Feijo Today

Arrived Feijo this morning, secured rooms in a new hotel, entered the city, and had a short visit w/the Vice Mayor to explain our presence and pray for him and the area. Prayer walked an area back to the river where Wilson encountered an acquaintance who told him of a new pastor in the area working down the street. We were able to locate Pastor Gutierrel and arranged a meeting after he finished work for the day. We have just completed 2 hours of sharing w/him and learned of his passion to return to the interior and restore a previous church that has been abandoned/ravaged and do ministry among the indians. He has recently returned to Feijo after completing seminary, is working locally in a shop to support himself, and serving as the interim pastor of a local Bible church. He also is planning to marry in January.

At this time we believe him to be God sent and expect over time his role to become more clear. It was evident from our discussions that house churches can play a critical role in bringing salvation to the interior of Acre but it will require a model influenced by the local culture and us leaving much room for God to work the details in His way and on His schedule. It is incomprehensible how to overcome the isolation common in the interior...but not to our God.

We have plans to do paint talk tonight outside the local school when it concludes classes at 930pm. Last night we did a paint talk on a side street during the Festival of Saint Francis (annual, week-long Tarauaca celebration...which just happens [yea right!] to overlap w/our visit). Twelve people accepted Christ and Pastor Edinaldo is excited about doing it again early next week upon our return. We talked w/him earlier in the week about 1st Ingreja Batista doing something w/in the festival but that was all new thinking for him...no longer.

Planning for more prayerwalking tomorrow and then returning to Tarauaca for Sunday.

Continue to pray for Tiffany, Emma, Ethan, and Evan during this time as Aaron will not return to Rio Branco until Wednesday evening. His support to us is critical and not w/out significant personal sacrifice.

All for now. Joe and Theresa sends.

It is Thursday afternoon and most of the team is resting.

Wednesday afternoon was spent prayerwalking in a neighborhood that should soon be hosting a small group from 1st Ingreja Batista. We also went to the host home and prayed with the young lady who will play a key role in this work. She has been a believer for 5 months. We also spent time sharing with her mother and praying for her health needs. Returned to the church in time to join in their prayer time before the evening service. Pastor Edinaldo is currently teaching from Acts about the early church and they are opening the church for prayer most days in the mornings and early evenings. The evening service included worship through song, testimonies, a prayer for the visiting EBC team, and then preaching (provided by our on-site missionary...Aaron)...very special time seeing many of our friends from last year and making new friends.

We spent this morning visiting in the home which will be hosting the 1st Ingreja Batista lunch gathering this Sunday. Seems the church is practicing a weekly time of fellowship meal at someone´s home after Sunday service. They called the church together after the service last night to determine where it would be...interesting planning process. This home experienced the murder of the husband/father in December. The younger daughter is a member of the congregation, the family has a Catholic background. We spent time with her mother and met her brother, there is also an older sister. We had an opportunity to share the gospel with the mother and pray for God´s peace for the home. As you can imagine they are struggling with their loss and dealing with moving on. We anticipate our time there on Sunday and further opportunities to minister.

We plan to depart via our truck for Feijo early tomorrow. First order of business is to find a motel for Friday night as they don´t accept advance reservations. We will spend Friday and Saturday prayerwalking, sharing the gospel, and seeking a man of peace to partner with in beginning a house church/small group in Feijo. This endeavor and everything we are doing depends upon God. We are striving to be obedient and seeking to join Him at work in Feijo. We will return to Tarauacá Saturday evening to join in Sunday activities.
We covet your prayers for our families during this time, for our team, the local churches we are trying to support, and the new works that are needed. Also pray for Pastor Edinaldo as he learned this morning of Aaron´s plans to reside in Manuas after their fulow. Aaron´s new responsibilities will probably not include trips like our current endeavor which is why we are working to team with the locals in Rio Branco and Tarauacá to support God´s use of EBC in the future. We remain tremendously grateful for your partnership in this mission endeavor. Joe sends.

A Few Pictures

Comunide Batistia Zoe--service and members

Comunide Batistia Zoe (Church that EBC planted
in our first trip)

Project Rescue class




Loading bus to Tarauaca

Visiting and opening gifts at Edinaldo´s home

The World Grows Smaller

We have internet in Taruaca. The world grows smaller. Everyone is fine. Our travel yesterday was great. Joe, Theresa, Ashbel (our interpreter) and I rode the bus from Rio Branco to Taruaca. They have made tremendous progress on the road improvements. The hotel we are staying at this year is brand new and very similar to the Guapindai in Rio Branco.It was wonderful to renew friendships with Edinaldo and his family and others we know. We sat, ate, and had fellowship at Edinaldo´s Luncheonette last night. They are having a festival to celebrate the Patron Saint of Taruaca Sao Francisco. People have come in from all over the interior. We find that very interesting and are meeting this morning to pray and ensure our plans are consistent with what God would want to do to take advantage of this unique opportunity. (Aaron and I were talking last night, it reminds us of the gathering of people from all over the world in the early part of Acts--a special opportunity to spread the Gospel over the entire area God has given us to work in). Please be in prayer with us. I will go for now.
We love you guys -- from Taruaca
Bruce

Deus e bom

We are in Tarauacá. Trip took 11hrs, 10 on the bus and last hour w/Aaron. A large tractor/trailer truck damaged the large ferry at Feijo preventing the bus from crossing. We arrived at Feijo bus stop, learned that they were sending another bus, called Aaron on his cell and found him crossing the river on a small ferry. When the bus arrived at the river we departed w/our gear, caught a small ferry across and joined Aaron. Deus e bom! (God is good). More tomorrow, check back. Please remember us as the work begins tomorrow here in Tarauacá.

Interior Trip begins today

7:00 am begins the bus ride to the Interior. Bruce, Joe, Theresa and Ashbel will head out this morning on the bus. Aaron will follow a few hours behind them with the road man Wilson. It is important for the team to go on the bus this year so that in the future they have had this experience minus our missionary Aaron.

Ashbel, is a 15 year old that we met on our first trip 3 years ago. We were able to see him again last year and he loves for the Americans to come visit. He lived in Washington DC for 2 or 3 years when he was around 10. He went to American schools so he learned our language well and has continued his training at the Wizard School.

Please pray today for the team as they take most of the day (around 12 hours) to get to Tarauacá. It rained yesterday so the roads will be a little muddy but the bus is running.

First correspondence from Rio Branco

Folks,

Correspondence from Rio Branco slightly hindered due to a broken PC at our motel (www.hotelmaju.com.br). Sending this email from Epps home. Learned last night that we should be able to use an internet café in Tarauaca…an answer to prayer about being able to regular correspond w/our interior network.

Enjoyed dinner w/Aaron, Tiffany, and family last night, all are in good spirits. Glad to be home with Evan and anticipating their one-year furlough and transition to Manuas. Had a rich time discussing our perspective of God’s movement in Acre’s interior and our role…food was good too.

Joined the Epps family at Ingreja Batista Da Colina (church of the hill). Enjoyed Sunday School and fellowship w/their local church family. Greeting Wilson (our road man) after 16 months of separation was a little emotional.

The worship service had two aspects that were very personal. First, Bruce shared about our desire for “worship of God” to move from EBC and Rio Branco to the interior of Acre. A key point was issuing an invitation for them to join us in the interior work…plans for next year? The pastor has a heart for missions and his church recently traveled w/a worship team to Manuel Urbano…a movement begins! Aaron spent time sharing about their upcoming move to Manaus to assume responsibility for the northern region of Brazil. He has been sharing this on a one-on-one basis w/his closest associates/friends, this was new news to his church family and was received with bittersweet emotion.

Currently in the Epps home for lunch. Will be joined by Abud and Alcieneia. Anticipating lots of celebration. Will be in their church tonight(at Mario Sergio)…a church that birthed as an outgrowth of EBC’s initial mission trip to Rio Branco.

Tomorrow we will we visit Project Rescue, Wizard School, and possibly House of Indians. We also must finalize our plans/acquire supplies/pack for traveling to Tarauaca to join Pastor Edinaldo and begin our seven days of being in Tarauaca and Feijo (travel 25th and 3rd). Appears the recent rains may cause the bus line to stop transits into the interior and impacting plans for a personal bus experience. Pray that we can at least get bus transportation in on Tuesday as we need this experience for future plans into the interior. Most likely the team of six will travel back to Rio Branco by truck (5 passenger)…yes that means there will be shared tailgate time for most of the team.

These first few days have been deeply ponderous for me and I believe for the team also as we consider God’s plans for the interior and our role. Please pray for our discernment, wisdom, and clarity of mission in the days ahead.

Love you guys and much appreciate your prayers on our behalf. Thanks for standing in the gap for us and God’s work in Acre. Joe sends.

Above photos are of the team leaving Pensacola heading to Brazil (they met up with Laura in Atlanta) and Alcieneia and Abud holding the Epps new baby boy Evan.

Arrived on Time

The team arrived in Rio Branco, Brazil, yesterday around noon. They enjoyed dinner and visiting with the Epps. Please continue to pray as they prepare to go to the interior on Tuesday. Tomorrow they will be visiting the Wizard School (English speaking school) and also with the Project Rescue where they will be getting names of Brazilian children that we (EBC families) can support through monetary gifts. Check back later for more updates.

60 hours until we depart

Folks,

Thought it might be good to ensure we could post a blog from home before trying from Acre.

Hope we have made my last trip to Walmart to round out our essentials. Wanted to share that Bruce has already packed his luggage which immediately increased our stress level about being prepared.

Tonight we finalize what goes/stays. Since Joe is so "P-R-E-C-I-S-E", the designated quantity of each article of clothing has been computed based upon estimated need. However, this was done without regard for the capacity of our luggage, so the challenge will be to make it all fit. Of course Theresa will have no problem fitting all of her items in our luggage since she can authorize overflow into Joe's luggage.

On a serious note, wanted to share that all of our financial needs for this trip have been met through the generousity of numerous folks. Thanks so much for taking this trip personal and partnering with the Church Plant Movement.

Love you all. Thanks so much for "standing in the gap" for this endeavor. Joe and Theresa

September 21, Is fast approching

That's right September 21 is fast approching and we have a team of 4 making their way back to Acre, Brazil. You will find prayer request in this post and check back for more as the time approches. This year the team is made up of Bruce, Joe and Theresa, and Tiffany's sister from Austin, TX. She will be taking care of Tiffany while we are in the interior.

A critical aspect of our CPM (Church Planting Movement) is that someone must pray and expect God to do a supernatural work before those who oppose the gospel (Acts 19:11-17). This is where you as our circle of family and friends have a role. If we could impose, we would deeply appreciate your prayers for us and our mission trip. Specifically, we would request that you pray for:
-Continued healing and recovery for Tiffany. She is just a few weeks past her C-section for Evan.
-Welfare of our personal families.
-Protection as we travel to, within, and return from Acre.
-New "house churches" in Tarauaca.
-Locating a "man of peace" in Feijo with a receptive heart for church plants.
-Opportunity to find God at work and join Him.
-Clarity of our mission and role in Brazil for the remainder of our commitment and beyond.

Check back often as Bruce, Joe and Theres post updates and prayer request.