New Friend in the Outback

On my latest trip to the Outback I was introduced to Carlos, the new owner of the small hotel we have stayed in many times in Afogados da Ingazeira.  He also owns a furniture factory that employs over 100 people.  I was impressed with the modern computerized equipment in the factory and to meet a new friend with an open heart and a genuine concern for his community.  

Praising God for a great Easter Play

We are praising God for a great four nights with our Easter play.  We had near 600 out for the production.  This time we didn't have many church groups so had more friends and family of our members.  Lots of people who have not yet professed Christ as Lord and Savior.  So let's keep praying some will be reminded of all they heard and saw. 

Easter Play

Here's our poster for the upcoming Easter Play.  Marcy directs this production and wrote the script.  This is always a highlight at Koinonia and excitement is ever present in all the preparation.  We ask all to unite with us in prayer for those days, as so many things could go wrong that it takes a miracle for everything to work like a clock.  The four nights are April 1-4.  

Taking ABWE's Good Soil Course to Outback

Dan and Carlos and I just got back yesterday from a trip the outback where Dan gave three presentations to pastors and missionaries in the Outback of the "Good Soil" materials.  We are hoping to do this training in at least two places out there this year.  The course is now in various languages and has been very well received as a new tool for evangelism and discipleship.  It is good to have this quality material that can help evangelize various cultural levels and in many cultural contexts.

Celebrating the Differences

Here are a few pictures of the last event for couples. There is a lot of enthusiasm at these events and this one was no exception. The theme was: "Celebrating the Differences".  It's so easy to forget the things that attracted us to our sweetheart and begin to make the differences a point of tension. Various unsaved husbands were at the event as well as new-comers and friends of our couples. 

Summer Splash for Youth

We started our summer youth ministry up again with a big "splash" as we had an inflated soccer court set up with soap and water to make things slick for the teams. Our pastor friend Bona was here with his surf board to speak to the young people about commitment to Christ and how life as a disciple can be exciting and challenging. It was a neat time with over a hundred out for the event.  Then in the evening we had an event for our couples with 25+ couples. A busy but very rewarding day.

Wedding in the Outback

Pastor Carlos was able to celebrate his first wedding in the Outback in December. He has been recovering slowly but well from his surgery. There was another man that was saved in Ingazeira recently that had been a real critic and very skeptical prior to this.  We will probably try to post a photo of him in the future.