Here is a cattle drive, in action. The cowboys are trailing this herd of 1,100 head to Paraupebas, still two days away. Below is a photo of the herd spread out over about a kilometer. This drive went past us as we were talking to a lady about some land in Tres Poderes.

Yesterday morning Emma got up at 5:30 a.m. to go on a motorcycle trip with me to the interior. We were eight explorers on four motorcycles. We travelled on gravel roads and encountered heavy dust, two flat tires and really nice people. We got home after dark the same day, hot, tired and dusty.

We stopped at a local eatery for lunch. Suddenly a herd of over 100 cattle came racing through town with a bunch of cowboys yelling and galloping in ever which direction. One calf fell down in the running so one of the cowboys roped it and tied it up to the house across the street from us.

We were doing another survey trip to Tres Poderes. We are planning to establish a beach head, from which to reach into the “colonias” scattered throughout this region. We don’t really know what we are doing, so please pray for God’s favor and clear direction.

* We are home, after a yearlong furlough.

* We are happier to see our cat than our cat is to see us.

* Two hawks love to perch about 10 feet from our front window. Sometimes one of them will fly and crash into the glass window, maybe 10 times in a row. I think he sees his reflection, and attacks.

* We are at the end of the rainy season now.

* God is showing us spectacular sunsets from our front window.

Aline had the idea. “Let’s have a Black and White night for our Youth Service on Saturday night.” Ivanildo and Monica agreed. Karen preached, which is really cool. She has come a long way.

Several young girls got pregnant while we were gone. Everyone is usually kind of sad at first, and then they get over it and work to make the best of things. One of our goals is to teach about dating and courtship and the value of marriage. We are learning to start as young as possible. 

Ahhh… It’s so good to be back where things are normal. But where do we start? Everywhere I look I am seeing projects and cool things to do that will be so helpful.

Laughter and tears were very close together as we said good-bye in Vancouver on Tuesday morning.

Emma and Bella are painting with water colours.

Bella passed Grade Eight with A Honors and is awarded a Bronze Medal for third best all around academic marks for all the Grade Eight students. Bella and Rachelle Hansen won the awards for best artists in Grade Seven and Eight.