August Amazon Update! Steve and Elba

I (Steve) first came to Brazil in June of 2001 to help build a church at Belo Monte.  The first picture is of our team and we had a great time.  We got the shell of the church completed and then went home.  During that time from then to now, the church has experienced many leadership changes and the church reopened and closed many times.  Now, there is new leadership and things have been changing.  They renovated the church, the congregation is increasing in size and leadership seems more stable.  Last month I was asked to share a few words at the church inauguration which was a fun and nervous time, but thankfully everyone thought I did a good job.  We also got the opportunity to bless the new leadership team and the new pastor.  I feel more encouraged for the future of this church.  Please pray for this church, the congregation and leadership team. 

Wow, we were so blessed to have 13 people get baptized during the church service.  It was a really exciting time and the Holy Spirit was touching each of their lives.  I really love watching people getting baptized.  First, I like the public testimony that it gives to people in the community.  Second, I love that during the baptism the church is singing and worshiping God.  Lastly, the symbolism of letting the person be completely immersed in water being baptized into Jesus’ death on the cross and no longer being slaves to self or sin.  When they are raised out of the water they are raised into a new life in Christ and are with Him forever.  Praise the Lord and may His transforming power be upon each of them and us daily.  I think these pictures below show that happening. 

Elba and her twin sister, Nira celebrated their birthdays in July.  I am so thankful that God brought Elba into my life. She is such a beautiful person inside and out and I love her dearly. She is such great wife, best friend and mother.  I bought this cake in celebration of her birthday and brought it home on my dirt bike. The cake did not do too well on the way back. Obviously, I did not think that one through. 

We are so proud of Camilly and Alyssa as they continue to excel in school.  They both won the gold medal and they got very high marks.  Good job girls!!! 

Please also continue to pray for spiritual, physical, and emotional health for us.  

Much love, Steve, Elba, Camilly, and Alyssa

Tax deductible donations can be written and sent to:

The Xingu Mission

P.O Box 340785

Columbus, Ohio  43234

Or On-line donations at:

https://xingu.org/opportunities/giving/dolan-ministries/

We went to Santarem so Elba could perform her nephew’s wedding.  During that time we went to the mall and they had these giant balls that you can get into and roll around.  The girls, along with Apollo loved it.  Camilly liked pushing the ball.  However, when she got inside she freaked out. 

July Amazon Update! Steve and Elba

Thank you so much for your prayers for us and the team from Columbus and Madison County Vineyard.  We had a wonderful and full week with the team and it was a blessing.  When the team landed on Sunday afternoon they got directly into a few vehicles and they were off to Pacaja with Keith and Marsha Wilson which is about 250 kilometers away from Altamira.  The team made it just before the church service and they were able to minister to the church congregation.  They did various activities throughout the week to bless the community and encourage the workers.  They participated in an English get together at CDR, home groups, an oral hygiene clinic at one of the local schools to which they passed out toothbrushes and toothpaste, they helped with a big church outreach to the community where the church provided free haircuts, health checkups, counseling service with a lawyer, documentation, and a lot of prayers.  During the prayer time we had testimonies of people being healed of headaches, toothaches, emotional healing and the confirmation of God’s unlimited love for them.       

After the week in Pacaja, the team came back to Altamira and they went to the Mirante church.  Cindy Taylor preached to the congregation about returning to our first love in Jesus and to regain that enthusiasm that we once had in the Lord.  The message appeared to touch many in the congregation and the Holy Spirit was active during ministry time.  All in all it was a great time with the team and I believe that the Lord used them to minister to us and the Brazilian people.  For all the team did and help participate in it would appear that it would have taken a whole month.  However, they were able to squeeze all of it in a 1 week timeline.  

After the team left, our whole family was back in the truck on the road again to visit the church in Marabá.  The Marabá church is about 530 km away.  We had a really nice time with Ivanildo and Monica who are the pastors.  Elba got to preach at the church and she shared about the importance of being committed to the church, and ultimately to Christ.  The church is comprised of a lot of young adults and it was encouraging to see them hungry for Christ and wanting more of Him in their lives.   Praise the Lord.  Please pray for the church in Marabá and its leadership. 

On July 4th, Alyssa turned 9 years old.  She is growing up so fast and is a real sweetheart.  For her birthday she got a secret diary and a coloring set.  She loves to color and beatbox.  Beatboxing is one of her hobbies that she is crafting and we are always amazed at the different sounds she is able to generate.   The team brought down this pie in the face game.  It was a big hit at her birthday party.  Camilly got a new skateboard and she is really picking it up quickly.   

Please also continue to pray for spiritual, physical, and emotional health for us.  

Much love, Steve, Elba, Camilly, and Alyssa

Tax deductible donations can be written and sent to:

The Xingu Mission

P.O Box 340785

Columbus, Ohio  43234

Or On-line donations at:

https://xingu.org/opportunities/giving/dolan-ministries/

One of the nights we went outside the city to look at the stars.  They sky was filled and we saw many shooting stars.  It was really nice.  Leonard Taylor took these shots by keeping the exposure open for a long time.  Then I turned on a flashlight so that we could see Alyssa and the team. 

June Amazon Update! Steve and Elba

Thank you so much for your prayers for us as we traveled to Brasilia for our National Church conference.  This was a special conference because the churches were recognized as a National Igreja da Vinha church movement.  This has been a long time in the making and the Brazilian National leadership has been doing a great job to get us to this point.  Milton and Erika were named as the National Leaders and we feel very confident to be under such wise and loving care.  You can find out more about Milton and Erika by visiting: https://xingu.org/opportunities/giving/piratininga_region/ .  Please pray for them and consider giving. 

We had many international leaders at the conference and we were grateful for each of their presence.  Their guidance and support throughout the many years has been so instrumental in the growth and direction of the church.  Elba also had the opportunity to share the Word of God.  She preached one of her favorite topics which was about being a missional church and people.  Her message challenged us to continue to keep reaching out to the lost and not get trapped within the confines of the church.  Her message was received well. 

When are time ended in Brasilia.  John and Eleanor Mumford, and Dan Thiessen came back with us and we went on the river to visit two small church groups.  It was a great time visiting these communities and getting to know John, Eleanor, and Dan more.  The first church service was at a small river church along the Xingu river.  This church is a healthy and vibrant church and many people attend the weekly church service.  The night we attended there were only a few people because a lot of the people in the community boated into the city and stayed for the evening.  Clenildo shared the Love of Christ and everyone was very attentive even though we were getting eaten alive by mosquitos.  The second night we had the church service outside seated in a circle.  Alyssa preferred participating in the service by laying in the tree.  This was a fun service because we all got to interact with Clenildo and his message.  We also had the opportunity to pray for others for God to heal them. 

On the river, Alyssa went fishing and she caught a piranha.  John and Dan ate the eyeballs and now are part of the fish eye club.  This is one club I am not interested in being a member.  The girls enjoyed the nice view of God’s beautiful creation as we headed home. 

Please pray for a team coming from the Columbus Vineyard and Madison County Vineyard.  We will be going to Pacajá to minister with Keith and Marsha Wilson.  It is going to be great to be with this team.  Please pray that the Lord shows His power daily and that we have eyes to see and ears to hear what He is doing.  Also, pray for all of our travel that it will be filled with safety and peace. 

Please also continue to pray for spiritual, physical, and emotional health for us.  Prayer works and we feel them. 

Much love, Steve, Elba, Camilly, and Alyssa

Tax deductible donations can be written and sent to:

The Xingu Mission

P.O Box 340785

Columbus, Ohio  43234

Or On-line donations at:

https://xingu.org/opportunities/giving/dolan-ministries/

May Amazon Update! Steve and Elba Dolan

The church has been focusing on trying to grow our home groups in the church.  One of the ways that we believe this can happen is by using a method called Disciple Making Movement (DMM) https://www.cityteam.org/idisciple/   Churches that have implemented the DMM in some parts of the world are experiencing amazing growth and seeing people come to know the Lord.  It is a strategy for making disciples and planting churches.  Rick Bergen has been implementing the DMM in Maraba for over a year, and he came to Altamira to teach us how to implement the DMM.  He has been mentoring our leaders during the initial phases to launch these groups. 

We also had a couple’s potluck dinner at the church.  We had many couples come and participate.  Elba shared a message to help encourage our couples and to also share about the struggles of being married.  Gary Thomas states in his book Sacred Marriage “What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?”  That is a hard pill to swallow because just living in this world is hard enough.  Being married is not that easy and it takes work.  Gary Thomas also wrote “A good marriage isn't something you find; it's something you make.” 

The couples had a great time playing games and just being with one another.  Below is a game in which the guy picked an ordinary item and then had to declare his love to his wife.  For example, the guy has a book and he has to be creative to declare his love to his wife using the book as the reference point.  It was really silly and it was a struggle for a lot of the guys.  It would have been a struggle for me as well.  I mean unless you are passionate for books it is a long leap to try to declare your love referencing a book.  J

Camilly and Alyssa continue to do well, except they are in a constant battle with lice.  Lice is a big problem here and Elba is constantly picking them out of the girls’ hair.  Picking lice out of people’s hair is almost like a national past time for most families here in the Amazon.  Aside from the battling lice, the girls have been helping as teacher assistance at CDR in the English classes.  They really enjoy interacting with the students and helping them in the learning process. 

Prayer Request:

Please pray for us as we travel to Brasilia for our National Church conference.  This will be a special conference because the churches will be recognized as a National Igreja da Vinha church movement.  This has been a long time in the making and the Brazilian National leadership has been doing a great job to get us to this point.  Big props to Milton and to my lovely wife Elba. 

Please also pray for our staff and students at CDR.  Just last week 3 crimes happened a couple of feet from our house, 2 guys pulled a gun on our coordinator and stole her motorbike that she just bought 2 weeks ago.  This was devastating for her emotionally and financially.  The day after that happened a little girl about 9 had her mom’s phone stolen from her at gun point.  A guy tried to stab another guy with a machete.  Please pray for protection over our staff, students, family and church members.  

Please also continue to pray for spiritual, physical, and emotional health for us.  Prayer works and we feel them. 

Much love, Steve, Elba, Camilly, and Alyssa

Tax deductible donations can be written and sent to:

The Xingu Mission

P.O Box 340785

Columbus, Ohio  43234

Or On-line donations at:

https://xingu.org/opportunities/giving/dolan-ministries/

Alyssa got a new pony.  J  We gave away 2 puppies and have 3 left.  The puppies are growing: