Another Day in Brazil - Another Day of Service

We started out with our normal meeting pre-breakfast, Jim did some scripture reading to us, and we prayed for things that we know are happening at home and things we are trying to do in Brazil. Everything is done at a different pace here and we are praying to remain flexible and go according to God’s timing, not our own. After the meeting we met for another unbelievable breakfast. Lots of fresh fruits and baked breads and all kinds of other delicious dishes.

We then headed over to begin our daily box production. Several of the young people from pastor Phil’s church came to help out.

Jim and Barry helped for a while and then they went upstairs to continue the shelving project. They are really figthing a great battle, using tools they are not used to and wood that is much harder than they would normally be using. They have been patient and persistant and had some really good progress today, although at a price of four drill bits. They are going to see it through and it will be a blessing for the use of the church when they finish.


People come and go on the box project. Kids in Brazil are not out for the summer, since this is actually their winter. They leave to go to school and do other things but Phil’s church has been amazingly supportive of the whole project. They are constantly cleaning things and stacking and moving and storing and helping us find new places to stack boxes. They have positive atittudes about it and enjoy telling us how to say the names of different things they find in boxes. It is amazing how much damage a peppermint candy cane can do to a box full of stuff. Goop everywhere and stickiness from top to bottom. It can take 15 or so minutes just to clean up one box and sometimes you still have to put it aside and just let it go to like be totally washed. Pastor Phil gave us a good talk today though. He said most of the kids who received these boxes will probably have never received a Christmas gift before and they are waiting for some tract type materials to be approved so they can put them with the boxes. Hard to call some sticky fingers uncomfortable when that kind of thing will come out of it. What a blessing it will be if we can finish them by Monday.

We left at 6:30 and ran home to Phils and took a quick shower and then headed to Wednesday night church. We sang some songs – well, tried- and then Joe, Ron and I got to go deliver short messages to what they call the adolescent class. High schoolers is more like it. They were very engaging and all said they like the Bible but none of them were willing to ask questions about our church in America or what it was like growing up. We enjoyed the opportunity though. Jim and Barry worked with the adults and did some talking to them. We completed that about 9pm. Then came back and played some basketball. The locals love to play basketball, and we have a great time. Most of the guys are over swimming now.

You have probably noticed that Betty and Charlotte were kind of missing from some of this. They spent the day preparing some great looking and smelling brownies and scones and cookies for another tea. I am writing this at almost midnight and I anticipate sneaking in to try some once I am sure they are in bed. Just kidding, but it is amazing how much they have had to change recipes and adjust to different climates, oven and ingredients. They also have done an outstanding job of adapting and using what they can find. The tea will be tomorrow night at the village which is about a 30 minute drive from here. The men will go have a barbecue at the same place. We are looking forward to it.

As I sign off I just want each person who has supported us either with money or prayers to know what a blessing this has been for me personally. God is showing us so much how just coming down here and praying with people and worshiping together and getting your hands a little dirty and sharing food and scripture just means so much to everyone who is involved. God is using us daily and all we do is just hold up our hands...what a great God he is.

Joe and Mike taking a break with some of their new friends...

Serving joyfully,

Mike