Also pray for Linelma, who is staying in the mission base while we are gone.

We will be travelling from March 20-April 6th.

God bless you all!
Brad and Melissa, Josiah, Veronica and Benjamin