B N Missions

What have I been up to? Well, I have been assisting with translating to Portuguese, not so well, but still have been a help. Mostly in the little day to day things for the team that has been here for a month and a half. They are from ORU- ORAL ROBERTS UNIVERSITY. Where is that Tulsa Oklohoma? They have been awesome to serve with. Along with the team on our first trip were the two guys from Paz, Paul and Isaiah.

We were in a city called Mucha Algegrie where we helped in clean up and construction of a church. But also were a big encouragement to the youth there, and hopefully to the pastor and the other church workers. It was awesome and I really feel we gave them a boost. They are sold out making disciples of Christ.

From there we came home to Santarem for a day and then went out on another boat trip to Miri, a little river village town to start work on a church there. We picked up four more short-termers and headed back out. There is a cell group that is meeting in a house there, so we started from scratch. Clearing the land and digging the foundation, I learned to tie rebar and lay bricks. Two new construction tricks for me to add to my belt. We were able to take a break one day simply because we were working so fast they didn't expect us to get so much done. So we took a 1 hour drive, which turned into 5 I think, but it was worth it to go to the waterfalls. They were amazing! I don't even have the words. We took a beautiful quick hike through the woods to another waterfall. You could have left me there in the jungle, it was beautiful. It reminded me a lot of the TN Smokies, my favorite place.
We only took off that one day. Then back to work, but back to work with bumps and bruises. You see, we road in the back of a truck there and then at the waterfall I was not too steady on my feet so I definitely along with others got bumps and bruises. Back at the boat we could not park right next to shore as I had been so lucky to experience in the past. We had to wade out into this pasture witch was flooded due to the rainy season in mud and cow poo. It smelled lovely, let me tell you. You would sink down in it with each step. ☺ Fun times. People were amazed at how clean I could stay and yet do a full days work. So they plotted and yes I got shoved into the field of cow poo and mud. I was covered. And when I say covered, I mean spread eagle on my back in it, then almost face first. Bits in my mouth and on my face. SO if anyone has any good pranks they want to pass along feel free to share.
We were also blessed to see some dolphins jumping in the Amazon. YEAY.
After returning to Santarem again after that week long trip we repacked, picked up a few more short termers, and headed out to Parintchins.
In Parinchin we have been painting a camp and some preaching, but also getting up at 5 am to go prayer walking. I am hating the getting up part, but loving the prayer walking. We are in a city that has a party similar to Mardi Gras but worse. They are celebrating the festival of the bulls. We wanted a video of it. It made the whole team's mouths drop at the idol worship. They make these floats that just look demonic, and it can be a very unsafe place to be during the festival. (Don't worry we are leaving right before). But many young girls seem to get pregnant right before the festival. It is drunkenness and parties everywhere. You can feel the oppression. Or at least I do while I have been here. SO we are praying huge things for this city.