Mission trip to Assurini

Xingu Mission has several works started in the Assurini (wilderness area across the river from Altamira). Recently I was privileged to go along on a monthly visit to one village there. What a joy to meet brothers and sisters in the Lord, who live a hard life with great joy!

The family who welcomed us into their home are homesteaders. They live on a few acres of land, in a small wooden house without indoor plumbing or electricity (except for a generator a few hours each evening). Outside in the yard live several pigs, a few cows, and many chickens, dogs and cats.

We ate together, prayed together, worshipped together, and played together. And we added a few more people to those we call the "family of God". I hope I can return again to visit these new friends.

20+ young people from Igreja da Vinha Mirante (Mirante Vineyard) went along...or I should say, they let us older adults go along with them. Our youth did their best to get acquainted with the people who live there - inviting them into several games, serving them with pedicures, dancing and laughing with them. It was a joy to watch our youth praying for people, worshipping among them, encouraging them in their new lives with Jesus.

Politics in Brazil

Nearly everyone gets involved in politics before a presidential election. Altamira may be off the beaten path, but this year several important "politicos" visited our town, including President Lula himself!

I wish I could convey the excitement, THE NOISE (political speeches broadcast throughout the neighborhood, cars with giant speakers traveling through the town, fireworks at every political rally, etc.)

Every political party (and there are several) has a color that identifies them, and each politician running for election has a number. People paint these numbers on their walls, wear the colors, wave the flags...

(I happened to be downtown when the "green" team had a major rally, so all my pictures are of them.)

Since Brazil doesn't have an Electoral College, every vote counts! Voting is mandatory after the age of 18. Somewhat like the times of Jesus, people travel back to their hometowns, where they are registered, to vote. It is a very big event. I traveled to Porto de Moz with Hortência and her uncle's family...we didn't need to take a line boat, oh no! The prefeitura (mayor) of Porto de Moz send his own boat to pick us up! (not just us, over 100 people were on board).

And this year, we get a second dose of this exhilarating experience! There will be a second election this Sunday for President and Governor. No candidate in these two races got more than 50% of the vote in the original election last month, so there will be a run-off between the two highest vote-getters. We are praying that God will choose a righteous person to lead the country for the next 4 years.

A New Roommate

Meet Hortência, my new roommate, who just turned 22. Early in September, she came to llve with me, and I've come to love her. She has such a sweet spirit, and loves the Lord!

Hortência came here from Porto de Moz to learn English, and to learn about CDR. She works at CDR, and is taking double the courseload of other students, hoping to learn English faster. One day she hopes to return to Porto and start a similar school there.

It is a joy to have her with me, and I miss her terribly when she visits her family.