Hitting Cruise Control

I don't know about you all, but I love the open road. The idea of being able to get out, put the top down and enjoy nature is one I can't say no to. The thing I love the most...cruise control. For a lead foot like me (Amie is writing this) it saves me from many a speeding tickets.

Cruise control...I do this in day-to-day life as well, forgetting to lean in on God and remembering He's got the control. I take such a 'been there, done that' type of attitude and can easily forget to lean into Him.

There are many of us on this trip that have been to Brazil before. We have a comfort level. We've been there before...we know the deal. We were on CRUISE CONTROL...UNTIL NOW!!!

You can make many plans, but the LORD's purpose will prevail. - Proverbs 19:21

We got word today that our trip this year will look significantly different than any of the trips that we've done before. God kicked off the cruise control and called us back to a place of humbleness and reliance on His purpose for our lives, not our plans.

Typically we have been in a village along the river and used the PAZ boats as a base out on the river for living quarters. This year we will be going by line boat (think a Greyhound but in a boat) 3 hours from the city of Santarem and then 3 hours inland to the river village. We will split into groups of 3-4 and live with our brothers and sisters in Christ during our visit in the village.

Here's the run down of what we know.

Depart Charleston: Thursday - March 1st
Arrive Santarem: Saturday - March 3rd

We'll leave Santarem via line boat (Greyhound bus on water) on Saturday for a 3 hour ride to the city of Monte Alegre where PAZ has another base. It is then a 3 hour ride inland to the village of Estrada D (D Street). We are likely going to be working on the roof of the church in this community: building and raising the trusses, handing up lumber for additional supports and then passing up and nailing on the roofing tiles.

We welcome this change and are excited to see what God has in store. It will likely be more difficult to get updates out until we are back in Santarem on March 9th or 10th, but we will update the blog and we covet your prayers as we look forward to these changes.