Due to internet complications here in Manaus and the fact that this past week has been incredibly crazier and busier than I originally thought it would be, I've got about 5 minutes to explain the next two months of my life.... So here we go!
I leave first thing tomorrow morning for my Amazon Race Training. It is two months of training all in Portuguese. The majority of days, I think, will be spent in 'classes' of about 7 or 8 people. We will be talking about Theology, Missiology, Anthropolgy, Storying, Culture, Mechanics (in case a boat were to break down in the middle of the river!), and a hint of jungle survival. Where we are going for training, there is a water well and electricity, but from what I understand, we will not be using either one of those very much in order to prepare for more 'rustic' conditions. So we will be carrying out a water filter and will use river to water to drink, wash clothes, wash dishes and bathe. I'm incredibly excited to see what the next two months have in store. All the other missionaries for the project have arrived. Besides myself, there are 3 guys and 2 gals. This means that I have met my future partner for the next year, though I'm not sure which of the 3 guys it will be!
A few specifics that I do know- Yesterday we spoke at a local pastor's meeting. After we were introduced the pastors all came on stage and circled around us and prayed for us all as we embark on our next life adventure. After this, someone who was at the meeting, payed for all of us Amazon Racers to go a Pastor's Conference that will be at the very end of May. Some church is flying in two speakers from the US (they both currently work at Southern Theological Seminary in Kentucky). This means that right at the midway point of my training, which as I said is all in Portuguese, I'll get to here some Americans preaching the Bible to me (which will then be translated into Portuguese by a local pastor who speaks English). This, I'm sure, will be incredibly refreshing and good practice for the ol' Portuguese as well!
Also, we're getting to day a 4 night, 3 day jungle survival training. It'll be through the local military. We'll sleep in the middle of the jungle and eat whatever we can get our hands on while learning some of the basic techniques that they use in the jungle. SWEET!
Most weekends we'll be doing little 'trips' to some of the ribeirinho communities surrounding the training site. During these trips we will be doing evangelism and discipling as we practice what we learned the previous week - a lot of storying! Pray that we would rely on God and that people's lives would be changed as their hearts are opened to the gospel.
That's about all the time I've got. Thanks for the prayers. I'm internetless till July!
