Campo Mourao

It is a city as well as a retreat center. Many of you have heard of it, especially if you have any roots with Calvary Chapel, but probably only know it as the retreat center. My thoughts were changed upon going there this week. A city of about 80,000 people is nestled in some of the best farm ground according to Larry! The land was lush and beautiful, making our drive there and back quite enjoyable. (it was the first time Warren and I ventured out of Iguassu on our own. He did great and was actually driving like a Brazilian on the way back.... Pray for me!) The property it is on was bought by Calvary Costa Mesa a few years back and developed into what it is today. To get to the retreat center you travel off the main road on to a dirt (red dirt - awful on the clothes and shoes!) road that when it is wet is mightly slippery. Did I mention that it rained most of the way there?! It feels like you are driving on that dirt road to no where land but you round a bend and there it is. A bit of what you would expect from Calvary Costa Mesa but with a Brazilian flare! Certainly what you would only hope for in a retreat....

Junior is the manager. A very large task. He and his family work together to make the place run smoothly and to keep it in tip-top shape. It is. They have a team of hired people to help with the cooking and other chores that it takes to make it the wonderful place that it is. We had so much fun sharing the time with them and getting to know them as friends.
We look forward to more of the same....

Junior, DeLinda and one of their daughters Victorian

Diego pastors the church that is now located on the property. It has been going now for 4 months and is doing well. He and his wife, Aline, live right there in the children's building. A sweet, sweet couple.

DeLinda's father had bought and developed the land that the retreat center is on, I believe in the 50's. After hearing story after story from her I realize that this is a man that I would have loved to have known only to find out from her that he and her mother live in Dallas, Oregon. My first thought was that I would look them up and see if I could meet with the two of them when we get back but then I remembered.....!

DeLinda came back to help with the orphange (that is not running right now but they would like to see that be re-established again someday) when she was 20 years old. When Calvary Corvallis bought the majority of the land previously owned by her father (most recently her uncle had owned it) she traded a piece of property she owned near the large parcel for some across the river. Her dream (and more importantly, God's dream) was to have a children's center where the kids in the village around that area could come and have a recreation sight along with Bible teaching. Some money was donated for the building and the dream has come to be!

It is more than successful.

The name is on the door and it means "the better way"

This is a glimpse of the village.
The roads were as rough as they look and when they are wet
they are slippery!
It was a poorer village but not considered a slum or favela.
Many have jobs but they receive a meger salary and so must live with the bare necessities.
The wood houses
were older ones but we were told that they don't last
as long so now they are being rebuilt
with the brick and concrete.

DeLinda had Ben Lyon busy with a shop project. The shop is located on the grounds. a big building able to have a welding and carpenter area along with plenty of storage for big things (like tractors, etc) and small things (machinery parts and sm. tools) Warren thought it was a very workable building just not equipped exactly like he was used too!

It was hard to leave all of our new friends but the time came none the less
so we boarded the car, this time with Karen and Larry, and headed back to
Iguassu Falls. Our home.

When we got there last night we opened the car door to a surprise:

A blast of cold air.

Now I know that you all know what cold is like but we ARE talking about Brazil here and so it was quite unexpected. These pictures were from church last night. Note that we are inside!

Karen and Larry were kind and let us have the heater in our room last night
(with the persuasion of Warren!).
We added layers to our wardrobe this morning and
here it is at 3:00 in the afternoon and it is still
COLD!

If you haven't before, you must take a minute and thank the Lord for central heat!!!!