December 2008

Dear supporters, family, and friends,

We thank God daily for your prayers and support. You truly are a part of the mission here in Praia Grande, Brazil, even though you may never get the chance to see the work here firsthand (in this life). Please continue to remember us in your prayers, for boldness in speaking the good news, for health, and for the safety and growth of our children.

Alley started off November attending a week-long women's missionary conference hosted by Continent of Great Cities (http://www.greatcities.org/). It was a time of deep encouragement and renewal for the women who participated, and Alley was truly blessed in many ways by the experience. Thanks, CGC! Thanks also to Liduina who helped me with the kids while Alley was gone.

We have been involved helping the team that will be moving to Brazila next year in several ways, but this time it was one of the members of the team who helped us. Otavio Calegari offered to come to Praia Grande and give two lessons on sermon preparation. Several members from
São Vicente participated, as well as Pedro and Eduardo, two of our newest members. The Brazilia team will be leaving for Brazilia in January.

(Left to right) Members of the Brazilia team: Junior and Patricia lira, Renato and Carol Pereira, Alessandra and Otavio Calegari.

At the end of November we had the privilege of participating in a goodbye conference for family members of the team in São Paulo, at which Otavio's mother finally decided to be baptized!

Otavio (right) and his sister (left) accompany their mother as she confesses Jesus as Lord.

I can't imagine a better way to begin their work in Brazilia.

We took a little "break" in the middle of November to go to São Paulo for a number of things. The first was that we made the final payment (in Brazil) on our house, and recieved the title. It took half a day of signing and bank transfers, but it was an inportant step for us as homeowners. The next day we picked up Junior and Patricia Lira at the airport, who were returning from two months of fundraising in the states. It was great to be reunited with family and be helpful in hauling all the luggage to their house. Th bonus was that they were carrying a serious payload of things our family had been holding, waiting to send to us via someone travelling to Brazil. So we had an early Christmas with Junior and Patricia, opening things like Red Vines, Zip-Lock bags, marshmallows, and most important of all, Peanut Butter. We can't get those things here so it is wonderful when people send us a taste of home. Thanks to all who participated in those care packages!

A day later, while still in São Paulo, we attended the wedding of Patricia's sister. The next day we finally returned home. It was good to stay with family and be there when they needed us.

Church members sharing pizza after worship. The pizzeria is next door to our building.

The church continues to prosper here. Eduardo, a member through the School of the Bible, finally found a job. Francisco, who was having a lot of leg pain, has been doing physical therapy and is recovering well. He walks with a cane, and probably should from now on, but the pain is gone and he is able to make his visitation and study rounds much better now. We still average about twenty on Sundays, but continue to recieve visitors on a regular basis.

(Left to right) Marcia, Liduina, and Edson , after worship service

Edson, Marcia's husband, worship with us regularly. Paulo and his son João visited recently. Paulo is the brother of Antonio, one of my students in the School of the Bible.

November brought the conclusion of Module 2 of the basic Bible course in the School of the Bible. Of my first 15 students, 2 continue faithfully (Eduardo is already a member). Next year we will reopen with Module 3, as well as the first two. Please pray that we can find a great group of students who will be truly interested in the Word and living it out in thier lives.

In all the hustle down here, I forgot about Thanksgiving until someone mentioned it to me in a phone call (the day before). Alley and the rest of the family here jumped to put together a delicious Thanksgiving meal, with a little Brazilian flavor thrown in. It was one of the most meaningful in my life, though, because I was feeling far from home. Thanks, Alley.

It's not, truly, how much you have, but with whom you share it, that makes the difference. We wish you all a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year wherever you are. May God bless you all as you seek to grow in the faith and knowledge of the Lord, and as we share together in the work of the Kingdom.

Chris

November 2008

Dear Friends, family, and supporters,

October has been a very active month, for both Alley and I and the kids. We have really been kept on our toes over the last few weeks. Surprises do have a way of finding us, don't they?

I have been working hard on the development of the church statute here in Praia Grande, which is the legal document that will allow us to function as a non-profit legal entity here in Brazil. It is quite complicated at times, and though we are working with a lawyer, he doesn't always understand our doctrine or church structure, so it depends on me in many ways to get done. I don't mind learning the process, as it will help me serve the congregation here in the future. Recently we finishied the final draft and submitted it to the Prefecture (city government) for approval. Imagine my surprise when I learned that the cost of finalizing all the documents would be over $2000 dollars! We had about half that on hand, but still need another $1000 in order to recieve the documents when they are completed (about two weeks from now). Please pray for this need, and if anyone is, in spite of the financial situation in the US right now, capable of helping us with this need, please let me know as soon as possible. Without these documents the church here will continue to operate as an underground (illegal) entity, and I believe we need to do everything we can to comply with the law of the land.

We are still averaging 21 people in worship, with visitors present every week. Marcia, one of our newest members, volunteered to help us clean the building on a regular basis, which was a big help. After getting things cleaned up, Francisco usually makes a snack and hosts an informal study. Eduardo is nearly always there to help as well, which makes for great fellowship.

Construction in front of the church is nearly finished, which has increased the flow of pedestrian traffic and our own visibility. We hope this will gain us some more contacts and visitors.

In a windstorm, our sign blew down just as they were ripping up the sidewalk. It looks MUCH better than this now!

The School of the Bible will close for the year after our final exams in December. Eduardo is the most faithful of all the students, but there is still a small group who is seeing the course through to the end. Carlos, Carlos Antonio, and Edmilson are all wonderful students, and I ask that you pray for them by name as they study with us. Also, please pray for Ana and Emilene, who have not been able to continue, but whom I hope will return next year.

Eduardo is the son of Dick Farney, jazz musician of "Copacabana" fame

Did you know that phone lines can rust? If you have enough humidity in the house, they can! We have lost phone and internet on two separate occasions due to humidity inside the house corroding our phone lines and causing loss of signal. Hopefully our new, shielded wire will do better than the last one! In addition to the corrosion problem, our communication situation suffered again when Service Pack 3 crashed our computer, and we had to wipe the hard drive and reinstall from scratch. Thankfully, I am learning a little from the past, and had a great complete backup that made it very easy.

I have been watching the kids a lot recently. Alley and the other ladies of the congregation were invited to organize the games at the Ladies Conference in Vargem Grande Paulista. Marcia, Liduina, and Alley all participated, along with ten other women, and organized games and fun time for 400 women! In the history of the event, never have that many women participated in the games, but with Alley's talents of persuasion, everyone participated this year. Due to the great contacts she made there, we have been invited to direct the Jr. Teen camp next year as well. The biggest shocker last month was definately the car incident. We lock our car at all times since the kids like to get inside and push the buttons. However, that didn't stop Jonathan from climbing up, grabbing the keys, opening the door, startign the engine, and putting the car in reverse. He drove it backwards, scraping along the wall of the house, and into the bicycles. I was working in the back at the time and took quite a shock to see him go by. He was a little scared too, but not hurt. The car suffered greatly, though, with a broken window, mirror, and a dorr and two panels damaged. After freaking out, calming down, and calling the insurance, we had the privilege of repairing the car to the tune of a thousand bucks. Note: the insurance wouldn't cover the damage because Jonathan wasn't a licensed driver.

One of the highlights of the work here is the privilege I have to be studying with Pedro and Marcos. Pedro is a new convert, less than a year old. He is very shy, but asked us to train him to pray, read scripture, and preach! SO we meet together weekly to study and practice the basics of public service. Pedro has an attitude that brightens the room every time he arrives, and gives hugs like a bear. I know his presence will bless the congregation as he continues to grow into his dream: to preach the book of James.

Pedro, studying

I also continue to study with Marcos Serrano, a member fo the Sao Vicente congregation. He preached last Sunday for the first time since we have been working on sermon preparation. It gives me great joy to see this young man put into practice the techniques I am teaching him, but even more importantly, put into practice the Word itself. Pray for both of these "young" men as they grow in their ability to serve the Lord.

Marcos Serrano

We would like to send a big thanks to our newset supporters, Christ's Heritage church in Lynwood, WA., and the Kersey family. Thank you very much for helping in the work here in Brazil. May God use us together to build a strong and loving church family here, to the glory of the Lord.

With uncertainty everywhere, let me remind us all that it is not in physical things that we have our hope. Our sense of security shouldn't be in our retirement or savings. Instead, as members of a spiritual Kingdom, our treasure is stored in heaven where moth and rust can't degrade, and thieves can't steal. I hope that our hearts are truly there, and therefore, our treasures, and that no matter what the scenario economically, we can smile and trust that our futures are truly secure. May God bless you all.

October 2008 already!

It seems like just last week that I finally got my last newsletter out to you all... wait, it was just last week. Well, with internet working, communication is soooooooooooooooo much easier!

September has been a busy and rainy month here. To begin, the road on which the church and School of the Bible is located is under construction. They ripped up the old road and are putting in a boulevard with bike path down the middle. This will be very nice and increase foot traffic where we are located, and hence, our own visibility and advertising. But for the present, it is just a big mud pit up to our door. The construction generates significant noise as well, so in order to make the best of it we moved our School of the Bible classes upstairs next to my office, which has worked out very well.

The School of the Bible is currently offering classes Tuesdays from 7:30-10:00 pm, Thursdays from 7:30-10:00 pm, and Saturdays from 10:00 am to 12:30 and 3:00 to 5:30 pm. Our current students are Eduardo (who is now a member of the congregation here in Praia Grande), Ana, Carlos, Edmilson, Antonio, Emilene, and Donato. Please keep them in prayer, as with the rain, they haven't been very consistent (except Eduardo). Many of them come by bicycle or motorcycle, or even by moto-taxi, so the rains really do dampen their spirits (pun intended).

The kids are doing well.

Jonathan sports an expression that is a cross between "What, me worry?" and "Bond... James Bond."

Leticia

Lucas

Stephanie and Isabelle
Lucas, Jonathan, and a visitor

Alley and Liduina took the ladies of the congregation to a conference for women in Ipiranga. It was the first time that Marcia and Florinda were able to participate in an event for ladies in the church, and they loved it.

Marcia Santana holds Stephanie

Marcia and Florinda, who was baptized two months ago

Our congregation is doing well. I would like to remind you of the people who worship with us so that you can be praying for them by name.

Francisco and Liduina Lira, Alley's parents and our coworkers

Marcia Santos Santana and her son, Lucas. Her husband Edson is a regular visitor that we hope will be baptized soon.

The Guerrero Family: Carlos, Adriana, Isabelle, and Leticia (above)

Eduardo Dutra e Silva Neto, a member who made contact through the School of the Bible (above)

Dona Florinda was baptized two months ago after a study with Francisco. Her husband visits regularly with us.

Pedro Sobrinho, our first baptism

The Rodriguez family: Adauto, Janette, and Ailton are members at Sao Vicente who attend with us and have been a great help as the work begins. Ailton and Adauto both give classes and preach.

Valdir, and his children Marcos, and Vanessa, are also members of Sao Vicente and regularly attend with us in Praia Grande. Marcos regularly helps with songleading.

Last weekend was voting day. Here in Brazil the vote is mandatory, so it is a day filled with activity as many travel, and of course it is the season for politics. The most popular form of advertising here is not TV or even radio, although they are used. The most common thing to do is get a car and mount speakers on top, and pay people to drive around, blasting the jingle of a certain candidate. They also stand at street corners and wave big flags, and of course pass out a lot of flyers.

As a church we got together on voting day, and at Pedro's suggestion, had a pot luck. Pedro himslef made a wonderful feijoada, which is black beans and sausage, among other things. Others brought dessert, salad, and drinks. It was our first real congregational meal, and we all had a wonderful time. Pedro has a fantastic attitude and wants to learn to preach. We are already studying with him toward that goal. He also makes a great feijoada.

Last week, after 7 months of construction, the electric fence was finally installed, and improvements on the house have ended (except for those little things). We are very glad that the house is much more secure now, and that we won't have crews in our house working anymore for a while.

Thanks to all of you for your prayers for the congregation here, and for the effectiveness of our work. The Lord is blessing us, and we pray that the results so far are but the firstfruits of a great harvest here.

September 2008

Hello everyone! We have been off-line for about six weeks now, but are now reconnected and ready to communicate! What a blessing to be able to read all your past emails! We were beginning to feel like we were living in a cave there for a while.

The church here in Praia Grande is doing well. We are slowly, but consistently, growing, as you will see in the fotos this month. Our family is well, the kids are wonderful, and God is, in many ways, blessing us.

Junior Lira preaching in Praia Grande

Alley's brother and sister-in-law, Junior and Patricia Lira, have been attending and helping the church here in Praia Grande for the last year. Patricia has helped Alley teach children's classes and Junior has worked with the youth from both Sao Vicente and Praia Grande. They have been a wonderful encouragement to all of us. After a trip to the US in September-October, they will be moving to Brasilia to work full time, together with their team, as evangelists. May God bless you on your travels and in your new ministry!

The kids love class

Alley is wonderful, as usual!

Junior Lira leading a relay race with youth during Games for Brothers

Games for Brothers was an event for the youth from Sao Vicente and Praia Grande at our home. We planned for twenty people, but the result was quite different. We had 55. Most were visitors from Sao Vicente who had heard about the event through thier friends. For about half the youth that came, it was the first time they had opened the Bible or sang a song of praise. Please pray for these visitors. Pray our follow-up strategy will help bring them to their savior.


Many of you have heard of our neighbors, Beto and Bete (Roberto and Elizabete). They are the ones who called the police for us when we were held at gunpoint in our home. They are proving to be great friends. Here we are in Sao Vicente having coffee together. We hope the friendship will grow into brotherhood as we share the Gospel with them.

Speaking of sharing the Gospel, Francisco, my father-in-law and teammate, is involved with 18 Bible studies right now. Two are discipleship studies and 16 are evangelistic. He walks or rides his bike to most of them (about 25 miles a week) and his leg has begun hurting him recently. Please ask God to keep him strong so that nithing will interfere with his work. He is a true trooper in the Kingdom! Please pray for these opportunities to yield fruit as well!

Florinda, Francisco, and Liduina

Speaking of yielding fruit, Florinda, one of Francisco's contacts, was baptized last month. She is a wonderful, innocent new sister who absorbs everyting we can teach her. The assurance of salvation, that we sometimes take for granted, brings her to tears every Sunday as we worship together. How great a gift we have in the free gift of grace through Jesus Christ!

Florinda, a new sister in Christ

By the way, baptizing in the ocean is quite tricky.

We were also blessed last month to host the Project Brasilia Team. This team of three Brazilian families will go to teh capital of Brazil next year to evangelize in the center of the city. We were priveleged to have them in our home for a full day of culture, fundraising, travel, and team relationship counseling. I even put my creative juices to use inventing a board game to help improve team communication and relationships. May God bless the team to have a strong impact in Brasilia.

Since Junior will be leaving soon, I have had to begin leading singing much more often. It is something I love to do, but I am still learning many of the songs. Of course, practice does bring improvement.

Our congregation averages 25 on Sundays. In the adult class on Sundays we are studying the book of James. It is very meaty, and great for starting good discussion. The last Sunday of every month we spend the adult class praying for each other.

Florinda, her first worship with us after her baptism. Francisco, as usual, greets people at the door.

God is blessing our efforts here in Praia Grande. Please pray for him to continue to send seekers and open hearts to the School of the Bible, studies, and worship services. Pray that He will multiply our efforts, provide for our needs, and bring many into the Kingdom in Praia Grande.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

Ephesians 3:20,21