{"id":218,"date":"2010-09-10T22:35:36","date_gmt":"2010-09-11T02:35:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/miles-templeton\/?p=218"},"modified":"2011-01-21T13:48:21","modified_gmt":"2011-01-21T17:48:21","slug":"our-missionary-journey-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/miles-templeton\/2010\/09\/10\/our-missionary-journey-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Missionary Journey"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>In July, we learned that a Brazilian co-worker had recently acquired a vehicle, but felt uneasy about driving to his ministry location as he has had very little practical experience in driving even though he has had a driver\u2019s license for a number of years. Miles offered to drive the car to his home for him, and plans began to fall into place for our \u201cvery own\u201d missionary journey.<\/p>\n

August 6th we left our home for the state captiol, just an hour and half away. Daniel Lucas met us there, driving the car we would deliver to his parents Joao Lucas and Dilma Souza. Our trip was underway.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Our first stop was to visit our friends Alcides and Ivanilsa and their three children. Over ten years ago, we first began studying the Bible with them and had the joy of seeing them come to know Christ. We also shed not a few tears with them when things were not going well in their home and family and personal lives. From financial disaster and threats of divorce to thoughts of suicide, their lives have been turned around by God\u2019s grace. Laughter and joy are now characteristic of their home and the unity we saw blessed our hearts. \u201cWhen the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, \u2026then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing; then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.\u201d Psalm 126 1-3<\/p>\n

The next morning we made our way north to the northern most city in our state. We had been here before when Alcides and Ivanilza lived here a few years ago. This time, however, we were visiting another \u201cson\/brother\u201d in the faith, Wagner Junior. Wagner worked in the post office in our town for two to three years. Since Miles is responsible for the mission\u2019s mail, he saw Wagner each day and they soon struck up a friendship. Wagner spoke and understood a good bit of English and enjoyed using it with Miles. Then Miles asked him if he would like to study the Bible. He did the whole chronological study with Miles and began to make friends with others in our church. Two of his co-workers in the post office were also Christians. After a few months he affirmed his faith in Christ and later was baptized. He had done a course and test to be able to work in one of the national banking institutions. He was chosen to go and work in this town. It was quite a step of faith for him, leaving his own family as well as his new spiritual family in our town. Miles gave him good pointers on finding new friends and a good Bible teaching church and we sent him on his way.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>We have had a few letters from him, and a phone call or two and he seemed to be doing very well. He told us he was dating a young lady and he was sure that we would \u201capprove.\u201d So he was anxious for our visit with him. It was a great time\u2014very special. It was like seeing our own kids once again after they have left home and struck out on their own. As with our own natural children, God has also been faithful in Wagner\u2019s life. It was so encouraging to see how God has led and directed and blessed in amazing ways. We met Raquel and liked her instantly. Her grandfather was the founder of the first Baptist church in this town. Her parents now attend the Presbyterian Church where we had attended before with Alcides and family. Wagner has become involved there and is growing in his faith through his fellowship with these brethren. We praise God. Raquel told us when we left that God had sent us to her. She wanted so badly to know someone who had known Wagner before he moved to her home town. We were certainly blessed to see them walking in truth and light as they grow closer together in the Lord. \u201cFor I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.\u201d 3 John 3-4<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u00a0We able to get some adjustments done on the car before we lefton Monday morning, which certainly helped it run a lot better. But, we sure felt the temperature change (much hotter the farther north we drove) and thanked the Lord again for living where we do, where the temperatures are milder. Our next destination always seems to be the hottest place in the nation on the weather forcasts. Our friends who live here are Rogerio and Ivone with their two daughters Isabela and Paula. You may remember a year ago when I wrote about a young man who lost his life in a train accident. (He and some other boys had decided to \u201ctrain surf\u201d but when he tried to jump from the train, he became entangled.) This is his family. Rogerio owns and manages a brick company where bricks are manufactured and sold. Rogerio and Ivone also studied the Bible with us some years ago when their children were small and they still lived in our town. Unfortunately, they moved away before we saw them come to Christ. Rogerio seems to really be seeking to know the truth of God and His Word, but has seen much false religion which centers on material prosperity and miracles rather than reconciliation to God and relationship with Him. Pray for God to send him Christian friends, and someone to encourage and lead him to the Truth. Jeremiah 29:13 \u201cAnd ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.\u201d His wife and girls do not seem as open anymore to the Gospel. It seems that since Marcos\u2019s death they have returned more wholeheartedly than ever to their former belief system.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Ivone is still mourning and working through all the emotions that follow such tragic death, but we talked a lot and I can see that she is making progress in the painful journey. I really pray that she will come to Christ and the girls as well. We enjoy being with this family and would love to have more time with them. Both mornings we were there, Miles made them \u201can American breakfast\u201d and they loved it. We have made waffles for them here in our home a couple of times. Good memories. Luke 24:45 continues to be my prayer for this family: \u201cThen opened He their understanding that they might understand the scriptures.\u201d Will you join us in praying for their salvation?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>We stayed an extra day with them and then left for our final destination, Joao Lucas and Dilma’s home. My husband, ever the adventure lover, wanted to take the back roads of which he has memories of visiting tribes, taking in a Summit group of volunteers, and moving one missionary lady out when her work there was completed. Just before noon we arrived at the home of our missionary friends Glen and Shirley Bacon. They are now retired from working with Wycliffe Bible Translators. We had a nice visit with them and shared lunch before we covered the last leg of our journey. The roads are some better than when we first made this journey over twenty years ago, but still leave a lot to be desired. We arrived about four in the afternoon to meet our friends, Joao and Dilma<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Let me give you a little background on this faithful couple. Almost thirty years ago, Joao and Dilma began this tribal work. They went with another couple Dennis and Shirley Ficek and Miles made their move for them using the first truck we had here on the field. The \u201chouse\u201d they moved into here had two rooms and five doors and a bathroom shared with the neightbors \u201cout back.\u201d Each couple had two young children who would be joined by a younger sibling in the years to come. A resident of the town when he saw Miles\u2019s truck full of the missionaries\u2019 belongings asked when the new furniture store was going to open! The Ficeks stayed a number of years until they moved to a\u00a0 neighboring tribe of the same language group Joao and Dilma and their three children continued in this location. The first time I ever went there, Joao was just beginning to make friendships and beginning to share from God\u2019s Word. Slowly he has been able to translate a good portion of the Word and many Bible lessons. Today there are a small number of believers. Dilma, besides accompanying her children in school, also studied herself until she was able to get a teaching degree. Now for a number of years she has been teaching literacy in her home in the village, mostly to adults. She has also taught besides literacy, typing and sewing. We have prayed for Joao and Dilma\u2019s family and have supported them as the Lord led for all these years, so feel a part of their work, too. You, also, who have supported us have had a part in this tribal group having the opportunity to hear of salvation in Christ Jesus. Two single ladies, Rachel and Sayonara worked with Joao and Dilma several years. And today another couple Daniel and Maristela as well as a single man Agirson also help in that work.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The day after arrived, we went by motorcycle with Joao and Dilma to the village and spent the day there. We rejoice with them that a bridge made over the river has greatly helped in their commutes back and forth between the town and the village. The first time I went into the village, we had to cross the river on a small (and I mean small) raft and then walk the rest of the way in, about a half hour. Later trips we went in by motorcycle but still had to cross the river first by rowboat before getting the cycles kept on the village side of the river. Now it is a short, less than 30 minute ride all by motorcycle. As a certified teacher, Dilma now also helps in the village school. Joao continues to translate Bible lessons and needed scripture portions to continue the teaching in the village.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>As the day drew to a close we walked around the village circle visiting the Indians in their homes and it was encouraging to hear Joao say, \u201cThis one is a believer now. And this one is studying with us. This one is learning to teach the Word. etc.\u201d God\u2019s Work is going on among these tribal people and we are blessed to see this. Trust that you will be blessed too, to know that you also have had a part in this effort. Philippians 1:3-5 \u201cI thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Friday morning, the 13th we left town with Daniel and Maristela and came out to the main north\/south highway where we would get the bus back hme. It was a four-hour jeep ride through pretty sandy and bad roads. Miles\u2019s seat in the back was just a 2 x 4 propped up across the width of the jeep.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Not too wide and not comfortable but he was a good sport. I rode up front with our missionary friends. After lunch, they continued their journey and we waited for the 4:30 bus, which came in just after 5:00. After an all night bus ride, then two more busses we were home — tired and a little dusty and disheveled but safely home.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>God kept us safe over many miles of travel and we had the opportunity to see what He continues to do in the lives of those whom we (and you) have invested for eternity. In some we already see the results of His hand and His work. Others are still in the \u2018birthing\u201d process. Pray with us that these will at last come into His kingdom and share His name and enjoy their place in His family.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In July, we learned that a Brazilian co-worker had recently acquired a vehicle, but felt uneasy about driving to his ministry location as he has had very little practical experience in driving even though he has had a driver\u2019s license for a number of years. Miles offered to drive the car to his home for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":102,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-218","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-ministry","7":"entry"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/miles-templeton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/miles-templeton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/miles-templeton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/miles-templeton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/102"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/miles-templeton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=218"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/miles-templeton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/miles-templeton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=218"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/miles-templeton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=218"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/miles-templeton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=218"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}