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March 27 Ross and LarryRoss 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.
March 07 Pick up Ross in MarabáMonday 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. February 13 Extreme Mercy LeadershipIn June 2006, we had some meetings that have turned out to be Summit Meetings. During these meetings we prayed, thought, brain-stormed and wrote out some ways we would like to restructure the mission organization for growth. This has turned out to be tremendously helpful for us all. Since then we have been meeting as leaders to work out the details as to how we organize smaller teams which will somehow reflect our values of autonomy and accountability.
Last week, during one of these meetings, the Leadership team released us, the Bergens, to pursue the launching of a new church-planting base in Marabá. This included a fund-raising budget, strategy document and the encouragement to develop a board and register the Marabá Base.
I really sense God's approval in this. This has been confirmed, in part, by the eager anticipation of our family, the approval of our leadership team, and an unprecedented response to an email regarding our recent survey trip there last month. The real test of approval will be to see what happens as we move forward in this direction. We now have some Brazilian families praying about moving with us. We will be able to talk about this more as we get property and a budget to work with.
Yahoo!
March 15 Survery Trip to MarabáWhile there are 3 big river that merge right near Marabá, we did not find the predominant river culture like there is along the Amazon. The people seem to form new villages more along the roads, and connect more by transportation that has wheels. The exception to this was the resevoir/lake, which according to one government worker has 8,000 people living along it's shores. We went out there for several hours with a boat and saw some very poor houses. The resevoir / lake is 2,800 km2, about the size from Vitória to Porto de Moz, and twice as wide. You can travel up the rivers about a month if you like. They are long and big rivers.
We found out that no church or mission is working to intentionally plant churches in the interior. There Some Baptist missionaries moved out some years ago.
We talked to many people in the course of the seven day trip. Our primary questions were, "Are there a lot of poor people?" "Are there any other church ministries working among them?" The answers we got fell into two clear groups. The people from the Marabá region all said, "Please come help us. We really need help." At one town we stopped at up one of the rivers had about 30 houses and not one church, and according to the two people we talked to, not one christian. They said, "It would be great if you would come start a church here. People from along the river would come in to participate." Another fellow along the river bank in Marabá said, "I know Jesus is the answer to life. I just haven't gotten around to giving my life to him yet. If you guys come to plant a church here, be sure to let me know." He made sure we knew where his house was. To give the whole picture, there are a lot of christians and churches in the region, but the need also seems great.
The other clear response we got was, "There are more churches than people." This response came from several towns we visitted that were several hours from Marabá, the surrounding regions. We felt we were strongly invited by the people of Marabá to come help, and not clearly invited by other towns. This may be one of the ways the Lord is directing us.
The strongest attraction to Marabá: The people are calling us to come. It is the center of a large region. No other mission group is working in the region. It is one day's drive from Altamira. Teams can fly in and out. It has unchurched villages.
One the other hand: This would be farther from our Porto de Moz base. It would be nice to build with the church movement we have already started. It will be more challenging for the missionaries to stay in touch with one another.
Please pray with us as we seek to understand how the Lord would have us expand this work,
Warmly,
Rick Bergen. November 23 Revelation 15:4Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” September 04 FrontiersThe hardest places to plant churches are the ones the farthest away from the action.
Please pray for:
Sincerely, Rick. July 06 Summer TeamsWe had two great teams in June. Missionaries, local pastors and church people are greatly encouraged by ministry teams. These people give up quite a bit of money and time and time, often holiday time, to come down here and sweat and struggle, live on a crowded boat, endure the bugs and various hardships in order to help reach the fronteir people. And we greatly appreciate their efforts! Our mission statement is "North Americans and Brazilians united together to plant a Brazilian church-planting movement." It has always been our thought that if we can all work together and all do our part the Great Commission can possibly be accomplished in our generation. At least we can make great headway on it.
This is really a time of God's favor in the Amazon. The team mentioned this a few times and we can see it too. There is such a hunger for the gospel.
One church was about 20 hours away from here by boat. The people there are so poor the church is lit with old light bulbs, turned upside down. Somehow these light bulbs are filled with diesel oil and a strip of cotton t-shirt is pushed in as a wick. They look kind of cool actually.
*** While I was there I one of the lay leaders asked me if I had heard his testimony.
"No."
"Do you remember praying for me years ago?"
"No."
"Well, about 8 years ago I lived in Altamira. While there I had a dream that I lived far from the city and two foreigners came into my house and prayed for me. Because of that dream I moved from Altamira to live out here. Three years after I moved out here you (Rick) and Richie came into my house to pray with me. You were the people I saw in my dream. You were here with a ministry team."
This has me thinking and wondering and praying about other villages and rivers where we have never been. Who is God preparing for us to speak to? May 16 Cambridge PastorPastor Scott Roe and Martin Foster of the Cambridge Vineyard came and spent a week with us. We ministered in villages and spent considerable time talking about God's Kingdom and working together.
They sent a few photos which you can look at:
Rick. April 30 Chris and Jane and the Richmond Foursquare TeamThe wharf dissapeared in the floodwaters. We canoe in through about 400 meters of weeds to get to the village. About 40 locals come to hear about Jesus. After some worship, testimonies and a short sermon about five people came forward for prayer. I translated for two men and they both said their pain left them immediately upon receiving prayer. One had lower back pain, the other had a headache. Others ask for Advil. It is interesting how much pain these locals put up with. Or maybe it is just people in general? It is also interesting how God heals sometimes and not other times.
We try to obey God by praying first, and then helping however we feel He wants to help. Sometime God just heals people. We wish this would happen more. Sometimes people just need encouragement. Sometimes we can help in other practical ways. The people who learn to give back to God out of what they have are the ones who seem the happiest, and who receive the long term blesssing of a healthy church and the abundant life. Those who just receive but never really learn to give back to God seem to get stuck in that pattern.
We had a great six day trip, doing five services in five different communities and travelling from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. to get home the last night. Chris and Jane were missionaries here for six months. We are so glad to be spending some days again. They are here with a small team, bringing encouragement and blessing.
At one village the leader told Richie, "You don't know how good it makes my heart feel when I see your boat coming. And you don't know how it saddens my heart when I see you pulling away. Please come back soon." April 18 Trans UniãoApril 12 was Olivia's 12th birthday. It was also the 10 year anniversary of our move to Altamira.
One of our first projects was the airplane hangar. We found some river frontage in an area where the locals used to make bricks. It was a clay bed. We built a hangar about 15 feet off the ground, on large stilts. The ramp down to the river is about 100 feet long. Two of the main workers in this project were Joel and Cacau. After some time Joel learned to read by reading the Bible to his children. Cacau gave his heart to the Lord, got baptised, and later backslid. Joel also grew cool to the gospel as the two of them moved way into the bush to homestead, about 5 years ago. Recently they rededicated their lives to God, and started a church.
April 13 and 14 Clenildo and Ross took me and Branco out to Joel's baptism. About 30 people were present in the remote jungle region called Trans União. Some people walked well over an hour with small children just to attend the ceremony and walk home. It was a significant moment. For us, it was a six hour bike rally. First we chained up or got new tires. And we strapped our hammocks and stuff under tarps for protection from the heavy rains.
All in all, it was a great trip and I look forward to my next opportunity to participate.
PS Yesterday at the lunch table I was thinking about what a great place we are in as a family. The children are all reasonably healthy. We have good food and a dry (reasonably dry) roof. We have something to love, something to do and something to hope for. (I got that last sentence out of a book.) But this is a good place to be as a family. I believe it is a combination of your prayers and support, and God's promises. Thank you so much. September 22 Three Baby BoysRichie and Christie just had a baby boy!
A few weeks ago Clyde and Kelsie had a baby boy!
Days before Kelsie, Ivanildo and Monica from the Mirante Church had a baby boy!
Growth by Addition.
It has been good to talk to our Xingu family by phone. It is amazing how our voices can travel all that distance so clearly and inexpensively. There is a leadership retreat this week. The Mirante Church has the pillars up. The roof should be on in three months. They hope to be meeting at the new location by Christmas, with a floor and a roof but no walls, yet. Ross said 300 people showed up for the Colina Church new building inaugeration. This was an exceptionally big celebration for them, but we like planting churches that like to celebrate.
Thank you so much for your prayers and donations.
Warmly,
Rick. July 03 Danny and Penny Meyer and TeamThanks for being such good friends, for all the prayers, council and encouragement! May God continue to bless you all.
Jerry, Patty and Terri, thanks for your council and patience as we work together towards a solid platform for growth.
Warmly,
Rick. June 08 The Baliskys visitDr Balisky followed up his last visit here, 10 years ago, with another one. This time he brought his wife, Lorraine, and granddaughter, Jessica. Deanna, Ross and Karin grew up with the Balisky's children. This was a good visit from home for them. Here is a bible verse I have been reading these days: "The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller. The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed;..." Pr. 11:24,25a The Baliskys have supported us God's work around the globe for many years. May God's word continue to be true in their lives. June 01 InterVinha 2005It is like Mark Fields reminded me, "In order to be family, you need to spend time together." This is the fourth year now we have participated in the national Vineyard Pastor's Conference here in Brazil. Last night after we got home Clenildo told Elba this was the best InterVinha he has been to yet..."I feel so like family. Everyone is late for everything, just like me." That's a bit tongue in cheek, but the Lord is joining us and I am very glad for how well it went. Even more important to me than my own impressions of the conference is how the Brazilian's are perceiving it. And it was healthy for us to spend some time together outside of our own reality here. Johnny Christ, the pastor of the Atlanta Vineyard and a Regional Overseer of about 90 churches in the US was our guest speaker. He spoke very plainly to us about valueing our families and not losing them along the way. They are lessons I'll be passing on to our church here. May 23 Mark FieldsMark Fields is the coordinator of the Vineyard Churches outside of the US. We are in 55 countries now. It has been a great week together. We had a pastor's meeting on the Maranantha 2 boat on Wednesday, and had meetings in two river churches. After about 5 days on the boat with Clenildo and a few others we came back to Altamira for the week-end. Today, Monday, we are going to another church conference in Southern Brazil. This will be the first time Deanna is going to a national conference. Please pray for us and our children while we are gone. Pray for safety, well being, and a sense of God's presence and protection in all areas including health and home. Thank you, Rick. May 14 Justin BrownWe grew to love John and Julie Brown a few years ago when they came to work with the Xingu Mission for six months. Now their son and daughter-in-law, Justin and Jessica Brown, led a Vineyard Youth Team from Nova Scotia, Canada. The chip didn't fall far from the block! During their ten days in Brazil we ministered in six churches. On the week long river trip we invited some of our future leaders from the Mirante Church. Along the river we would usually have two Canadian testimonies, two Brazilian testimonies, a short sermon and lots of music. The team was very well recieved. There is something about Youthfull Zeal and Skilled Musicians combined with just plain, old "Being Nice" that is very attractive. Thanks for coming, guys, and thanks to all who helped make it possible. Warmly, Rick Bergen. May 09 Camily Dolan Family
The following is an e-mail I just got from Steve and Elba. ........................... Hip hip Hooray Hey, Glory be to God our little Camilly has been released into our frightened hands. As you can see in the picture Camilly is pretty excited about finally leaving the hospital. It has been a long three weeks, but thanks to God for He carried us through this dificult time. Thanks for your prayers for Camilly. Now, Elba and I need them because we feel so lost on how to take care of a little girl. I guess that is probably pretty normal. Lord bless you, and have a great weekend. We love you, Steve, Elba and Camilly. May 03 10 Prayer RequestsI have received some e-mails over the past months wanting to know prayer requests. Let me rattle a few off the top of my head:
Well, that's a place to start. I am sure the HS will lead you how to branch out from here. These prayer requests are in no particular order of importance. However, remembering Solomon's prayer for wisdom to lead God's people, and how that pleased God, seems like a good starting place. Since we have the HS now we are not even leading people so much as coaching them to get into a place where God can lead them. On a slightly differenct topic, one of my big surprises as a missionary was how business can overwhelm us even in the jungle. It can be kind of like Martha, who was doing the right thing, but she was doing it the wrong way, in her own strength. Practically...I'm still trying to figure this out. Your friend and co-laborer, Rick Bergen. April 20 CamillySteve and Elba Dolan had a baby early due to some pregnancy complications. I talked to Steve this morning and things are going really well. Still...they would appreciate your prayers. The following is an e-mail from Steve yesterday or the day before. ................................ Thank you so much for your continued thoughts and prayers. Camilly is doing good but she still needs prayers. Her lungs are still not developed fully and she still needs assistance in breathing. The doctors are planning on keeping her in pre-natal for the next several days. It is tough to watch your child struggling and not be able to do anything to help her. But we know, that through all of our prayers, Jesus is taking care of her better than anyone on this earth could. Here are some more pictures we took this morning. (Proud parents with a camera can be dangerous) HAHAHA. Her official birth weight is 3.47 lbs. Elba is doing great but is in a lot of pain, which is to be expected after having a C-section. Much love and blessings, Steve, Elba and Camilly ........................................ Hello again, I hope you are not getting tired of hearing from me. But I wanted to write to let you know that Camilly is doing much better and the Doctors were able to remove the oxygen tubes and she is breathing on her own. PRAISE GOD!!! They are still keeping a close eye on her. They said that she needs to gain some more weight before she can leave the hospital. Elba is still very sore and she has been experiencing high blood pressure. Please continue to keep Camilly and Elba in your prayers, as well as me. We know that everything is going so great because of all your prayers to our Lord Jesus. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! Love Steve, Elba and Camilly Hope you enjoy the pictures |
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