The weekend is over, but it doesn’t stop there…

Labor Day is celebrated on May 1 here in Brazil. Over this holiday weekend, the church family had a retreat at a beautiful place in the country. It was a great getaway. People came away with positive comments as well as positive attitudes.
Along with lots of singing there were Bible studies and small group prayer times, but still time to play and relax and visit. (You can click on the picture to get a larger shot.)

And the food was outstanding with two churrascos – Brazilian barbecues – in two days.

The weather cooperated with beautiful days and cool nights.
Finally, after breakfast and morning worship on Sunday everything and everybody got packed up and headed back to town.

Last night after the worship service was the church annual business meeting. We were concerned who would show up after the retreat, and we have learned from experience that to have a business meeting on a week night, very few members come out, so we go with Sunday night. Thankfully, all but five members were there to participate. This was an important meeting in the history of the church.

Along with taking in eleven new members, we also voted to help support two more missionaries (one from our own church), and elected our first deacons.

But the major decision was about buying land. After a lot of discussion and questions - nothing serious or complicated, mostly clarifications - it was a unanimous vote in favor of buying a piece of land for future church construction..

Since we started this land process four years ago with our small congregation, before the merger of the two ABWE church works, real estate prices have gone up over 1000%! After searching for a long time and looking at literally hundreds of properties, it appears that things have come together as God seems to have led us to this one piece of land. It is located only ten blocks from where we first started our ministry in Bauru, and is in the original target area we had of the south end of town. The owner has cooperated with us in every detail (very different from all others we’ve tried to work with), even allowing us time for the church vote. There is one document lacking which is an official zoning permit for building a church in that location, but it should be released tomorrow. Though the man in charge of that department at city hall said he saw no reason to not have approval, nothing can be signed until that official document is in hand. We move ahead by faith.

Tonight, after Sue’s ESL classes, is our small group meeting. Tomorrow is counseling. Wednesday, I start deacon discipleship training with two great men who are very gifted and have servant hearts for this ministry. Also included on Wednesday is a mission business meeting and building committee meeting working on building plan details for the architect. Thursday I lead the church ministries team meeting organizing and planning the calendar for the rest of 2010…and then it is Friday. So, here we go again!