Aline preached and encouraging message during the main service on Sunday. Aline has been a strong right hand to Ivanildo and Monica while we were away. God is blessing her in so many ways. When we first moved here Aline did not have a very good job, she lived way across town, transportation was tough with the public bus system, Aline could not get into university though she had been trying for years, and she gave all her money to help her mom with their difficult rental conditions. Now Aline has a good job with week-ends free, she lives here on the chácara with us, she has her own motorbike, she is studying at the university in the evenings and her mom is doing much better and in her own home. I am not suggesting Aline received any of these blessings because we moved here or that this was her sermon; I write the timeline to show how Aline served God faithfully when things were not going too well, and to show how God is pouring out His grace on her.

The second photo is of Aline, Deyse and Adriana.

This week our Ipé tree burst into color. A little pink flower by the volleyball court was also outdoing itself.

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; Let the sea roar, and all it contains; Let the field exult, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy Before the Lord, for He is coming; For He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, And the peoples in His faithfulness (Psalm 96:11-13).

I counted 83 children and 17 helpers, and I’m sure I missed a few.

I’ll start with my favorite photo.

Deanna and Art took the lead in planning a Children’s Event during the summer holidays.

Here are photos from Day 1.

Bruno lives with his grandparents on a lot that borders our property.

He used to be one of the most eager young people in our church. He is

struggling now through some tough teen-age years. Here is a photo of

him playing soccer on our church soccer field. He rarely comes to our

services these days. He was one of the first people to welcome us to

Marabá four years ago, and helped us unpack our furniture when we moved

here. His parents gave him to his grandparents when he was a baby. He

shared a bedroom with his great-grandmother until she died a few months

ago. He dreams of going to Belem to live with his dad someday. I

remember one December how excited he was to spend the Christmas

holidays with his brother in another part of Marabá. He would practice

in the Christmas play but always with the understanding that he would

not be here for the final production. He was going to his brother’s

home. Finally the big day came. We wished him well, and off he went,

about 12 or 13 years old. Early the next morning he was back. His eyes

were wild. “My brother threw a big party, and during this party he

stabbed someone. Then fled with his girlfriend to another city.” I

walked cross country for most of the night to get back here.” Then

Bruno burst out crying. We became like his family, and he was in the

Christmas play that year. Now his heart seems to be hardened. I feel so

sorry for him. He struggles with things we know nothing about. Maybe

you could pray for him?

Deanna gathered a group after the youth service last night to plan some

children’s events. Art and Cyndi Rae and many young people are keen to

do this. July is a school holiday month in Brazil and the children have

lots of free time. It seems impossible to do the one huge thing that

will change everything, but many small acts of kindness are very

doable, and things change over time. May God continue to wash away the

effects of sin from our neighbourhood and to reveal Himself in small

and great ways. In our hearts we keep waiting for God to do the big

huge things too, like raising the dead, and giving sight to the blind,

signs and wonders, miracles and healings. When God shows up in tangible

ways it is very helpful.

Deyse preached a great sermon at the Saturday night Youth Service on

how God does not judge us or choose us based on our outward appearance

or physical strenth. He looks at our heart, which includes our

attitudes and our character. Her sermon was based on the life of King

David, and how God chose David instead of Goliath to be his leader. “I

don’t know if Goliath was beautiful, but big and strong he certainly

was. God did not choose Goliath to be the leader of His people.”

Several of the young people in our church are taking turns preaching as

they hone their skills. They need a lot of courage to do this, the same

as young people anywhere. “I kept wondering if I would have the courage

to speak, but I know that God looks at our hearts and He gives His

children courage.”

plants and sugar cane. The next day they gave us a bag of seedlings

including bananas, sugar cane, cupuaçu and pitomba fruit trees.

We have a beautiful ipé hardwood tree in our yard. Every year this tree

fills with yellow blossoms and looks like one huge flower. This is

considered one of the best hardwood trees in the jungle. Just to give

you some idea of how special this wood is, if you google “Bill Gates

floor ipe” you will find an article which says Bill used ipé in his

home.

Here are a couple of sunsets from the other side of our home.

Here are a few portraits from the Escola de Lideres Graduation Night. Please pray for us as we try to understand how God wants to include the energetic and vibrant people.