Finishing CIPSI and getting ready for Amazon

We are all working hard getting all the details wrapped up on the CIPSI Conference.  I will not be able to put many pictures up due to the slow internet connection.  I hope you have been able to go to the ARS Facebook to see them.  This week is full of meetings with the accountant, touching base with Pastor's who helped us last week and medical check ups for Pr Jose. 

I had the opportunity last night to preach at the English Service at Lagoinha Baptist Church here in Belo.  It was a wonderful time and I certainly was blessed.

We are also getting ready to leave on Friday for the Amazon.  The team from the US will be leaving on Friday also and then we will all meet up in Manaus.

This has been a full month with the CIPSI Conference.  I have met some wonderful people.  The speakers and volunteers were tremendous.  They all worked hard and had a wonderful servants heart and attitude.  We are having a meeting on Thursday with some Pastors who desire to do a second conference next year.  My prayer is that there will be a strong team of leaders who will work throughout the year in preparation and contacts.  This year, we had several who worked very hard and Pr & Leoni really worked hard (too hard in my opinion).  We need strong leadership here in Brazil to take up the responsibilities so that next year we will be able to reach more people.

I am very excited about this next chapter of this trip.  I visited the Amazon last year so it will not be a total surprise.  I am looking forward to the ministry opportunities in the riverside communities.

Thank you for your continued prayer support!  God is good and I am so grateful for your partnership!  I will make posts when I am able and the Internet is working!
When I am able I will tell you the stories that go along with these pictures!  Bless you!

Preparation Time is in the last hours!

Dayse and Leoni have been working hard all afternoon and evening.  I have not been able to help much today, but they tell me my time is coming tomorrow! We are excited to see what God is going to do during this conference!  Please continue to cover us as we work tonight and all day/night tomorrow!

We went to Lagoinha Baptist Church this morning for worship.  Ludmilla and I went last night to a wonderful time of worship with ladies only!  It was a needed time of refreshing as we go into this next week.

Thank you again for all your support and prayers!  God is moving and we are expecting great things for this week!

Please forgive me! WOW!

PLEASE forgive me for not keeping this blog current.  Life has been crazy busy but that is no excuse.

I am in Brazil with Pr Jose and Leoni and have been here since May 3.  I invite you to look at the ARS blog and see what has been going on.  The blog site is:  www.arsupdate.blogspot.com

I will do my best to write a quick note when we post on the ARS blog.

To catch you up right now.  I am currently assisting Pr Jose and Leoni in preparations for a conference that will take place next week, May 28, 29, 30 here in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.  This conference is to make the church aware of its responsibility to minister to the poor, and to preach the whole gospel to the whole family.  We have received a lot of support from area church's and organizations who have the same heart. It will be an important meeting and we are believing God to do great things!

After the conference is over, then Pr Jose, Leoni and I will be headed to Neves where we have ministered to our adopted families since 2010.  I will be taking video interviews of some of those families to get an update on how they are doing.  I will also be getting some photos that will help us in developing a follow up ARS promotional DVD.

On June 7 we will get on a plane and head to Manaus, and there we will meet the team traveling from the US.  We will be going down the Amazon River doing evangelism, children's ministry as well as medical ministry for a week with the Presbyterian Church of Manaus.  They have an extensive ministry to the riverside communities and we are excited about joining them.  Last year, Pr Jose, Leoni and I toured the boats and talked with Pr Mario.  Pr Mario had the opportunity to come to Stillwater and to talk with us and other interested people in August.

There will be no Internet while on the river so afterwards I will be giving an update on all that has occurred.

I am also excited about getting together with some women who are discussing a ministry time for women of the Stillwater area in the fall.  I have felt in my spirit that LCM is to be a part of this and am still praying this through.  Once I return to the US I will be talking with others and we will determine what the Lord would have us do.

Thank you for your patience and your forgiveness in my not keeping this current.