Soccer and supper are the language of love to many young people.

Here is Ivanildo coaching soccer on Saturday afternoon, and a group of helpers who never got a hotdog at the Children’s Day event getting a special invite for soup and bread after church last Sunday.

Ivanildo coaches soccer. Saturday afternoon, October 19, 2013.

Aline and Bella sit on an old table with some other youth, watching the soccer game.

Iran is one of the men who looks after our neighborhood. He is there to help in times of crisis, and I have seen him digging more than one burial plot. He is very pastoral. He also was one of the main bricklayers for the house we built. He also has over 50 brothers and sisters.

Jobel is one of Iran’s sons.

Everyone loves it when Ivanildo coaches soccer. He is a very respected, nice person.

The helpers who did not get a hotdog at the Children’s Event came over for soup and bread after church last Sunday. Thais, right beside Emma, is five months pregnant.

Emma, Bella, and Bruna.

Deanna and Izak.

Ivanildo digs into the chicken that was barbequed with Deanna’s Special Sauce.

Eliel scoops out a big portion of delicious black beans.

Church leadership couples have lunch together, including Ivanildo and Monica, Eliel and Aline, Paula and Izak.

Kita, who is 23 years old, just had her 5th baby! After four boys, she now has Stefani. Weberson, her husband, works long hours, and helps with the soccer school in his free time.

A girl, after having 4 boys.

Family pic, except for Weberson, the dad and husband.

Weberson and baby Stefani.

Quita is 23 years old, and thrilled to have a daughter.

2 days old

Grandma is doing needlework in the background.

Kita and Stefani.

We celebrated children this week, along with the rest of Brazil. October 12 is a national holiday here, called Children’s Day.

The children are the most accepting when we move into a new neighbourhood. After a few years the mothers start coming. And then the dads.

Musical Chairs

The Puppeteers.

Adriana seemed exceptionally happy at this event. She has gone through a lot in the last couple of years.

Games, Bible Story, Food, Lot’s of Love

The puppets tell their stories.

About 120 children to feed a sandwich and a drink.

About 120 children and about 20 moms each got a sandwich and a drink. The 20 helpers did not. We estimated we would need 80 sandwiches. Then we bought bread for another 40. We were still about 20 short. So…good turnout.

Emma watched over the slackline challenge.

The soccer ball skills game.

The Race Through the Tires game.

Some of the Moms and Young Girls.

Children’s Songs.

Everyone loves the puppets!

Mark 4 –

Jesus teaches us that our words and our actions make huge difference in other people’s lives. We all have stories and perspectives that will help those around us.

1. Verses 1-20 Our words and actions are seeds.
2. Verses 21-25 If we give away what we have, we will get more. If we do not, we lose everything.
3. Verses 26-29 It takes time to produce good fruit. We wait expectantly, with patience and faith.
4. Verses 30-34 Our words and actions will produce a harvest much bigger than we expect.
5. Verses 35-41 Jesus even uses His words and actions with wind and waves.

Mark 4:26-29

Mark 4:30-34 Our words have great power in them.

Mark 4:35-41 Jesus talks to the wind and to the waves.

Bella painted this picture and then made it look old by washing it with tea bags and tearing the edges.

A family in the islands on the Xingu River is on their way to a church meeting. (Painting by Rick Bergen, 2013).

Last summer we were out with some friends doing a special church service among the islands of the Xingu River. As we wait by the church in the mission boat, many small boats carrying families and individuals, just like this one in my painting, arrive for the meeting. They sometimes use umbrellas as shade from the tropical sun. Naldo, who oversees these churches, comes from a violent background involving drugs, knives, and guns. Many people among these islands are now giving their lives to Jesus because of Naldo’s message and testimony, and because of the church he pastors. Naldo himself is helped along by other pastors, friends, and missionaries, who in turn are encouraged and helped by support teams. The Holy Spirit is using us as a team to make an important and eternal difference in people’s lives. How cool is that?

For our annual church conference this year Steve and Elba gathered photos of many of the churches we, as a team, have helped to plant here in Northern Brazil.

Click here to see a video slideshow of these photos.