We stayed at the Dolan’s while we were in Altamira. Steve and Elba are among the most hospitable people in the Amazon.
1. Steve and Elba threw a pizza party the last night we were there. Monday night. We fired up the clay oven out back and baked a whole lot of pizzas. Steve and Keith also mixed up a special sauce, and fried up bowls of hot wings on the stove.
2. We celebrated Angelita’s birthday. The whole Campos family came. They are also super-hospitable, and we would have loved to have stayed at their house too.
3. Clenildo is a master story teller. Just look at these photos below, and you can see his gift.
4. Keith and Marsha came in for the meetings Monday. They stayed in Pacajá for their new church / home group meeting Sunday night. Then they caught the mid-night bus. Except that it was an hour late. And packed. They sat on the floor for the first couple of hours, over the unpaved road to Anapú. There they were able to get a seat from 3:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. when they arrived in Altamira. Heroes.
5. Athila and Elki came to the party. They are gifted leaders who work closely with Clenildo and Angelita, and overflowing with laughter, pranks, practical jokes, and the life of the party.
6. Kenim and Rosi came. Rosi was Deanna’s first maid in Altamira, after Elba graduated from high school and left to go to Bible School in the South. Rosi gave her heart to the Lord a few weeks after she started working with us. She was about 18 at the time. Kenim soon followed, as did many members of their family who are now leaders in the churches in Altamira. Rosi and Kenim are gifted teachers and leaders, and the senior pastors of the Colina church. They have just initiated a major church building project with their congregation.
7. Daisy and Mateus came. Daisy has served as the main mission secretary in Altamira for many years. She recently got engaged to Mateus, and this is a really good story. Daisy also is in the final stages of getting her degree as a teacher, and this month she made the last payment on her house.
8. Nira, Elba’s twin sister and a pastor at the Mirante church, was there with her two children, Apolana and Apollo.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for Steve and Elba’s hospitality, and for all the good things You are doing in Altamira, and from here to Northern Brazil.
just finished reading this part of your blog.
Yes, he is a good story teller, I can see. Makes me wonder…..what is he saying?
Elba is a beauty! and their house is lovely. what a good story that is. You guys could write a book. MomB