This month has been a plain month, while at the same time being very busy. That is to say, we haven’t done much different from the last months, but the house is still under construction, and is constantly filled with dirt and grit and dust. Chris has continued to study with Marcos, a young man from the Sao Vicente congregation, and teach the School of the Bible course twice a week. The small group continues on Fridays. The kids keep our hands full. So while we don’t have a lot of new things to write about, our days are still very full.
Marcos is a very nice young man from the São Vicente congregation. As we try to lift that congregation up and enable it to grow on its own, both Francisco and Chris have been working with several of the members to encourage and train them. Marcos has been studying preaching and songleading with Chris, and God is blessing him with both the ability and desire to preach. Please keep Marcos in your prayers.
The School of the Bible continues to study in Module 1, the Old Testament. Several students have dropped off, but those that have remained are both committed and eager to learn more. Please pray especially for Geronimo, Eduardo, Edmilson, Nivaldo, Euse, Luis, and Elma. They are wonderful seekers. We also continue to have walk-ins and new students, so keep the school in your prayers as well.
Chris was doubly blessed this month. At the beginning of the month he picked up his Brazilian driver’s license. It was just in time too since we had almost been here a year, and the argentine license was only valid for a year here in Brazil. The second surprise was that his national resident
alien document, or RNE, was finally completed and ready to be picked up in São Paulo. We were able to get it on Monday. Having those out of the way means we are almost completely done with documentation after the move. The only thing left is the equivalent of Chris’s social security number, which should be finished soon.
The small group continues to meet in the Rodriguez house on Fridays. We have two regular visitors from the neighborhood, and last week we asked if they would be willing to host the group for a little while. We hope it will be a way to take things to the next level as far as their growth is concerned. The study is very encouraging. The group is very warm. And we are known for having good snacks every week.
On Mother’s Day the kids’ class presented a special treat to the moms of the congregation. The kids themselves organized it, with a little help from Alley. They read a poem, a scripture, and handed out origami treats to the moms. Lucas did a great job reading the scripture.
Marcos is a very nice young man from the São Vicente congregation. As we try to lift that congregation up and enable it to grow on its own, both Francisco and Chris have been working with several of the members to encourage and train them. Marcos has been studying preaching and songleading with Chris, and God is blessing him with both the ability and desire to preach. Please keep Marcos in your prayers.
The School of the Bible continues to study in Module 1, the Old Testament. Several students have dropped off, but those that have remained are both committed and eager to learn more. Please pray especially for Geronimo, Eduardo, Edmilson, Nivaldo, Euse, Luis, and Elma. They are wonderful seekers. We also continue to have walk-ins and new students, so keep the school in your prayers as well.
Chris was doubly blessed this month. At the beginning of the month he picked up his Brazilian driver’s license. It was just in time too since we had almost been here a year, and the argentine license was only valid for a year here in Brazil. The second surprise was that his national resident
alien document, or RNE, was finally completed and ready to be picked up in São Paulo. We were able to get it on Monday. Having those out of the way means we are almost completely done with documentation after the move. The only thing left is the equivalent of Chris’s social security number, which should be finished soon.The small group continues to meet in the Rodriguez house on Fridays. We have two regular visitors from the neighborhood, and last week we asked if they would be willing to host the group for a little while. We hope it will be a way to take things to the next level as far as their growth is concerned. The study is very encouraging. The group is very warm. And we are known for having good snacks every week.
On Mother’s Day the kids’ class presented a special treat to the moms of the congregation. The kids themselves organized it, with a little help from Alley. They read a poem, a scripture, and handed out origami treats to the moms. Lucas did a great job reading the scripture. 
We were blessed to take a little trip up the mountains to a water park called Acqua Fantasy, where the water was too cold to touch but we had a barbecue and relaxed together. Francisco
and Liduina came with us, as well as Jefferson and Priscila, Alley’s sister and brother-in-law. I took advantage of the day to make my first long-distance road trip on my motorcycle, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The smells of fall, the hot and cold air, the banana tree fields, and the mountain curves were all wonderful. There was the occasional rude trucker, but that is to be expected, I guess.
We have been blessed with many visitors this month. We would like you to pray for these, specifically: Enrique e Adriana (our electrician and his wife), Alex and Marcia (the brother-in-law of one of our members, Adriana), Suami and Geronimo (visitors to the School of the Bible), Marly and Bastos (two visitors to our small group), and Wanderson (one of the construction workers on our house), who has just begun to study the Bible with Francisco and Liduina.
May God bless the seeds that are planted through us to grow and be fruitful in the kingdom. May God give us boldness to teach the Word. May God raise up future teachers and preachers of that Word.
May God bless you all.
Chris and Alley
