Our Friend Jocivan

When I was in Rio Branco for my first two-week stay, I went to the First Baptist Church downtown to meet other followers of Christ and to see how other disciples do things in this region. There I met Jocivan, a young man about my age. He invited me to pick up some lunch and go out to the Seminary for Sunday after noon. I saw where he lived, and we sat and sang praises together while he played the guitar. It is amazing how in another world they know some of the same songs (old and new). I favorite was "I Just Want to Be Where You Are." He taught it to me in Portuguese "Eu Só Quero Estar Onde Tu Estás." Foi O Máximo.

Jocivan helped me a lot during the rest of that trip. We even saw a Futebol game together. Can you believe that that is one of the few soccer games that I have been to in Brazil? Well, I lost contact with Jocivan after I left. I was really bumbed, because I didn't know if I would ever find him again. He is actually a university student living in Rio Branco, but originated in another small city in Acre.

After two long years of only imagining and dreaming of being in Acre, I finally was given the opportunity to go back to Rio Branco. The first chance I got, I went to First Baptist and asked about Jocivan, but no one could locate him for me. He had been out of touch. Would Diana and I find him? (Diana Sanchez came along to help me on this trip.) Come back to find out . . .

This is a shot taken from devotional before classes at the Baptist Seminary.