I am sure you have heard about the extraordinary rate of church growth in Brazil. I reckon there are enough evangelical Christians here to fulfill the Great Commission within the year, if they all got organised! Missão Horizontes here in Monte Verde is certainly doing its bit. The base is an enormous châlet up in the mountains, and it is packed full of twenty-somethings being trained for world mission. Phrases like 'Janela 10-40' (10-40 window) and 'povos não-alcançados' (unreached people groups) echo through the draughty corridors. In the main hall there is a museum of Coca-Cola - Coke bottles and cans and caps and T-shirts from every country in the world. A sign above the display cases says that the church in Brazil spends more money on Coca-Cola than it invests in world mission.

Monte Verde is known in Brazil as 'Little Switzerland', and the resemblance to a Swiss Alpine village is indeed striking. Signposts in Alpine calligraphy indicate picturesque mountain trails and inexpensive fondue-restaurants. Along the main street shopekeepers ply you with samples of Brazilian cheese and Chilean wine, hoping to lure you into their shops. There are also coffee shops and chocolate shops and woolly-hat shops. There are horses to ride and trout lakes to fish. Monte Verde is muito legal ('legal' in Portuguese doesn't mean legal, it means great - you pronounce it leg-ow).

I am staying near the base with friends Carlos and Maria, who I already knew in England. I shall be forever indebted to Maria for showing me how to make coffee, and to Carlos for showing me how to crack Brazil nuts between my teeth. I work at the centre, teaching English to those missionaries who will need it. I have also done a couple sessions for everyone, sharing about the Fulani. There are several people here who are interested in working with the Fulani in the future, so please pray that God opens the way for them to do so.

As I mentioned in my last letter, my main reason for coming to Brazil was a personal one. Unfortunately, things did not work out with Carminha, and we are going to stay just friends. It's not an easy time, but I think we have made the right decision. Thanks for your prayers and support.
A paz do Senhor,

Steve