RIVERBOAT UPDATE —- Part 2
(from Joanna's mom who talked to Joanna today)

People think the fire started in the motor or the kitchen. (They have not seen the kitchen lady, but Joanna said there are two places where the passengers are staying.) The boat had tons of fireworks on board. The boat had no children’s life jackets, the wooden life boats were so difficult to access, not sure if they were able to use any of them.

Henrietta had some burns, but many others had much worse burns than her. She was covered in oil, and said she was really dirty, not something she enjoys.

The family was reunited (didn’t get details of all that) and taken to a military boat for medical attention. That was when Joanna called Jess in Benjamin. Joanna had her apple watch and batt was low, but she could get some contacts off of it. She wanted folks in Brazil to hear they survived, because it would be big news in Brazil and folks knew they were on that boat.

After they were on the military boat, they took smaller speed boats for 2 hour trip to a nearby village. By now it was dark, and it was very scary for the passengers. They were given juice and crackers. All very hungry.

When they landed at the village, cars were waiting to take them to a school gymnasium. People lined the streets clapping as they drove by. The people and store ownders have been so generous with any physical need. All new or used clothes for everyone. They have been able to keep their own family together since then. Everyone has been so happy to help the passengers.

People lost babies and parents. Joanna kept wondering if she was dreaming.

Joanna said that before they left on the boat, Sarah (her sister) had sent her a song by Celtic Thunder, which ends:

Thank you, Lord, you have brought us
Safe to shore
Be our strength and protection
Ever more

[...]
Joanna said everyone has their story of rescue, but people have been singling them out because they are the largest family and have the youngest baby and all survived. Last night, a woman who lost a child came by and was just staring at Andrew, and Joanna got to hug her and talk with her and pray with her, and tell her that her child was safe in heaven, but she needed salvation, etc.

[...]

Ezra had his wallet on him, and Joanna has her Brazilian ID number memorized. Also, Ezra has photos of all their papers on icloud, when they can access that again. Authorities are interviewing everyone because all need documents replaced.

Joanna wrote down contacts from her apple watch.

Locals have brought toys and they asked for crayons and paper, and they have that. Henrietta made a lego boat “I made a boat on fire”. The kids all saw the burned up boat and understand about that.

Joanna told Andrew “Today we walked through the valley of the shadow of death”. Andrew understood and agreed!

Joanna said it is not a big town but everyone has been so generous.

Joanna said they think the crew jumped off, and passengers were handing out life jackets (I am thinking that the crew might have had to, if they were nearest the fire.

Passengers were all covered in oil when they got out of the water.

She said they had no game plan, had no idea what they would do, she said it was as dramatic as you could imagine.

Joanna had oil and clay in her hair. Someone came to wash it, they washed it three times. She thought the person was joking about being a hairdresser, but they said “I really am a hairdresser”. That is why her hair was in a towel in the photo.

People were saying Ezra was a hero, he had Philip and Andrew and put them on a boat and kept looking, but he wanted to save Joanna and Erik and Henrietta but couldn’t! Henrietta (is safe, no water inhaled it seems) was said to have been floating around solo, and people would push her up out of the water, nobody able to just take her, until she was pulled into a boat! She should not be alive.

Some of these details might be corrected later. But they are all safe.

They expect to be on a ship going back to Manaus, but don’t know when that will be.

Here is a picture of the burning river boat.

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Riverboat Update
Henrietta, who is two and a half years old, said matter-of-factly after she was reunited with her mom, "The boat all burned up, but I swimmed and I floated."

God in His wisdom knows that a path that is free from troubles does not develop in us the faith that matures and pleases God. Although God does not cause the problems and pain we go through, He permits difficulties and dangers, sorrows and sicknesses, anxieties and afflictions, pain and persecution, in order to perfect our faith in Him.
God allows all the troubles and tribulations of life to work together for good... to those that love the Lord and for the eternal glory of His holy name. Our brokenness is permitted, so that we may grow in grace, mature in the faith, and day by day become increasingly conformed into the image and likeness of our heavenly Saviour ~ so that we may shine as lights in a darkened place as we share the good news of salvation to a lost and dying world.

Carli • Saved by Grace

Posted on my YouTube channel comments:
"What?!! Pete Garcia criticizing the right?! He loves to criticize the left but crickets on the right, even when our rights will be violated if T takes office. It's only when Israel is involved does he speak up. shameful"

My reply:
I would rather risk having rights taken away by Trump than face rights taken away by the extreme left that now dominates the Democrat party. The party of killing infants, forcing Christians to kowtow to the Alphabet movement, forcing DEI upon America, taking away guns and the 2nd amendment, ad nauseum. We don't really have any REAL options between the two parties. Ross Perot was the last legit third option. I think the America-first road to the New World Order is better for American Christians than the death-to-America road to the New World Order.

Turkey is threatening to invade Israel.
Iran is threatening Israel.
Iran's proxies are threatening Israel.
Russia is siding with Iran against Israel.
Nothing to see here.
Nothing resembles Gog and Magog.
🤥🤪

Strong prejudice leads to big mistakes.

Riverboat Update:
Ezra and Joanna have received temporary papers so they can travel to Manaus. They are leaving by fast boat tomorrow and have about a twelve hour journey. With a borrowed phone, they started the online paperwork to replace passports and a few other necessary documents.

Error, whether on a major point or a minor point, always finds itself compelled to deal dishonestly with the data (the Bible, history, grammar, etc.) to defend its point. Error always seems to encourage some degree of dishonesty, but there is a blindness in this. They are so convinced of the starting assumption that they feel obligated to search for an alternative understanding of the data. It is unthinkable that the starting assumption might be wrong.

Not only were the physical eyes of this blind man opened but we discover his open defiance of the Pharisees resulted in a deeper, spiritual awakening in his inner soul for he was later to pronounce: “Lord I believe, that You are the Son of Man, the Messiah of Israel and Saviour of the world”. This is a true story but it is also beautiful picture of developing faith.. a simple childlike trust in the Lord Jesus which gave birth to the salvation of the soul for the forgiveness of sins, life everlasting and spiritual growth.

Carli • Saved by Grace

Some have complained to me that Joel Richardson should have contacted me privately instead of making a video challenging my understanding of the rapture passages in Ephraim the Syrian's writings. I don't agree. I presented my pretrib rapture passages in Ephraim to the public arena. Joel challenged my interpretation of them in the public arena. This is perfectly legit. The problem doesn't lie in the public debate over the issue. The problem doesn't lie in Joel challenging me and mentioning my name. The problem lies in the fact that the evidence—-when examined fully and weighed candidly—-overthrows Joel's handling. Personally, I believe the effort to shut down public debate by shaming would be challengers into silence is problematic.

2 Thess. 2:8, "And then shall that wicked one be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming." So looking forward to this day. Bust out the fireworks. We are going to celebrate!

Can't wait for the trumpet blast! No more battles against the ways of the world or the wiles of the wicked one. No more battles against error and nonsense in the church. No more battles against the flesh. Nor more battles against health issues.

Getting excited about teaching Genesis 1-11 next week at North Dakota Discipleship Camp. Every vital doctrine in the NT message is either taught in seed form or implied in these chapters. The only portion of the Bible that suffers the same degree of attack from the world is Revelation. The foul spirits that run the world behind the scenes hate the Genesis account and the Revelation account.

We live in a world that is filled with stresses and strains, and although we are not able to prevent the pressures of life, we have an assurance from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself that because HE overcame the world, the flesh, and the devil, we too are overcomers in Him, for THIS is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith in Christ. We may be facing some of the darkest days of this world's history, but there will be joy for us as well, on that glorious day when Jesus comes in the clouds to take us to be with Himself. So...
Let not YOUR heart be troubled.
Let not MY heart be troubled.
Let not OUR hearts be troubled.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Carli • Saved by Grace

Focus on those who seek your encouragement and help. Ignore those that seek to distract you and waste your time.

Riverboat Update:
We received word that Ezra and Joanna and the kids arrived safely in Manaus this morning. For the time being, they are staying at the chapel they fellowship with when visiting there.

Will be interesting to see what transpires in the next 48-72 hours. Israel has already preemptively struck targets in Lebanon and Syria that were affiliated with Hezbollah and Iran. Will she preemptively strike in Iran too? Or will she wait until Iran strikes first? Will Iran's walk meet her talk? Will the US only help Israel defensively, or will she actively engage Iran's proxies or even Iran herself? No matter what happens, this is a nail biter. The Middle East is racing for Gog and Magog.

One short life to be a good soldier.
One long eternity to be a fulfilled human being.

Perhaps Christ's identification with a race of sinners can be considered, by all Who have trusted Him as Saviour, to be the most poignant aspect of this fulfilment of all righteousness. The Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us so that He could be identified with your sin and mine and to take upon Himself all the punishment that you and I justly deserve. He identified with our gross unrighteousness so that we could be identified with His perfect righteousness.

Carli • Saved by Grace