Day 1-2 Carpenter's Way July 2012

Howdy Lufkin, Texas from Kristine!  Carpenter's Way team arrived safely in Manaus and boarded the Amor e Esperanca shortly before midnight on July 21st, the same day we departed!  We settled in and most were asleep before 2am.  There is NOTHING like sleeping in a hammock on a boat that is rocking after a long day of traveling.  We slept like the dead! 

 

Day 1 consisted of our first meal as a team at breakfast and devotion followed by a steady stream of unpacking all the luggage filled with supplies.  We made piles all over the lower deck of the boat and then slowly but surely created VBS bags, ladies' bags, men's bags, and family bags to pass out at each village we encounter.  We picked up 4 more passengers in Maues, which is the hub city of all 5 villages we will be ministering to this week.

 

Day 2:  Monte Sinai is a village consisting of about 40 families (200 people), 90% of which are Christians.  So this was a wonderful start to our trip, a chance to minister to our brothers and sisters in Christ.  We debarked the boat at 9am, breaking off into our teams for the day.  I was working with VBS headed up by Barbara Pate, serving along side Dana, Sam T., Megan, and our translator was Rosie.  The children were very involved and many prayed with Barbara when she led a salvation prayer after I presented the gospel.  The dental team, eye glass team, medical team, and pharmacutical team stayed very busy all day.  130 patients were seen by the medical clinic, (Kay, Mary Ann, Evelyn, Kevin, Phillipe, and Socorro) which kept the pharmacy (Donna, Janice, Claudia) very busy.  The eyeglass team consisting of Toni, Teresa, and Vanessa, saw 23 patients who can now read their bible more clearly!  Chad, Melinda, Dja, Sarah, & Marilha served on the dental team and saw about 30 patients and pulled about 20 teeth.  Ally had the chance to paint nails for some of the ladies today and was amused when the young girls wanted to paint her nails instead, and she happily obliged.    Sam H., Trey, Cameron, and Gigi were our street evangelism team.  They met with the patriarch & machriarch who started the village.  When they came here they were not Christians, but since their salvation have had 17 children (3 whom have passed).  They report that alcoholism, prostitution, and drug addition have been very low comparitively because of the acceptance of Christ in the village.  During our ladies meeting I was given the chance to share with the women the importance of spending quality time with the Lord each day, modeling for our children what it means to have a relationship with God, daily walking with him (Luke 9:23).  I am told that our soccer team was not very successful in defeating the local youth in soccer.  Amanda cut about 25 heads of hair while Naarah braided hair for some of the women & girls and cut her first head of hair with clippers today!  Paige & Peyton took portraits, and Pam got to treat a blind woman with a fresh dog bite.  Trey led the men's ministry reading from Ephesians 4:17-24, reiterating that the sinful ways that entrap so many others in surrounding villages is no more and that they can focus on renewed thoughts and attitudes.  At the final meeting, a local pastor preached about healing and many came professing to receive Christ and His healing power.

 

We have had a wonderful trip so far and look forward to serving a new village tomorrow!  Thank you all for your prayers!

 

Melinda wants to say hello to all her family and that she is having a great time with all the wonderful Brazilians she has met!  Chad wants to say Happy Birthday to his brother Nate.  Mom, tell MacKenzie mommy loves her so much and Teresa & I love you and Dad!!!

 

Until all have heard,

Kristine Mize