From 1996 to 2006, the mission fleet grew to seven boats and an airplane. Over time we started more churches along the roads. Motorcycles and pickups are less expensive to maintain. Still, there is a vast river basin that millions call home. Last month Clenildo went out to this remote region and restarted three churches using the more-sustainable Discovery Group model. Sustainable, ever-expanding, church planting is our dream.
Here is the Mission Fleet, back in 2002. The largest boat is 20m and sleeps 60. The next one is 15m and sleeps 45. The smallest boat belonged to a buffalo rancher who is now with Jesus.
After this storm, when four of our boats sank, I stopped praying for more adventures… for a season. Now I do my best to enjoy each day, whether calm, stressful, or off-the-charts. We are living on a pale blue dot spinning a complete rotation each day, plus we are traveling around the sun each year, predictably tilting slightly so we can enjoy seasons, and God is feeding all the birds. I want to enjoy the ride.
All four of these boats sank due to an unexpected storm. When the wind blows off the land, it is manageable. The storm occasionally comes from across the 10 km wide river, creating enormous waves. The airplane was not at the site during the big storm.
After that big storm, we anchored our boats offshore. It was more hassle getting back and forth on canoes, but the boats will bob up and down in the water if it is deep enough, compared to getting slammed into the beach for hours.
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