These days we're preparing for rain, with an eye on the clouds in the sky.
Even the ants seem to know that rainy season is coming. They are building dirt up in pretty mounds around their doorways!
Friday our team met for prayer and then walked up to the Training Center and around the property - to decide where to build a playground for children, a workshop, a chicken house, etc. Benedito, the director and our team leader, has done a lot of work there since we were here in November - a big field has been cleared and is ready for planting when rains come - corn, manioc, beans, etc. They have dug big holes and are now putting better soil into the holes and planting fruit trees - but they have to be watered every day. At the Center they have extended the big tabernacle to include some bathrooms and an office. The kitchen and the two classrooms have been done and painted. The dry brush still needs to be cleared back from the fence that marks the property line at the back, so in case a fire comes through again, there is less chance of it going on through as it did last year. It will also allow us to have someone walk around the property occasionally for security.
Today we had a chick in the yard all day, too. We hear the neighbours' chickens, roosters, cows, etc. - just like living on a farm! We are actually located 2 km outside of the rural city of Barra do Corda in Maranhao - the Corda River is just across the road along the property which Robert will soon be responsible to care for.
For it’s just about to turn;
Don’t quit over doubts and questions,
For there’s something you may learn.
Don’t quit when the night is darkest,
For it’s just a while ‘til dawn;
Don’t quit when you’ve run the farthest,
For the race is almost won.
Don’t quit when the hill is steepest,
For your goal is almost nigh;
Don’t quit, for you’re not a failure
Until you fail to try.
Author Unknown
"Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him,
we will also live with him;
if we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
he will also disown us;
if we are faithless,
he will remain faithful,
for he cannot disown himself.
The termites beat Robert to his school notes from almost 30 years ago!
We are still making good use of the macaxeira that he planted and he is planting more for the next residents to enjoy.
We are enjoying our beautiful yard - before we move to a much drier place. We have had several families over for a picnic supper in the yard, too.
Thanks for your prayers and interest in our ministries.
. I have enjoyed reading Phillip Keller’s A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23. Part of verse three says "He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake." His commentary, as an experienced shepherd, was, "The greatest single safeguard which a shepherd has in handling his flock is keeping them on the move. … Coupled with this entire concept of management, there is of course the owner’s intimate knowledge of his pastures. He knows every advantage and every drawback; he knows where his flock will thrive and he is aware of where the feed is poor." The life of the diligent disciple following the Good Shepherd involves a cost (Mark 8ː34 – 38) and fresh attitudes must be acquired. I would like to share those with you –
1. Instead of loving myself most, I am willing to love Christ best and others more than myself.
2. Instead of being one of the crowd, I am willing to be singled out and set apart.
3. Instead of insisting on my own rights, I am willing to forego them in favour of others.
4.Instead of being "boss". I am willing to be at the bottom of the heap.
5. Instead of finding fault and always asking "Why", I am willing to accept every circumstance of life in a attitude of gratitude.
6. Instead of exercising my will, I learn to cooperate with His wishes and comply with His will.
7. Instead of choosing my own way, I am willing to choose to follow in Christ’s way, simply to do what He asks me to do - for my best interest as His disciple and for His reputation’s sake.
God wants us all to move on with Him, not only for our own welfare, but for the benefit of others and for His reputation’s sake.
Pray that our lives will display such dedicated discipleship!
Former Principal and his wife return
Former students returned, bringing families
Even AVA's first graduate was present at the 50th anniversary celebrations!
Decade parties - remember this era? And who is that?
Michael's anniversary T-shirt design was a success!
Graduation 2008
Renewed team loyalty
Celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary - dinner out! We missed you, JKL.
2 In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
for he grants sleep to those he loves.
3 Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from him.
4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one's youth.
5 Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their enemies in the gate.
a snake bite kit (it is hooked up to a outboard engine or some such thing in the village, to give electric shock) and a simple one has saved lives of Indians and missionaries. This is his version. 
The other project is to make a new wooden handle for the shears at the beach house.
Jer. 29:11 God has a good plan for us!
Isa. 43:18-19 I WILL DO SOMETHING NEW!
Her advice; Cherish, don’t cling Cherish means to hold in mind, to treasure, to hold dear, to value highly. Cherish distant family and friends, past memories, your heritage, the job you left behind, the house you loved, your roots, the city/town you left, etc.. To cling to means to clutch, to cleave to, to hold onto, to grab hold of. Her advice is to cling to God, the Bible, your faith, prayer, God’s promises, the positive, values, and each other. Real security comes from trusting God. Spiritual maturity comes in learning to depend on God to meet my needs. I will never grow if I always stay in my comfort zone. Things should not be held too tightly. They can keep me from embracing what God has planned for me.
Transition challenges our sense of personal purpose and meaning. We search for significance, desire to make a difference, and long to leave a legacy. Quote from Os Guinness in The Call
All the Way My Saviour Leads Me
This is the first hymn in a devotional book that I rediscovered thus week. It was just what I needed. All the Way My Saviour Leads Me
What have I to ask beside? Can I doubt His tender mercy Who through life has been my Guide? Heavenly peace, divinest comfort, There by faith in Him to dwell! For I know whate’er befalls me, Jesus doeth all things well. . All the Way My Saviour Leads Me
Cheers each winding path I tread. Gives me grace for every trial, feeds me with the living bread. Though my weary steps may falter, and my soul athirst may be, Gushing from the Rock before me, Lo! A spring of joy I see. All the Way My Saviour Leads Me
Oh, the fullness of His love! Perfect rest to me is promised in my Fathers house above. When my spirit, clothed immortal, wings its flight to realms of day, This my song through endless ages: Jesus led me all the way. Then I read Psalm 31:1-3: 1 In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness.
2 Turn your ear to me,
come quickly to my rescue;
be my rock of refuge,
a strong fortress to save me.
3 Since you are my rock and my fortress,
for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
The devotional comment reads: “Those of us who know Jesus Christ as Saviour should never allow fear to have any part in our lives. God, the Creator, has taken on the responsibility of guiding us in every step that we take. And more than that, the One who said that He would always lead us has also promised to cheer us when we are sad, give us grace for every trial that we face, feed us spiritually through His living bread, supply water from His own everlasting fountain. What else can we need? We must remember, however, that whether the steps seem good or bad to us – He is leading. He leads when there is an increase in pay or when there is no job at all. He is there when a tiny new member arrives in the family or when death takes a dear one. He is there to lead when a wayward child breaks the heart or when we feel desperately alone and forgotten. Our Saviour has promised to lead when we go to the uttermost parts of the world, when we work in that small, struggling church, when business fails, when there is accident or sickness. Yes, all the way our Saviour leads. Devotional Thoughts with the hymnbook No. 2 by Ruth I. Johnson c. 1971 Back to the Bible Broadcast
He leads and is with us ALL the way - even when we are being investigated by the Brazilian government regarding our 2003 declaration, when Robert is sick with an uncomfortable infection, and when we do not clearly understand our way! On Sunday Ingrid read Isa. 40: 25 - 31, and that was a special blessing to me. Then she chose a hymn that I taught to the congregation some years ago - always a good reminder, too - "O segredo do viver, o segredo do vencer, eh em Cristo confiar, nunca, nunca duvidar." (The secret of living and of being vistorious is to trust in Christ and never, never doubt.) 9 Fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
She saw our MICEB/AVA campus at flood time!
We even found this sign in English, on a tour company's boat!
