Roy Ann Cecrle is a dedicated saint of God who serves as the Missions Director of the Dewar United Pentecostal Church. Each month she presents a couple of "Missions Moments" to present current happenings and needs of missions worldwide. Near the end of 2004, she presented a need of our mission work in Brazil along the Amazon River: the missionaries were trying to establish a fleet of aluminum canoes to travel the tributaries to transport people to church and/or transport building materials, as needed.
Email communications were made with Rev. Bennie DeMerchant, missionary to Brazil. It was established that we could donate the funds to purchase one of these canoes and dedicate it to Sis. Cecrle. She would have been very happy to be a missionary, but that was not in her life. This way will allow "Roy Ann of the Amazon" to continue work long after Roy Ann of Oklahoma retires--if she ever does!
On August 14, 2005, Jim and Linda Pulliam presented a slide show to demonstrate the need and to remember their personal ties to Brazil. While recalling Roy Ann's earlier presentation of the need, Jim invited her to the platform to share in this special missions moment. Her sons Jonathan, Joseph, and Andrew were able to attend the presentation with members of their families. Her surprise was quite evident. At the end of the presentation, Pastor Matthew Martin offered a dedicatory prayer for the "Roy Ann."
Update
After the presentation, Bro. DeMerchant found that the need for a particular locale was different from obtaining an aluminum boat. After one was purchased (and painted), local ministers sent a photo to Bro. DeMerchant and from him to us.
A quote from his email:
I talked with our pastor in Eirunepé (pronounced "Eh roo na PAY") after you offered to help. They were making long trips of several days and needed a boat with a covering to keep them from the sun and rain. We were able to make a deal to help them purchase this kind of a boat which they like very much. I asked for a photo of it and they sent me via snail mail a photo I can send you and from which I filmed close up on my desk here to send as a download with this.
Eirunepé is a prime land-locked city in a county of 50,000 people, with no roads to it on the upper Juruá
(Jur-oo-AH) River about 21 days in normal boat traffic from Manaus. This is a very crooked river and seen from the air forms many hair-pin and clover leaf turns. In rainy water season (high water) boats take short cuts through small jungle cut out areas. We have many isolated churches in this area of river and the boat is a real answer to prayer for them. We have Bible schools in this area and the youth go all around these crooked rivers to many villages where they start churches.A digital photo may be obtained later, but, for now, see the photo below.
September 2006 missions report
