The Village March Team - Day 5

March 23, 2011 - Day 5

Hoy! (Hi in Portuguese)

I am writing from the third deck of the boat while my fellow missionaries drown out the sound of bullfrogs with Journey's "Don't Stop Believing." Hey, He only said to make a joyful noise; He never said it had to be a beautiful one.

Today the Amor E Esperance carried us to 2 degrees 25' S, 58 degrees 20' W where we were greeted by the village children singing and holding welcome signs; we knew God was giving us an amazing day and, as always, He was faithful. We were blessed to be able to disciple our Brazilian brothers and sisters today as this village already knew Jesus. We were able to see the expansion of God's sovereignty as our foreign world's collided under the Kingdom of God, and our meeting point was the Cross. We, again, offered reading glasses to villagers who owned Bibles but could not read them through their blurred vision. We discipled to the women, as wisdom was exchanged between God's Brazilian and American daughters. The children, who continuously manage to find a foothold on my heart, surprised us by reciting verses back to us; To hear a child recite Romans in Portuguese and to have the Spirit translate it to your heart is a thing of divinity that I pray I'll be blesed with throughout my life. The medical team even performed minor surgeries on some brave villagers who would otherwise be unable to receive the much-needed care. For the first time this week, we were able to reach out to a group of teenage girls; this may seem ordinary, however, the transition period is relatively shorter here as it is a cultural norm for children to become mothers rather quickly. God's assembly of this team and the varying talents He has ordained us all with still astounds me as I watch the divine appointments meet throughout the village.

During lunch we celebrated Tam's birthday and beforedinner we celebrated Chris Manack's new birth into the Kingdom as he was baptised in the Amazon River. To witness a brother publicly proclaim the Messiah as King and beautifully fall under obedience to scripture was amazing and something we will never forget. God's intricate timing of our lives is astounding and we give thanks. The night ended with an Amazonian alligator hunt during which this blogger (Skye) almost tipped the boat in the first five minutes. Don't worry, we only caught a baby alligator, but tomorrow we're moving to another area in pursuit of its mom. Wish us luck!

The Lord has been so good and Gracious to us. Looking up at the stars now, which cannot compare to anywhere else, is an astounding reminder that the Creator of these loves us more; He uses these to light the world but calls us to be an even greater light. Tomorrow will be our last day evangelizing on the Amazon as Friday will be a day of rest and swimming while we make the 18-hour journey back to Menaus. Please ask the Spirit to move miraculously, the Father to be our strength and for Jesus' name to be proclaimed.

"I see Your power in the moonlit night/ Where planets are in motion and galaxies are bright/ We are amazed in the light of the stars/ It's all proclaiming who you are/ You're Beautiful" - Phil Wickham

The Village March Team

P.S. I hear a rooster crowing, yet, there is definitely no sun out as it is 11pm. Confused perhaps? Bom Noite!