Wes and Trudy Seng
Brazil
IRANDUBA UPDATE and PRAYER REQUESTS / OCT 2011
Sometimes truth, reality and feelings are very hard to express … we want to honor a God most worthy; yet expressing reality could come across as a complaint. That is not our intention as we share the burden on our hearts.
At this point in time, the school project is at a virtual standstill. Alceris (the director appointed by CONPLEI) remains in Manaus yet for a time to finish some seminary training. The educational goals are commendable yet obviously this decision means school plans are once again on hold. We feel an indigenous “older brother” would be a great help to Alceris. Please pray that God would raise up someone who could do this.
We continue to feel strongly that an Indigenous Training Center must have indigenous input from the very beginning. We have made many contacts in the area and joined with the community on work projects in order to make a passable road out to the school. But as Americans, we can only go so far. We cannot solicit help from town for indigenous projects; there must be native Brazilian input if the school is to be truly indigenous.
Because of the above, we ourselves have been assaulted by doubts. Is God redefining our ministry – are we losing touch with indigenous people whom we have loved so long? Are we being stubborn or blind to what is really needed? Should we attempt to build a physical school with non-indigenous manpower and turn it over later to our native brothers? Are we the right people for this task at this time? PLEASE PRAY for CONPLEI leadership and us as we wrestle with these issues. None of us want to err in our understanding of what God has for His people here.
Meanwhile, we have been involved in three different congregations in Iranduba and Paricatuba. It is a joy to teach our favorite Book again. Our neighbors continue to be a focus; at least one lady (who had declared she didn’t need Jesus) seems to be drawing closer to the One she once rejected.
We are planning to move to our new house in November. It is far from finished, so we will be camping out a bit. We are so grateful for it, but we don’t want our house to be the focus of our lives. Even in its unfinished state, Wes will have a safe place for tools so desperately needed for a Toyota aging along with its owners.
The well has water and a great hand pump, so guess who is going to be sporting big new biceps in the near future! As yet we have no city lights, but some dear folks from MAF loaned us a brand new generator to help us live in a somewhat civilized manner! The people of this “barrio” have become precious to us, and we plan to keep the contact. There are overwhelming needs in the new neighborhood as well. When we arrived in Iranduba, many people thought Wes was a priest; as I was away for several months for my cancer treatment, this seemed to confirm their suspicions. Of course, he has tried to explain, but some people still refer to him as the “Padre” which makes it embarrassing since he has an obvious relationship with me! Oh well, at least he cannot be accused of chasing young things! But joking aside, a man in our new neighborhood asked the “Padre” for advice: he was planning to leave his third wife. Wes was able to talk to them and read Matthew 11: 28-30 and encourage them to come to the only ONE who can heal relationships.
Both of us desperately want to pass this test. We desire God’s perfect will with all our hearts. We deeply desire God’s continued working and refining in our lives. As we wrestle with our doubts, we acknowledge our tremendous weakness and small faith. Please pray for us. You are much appreciated and loved.
Yours because of Jesus, Wes and Trudy Seng