Bud Simon

A Powerful Reminder

Sky and water blend together at the horizon along the Xingu River

You ever wonder why you are doing what you do?

This week I had a wonderful reminder of why I am doing the work that I do. 

We had the delight of having visitors from the Cleveland area this last week.  It was great to visit a variety of communities along the river with them.  There was an awesome sense of the presence of the Lord and a simple sincerity in seeing the Spirit move among us. 

It was wonderful to worship together, pray together, fellowship together and laugh together. 

For me, the defining moment of the trip took place under the setting sun in a small community.  The meeting took place outside, in the shade of several large fruit trees.  The worship was uncomplicated.  The people were simple and genuine.  The message was clear. 

And the response was profound.  In the meeting of about 50 people, 12 came forward to give their lives to the Lord.  It was in some ways similar to "you and your family will be saved" (Acts 16).  Many were members of the same families and extended families.  The power of God fell on that place in that moment.  His touch was irresistible. 

It brought me back to the reason I came here years ago.  There are people that have never heard the simple message of the Gospel. "How will they hear if no one tells them?" (Romans 10).  I love that God moment, when a person's face lights up for the first time with the joy of salvation.  There is nothing sweeter.  I thank God for letting me partake in His work in this place. 

Wading across the mud flats at the edge of the river

Some Reflections on Grace and Forgiveness…

A few years ago, an interesting situation happened to our family. We had a dear friend who was in our home all of the time, watching our kids, helping out, and just being around. One day, we noticed there was money disappearing from the house. Large amounts of money. Brazil, being a cash based society, makes it common to keep a lot of cash on hand. So we hid some video cameras, using our computer. And, there our friend was on video, going the desk drawers and file cabinet, looking for money. We felt terribly betrayed and deceived.

The one phrase that sticks with me from the Lord’s Prayer is “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors”.

Maintaining a life of forgiveness is a constant struggle. Forgiveness extends grace and mercy to others. Forgiveness is Gracious. Understand. A spirit of reconciliation. Kindness. Bridging differences. Love. Compassion. Consideration. Honoring others, even in their weakness.

The catch is that we receive as we give. Life in the Kingdom of God is an exchange, a giving and receiving. It is always true. Planting and reaping. Reaching out and having others reach out to us. The Kingdom works in the supernatural. I can forgive here and receive grace and forgiveness from some other person that I never imagined.

Is there something more powerful than giving forgiveness when forgiveness is not expected nor deserved? Forgiveness surprises, forgiveness delights, forgiveness humbles.

That is how I received forgiveness. And it had the power to change my life. And it still is changing my life today. The foundations of the Kingdom of God are built on His Grace. I want to extend grace as well as receive it.

Earlier this year, I read two books in tandem. “Free of Charge”, which is an exploration in the theology of giving and forgiving and “The Shack”, which is a fictional account of one man’s struggle to forgive. The two books together provided a powerful insight into ministry of forgiveness, moving both my heart and my mind. I would highly recommend both of these books.

Forgiveness is understood as it is applied. Giving forgiveness releases in us a more mature understanding of forgiveness.

Put forgiveness into action we enter into this season of Christmas. God is calling us to a higher place.

Iriri River Trip

Bud and a couple of his new friends on the Iriri River

I just spent last week on a great trip - two days driving and three days on the river.  It was rewarding to share the Gospel in new places, to travel new roads, and to see some new potential sites for churches.  I just posted some photos and I hope to post some complete stories in the near future. 

  Bud baptizing a new believer in the river

Another friend from the river - this woman is 85 years old and has lived along the river all her life. 

 Clyde Bergquist, a missionary from Oregon, and I relax  in the shallows of the river during the heat of the day

A New Blog

Those are the faces of the various Xingu Mission missionaries in Altamira. 

And, there is a new blog that shares a more rounded version of what is going on in Altamira and all of her church plants.  Every week, a different missionary shares a story, testimony, or whatever is on their heart that represents the work here. 

It is at http://www.xingu-mission-altamira.blogspot.com/

The goal of the new blog is to provide a broader view of all that happens in the work here.  it is hard to gather the scope, but here are a few of the things that happen (in no particular order):

• Teaching English to the under privileged
• Teaching computer skills to the under privileged
• Training new missionaries
• New Believers Retreats
• Church Planting
• A Variety of leadership training platforms
• Team building experiences
• Travel adventures
• Short term missionary events
• Missionary kinships
• Teams
• Church construction
• Boat trips
• Motorcycle trips
• Church Celebrations
• A school of more than 200 students (TESL and computer literacy)
• 50 churches and church starts in our region
• six mission boats in our region
• six motorcycles doing ministry
• "Jesus"film outreaches and other film outreaches
• Youth outreach events
• Conferences
• 12 missionaries and 11 missionary kids
• and alot more also

With all that is happening, and the fact that the blog is updated weekly, you will want to check it out on a regular basis. 

So,please read the ALTAMIRA BLOG .  It will help give a broader and deeper view of what the Lord is doing in this corner of the world. 

(L to R) Pastor Naldo, Keith Wilson, and Josh Pflederer on a road trip to church in the interior

FIEL

Sunrise on the Xingu River near Belo Monte

Early morning worship on top of the boat during the weekend intensive

Leadership Fundamentals (which makes the acronym "FIEL" in Portuguese) , this is always a blast, and getting better. 

This last weekend we did an outing in a small community call "Belo Monte".  This community has a couple thousand people.  It is where the TransAmazon crosses the Xingu River. 

The goals of FIEL are to provide teaching, training, and practical experience for the students in a weekend intensive.  As a secondary goal, FIEL provides the opportunity to make initial contact with community or to give encouragement to a rural church. 

The response on both sides has been extremely positive. 

The recent outing to Belo Monte was on of the most positive to date.  The students had the opportunity to spend time training in the morning in one of several areas, including evangelism, children's ministry, drama, and worship.  Then, in the afternoon, the whole team did an outreach event targeted at the children in the community.  There was a positive response and many of the children came out to the event.  It was a great moment and one of the girls on the team shared how she accepted Christ when she was seven years old and the positive impact it had on her life. 

In the evening, we had an outreach event in the small, multisport facility in the community.  There was an excellent response with people giving their lives to the Lord. 

The time made a positive impression on the students and it was wonderful to see everyone working together! Personally, this is something I really enjoy.  It is a great place to give students the freedom to practice things in a learning environment. 

If you are interested in supporting FIEL, please make a donation and earmark it for "Training". 

Thanks and God Bless!

Children reacting to the presentations that the FIEL students offered

Denise is the Coordinator for the FIEL training.  23 years old and single, she spent two years at Bible School and has been a tremendous asset to the local church and in helping reproduce training in others.  Here she is with one of the children from the weekend. 


I had the chance to take two of my children along, Caleb and Anna.  They both had a ball!  Caleb sits in on the training for the drama group. 

A Perspective from a Short Term Missionary

Suzanne & Kate

Kate Snow, from Columbus, OH, spent six months with the Xingu Mission here in the Altamira region. She is 20 years old and will be studying again this fall. It was a delight to have her here from January through July of this year. She worked hard, helping out in any way that she could. She plunged in without reservation, doing her best in each situation.

I asked Kate to share some thoughts about her time here in Brazil. She had a whole range of emotions and also had the opportunity to have a variety of different experiences during her time. A couple of the things that really made an impact were the fact that some things can not be experienced in a couple of weeks and the opportunity to learn new ways to express God’s love across the language and cultural barriers.

Here are some of Kate’s thoughts about her six months here.

When I went on the mission field for an extended period of time, I struggled with the provoking question, “Why am I here?” How can I be influential without knowing the language, culture, customs, or without material offerings (i.e. running an orphanage, AIDs awareness, etc…)? Is it right to dampen the awkwardness of meeting new friends by buying them lunch or a small gift, potentially igniting a misconception or dependency on North American’s who may seemingly ‘have more money?’ Stripped of everything from basic communication to the comforts of home, I wondered, was love limited to those with some thing to offer or is it truly possible to build friendships purely on love?

Every day as I rode my bike to a new person’s house, my life began to transform. My concerns moved from wondering how silly my broken Portuguese sounded, to focusing on the beauty of our simple conversations and the joy in laughing when conversations became too complicated. Daily I began demonstrating love through smiles, body gestures, a helping hand, listening ear, or an attempt at an encouraging word.

As time progressed and I began to gain insight into Brazilian culture and learn the language, I felt increasingly challenged to not become comfortable. I had to learn the culture but not become too much of it; to be in this new Brazilian world, but not of it. As well, I had to learn the balance between investing in nurturing friendships while continually meeting the rejected and lonely: to love deep and without bounds.

That which literature cannot prepare one for, and one cannot fully experience within a few weeks, I explored, experimented, and ultimately discovered a new depth of love. I experienced a love that truly extends beyond language, culture, material, and time. I gained a fuller understanding of Jesus’ words to love my neighbor as myself.

Kate with some Brazilian friends

When You Can Not Read

Chico, Community Leader in Vila Nova, Maribel

Chico can not read.

Chico is not deterred. 

Chico wants to know the Bible and help out in his local church. 

Through the sharing of the Gospel in the remote area where Chico lives, he gave his life to the Lord.  He had struggled since then because he never learned to read.  The desire was there, but he never had the opportunity to learn. 

Then we were able to provide him with a "Proclaimer". 

A Proclaimer is a small electronic device with a dedicated memory.  On the memory is a copy of the Bible in Portuguese.  The controls on the device allow the user to find book, chapter, and verse and to move there with relative speed and ease once the user learns to use the controls. 

The Proclaimer, a small device that enable people that can not read to hear the Gospel on a regular basis

The Proclaimer is power in a number of ways:  by an A/C power adapter, by a hand crank that powers a battery, or by a small solar panel. 

Here is the really wonderful part of the story. 

When I was in Chico's community during a recent trip, I listened as Chico stood up and spoke before the group.  In his sharing, he quoted several verses verbatim.  I was amazed and grateful.  Here was a man who had never read, but was able to quote Scripture. 

My heart was touched.  It was wonderful to see that even such an obvious barrier as not being able to read was able to be overcome by the persistence of one man to share the Gospel with his community. 

Thanks for your prayers!!

The church community where Chico ministers

If you would like to help out Chico and other national leaders like him, please donate to:

Altamira Region (on line)

Or earmark for "the Altamira Region" and send to:

Xingu Mission
PO Box 340785
Columbus, Ohio 43234
USA

Leadership Fundementals

The Students and Teachers from the Leadership Training Intensive

We just had a great weekend out on the river. 

We were able to take a group of students out to have a wonderful time doing a leadership training intensive. 

the topic this month was focused on evangelism.  This was the second in our series of leadership training modules.  We met at a community on the river and 32 students took part in the training. 

It is great to see the passion and the sincerity that pulse from the lives of the students.  The goal is to teach in a series of weekend intensives through out the year.  These intensives will help equip the students with the skills they need to step up to a new level in their churches.  It is exciting to see the students embracing the teaching and the opportunities to share. 

One of the most energizing things is when the students are engaged and both sides can see the urgency and relevance of what is being transmitted. 

Thanks for each of you that has been praying for us. 

If you would like to help support leadership training for the Brazilians, you can do that by giving to: 

Altamira Leadership Training

Please earmark the donation for "leadership training" or e-mail me and let me know. 

Anna, four years old, who went along with me to "help out" on the trip.  We had a great time together!

Anna, my four year old, also went on the trip with me.  We had a blast together and it is always good to have my kids along.  It makes it more work and more effort, but I love including them when I can.  She is a delight and enjoys doing what she can to help out. 

Thanks for your prayers for our family!

Happy Easter

"God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him."

"God did not go to all the trouble of sending his Son to die just to condemn the world, rather he did it as the way to make people whole and right."

"My Righteous Servant will justify many and He will bear their iniquities...because He poured out His life unto death... He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the sinners."

Sin. Death. Destruction. Hell. Hopeless. Anger. Hate. Separation. Division. 

Righteousness. Life. Wholeness. Heaven. Hope. Peace. Love. Unity. Togetherness.

The difference He has made in me, He can make in others.  And the difference He has made in others, He can make in me. 

God's delight is to change, to save, to deliver, and to bring hope, light, and life. 

Happy Easter. 

I Want to Kill That Guy!

You know why we do a "New Believer's Retreat"?  Because it is an open door to let the power of God be displayed. 

Last weekend, a friend of mine was participating in the retreat.  Jose has been having a rough season in his life.  He has been through difficult relationships and struggles, too many to name.  One episode stands out.  Jose had been at odds with a man in his community and finally made the decision that he was going to kill this other man. 

This is actually pretty common in our area.  Local justice and people resolving their own conflicts in violent ways in regular news in our region. 

But, there is one thing Jose did not count on in his equation.  God. 

Jose went to the New Believer's Retreat which just happened to be our largest ever.  There were more than 100 men there, including those being ministered to and those doing the ministry.  The retreat covers a variety of subjects, including inner healing, confession any habitual sins, and other things that often are easy to over look and ignore in our lives. 

Well, as God orchestrates things, this very man that Jose was planning to kill was also there at the Retreat. 

But, Jose, being patient and orderly, figured he could wait until later to do his killing. 

However, there is that God thing going on.  Here he is listening to how Christ gave everything for us.  And Jose broke.  God broke his heart and gave Jose a new one. 

Jose stood up a little later on and said,"See that guy over there?  Well, I was planning to kill him this week.  But, I just can't now.  I know that it would be wrong."  What a thing to announce in public.  And, instead of the enmity that had existed, these two men were hugging and laughing. 

Only God. 

I want a little more of that in my life!  What an awesome God we serve!