Trip to Barra in November 2007

It was special to be hosted by the team at Barra for a week in November. Grupps were in from the Canela village of Ponto for two weeks, so we had some visits with them and met their young teacher, Anne as well. Anne is very eager to learn Portuguese, so she wanted some classes in the evenings!

The Brazilian couple, Gilson and Iara, who did a year-long internship with the Grupps arrived back from São Luís while we were there. Iara is 5 months pregnant. They had plans to go now to live in Porquinhos village, but the chief has changed, and so the invitation to go is no longer open! They are hoping and praying that they will at least be able to go into the village as guests of Zequinha’s when he returns to the village after a trip to AMMI, where he studied, for a conference (the first week of December). However, to stay very long they will need permission from the FUNAI office in Barra, so pray about that need. He is very contra!

Irene Menzel was busy getting ready to leave for 6 months, to register as “retired” in Germany.

Her house will sit empty while she’s gone, as Ruth Graber is already on Home Ministry; they will both return at about the same time – possibly after MICEB conference in June. Irene’s cold water kept us from dehydrating and her special drinks, iced coffee and iced chocolate, were welcomed on several hot afternoons!

Graça Azevedo and Juarcy Monteiro were in Barra from Sardinha at exactly the time that we were asked to come, so they hosted us for most of our meals. We stayed in the guest room on the base. Graça and Gladys met in Cameta when Gladys spent Christmas of 1979 with Mary West; she was in seminary then, preparing for Christian service. Juracy is from Cururupu. They have served together for over 20 years.

Genildo and Carmélia Guajajara were also in Barra; it was great to meet them, to visit (in Portuguese), to see their humble home in Barra as well as to make a trip to São Pedro by Toyota, to see where they are living and seeking to be a witness and to build up the Guajajara believers.

Graça is a great driver, over very rough and hilly roads. She takes wonderful care of the 1982 Toyota, affectionately called Azulão! It is needing some expensive repairs just now, to make it safe for these arduous trips.

Graça is the nurse for the village of Sardinha, but in São Pedro she delivered the medicines that were sent in with us by a doctor who had been there last month on a short mission’s trip from São Luís. She matched the medicines with his hand-written prescriptions and instructed the people how to take the medicines.

Genildo studied at AMMI in Portuguese, so he and Robert could converse in Portuguese. Robert was able to show him some things about caring for the generator that they use to produce electrical energy for the church.

We went to the Mearim river bank and saw the well (prepared by Paucks, we believe).

Benedito and Dorilene also had us over for several meals. They have three daughters; this school year they are also boarding Genildo’s oldest daughter, for her to be able to study in Barra. Bené is the team leader; we had a good meeting with him. He explained the vision for the Carl Harrison Theological Training Center, showed us around the property which MEIB recently received from the First Church (it used to belong to MICEB), and explained what he envisioned our part might be in that ministry - helping in practical ways, encouraging the indigenous church leaders, and teaching.

It was a privilege to have a short visit with Duca, too. He has a lot of history with the missions in Barra, and he is excited about the development of an Indian Bible Institute. He was so pleased that the church decided to give the property to MEIB that he got the old tractor running and used it to cut the mato on the property!

We visited two different churches - Trizadela and Tamarindo - in Barra with our hosts .

We traveled to Arame by bus and van, visited two villages with Bron and Francisco, and attended the AICEB church in town. From there we went to São Luís for a few days. We visited the seminary, where we also have an invitation to minister, and we rested for several days before returning to Belém.

Thanks for your prayers. Please continue to pray for wisdom and understanding of God’s will.

We need some time to talk to our team leader here.