Dusty Roads

Sometimes our missionary path seems weary, dusty and just plain sweaty.  This afternoon our little temperature gauge may hit 100F.  I'm thankful to be out of the sun and off the dusty roads at the moment.

Our trip to Lage dos Negros this weekend was full of hot sunny skies and no water in the pipes.  Most of the little city had no water in their faucets due to a pipe break somewhere another.  

Thankfully the lady of the little house we rent had a good sized reserve tank. We survived with the drinking water we had on hand, a small barrel of clean water that we took from Sobradinho some months back, and a few buckets from the tank.  Just part of the ride!

Pray for us this next weekend as we begin adult group Bible studies with singing and preaching in front of the home of Dona Joalina.  She is the grandmother of Max and Maristela.  [By the way, Maristela, who swallowed the metal spring of a clothespin two weeks, ago is fine.]  We have had a small group study in Joalina's home with teens and neighbors for more than a year with Michele teaching children outside under a small shade tree.

On different note at one of our well attended Saturday Bible club sites, the lady of the house has asked us to not come anymore.  This was a great situation with teens and adults study‌ing with Byron and children with Michele hosted in the well kept yard of the host who provided a snack for all afterwards.  

This is not the first time the lady has cancelled.  On one other day, we only found out at the last minute and decided to go anyway and have at least the children's story somewhere.  That day, two seminary students, Clarinha and Pedro were with us, and we decided to try the sandy soccer court in the middle of the community.  We started by playing games.  We ended up with over 50 kids and some teens and adults.

This week we went to the shade in front of a nearby small school.  We met some new kids, had most of our old gang including three adults and afterwards we met with two ladies who invited us to a possible better shady spot on the other side of the road for this next week.  

We don't go looking for opportunities with a focus on children.  The study in this place started with the lady who cancelled and some of her family and friends.  Children came and I started a lesson just for them.  On the other hand, if our move is necessary perhaps we will reach other adults as a result.  The location is more visible and in the center of the area.  

Time will tell.  Pray for our new preaching outreach in Casas Novas dos Amaros, a new location for our little Saturday Bible school class in Patos 1, and for a little rain this week to cool things off!

By the way, no Chinese balloons around here!  Too many green parrots in the sky that would peck them down.

"For me to live is Christ."