Greetings in Christ,
Brazil Update April 2017,
We recently returned from another fruitful trip into the interior to visit the Apurina people.
Mat 28:19a “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…”
We arrived on a Thursday morning, 12:30 am by the big boat and were able to use our speedboat to navigate the lake and creek for another hour and arrived at our jungle house. Cleaning and hanging hammocks, we got to sleep by 4:30am.
The following morning, the Chief, Makao, let us know that he was stepping out in faith to take a “solo” evangelic trip 16 hrs upriver to share the Apurina Bible and invite people from the surrounding villages to our first ever Apurina Bible Conference in May, 2017.
Each day, we had 5-9 people in our house from 8-11 am. We use their Bible to teach from, and show them how to identify key words and then form outlines to preach and teach from. Each night we had services in the church, and I taught from the morning lessons, showing them how to use their own outlines, and we averaged 55 people in attendance.
Normally we have a movie night on Saturday, but this time when we pulled out the projector and our generator, the projector would not light. We do not believe it is a light problem, but an electronic board problem. This was one of the “modern” tools that we used on a regular basis to minister the stories of the bible in a corporate setting to an oral community. We will need to by a new one.
On Tuesday, Oscar, Guillermi, Raimunda, Melissa and myself took a 2 ½ hr journey down river to a new community, we shall call Santa R, (we cannot use the real names for security reasons). We shared the Bible with them starting in the creation, original sin, sacrifice for sin, and Jesus’ Resurrection.
This was the first time they had ever heard this. They did not know we were coming, and yet the whole village gathered to hear as we faithfully delivered God’s word for 1 ½ hrs straight. At the end, they invited us to return at any time as they longed to know more about this thing that others had not had the time to explain.
We returned 3 hrs upstream and had a special meeting that night to tell of all that the Lord had done through us at Santa R. Makao had returned also the night before, and he and Davi shared about what God had done up river.
Act 14:27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.
We are at awe, as we see the possible expansion of ministry and the sending out of indigenous missionaries from the original village.
What a blessing it is to have the new speedboat, with a 40 hp motor, enabling the ministry to expand as we practically teach the Indians to evangelize and share the truth,. We praise God for meeting our monthly needs as this expansion comes with increased expenses.
What is one to say in response? Only this….God provides. His goodness is shown as He faithfully calls people such as yourselves to partner with us in this wonderful work!
I plan to return on May 2nd and then head up river with a group to have the Apurina Bible Conference. We plan to hold it on May 7-10th in the “P” community. Please pray for those who will invest the time and resources to come and hear the Bible clearly taught and preached, and that they hear the call of God and respond with a sound repentance and a humble cry, “Here I am Lord, use me.”
As always, May God richly bless you and keep you, may He make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you, and may He lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace!
In the marvelous name of our Lord Jesus,
Brad and Melissa and Family.