Another reason for the lack of posts here is that we have been busy working on our online presence of the Kerigma Baptist Church here in São Luís. Since last week we have updated our church website with a map and a retrospective of 2011 activities. And on Monday we launched the Facebook page of Juventude Kerigma--our church youth group. Both of these are works in progress, but they are already beginning to bear fruit in terms of visibility for our little congregation.

Also, while you are on Facebook, don't forget to check out the Missionary Max Facebook page!

The Astonishing Adventures of Missionary Max, Parts 1 and 2 are now available for Kindle and Nook!

It's only fitting that, as a missionary, every once in a while I should review a book about missions. And Our Last Great Hope: Awakening the Great Commission, by Ronnie Floyd, bleeds missions. His purpose is to stir the hearts of believers for the task at hand.

If I had to summarize it in one phrase, it would call it "every missionary conference you have ever been to, between two covers--and then some."

First, the "every missionary conference" part. I must confess that I was a little disappointed at first. Not in what Floyd was saying, mind you--this successful pastor is right on the money when he speaks of the need for the Gospel in today's world, and for the resources necessary to meet that need. However, I was expecting some innovative ways to meet that need, and at the outset there seemed to be more of "here's what" than "here's how". So while I found myself nodding in agreement--and even voicing the occasional "amen", I came away feeling like I had read nothing that had not been written or spoken many times before.

But then came the "and then some" part. In chapter 5 he begins talking about "capturing our communities", and this is where the book really soars. In fact, I would say that chapter five is worth the price of the book for it's practical and innovative approach to missions. It has me re-thinking the way I look at the city of São Luís, looking for "people groups" and "cultural clusters". This section is peppered with details of his own church's ministry to people from the Marshall Islands and...cowboys. It is good reading for anybody considering missions.

So, I would recommend Our Last Great Hope. You will likely read some "more of the same", as well as some "new and improved."

Here ye, here ye: I received this book at no cost from Thomas Nelson Publishers, in return for a review. I am in no way obligated to give a positive evaluation.

The Astonishing Adventures of Missionary Max, Parts 1 and 2 are now available for Kindle and Nook!

Arrival at camp, ready and eager to get to work.

The missionary, hacking away at the brush.

Alex, one of our teens, throwing his back into it.

Water break. No plastic water bottles were left at the local.

Lunch on the grill.

Pastor Francisco does double-duty as cook.

The finished product.

Francivaldo and Alex testing the waters.

Burning off the underbrush. This was on purpose.

So was this.

In all, we were very pleased with the amount of brush we were able to clear out. There is still much area to be cleared, however, and we are already planning a mega-workday in January, possibly involving the renting of two vans to transport all the workers.

Urgent Prayer Request

Pastor Francisco and I took a break from the deforestation process on Tuesday to visit the man who wants to sell us the adjacent lot. He had given us a price, and that money has been raised--thanks to the generosity of folks back in the US. Our intent in talking to him was to set up a date for the sale. However, we were dismayed when he started to balk at the original price he had given us (and repeated over and over), and began to offer us "alternate options" which all involved us giving him more money. We got the distinct impression that he was not dealing straight with us.

A couple of observations:

1. This is not uncommon here, especially when there is an American (me) in the process. Despite the economic crisis, many Brazilians have the impression that all Americans are "loaded". It gets old, but it is a fact of life.

2. We are not at all interested in playing this kind of game. He gave us a price, and we are going to hold him to that price, or we are not going to buy.

Our prayer request, then, is that this man (who claims to be a believer, and is actually a pastor in another denomination) will ultimately stick to his word and sell us all the property he said was available for the original price he quoted us. Also, pray for wisdom on our part as we navigate these perilous waters.

For those who contributed, rest assured that we have not accessed any of the funds as of yet. We will only do so when we have a bill of sale in hand.

For a missionary adventure that does not involve real estate, readThe Astonishing Adventures of Missionary Max, Part 1