I don't want to go home yet!

I swam in the Rio Negro today! There were three concrete stairs that went straight into the water. Ben and I taught Ana Julia how to play Marco Polo. We had a lot of fun.

Back at the work site, most everyone was busy laying block in the front of the church. I couldn't help but smile when I saw Danitria and Erin teaching Gabby the the Chicken Dance. It was the cutest thing I've ever seen!

The church is not even close to being finished, but I find that it is more full of love than I've ever seen. I don't want to go home yet!!

Blair

Bring on the reserves

After one week in Manaus, the mission team will be receiving six new team members tomorrow. We depart this afternoon and should arrive tomorrow morning. I'm tasked with making sure we all arrive. . . and in one piece. Surely, the team has faith in God to trust me with this task!

This will be my first mission where I serve overnight, let alone involving international travel. As a result, the trip reminds me of my younger days and the excitement before the first day of school. I went to bed late last night considering the unknown adventures that await me. Then, to make the comparison complete, my Mom took a picture of me ready to go. Can someone let me know what age she stops taking pictures?

All jokes aside, I cannot wait to serve God in a new way. Throughout our daily lives we are touched by God, and hopefully, we are helping others to be touched by God. Part of the challenge of being a disciple is focusing on helping others experience and feel God's presence as we do. It is easy to forget this when we are caught up in our own lives. However, this trip brings a new opportunity to touch others in a different way. I am looking forward to that experience, reflecting on it when I return, and applying it to daily discipleship.

Blessings,

Ryan

Uninhibited kindness

The kindness we've encountered here has been almost unbelievable. As has been shared previosly, Luna went all out to celebrate David's birthday, insisting on baking the cake herself and orchestrating a display of balloons. But it hasn't just been folks through the church who have been kind to us. It seems that every time David and I go out to explore, we make a new friend. On Thursday evening, we spent 20 minutes on the landing outside of our room playing and singing for one of the hotel staff. I hope our team decides to bring this practice of uninhibited kindness home...prepare yourselves!!

Michael

Being tired has never felt so good

The end of the week is approaching, and the work we have been doing here is very gratifying. We are building a church where sermons will be preached, songs will be sung, children will learn and play, there will be food and fellowship, and lives will be changed through Jesus Christ.

Being tired has never felt so good before.

The team leaders and members have been wonderful. No agenda, just get the work done while we are building relationships with the Brazilian people.

We all want to thank the membership of AUMC for fully funding our Mission Projects drive. Part of that money has been used to purchase bricks, sand, gravel, mortar mix and other construction supplies. Without that monetary support, our purpose could not be obtained.

To see an empty lot just a year ago and now see the walls going up, roofing being completed, and a second floor and classrooms added, shows that everyday people can do amazing things.

Blessings,

Gary