Soon to Arrive in First Village

Bom Dia!

All is well on the JJ Mesquita. The team has been traveling all night and is still en route to the first village they'll serve. They should arrive at 2:00 today.

Today's village is called Andirobao and has about 100 families so is considered a fairly large village. This village does not have a church and we don't think there is much of a Christian presence or influence in the village, but they are open to meeting Christians and hearing about Christ.

To give you an idea, here is the team's daily schedule:

6:30AM - wake up

7:00 - breakfast

7:30 - team devotional

8:00 - 12:00PM off the boat and into the village to begin serving and loving on the people

12:00 - lunch

1:00 - 2:30 rest/siesta

2:30 - 6:00 back to serving the people of the village

6:00 - dinner

7:00 - church service

You might be wondering what 'church service' is if a village doesn't have a church. Many times it's finding an open area, many times outdoors, to accomodate the villagers and then worshipping just like we would here in N. America. They'll sing songs, introduce the Watermark team and one of the Portuguese team members will give a sermon while a translator translates for the Watermark team. Some worship services will be the reverse where Tim or another member of the team will preach or share their testimony and a Brazilian will translate.

This morning, while they're still traveling, they'll be sorting through donation and ministry items to get them organized and ready for easy access during the day. The team brought over 21 large bags of medicine, clothes, toiletries and other donation items so there is a lot to sort through.

Prayer for today:

- Open hearts of the villagers and that, through the work of the team, God's kingdom would be multiplied and greatly increase in number

- Unity with the translators

- Sustained health of the team

- Wisdom & guidance for the medical and dental teams to treat their patients

- Humility and vulnerability of the women's team to share their hurts & struggles with the women of the village and how a personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ & his saving grace overcomes any of our sins...past or future

- For the kids team...to love on those kids & to learn from their simple, loving spirits

- For the sports team...to enjoy getting beat at soccer, because they will!, and that the Lord would open up opportunities to share Christ with the men and teenagers they'll play with.

Thank you so much for your prayers!

I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations;

I will sing of you among the peoples.

For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;

your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;

let your glory be over all the earth.

Psalm 57: 9-11

Have a blessed day!
Kelli Coblentz