Brazil Report
On April 3rd I met Bro. Alan Eyre at the Kingston airport in Jamaica where we had a brief discussion on the possibility of visiting other Brazilian Brothers and Sisters living outside Cuiaba, where I was heading. I then checked in for what would be a long flight, as I was going from Kingston via Panama then Sao Paulo and finally Cuiaba, Brazil, a total of eleven hours flying time. For nine hours we were flying over Brazil, mostly over the Amazon rain forest, which shows you just how big Brazil really is.
Upon reaching Cuiaba the next day, I took a taxi from the airport to the home of Bro. Roberto and Sis. Leila de Queiroz. The family was joyful, seeing that my visit once more brought good news, comfort and loving fellowship. I had a lengthy discussion with Bro. Roberto, after which I gave the ecclesia copies of Bible Basics both in English and Portuguese. Bro. Roberto was grateful to receive these books and assured me that their purpose would be beneficial to his Bible class and also to the language students leaving the John Thomas Education Centre (JTEC).
My stay was only for nine days, so I wanted to start our Bible campaign the next day after arriving. But that was not to be, as Bro. Roberto mentioned that it would not be feasible as the week prior to Easter was considered a holy week and Brazilians in Cuiaba tend to work extra hours and stay home, not wanting to visit other neighbours’ houses. So we rearranged our programme somewhat. The theme for our Bible campaign was ‘The Gospel, the true source of light’. We had regular discussions on the Bible and also about the development of the JTEC. Each day I would meet students pursuing courses in English at the JTEC with smiles and laughter stemming from these students. They demonstrated a mood of comfort and growth within the Christadelphians. We need to foster this growth spiritually and to be more supportive. We must continue to remember our Brothers and Sisters far away in order to bring good news and encouragement. Let us follow our Master and establish the gospel among all nations. When Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees, who largely rejected his message, he said, “You are not willing to come to me that you may have life” (John 5:40). Following the Master is an active, not a passive thing, and involves a commitment to deny our natural selves and to shoulder our cross each day as his disciples (see Matt. 16:24).
On each afternoon I would travel to another place with Roberto’s daughter, Kristiany, some 15 to 20 minutes from home where I would assist in teaching English to another batch of students. We issued leaflets about our campaign to the students and to neighbours as well. There was much interest in our message everywhere we went. Bro. Roberto and Sis. Leila’s daughter Kristiany de Queiroz, showed a passion for the gospel and at the moment is being instructed. At the end of the campaign she mentioned to me that she would like to be baptised soon as a Christadelphian. It would be encouraging for more Brothers and Sisters to make contact with the family in preparation for her baptism and also to prepare for further missionary work.
A class at the JTEC
Kristiany and Roberto in Bible discussion
Bro. Davion Sinclair (Kingston, Jamaica)
