Last Day by Angela Helseth

We are in Boa Vista, sitting in a nice hotel, after a relaxing swim in the pool and a delicious big meal and I would rather be back, sleeping on the benches in the church with the bugs and crickets that sound like helicopters. At least you have fresh air and stars and community and family and God’s people.

Today was our last day in Maloca de Moscou. We helped with breakfast again, our last time doing that. Then Compass Check and Mr. Syltie’s review of how to care for the garden. Then a break. I went to the thatched roof area where they were playing Scrabble. A hammock was open, so I took advantage and for 20 minutes at least, I relaxed there. It was utterly magnificent. I was part of the goings on -- they’d ask me a few question now and then regarding the Scrabble game -- and gently swinging back and for the, the beautiful, clear blue sky, green grass. Community, God’s people, peacefulness. The city just doesn’t provide that. We weren’t meant to live there. God created us in a garden, for a reason. And God doesn’t intend us to “feel guilty” because we have wealth, it’s nothing like that. Because we have carpet and not dirt floors. We have a refrigerator full of food. We sleep in soft, comfy beds and not hammocks. No, no, of course not. That’s a false and really arrogant humility. As Mr. de Campos said, the Israelites were sent to be a colonizing people -- not for destruction as it became but to share wisdom and a quality way of doing things -- God’s way… to share GOD’S CULTURE. But the Western world has become so arrogant and perverted in its way of life that we’re heaps out of balance. “In the compromise of the elementary, the profound has been lost” as Joel Brunick said in a sermonette once, and our ever-wise “wisdom” has become utter foolishness. We have to trash it all and start over, building on the foundation of TRUTH.

What a grand day though. Relaxed, savored that time in the hammock. Then all gathered together for an interactive Bible study: Why is it important to know the real Jesus? Very worthwhile and everyone contributed.

Afterward lunch! And just such a lovely and relaxing brethren time. Then after lunch, each family got together to take family photos for our sakes. It was nice, they were all washing up, changing clothes. Really sweet. Then packed up! Iracema and other came to the church to help me pack my things. Ana brought us ladies in the kitchen and presented us with fancy feather things for our hair and each a beaded necklace -- so sweet and thoughtful! Really meaningful. Then the children all got together and sang a goodbye song for us accompanied on the guitar. “We’ll always be friends, even though you’re around the world we’ll remember you” lyrics like that. We were all crying. Everyone came around to give hugs and say some words goodbye, some asked if we’d come for the Feast. Really full of brotherly love, the whole week really was.

Then the bus came and we all loaded up in it, everyone gathered around to wave goodbye to us -- “chau familia” because they are our family, we’re all brethren. It was surprisingly difficult to leave. Truly a worthwhile… like really worth our while to come down there and worth their while to have us there. We all benefited in a lot of ways. Definitely will keep them in prayer and hopefully return to visit “soon.”