September 6, 2008

Dear Brethren,

The very best of this month was a trip up the Moa River. It is the very middle of the dry season here. The rivers are as low as they can get. In fact the Moa River is so low that you can wade across it almost anywhere. You can see the sand and every log and stick on the bottom. Fortunately your offerings have made it possible to have the right kind of equipment to be able to get where I need to be even in these extreme conditions. Thanks to all who have given to keep me supplied with boats, motors and gasoline. Special thanks to the caring sister in South Carolina who bought this boat that I used for this trip. She knows who she is and, more importantly, the Lord knows who she is and what she did.

Hudson Negreiros, who is my usual partner on these trips, was with me again. For those of you who have been concerned about my traveling alone, this should help you rest a little easier. He has been with me on all but one trip these past two years. He is one of our missionaries, is about half my age, has twice as high a cholesterol count and outweighs me by forty pounds, but is always ready to go and is one of those guys who puts his shoulder to the task, no matter what. One of our chapel pastors went along, too. He went in his own boat (also built by us at River Craft) with a tail motor. He would not be able to stay for the whole trip, so that is why he took his own boat. Hudson and I made it through all the shallows and log jams without a hitch. Rondisson had a bit of trouble, but made it.

We visited the works at Serra do Moa, República (Nukini Indian reservation) and São Salvador. As you may recall, we are without a missionary on the Moa at this time. Since Rivaldo and wife fell into adultery and had to leave the field these three main works and the other preaching points have been hurting. I was encouraged though because they are all meeting regularly and attendance was really good at all locations.

A bunch of politicians came in at Serra do Moa the first night we were there. They were considerate enough to come and ask me what time services were so that their rally would not conflict. This was a rally of the Communist Party. Instead of having our services at the regular time I asked them if they would let me open their meeting with the Word and prayer. They agreed, so I preached the Gospel to over one hundred people gave an invitation and prayed before withdrawing! We still ended up having more folks at our service.

Our next visit was to the Nukini tribe at República. One young man is holding services there, so that is good. His name is Aldenísio. Pray for him. He plays the guitar, leads singing, prays and teaches. His dad has just been saved a short time, but has really been a strong Christian, in these rough times. Our church building is almost a mile from the river, but these men help us haul our gear inland and pretty much put their lives on hold whenever we are there. The little building was packed for our meetings. I talked to the chief for about an hour and he says that the tribe cannot afford to be without a missionary and the church. This is good news because there are many who would like to throw us out, including a few from the tribe and, as usual, the anthropologists and government agencies who visit there from time to time.

São Salvador is doing surprisingly well. We had really good attendance all weekend. I exhorted the church very strongly about their dead practices of late. They have slumped into a totally dead style and pattern in their services. No visitors have been coming. In the meantime, a Pentecostal group has moved in. This bunch will let every lost person in the village just go to hell, but will work nonstop to try to convert the Baptists in the village. Since the Baptists have rolled over and playing dead, you know what the ultimate outcome will be. Well, I jolted them hard. They seemed to wake up and thanked me for the wake-up call. One bright sign of life is that they have started a new preaching point in a village upstream and it is doing great.

Before leaving São Salvador I visited the home of the local government health officer who checks folks for malaria. He has just been saved. I was able to share the gospel with this man's wife sitting at their kitchen table. She trusted Christ right there.

The river came up about four inches and we had smooth "sailing" back to Cruzeiro do Sul.

Thanks again to all of you who have given special and most generous offerings to keep me going with boats and gas. Thanks for all of your prayers and support. God bless you as much as He has us.

The Creiglow extended family

In Christ,

Mike Creiglow