BGFM Field Conference April 12-19

The week of April 12-19 was the annual field conference for the mission. All the missionaries in the country converge on a single location and discuss all the issues that need to be settled that affect them all. This year it was talking about changing the vision for the future of the mission and the new areas that they want to reach out into. They also talked about the leadership structure that needs to be in place to make this new vision a reality. It was interesting to see and talk with the different missionaries and their thoughts and ideas on both of these subjects. I also enjoyed getting to meet and interact with many of the kids of the missionaries. They had a VBS program going on for the children while the parents were in meetings during the mornings, and had church services every night of the conference. The VBS program was a military theme about being in the Army of God and the kids of all ages (some 30+) had a good time marching around singing cadence and doing military activities. All were dressed in camouflage and learned how to stand at attention. The final program on Sunday night was pretty fun to watch as the kids recited bible verses that they had memorized and sang songs that they had learned. Many recieved prizes of a military style and were proudly showing them off. Although now a week later I must admit that I am a bit burned out on the VBS songs (as the kids here in Mossoro) continue to sing them and even argue sometime about what the words are supposed to be. But I am sure i will die off soon and they all had a good time so I guess I can deal with it for a few weeks. The resort we stayed at was beautiful and had spectacular views of the ocean. The food on the other had was not the greatest and I am sure that at some points during the week we were eating leftovers. Also, myself and 5 others caught ear infections from one of the resort's pools, so the cleanliness standard is much less that would be expected from any resort in America. While many things would not meet American standards in many countries around the world it was overall a nice experience even though I was bed ridden for two days because of the ear infection. I am finally getting to the end of the ear infection and I still have great memories and new friends from the Conference. Got to spend two days at the beach and one of them was at low tide so the reef just off the beach was accessible on foot and got to walk along the reef and see some interesting sea life. I think it will be interesting to come back in another 5 years and see how the new vision for 2020 is coming along. They have a goal of expanding into several new cities and areas of the country. May God continue to Bless all their work here in Brazil. while Brazil is considered by may to be an evangelized country because of the large cultural influence that Catholicism has here mush of that is just that cultural. The number of believers is much less. Almost every car or truck on the road has some paraphernalia to do with Jesus or God many of them are just bumper stickers people put on thinking it will protect them in some way like a talisman would. Their belief and understanding of true faith is very limited and shallow.