I know you are all excited to get caught up with the mission here. Several significant events have happened recently, and we ask for your prayers as the church pulls together to deal with them.
First, and maybe most importantly, Sylvio was baptized on the 19th of April. Sylvio has been a regular visitor with us for over a year. He comes from a spiritist background and had truly never read the Bible until Francisco began to study with him last May. I also had the chance to study with he, Deni, and Eduardo in a small group in Deni’s home. I remember how full of questions he was. We were studying John chapter 1. It was the first time he had ever read John, and it was truly amazing to watch him realize who Jesus claimed to be. At times he was very frank, and even said, “I don’t believe it.” But last month, in front of the congregation and again at the beach, he confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and was baptized for the forgiveness of sins. Please keep this dear new brother in your prayers. 
Sylvio confesses Jesus as Lord in Praia Grande
Our newest brother
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Francisco hasn’t wasted any time to take Sylvio under his wing. They are attending the group study in Parque Anhanguera on Thursdays at 3:00 pm. This study has from 15 to 20, mostly visitors. This last week Lucas led some of the songs, and it looks like he will begin to be the official song leader. Lucas was baptized just a few months ago. The study is in a different home each week, and they have set up a rotation and also help contribute with snacks. All the homes are very close together in the same neighborhood. Many from this study attended our worship on Sundays, and several continue to do so. More would come but they lack the money to take the bus, and right now there are a limited number of seats in the cars that go pick them up. Adriana makes an effort, as well as Adauto, to give rides each Sunday. Even with the financial difficulties, some of their children and grandchildren have also come to visit. We are very excited about these contacts, and we hope you will keep them in prayer.
Some of our members have struggled with health issues over the last months. Carlos, Adriana, and their daughters all caught Dengue fever (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dengue_fever ), as did Eduardo. They are all better, but Dengue is pretty scary and is very common where we live. Please keep these families in your prayers. Those of you who know Carlos will remember that he was struggling to find a job for six months, but that God came through and he is now working for a home appliance and furniture store. He has already been promoted since starting there, praise God.
Our building here has begun to leak again. Our rental contract expires in August, and Francisco and I together with the men of the congregation have decided to look for a better option. We are looking in a new area, which will be closer to almost all our members as well as our visitors. I need to ask you to please pray for this need. We need a place that will be adequate for the church’s needs without costing any more than we are currently paying. A little less would be better, in order to free up some funds for more evangelistic efforts like special events and fliers. I know God can provide this, but everything we have seen so far has been very small and too cheap, or very nice and too expensive. Please pray that God will lead us to the right place, and bless the church’s growth through this new facility.
We'll miss you, Pedro
Many of you will remember Pedro Sobrinho, our first baptized member here in Praia Grande. Sadly, his wife passed away recently. Pedro was obviously hit very hard by this. He has now moved to Sao Paulo to be closer to their children. We miss him already. Please keep this dear brother in your prayers. He was the most encouraging and positive member we had, and always left you smiling with his bear hugs and sincere love. The good news is that he will be able to worship in Sao Paulo with the brothers at 9 de Julho, where he has family and friends.
Last Thursday I got a call in the evening from one of our neighbors, Edna. Her husband, Ray, and I had set up to study the Bible when they returned from the US. But when I answered the phone I knew something was wrong. She told me Ray had passed away, and begged me to please come to the burial and, “say some beautiful words for Ray.” Here in Brazil they don’t embalm, so when the body is released it is taken to a special room in the cemetery, or to a house, where the family and friends spend all night receiving guests and mourning (the wake). They don’t eat during this time. The next day they will take the deceased to the cemetery if they are not already there, and seal the casket in a concrete niche (not in the ground). I met the family at the cemetery after the wake, right before the burial, and tried to be comforting. The good news is that Ray had been baptized and many of the family were believers. He died hugging his wife, talking to her daughter on Skype. I sang Amazing Grace because she asked me to sing in English (Ray was an American). We then sealed him in his niche, the widow writing the epitaph (his name and birthday) with her own hand in the wet cement. I think Alley and I were able to encourage the family, for which I am glad, but the experience was also very difficult.
The less-glamorous side of living in another country
At least Stephanie helped..make a mess, that is
For the last two months, our washing machine has been broken. It broke down five days before the extended warranty expired, for which we are very grateful. After trying to find a new circuit board for it, the company who holds the warranty declared it totaled. They can’t find the parts they need to fix it, so they refunded the original purchase price. I felt like that was great progress, since Alley had been hand washing, and foot washing, and her wrists and back simply could not take any more. The money will be deposited in 15 days, but thanks to a loan from my parents we already got another machine. It is smaller, but is working very hard to deal with the backlog. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for helping us getting it up and running.
Thanks for the Bibles!
Once again God has shown his favor to us the in the form of a donation in order to buy Bibles. We were truly needing some, as the three break-ins left us with only about five in the building. I don’t know what the thieves did with them (I hope they read them), but they did steal about 20 Bibles total. We thank those of you who donated the Bible funds from the bottom of our hearts. We now have some great Bible to share with visitors, and even some large print ones for the older members (they love them). Thanks for your help in spreading the word.
Two months ago, Alley was coming home on a very rainy night in the Lira’s car with her sister Elizabete. A car had stopped on the freeway ramp, and though she slammed on the brakes, she wasn’t able to stop without hitting it. Fortunately, all was well, although it was quite a scare. However, the down side was that the Lira’s car was totaled. After running after all the documents necessary, the insurance company finally paid off the debt and deposited the rest of the money in Liduina’s account, two months after the accident. They are without a car again, which slows them and their work down significantly. Please pray for them, as they feel like they have taken a step backward in spite of so much effort.
Alley had two great opportunities in the last two months: a ladies’ event at the Metro congregation, and the Enocita event (National Meeting of Young Ladies). Florinda, Marcia, and Liduina participated from Praia Grande, and Jane Rodrigues from São Vicente also went. It was a fantastic time of encouragement for all, and the first time Florinda participated in a ladies event with so many women from the Chruch of Christ present.
The Ladies at Metro in Sao Paulo
Enocita is an event for single young ladies ages 13 and up from all the churches of Christ in the state of São Paulo. Alley took five girls: Ariane, Isabelle, and her friend Carla, from Praia Grande, and Monique and Talita from São Vicente. Alley was invited as a speaker, and delivered a fantastic presentation about the aroma you present before God, which was the theme for the weekend. Carla has visited with us several times since that event.
Thank you for your prayers.
