February brings us back to our regular routine, almost. The kids started school again, the School of the Bible reopened with ten students, and the weather got hot. 90 degrees and 80% humidity was pretty normal for about three weeks, and needless to say, it was hot.
In February we were blessed again by a visitor from the US. Jeff Hicks came. He is Alley's sister's father-in-law, and preaches in Lynwood, Washington. The Christ's Heritage congregation helped support us in 2009, and also supported Francisco and Liduina, enabling them to buy their car. Thanks for the support in the work here!
Brazilian pizza in Jefferson and Priscila Lira's house to welcome Big Jeff
About 500 pounds of food for the needy in Praia Grande
One of the things Jeff came to do in Praia Grande was to deliver some food baskets to needy families. The church in Washington worked a car wash in freezing cold weather in order to raise money for this benevolent need, and the best part was that we got to help make them and deliver them!
The Friday study at Cida's house.
On eof the deliveries we made was to a Bible study on Fridays that meets in the house of one of our visitors whose name is Cida. These new visitors are studying with Francisco and Liduina every week and are very excited. 8 of the food baskets were delivered to the needy in this neighborhood.
Tears of gratitude tell how much they needed the help.
February also saw the beginning of an experiment. I began an English class every Friday night. Sebastian brought four visitors, and three of my School of the Bible students also came, as well as Isabelly and two members from Sao Vicente, Valdir and Marcos. The study is very basic but it is a great way to get members and visitors together to know each other better. I hope it will be one more link with our visitors that will eventually help them become more committed to the Lord.
Jeff practices saying "I am from..." with Isabelly and her friend on the first night of English class
There are moments of planting and moments of harvest in the work. Since God is in control, we never know when exactly they will come, but they do. In February Isabelly, who has studied with Alley for the last year nad also with Liduina, suddenly told us she wanted to be baptized on the 25th of February. We were more than happy to help her to exactly that. Her dad, Carlos, baptized her in the ocean after our small group that meets in their house. I helped because those waves can knock you over if you aren't prepared.
One happy dad!
Lucas told us the next week he was ready. Francisco asked him, "Who is Jesus to you?" Lucas said, "He's my savior." So after the Friday study, we took him down to the water and I baptized him. Big Jeff was happy to help, as the surf was pretty rough that afternoon. 
Lucas baptized into Jesus Christ in the Atlantic Ocean
We are grateful to all of you for your continued support of the work here. Please keep us in your prayers, these two new babes in Christ, the Friday study which is made up of 15 visitors, the School of the Bible which is studying the Old Testament, and all our members and visitors. We depend on you each day. Thanks for your ongoing spiritual and financial support.
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