I have finally come to the point of blogging about the conference in Rio Branco. I was very surprised when I arrived in the city because it is so clean. At least compared to anything else I saw it was very clean. I really enjoyed the city. Things are quite modern for being so far out.
I spent a night in Rio Branco before leaving for Brasiléia. When I returned I spent another night, then went to Porto Velho. Finally after I returned from Porto Velho I was able to spend at least two more nights in Rio Branco. So, I guess I can say I have been to Rio Branco three times already.
The Governor’s Palace – Unfortunately it was closed!
What a blessing it was to spend time with the Doolittles. Stephen and Kelly Doolittle are planting a church in Rio Branco which they hope to have completely in national hands within a few years. They have four children, Philip, Hannah, Joshua, and Benjamin. The time spent with them was quite a bit of fun.
The Old Woman’s Shoe – I managed to fit in the shoe with Joshua and Benjamin.
Through the last few years, I have communicated with Stephen Doolittle by e-mail. If we had met each other in the past, it was very briefly when I was just a kid. However, the Lord saw fit to bring our paths to cross again when he invited me to this conference.
Mission Conference – Preaching at the Conference
The Lord has put many things in our hearts and minds that would allow us to work together in some way to help further the work of the Lord in the northwest corner of Brazil. He is also interested in training laborers and in developing literature to be used for this. This is wonderful being there are not many fundamentalist missionaries and churches up near Porto Velho. Though Rio Branco is not right next door, it is one of the closest missionaries we know to that area.
The Lord has given the Doolittles a very nice facility to use training laborers. They have several class rooms and are working on developing the property for what they need. Here is a look at their property which was formerly some sort of daycare center run by some German women.
Playground – This is the Doolittle’s front yard.
Classrooms – There are about six classrooms in this little pavilion.
Stephen’s church was quite a blessing. The people were eager to hear the Word being preached. They listened very well. Please pray that the Lord would raise up laborers out of that church.
It was such a blessing to see the church people get involved in singing, preaching and teaching. The Lord has blessed the church with some wonderful people. They have given to the Lord and are committed to missions around the world.
Here are a few pictures of the conference and the people singing.
One of the highlights of my trip was sitting down with Bro. Stephen and his wife Kelly before I left and talking about the need in Acre. There is such a great need. We talked about the colonies, river villages, and tribes. There are so many opportunities to reach out to people who have never heard the Gospel. May the Lord send laborers into his harvest.
— Jeremy
