On Sunday of the week in Brazil, our team piled into various vehicles and drove into the city to attend church services. We split up into 3 groups and attended 3 of the churches that Pastor Nathan Fray had planted in the city. The church I went to met upstairs in their building. It was close in size to my own church in Contoocook, NH. Pastor Don Needham was with my group and gave the message. Pastor Nathan Fray, his wife Diane and daughter Priscilla were also with us and Nate interpreted for Don. It was obvious that the members greatly respected and liked Nathan & Diane.
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| A modest sanctuary |
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| Pastor Nate introduces Pastor don and describes the Joni & Friends ministry to Camp Bethel |
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| Pastor Nate's little girl, 2-year old Priscilla |
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| The service was well attended, but not full |
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| Pastor Don Needham and Pastor Nathan Fray |
After church we went home with one of the families and enjoyed a typical Brazilian dinner. Instead of taking a siesta though, we chatted and got to know the family all afternoon. This family of 2 parents & 3 adult children all live in a 2-bedroom apartment in a poor section of the city. They all work full-time and the typical commute is 2-4 hours each way daily. Public transit is available, but may include 2-3 transfers. That makes for a very long work day. No wonder they need a siesta on Sunday afternoon.
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| City streets aren't necessarily maintained or even paved |
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| Construction standards aren't quite what we have in NH and no protection is placed over the hole in the edge of the road. |
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| The family of 5 that my group visited with. The 2 girls spoke pretty good English. |
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My team included Pastor Don Needham, Mike Maloney, Pastor Nathan Fray, his wife Diane and little Priscilla. Nathan and Diane speak fluent Portuguese and kept the conversation flowing.
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| Priscilla took a nap while the rest of us chatted. |
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| The 3 adult children of the family are all college educated and working. The eldest girl is making wedding plans. She and her new husband may find their own place or have to stay here with the rest of the family. Housing is scarce and expensive. |
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| This is the entrance to the families apartment and a neighbors beside it. The hallway leads to an apartment behind the garage. Note the roof on the apartment behind theirs. |
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| Parking was rather steep & precarious so Pastor Don kept watch for avoiding the hole in the road. |
We learned that the women of the family often do not go to the Sunday morning service so that they can prepare dinner for the family. But they all go tot he evening service. We shifted groups and went to different churches for the evening service. Our church is also an elementary school run by the church. Elmer and I gave testimonies at the evening service and Cordell Brown delivered the message.
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| I think this says something about Baptist Elementary School |
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| Pastor Marvin Fray (r) talking to John Wern, Cordell Brown and Jim Hetzel while waiting for a ride to church |
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| Don Dale and Monte Hanks waiting for a ride to church |
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| These teen-agers provided music for the service |
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| The church service is held in an assembly room of the school |
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| Awards were given out |
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| Youth group members sang |
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| I gave a testimony encouraging people to discover what God has equipped each of them to do for Him. Gaynor Smith interpreted for me. |
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| Gaynor also interpreted for Elmer Hess who read meaningful scripture. |
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| These people were presented with graduation certificates for completing Bible courses |
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| This pretty little girl was interested in us strangers |
After the service, our 3 groups joined up and went out for pizza, including chocolate pizza for dessert.
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| Jim & Barb Hetzel and Cathy Kearnie enjoying their chocolate pizza |
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| Rachel Blake & Ross Ream finally got their pizza |
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| Pastor Nate and John Wern discussing return trip plans |
Then we took the 2 hour ride back to camp and appreciated a good nights rest.
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