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Sunday, Aug 18, 2013

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Marsha Wilson from Pacajá was here to do voice testing for people who would like to train for the worship team.

Sunday Marsha spoke on worship, and then we worshipped for awhile afterwards. I could see people “entering in”.

We had a baby dedication. Baby Higor is 3 weeks old. His mom is Elizanna, the wife of António Carlos, who is the brother of John Lennon.

I took some pictures of baby Alice, the daughter of Marques and Adrianna, who were our worship leaders.

And I include one picture of baby Emily, Eliete and Cesar’s child, because she was in the hospital very sick this week, but she is better now.

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Adrianna and Alice

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Adrianna and Alice

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Baby Dedication – Elizanna and Higor

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Baby Dedication – Elizanna and Higor

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Baby Dedication – Elizanna and Higor

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Here is a picture of our main church meeting, with Marsha Wilson preaching.

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Marsha teaches about how we worship in a church service.

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Baby Emily – Eliete and Cesar’s baby, Luana and Yara’s sister.

 

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Water-colour Paintings

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I remember Luke Huber, who founded PAZ Mission, telling me, “If I plant 100,000 churches for the Lord but lose my own children, I will consider myself a failure”. I remember Luke doing things with his young boys, like the time he stuffed a large bass and put it up on their shelf. A family project. Luke and Christine were not failures. Even though Luke has gone to be with Jesus these last 18 years or so, all four of their children are serving the Lord, three of them here in Brazil as full-time missionaries!

One way that I spend time with our girls is painting. I can never remember painting until we had some home-school money, the girls were ages 2, 4, 6, and 8, and we were looking for a project. We went to town, bought some oil paints and canvases, and had art class. We have come a long way since then, and the girls have become better painter than me. But we all have fun at it. Together.

Here are some water colours we did, for about an hour a Saturday for 4 weeks. Three of the picture were inspired by pictures on the internet. The cabin is where Ivanildo and Monica live, here on the church property in Marabá.

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Emma's Toucan

Emma’s Toucan

Bella's "House with Cats" watercolor painting.

Bella’s “House with Cats” watercolor painting.

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Anxiety vs Faith

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Canna Lilly

Canna lilies grow in the ditches in our neighbourhood.

 

These canna lilies grow in the ditches alongside the road in our neighbourhood.

Anxiety (according to Seth Godin) = experiencing failure in advance
Faith (Hebrews 11:1) = belief in the best possible outcome

Mathew 6:27-29 …”And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these”.…

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I do not know what these youth would have been doing last night had we not moved to Marabá.

I know that many of their friends and older siblings have gotten into a lot of trouble.

This is how God is transforming things to make them better,…from people to neighbourhoods to cities.

I am so glad to be part of this.

I am so glad to work with Ivanildo and Monica, Eliel and Aline, who planned and made last night fun.

I am so glad for everyone who has helped bring this Marabá Project to where it is today.

Rick.

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Spiritual Retreat

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Church planters, pastors, and missionaries do so much good in the world. Unfortunately, the attrition and burn-out rate are high, and this can undo the good work, and even be damaging. Steve Summerall told us, “Like a boat, we all leave a wake behind us. Some people understand what the waves they make, and some people have no idea.”
To increase the good, and to lessen the harm, Vineyard leaders from the United States have been encouraging a few Vineyard leaders from around Brazil to gather once or twice a year for two or three days, for a spiritual formation retreat. During these retreats we have the opportunity to become quiet, to reflect on our relationship with Jesus. Other benefits include the deepening sense of family and community among us leaders, even though cultures vary greatly from region to region.
One of the exercises we did this week was to reflect on Luke 15:11-32. We were asked to identify with the younger son, who rebelled and then came back home. In the afternoon we went to our solitary places and reflected on how we are like the older son, who was not happy to see his repentant younger brother. Another time we reflected on God’s father-heart. What is it like for God when we, His children, act like this? What does God really think about us? This is a rich, powerful way to read the bible.
This time our retreat was located in Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state in Brazil. It is cold here. While we waited for a few others to arrive on our first day, we hiked to nearby waterfalls. The last day we ended with a meal that included ribs that were barbecued for 8 hours, along with entertainment from the gauchos, the local cowboy culture.
I cannot express how grateful I am to participate in these retreats. Now how can I bring this sense of community and personal relationship with God back to Marabá? How can I guard against our church simply becoming a bunch of meetings and things we do and don’t do? How can we help our neighbours understand how to relate in a healthy way to the Father, and to fully life life here with Him?

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Church Camp

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The InterVinha 2013 was held at the Church Camp in Altamira. This is the place we used to call “The Ranch”. For all who have helped support us and the movement in Altamira over the last 18 years, thank you. Here is a small glimpse of how the team there is taking things forward!

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Phil Strout

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Phil Strout is the leader of the Vineyard Movement in the USA. I am very encouraged for the Vineyard movement in the USA, and around the world! 
Phil was the guest speaker at this InterVinha conference. Our girls rehearsed his sermons for hours on the way home the next day. Even now I am sure they still remember all the main points.
TEN PILLARS OF LEADERSHIP – by Phil Strout (spoken over three evening, in Altamira)
1.  Get people in front of Jesus, whatever the cost! “WHATEVER IT TAKES!” (story of the paralytic let through the roof)
2. This is the most important thing we’ve ever done. (Every day, every service, every task…)
3. It is amazing what can get done when you don’t care who gets the credit. 
4. Take care of your soul. (The key to going the distance.)
5.  The ministry is not overwork, it is overflow. 
6. Fruitful longevity. (I am making a date with everyone 25 years old and under. Let’s meet back here, on the 29th of July, 30 years from now. 2043! I want to hear stories of how you are still serving well in ministry.)
7. Do to others what you want them to do to you. Treat others the way you want to be treated. Matthew 7:12. 
8. If it is worth anything, it is worth everything.  Matthew 13:44-46 
9. Ignatious – Everyday everything that happens is for the greater glory of God and the well-being of people. 
10. Drink the cups of The Lord. 
Galatians 4:19
John 18:7-11
Mark 10:35-40
Matthew 26:36-39

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The Good Life

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Elba was born so far out into the bush that her dad went to get the mid-wife with a horse. When he got back, Elba was already born, but the mid-wife was on time to deliver Elba’s twin sister Nira. Now these two ladies are both pastoring at the Mirante Vineyard in Altamira.
When Elba grew up her dad used to take their family to the beach occasionally, and they would fry fish over an open fire, and go swimming. Elba treated us to the experience.
That night we slept with the waves gently swinging our hammocks in the boat.

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River Church

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Clenildo tells stories that the river people can identify with. Many times God has directly answered prayers to calm storms, give him fish, one time he and Athila caught a deer with their hands. People around there could not believe it. As Clenildo shared stories about how God wants relationship with people, He wants our friendship and He is a living God, the people respond. Leading people to give their lives to God is one thing. Making disciples is a much longer and more involved process. We travelled to two river villages, Cruerá is overseen by the church in Souzel, and Tomandoá by the church in Vitoria.