An Update from Joao & Hope Rodrigues serving with New Tribes Mission in Brazil

Novo Demini, Oct 6th, 2007
Dear Friends,
It has been a while that I have been meaning to write you, but it just seems like there is always something going on and time has just flown by.
Praise the Lord we are all fine! Yes, we are still in the tribe. We had planned on leaving here on the 17th of September, but decided to stay an extra month. Our plans now are for Nathan and me to fly out on the 22nd of this month and for Joao to fly out on the 26th. Joao will stay on a few extra days, as our mission's leadership will be coming here for their yearly visit and we don't want to miss them. Unfortunately last year when they came we were in town because of Nathan's convulsion and missed out on their visit.
This week has been pretty full and Joao has been out a lot. On Monday, he spent the day fishing with some Indians. His reason for going wasn't just to go fishing, but to have more quality time alone with a few Indians. to build friendships and continue learning language. He had planned to spend the night, but after they caught a 8 ft. fish, they decided to come home earlier. To catch this type of fish, they put a type of a spear on the
point of a stick and have to wait for it to come up and then spear it. The man that speared it was the same one that speared an alligator on another fishing trip Joao went on some time back. After they manage to spear it it's another job to tire him out until they can manage to kill him and get him in the boat.
On Thursday João and our other co-workers (men) went on a hunting/fishing trip with the Indians. The Indians had already gone on ahead of them on Tuesday. The reason for this hunting/fishing outing was to have meat for a 4 day Bible study that is supposed to happen this coming week. It will be divided into 2 parts. The first two days are for the women and the second two days for the men. It will be an all day outing, but we will come back and spend the night here. Our two Indian pastors will be in charge of most of the teaching. It has already been done once for the men this year and they were encouraged with all they learned from God's Word.
Please pray that the enemy will not be able to do anything to hinder this Bible study from happening. João just heard this afternoon that a big high up guy (Indian), who is totally against the gospel, is supposed to come
here on Tuesday. We still don't know the reason, but pray this doesn't hinder anyone from going that wants to go.
Praise the Lord with us that recently the Christians here received some more portions of Scripture and Bible lessons printed in their own language. Our co-workers have been working hard to make this possible. We praise the Lord for their lives and hard work.
Today, which is Saturday, Joao and the rest of the men arrived back from their hunting/fishing trip. We praise the Lord for giving them all safety. We are counting on your prayers for the 4-day Bible study that is to take place this coming week. Pray too that they will be encouraged with all they learn from God's Word.

Please remember us in prayer during these next few weeks. We only have two weeks to be ready to leave here and then could possibly have only a few days/weeks to be ready for the arrival of our little one. The due date is the 8^th of Nov. but Nathan came 10days early. I plan on going to a doctor as soon as I get to town to make sure everything is fine with both of us. My mother is planning on spending a month with us to help out. It will so good to have the privilege of having her with us.
Because of Jesus
Joao, Hope and Nathan