Tuesday, July 17, 2012

July Amazon update

Elba and I, along with around 500 other people throughout Brazil went to Agudas, São Paulo for our National Vineyard Church conference.  The main speaker was Phil Strout.  Phil Strout was just elected to be the National Vineyard Church Director in the United States.  He taught for three nights about creating a church movement from the inside out.  It was really encouraging because we are already in the process of doing it, and it challenged us not to become complacent but to keep pushing out.  We had about 40 people from the North come to the conference.  It was a huge financial sacrifice for each person but we hope it will have a lifetime return. 


After coming back from the National conference we had a team from the Vineyard Church of Delaware County led by Michael Hansen come and visit.  We literally came home on Monday evening and were on the river Wednesday morning.  We visited several communities along the river for several days bringing the good news of Jesus Christ and encouraging other believers.  One of our churches was flooded due to the river’s high level.  However, we were able to meet in one of the neighbor’s house.  After the river trip, we headed back to Altamira and the team held two conferences.  One conference was led by Michael with the focus on worship and the other conference was lead by Danny Meyer about relationships, and youth.  It was a very blessed time and we are always so grateful when teams can come down to help minister to our Brazilian friends, as well as us missionaries.    


Alyssa turned 5 years old on July 4th.  She invited her friends to come over to the house to celebrate the big occasion.  They played games, busted a big balloon filled with flour and candy inside, ate cake, and watched Alyssa open her presents.  She really loved her fairy princess outfit and Barbie.  Alyssa and her friends had a great time. 


Please continue to pray for spiritual, physical, and emotional health for us.  Also, we will be traveling from the 19th to the 31st visiting some of the Mirante Church church plants.  We are going to visit Pacaja, Marabá, and Palmas.  It will be a lot of driving and we need the Lord’s hand of safety and grace.  Please pray!

Love and blessings, Steve, Elba, Camilly and Alyssa


Tax deductible donations can be written and sent to:
The Xingu Mission
P.O Box 340785
Columbus, Ohio  43215

Or On-line donations at:

Kris Lambert from the Vineyard team took this picture when we were on the river.  Pretty awesome!