We had a big feast at our church Easter Sunday morning, to celebrate the ressurection! This has become a tradition for us at the Mirante church.

 

On another line of thought, here are a few remarks from A. W. Tozer.

 

When Something Right Can Go Wrong.

 

1. When in our determination to be bold we become brazen

2. When in our desire to be frank we become rude

3. When in our effort to be watchful we become suspicious

4. When we seek to be serious and become somber

5. When we mean to be conscientious and become overscrupulous

 

END

Ross Hansen was just here for a couple of weeks. It was so good to see him again. He came with a businessman from Chilliwack, Larry Dekoff. It was a great time of encouragement for me, having them both stay with us a few days.

 

Ross and Bud, and their families were the first missionaries to join us here in Altamira. Ross is currently home on a year's leave, putting their children through a year of school in Canada. They are praying and evaluating what God would have them do next.

 

Ross took the plane out for a good flight while he was here. It sure does shorten the travel time to get way out to the farflung communities.

 

END.

 

 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ^19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in^ the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ^20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  

 

 

Jesus died to set us free.

 

Free from bondage to...everything.

 

How many people this Easter week-end don't have a clue?

 

How many don't have a chance to hear the gospel message in a way they can understand it?

 

Maybe some of your friends? Maybe they are locked in materialism? Or poverty? Or they have a monster in the closet from their past that they can't tell anyone about? Or maybe they are living in a remote community and no one ever goes there with a clear gospel message?

 

Let's make the best use possible of each day.

 

END.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John Maxwell says that momentum is a leader's best friend. He points out how Moses was reminding the Isrealites about when they started gaining momentum. "And we took all his cities at that time; there was not a city which we did not take from them: sixty cities." I feel like Xtreme Mercy has some momentum here in Brazil now. And I am excited about moving forwrad.

 

Monday morning at 4:30 a.m. Clenildo and I were driving out of Altamira, heading for Marabá. I was looking forward to spending the time with Clenildo, and to see if he would see what I saw in Marabá. After about 7 hours of gravel road we had decided to drive straight through and have a late lunch in Marabá...until we got to the bridge that was under construction. We ended up having supper in Marabá.

When we first arrived at the property the man's wife told us, "The property is sold. They made a deal with another business. I heard the man say,  'Don't sell it to anyone else, I'm bringing you the money.'" Upon further investigation, there is another big company in Marabá interested but there have been no commitments made. The first person to come up with the money can buy the place. This seems reasonable to me, because the property is priced way under market value due to another significant opportunity available to the sellers.

The next day we picked up Ross and Larry Dekkoff at the airport. (Ross is here for two weeks with a businessman from Canada).

The photos that follow were taken on the 14 acre property.

That evening we prepared to leave for Altamira by fueling up the pickup. The gal at the pumps asked me where we were from and what we were doing. I explained that we were missionaries with Igreja da Vinha.

"I know Igreja da Vinha."

"You do? It is only known in the Xingu."

"I know. I was visting Altamira and I went to a church called Igreja da Vinha, near the Mirante Park. I gave my heart to the Lord there. This town does not have any churches like that. When you come here, make sure you tell me, so I can come and help you plant a church here."

Meanwhile Clenildo got in a conversation with the other gas attendant.

"I want to go to your church when you come to Marabá. I want to go to church somewhere where it is fun to serve God. We don't have any churches like that here in Marabá."

So we have the push factor, people who want to be part of planting a church in Marabá, and we have the pull factor, the people in Marabá who want us to come.