We are in quarantine. We started our travels 2 weeks ago to minister to the Recife church leadership, and then to Joao Pessoa to have a 3 day missionary care retreat. So much can change in a two week stretch. On the way back home, we had two airline cancellations which forced us to travel by bus, and then finally, we rented a car to come home. We are glad to be home, and the city has dramatically changed normal daily life. There are no cases of the virus here. Since the city only has 7 ventilators it does not want to be overrun by the virus. It is also really hitting the people hard financially. Thanks for your prayers. We are praying for the world.
Reflection: I was asking God during prayer, why this was happening. I felt like I got the response “it is so nice to hear from my people”. Let’s keep praying.
All of our missionaries were able to attend the missionary care and we were very grateful despite the virus. Our main speaker was not able to physically attend the missionary care due precautions around the virus, but we are grateful for technology. We were able to use video and it work out really well. One of the teachings was on disorder detachments and we were posed with a bunch questions for reflection, like:
What might our attachments be?
Ø What consumes my thoughts and plans?
Ø What holds my allegiance?
Ø Who or what tells me who I am?
Ø What gives me security and comfort?
Ø What makes me feel whole and complete?
Ø Who/What meets my deepest needs?
(Based on a prayer of Peter Faber, 1506-46)
to remove anything which separates
me from you, and you from me.
Remove anything that stands in the way of
my seeing you, hearing, tasting, savoring, and touching you;
reverencing and being mindful of you;
knowing, trusting, loving, and possessing you;
being conscious of your presence
and, as far as is possible, enjoying you.
This is what I ask for myself
and earnestly desire from you. Amen.
This will be a good exercise for me to continue, and maybe you, as we continue to walk out this life on earth.
It is always so nice to be with our missionaries to reconnect. All of us live far from one another and being together was very encouraging and life giving. The Bouthillier family still has not made it home due to travel restrictions. Please pray that God will open up a way for them to get home safely, and protection over their health.
At the church, before social isolation, we were able to have a couples dinner for the church. The entrance fee was to bring some food for all to enjoy. Pr. Kinin came and shared with his wife Rosie. The time was really special for all the couples. As you may know, with the busyness / demands of life, it is sometimes difficult to separate time to be with your spouse. We are very grateful that the couples were afforded this opportunity. We were blessed that the youth of the church served the couples their dinners.
The girls got to participate in their first Cristoval. It was three days, and two night of being with the Lord, and their friends. They had a great time. As I have shared before, Carnival is Brazil’s annual “celebration of the flesh”. It’s a week-long party where “anything goes” and almost every city in the country shuts down allowing full participation by the people. The Igreja da Vinha combined efforts many years ago to begin “Cristoval”, a retreat for youth, away from the city, with a focus on Jesus and having a lot of good clean fun (other than the mud obstacle course, Alyssa participated…not so clean). It has been a great success to redirect the youth’s energy towards God instead of the temptations of the world and drawing kids toward Jesus. During the three day retreat, the youth had opportunity to connect with Jesus through lively worship and dynamic teaching. Elba had the privilege to preach one of the nights.
We have an update, and continued prayers request:
· Update: Thanks everyone for your prayers on the sale of the property. We are in the process of working through the language for the contract. This is positive and we are thankful to God. Since there is a financial crisis in Brazil due to the virus, the buyers are asking that we be patient. So, I come to you again, and ask that you continue to pray for this to be finalized in its entirety, and that all parties will feel good about the whole process up to the completion of purchase and thereafter.
· Please pray for our church, leadership, and congregation that we help people draw close to God as we navigate this time.
Please pray for spiritual, physical, emotional and financial health for us.
Thanks and much love, Steve, Elba, Camilly, and Alyssa
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