May 2009: April Intensity

April was a very intense month for us, as you will see. It was very positive and productuve, but also challenging and full of activity.

Chris preaching in Sao Vicente

To begin the month, Francisco was able to get four hours per week on a local radio station that covers about half of Praia Grande and part of São Vicente. He presents his “show” for two hours on Saturday, and on Sunday uses recorded materials for two more hours. His show is called God's Eternal Purpose, and we hope it will reach many with the gospel. We set up a post office box and special email address to receive feedback from the program. Please keep that project in prayer, as it requires much preparation, but has the potential to reach many people.

Francisco leading singing

As I was unloading my pockets one day, my cell phone fell on my Palm organizer just right, and broke the touch screen. I instantly lost access to all my phone numbers, addresses, as well as my agenda and reminders. This was a real bummer, as I depend on it for nearly everything I do or need to remember. Fortunately, my brother-in-law Jefferson lent me his, so I can continue to function until my replacement arrives in June.

The congregation had a Put Luck this month, with was a wonderful event. There were 19 visitors and a total of 50 people, not counting several members who were traveling that day. We pray God will continue to bless us with many visitors as we reach out with the Gospel.

Good food

Visitors even helped out!

My motorcycle went into the shop for over a week to repair the rear suspension. The parts weren't available even from the factory, so they had to be machined from scratch. Fortunately, it didn't cost too much, but it did crimp our schedules as we worked with just one vehicle for a week. As if in sympathy, the microwave quit working too, and a day later the phone line went dead, along with our Internet, of course. It took a week to find the problem and fix it, so we were unable to communicate for a while.

As soon as we were able to communicate again, we got news from our friends the Kaisers, in Itu, that they wanted to bring the youth group from Itu to Praia Gande and have a joint youth retreat here. We were delighted, and since they had the events, lessons, and crafts all planned, we just had to arrange for food and lodging. We got right to it.

Alice and Mark Kaiser, from Itu

Meanwhile, The kids school arranged a special event for a city-sponsored retirement home here. Alessandra asked if she could also invite some church members to help, since we wanted to make contact with the home and help in the future. They agreed, so Alley and the ladies from church went along. Florinda wrote Psalm 113 into a song and sang it, Alessandra sang several hynms in English and Spanish, and even ended up emceeing the talent show of the school. It was a great day for the elderly who lived there, as well as for the church here. The administrator of the home said we could come back whenever we want.

Florinda singing her version of Psalm 113

Alley was a great MC

Alley singing in Spanish and English

Francisco and Rosa, a former neighbor, whom we have been trying to evangelize for a long time. She came with the church ladies to help.

The kids loved the ears and make-up. Grandparents love the kids.

As Alley was driving the ladies home again after the event, the car burst a hose and overheated. Fortunately, it died just in front of a good mechanic (we later learned that they are highly recommended). It took a week to fix the head and valves, and replace the hoses.

While the car was in the shop, the campaigners from Itu arrived! In order to keep up with the activities, Manuel, one of our regular visitors, loaned us his car and even drove to some of the campers home. Thanks, Manuel!

Isabele, Naiara, and a visitor at the retreat

Evening devotional

Game time (Guilherme Roncoleta on the right)

Carla, a visitor from Praia Grande

Crafts

Worship on Sunday with Itu

Chow time

Morning class

The inevitable Group Picture

Thanks to Mark, Alice, and Itu for a great time, and great outreach!

The kids stayed in Igloos (made of cement, not ice) and had a wonderful schedule of crafts, devotionals, beach time, study time, and small group discussions. More than half of the youth were visitors (9 came from Praia Grande and São Vicente), and two studies were set up afterward: Liduina will be studying with Edriana, Jorge's daughter, and Alessandra is already studying with Isabelle, Adriana's daughter. Praise God!

Easter in Brazil is a little different than in the US. Here, kids pretty much just get one, big, chocolate egg. There isn't a big hunt, but it is great fun to eat the chocolate (adults get one too!).

The day after the retreat ended, we took Jonathan to the doctor and discovered he had sinusitis with bronchitis. He was scheduled to have surgery at the end of the month for a small hernia and undescended testicle, so we were very concerned. He began ten days of antibiotics and got better quickly.

Three couples placed membership this month with us: Caio and Sabrina, who will be married next week. Caio is a student in the School of the Bible. This young couple recently invited us to thier engagement party to pray with them and thier family for thier future marriage. It was an honor to be able to be there. Many of the people present were not Christians.

Alley, with Caio, Sabrina, and Sabrina's mom

Engagement here in Brazil is different than the states. Here instead of a private dinner by candlelight and a spakling diamond ring presented at just the right moment as part of an intimate evening, the couple invites the both families, like a huge birthday party, and they announce together the engagement, giving each other gold bands (but work on the right hand instead of the left, until they are oficcialy married).

The moment of the announcement

Marcia and Valdivino, and their two children Marlon and Maria Eduarda also placed membership, also from the School of the Bible. I continue to study with them on Thursday evening. Sebastian and Gilda Rodriguez, and their two children, Diego and Debora will also be worshiping with us this month. They had been worshiping in São Vicente, but had to sell their car, and since they live in Praia Grande, will be with us now. Sebastian was trained at a preaching school in northern Brazil, so we know they will be a blessing to the family here.

As Jonathan's sinusitis/bronchitis cleared up, it became clear that I had caught the same thing. I didn't need antibiotics, but it still was a pain to deal with the congestion. Jonathan did get better, but then caught a cold right afterward. The day we went to Santos for his surgery, the anesthesiologist didn't want to take any extra risks, and postponed the surgery for 15 days until his congestion cleared up. Please continue to pray for him, as he goes in in about a week.

Alley and the kids' class on Sunday

We averaged 38 per week in worship in April, and our cell group averaged 11. We are involved in many studies, so please pray for these wonderful people by name as you remember the work in Praia Grande before God in prayer this month:

Chris studying with Marcia and Valdivino, Lucas

Chris, Alley, Marlon, Marcia, Valdivino, and Maria Eduarda after studying in their home

Alessandra studying with Isabele

Liduina studying with Edriana

Francisco studying with Fatima, Serra and Albina, Gilberto, Analda, Egipcio, Edson, Maria, Vania, Jorge, and following up with several members as well

Liduina, Stephanie, and two of Jorge's daughters

We pray that through it all, our efforts will yield eternal fruit in the kingdom that belongs to the Lord. We are indebted to you for your prayers and support. May God bless you all.

Chris, Alley, Francisco, Liduina, and family

Liduina, Francisco, Jonathan, Chris, Alessandra, Jefferson, Stephanie, Priscila

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