This has been a whirlwind week. After a 48 hour delay in Detroit, our team arrived in Brazil early Monday morning. Almost all our luggage made it with us. I say, almost, because mine (David) did was not to be found. When the Delta agent ran a trace he told me the bag was still in Indianapolis!
We then made a couple of stops on the way to the conference center arriving about 5 hours later. The conference opened Monday night with over 420 people! That is more than twice the umber we started with in 2009. God has allowed all of us to connect well with the people and it has been a blessing to teach and fellowship.
The schedule has been classes from 8am-1:20pm. Then we have lunch and free time. Supper is at 6pm and then classes again from 7:30-10pm. Then the Brazilians all hang out in the lobby drinking coffee and socializing until 11-11:30! It’s a lot of fun.
Our team has walked around the city in the afternoons. Yesterday we made our traditional annual trek up the mountain across from the hotel to the statue of Christ, where the panoramic view of the countryside is beautiful. The air was quite clear and we could see a great distance. Brazil is indeed a beautiful country displaying the creativity and handiwork of God.
It has been interesting to teach the sessions normally taught by a physician, but God worked and every session has been presented successfully and effectively. It is so wonderful that the Holy Spirit helps us and empowers us to do the work of God. I cannot imagine doing it without his help.
All the ABCB staff has worn shirts identifying them and it has been good for all of us to see the number of people involved in making this conference work. It is every bit as well done as the conferences done in the US.
Brent is attempting new Portuguese words, endearing himself to the people. The Brazilian people are very relational which makes it quite enjoyable to minister to them.
Randy Patten is very popular with the folks, too. Randy was in Brazil for the first conference of ABCB in a church in Sao Paulo in 2008. Many people have said, “I have the DVDs of you and Cindy teaching. They have helped me very much.”
Janet Aucoin is getting along great with the ladies and taught her classes today. Nancy Moore interpreted for her. Nancy says Bill teaching people biblical principles for living and her mission in life is to help them be happy. Not a bad combination!
It has been a great joy to serve together on this trip. Friday we will wrap up the conference and head for the US. Our flight is scheduled to leave Sao Paulo at 10:25pm arriving in Indianapolis at 11:17am. I hope the travel is smoother going home than it was coming here. Maybe, when I am on the plane I will have the opportunity to catch my breath!