February 2008 Newsletter

It seems like just a moment ago that I wrote my last newsletter, but the truth is that I am glad it is newsletter time already. I have a lot of good things to share, and hope you will all be encouraged by our news.
The weather here in Praia Grande has finally decided to improve. We have had several sunny spells, punctuated by stormy rains, but the truth is I like the variety. It is still very spring-like, although technically we are in the middle of summer.
The church here continues to grow, and like the weather, is shining more and more. We have had many visitors through the holiday season, and still do, and that is an encouragement. Even more encouraging to me is the growth in our attitudes of thankfulness and fellowship in the church.

In January I began a study with Marcos from nearby São Vicente. He is a member of the church there. We are studying public worship and I hope to prepare him to preach as a help to us and an encouragement to the congregation there.

I continue to study Portuguese with Eloisa. She says I am improving! It is great to have the blessing of a sister in Christ who can challenge me to speak well. It can be intimidating having her listen as I preach, but she assures me it isn’t just to correct me, but to be encouraged as well. From her smile I can see that God is truly building her up. Please pray for her; she has two masters degrees and has been looking for a job for a year and a half. She was coverted by the first team of missionaries in São Paulo in the sixties and has dedicated her life to the Lord ever since.

Last week we had our first congregational meeting in Praia Grande. We met to set up a rotation for cleaning the building, and to announce that Junior Lira, Ally’s brother, would be helping us on Sundays. He committed to come down from São Paulo every weekend until he goes to Brazilia in June. This will be a great encouragement as he is a wonderful songleader and I am still learning the songs here.

My biggest project by far last month has been the School of the Bible preparation. I am adapting materials to make a 3-module class of basic Biblical studies. The three parts are Old Testament, New Testament, and the Church. The course will last about eight months and will begin next month!
January 5 was Ally’s birthday, and we were blessed with a wonderful visitor! Yanina Vargas, from Buenos Aires, came to visit and celebrate with Ally her 32nd birthday. It was great to have such a good friend visit; Ally was really encouraged. Thanks for coming, Yanina

On the downside in January, our internet conection was down about half the month. But we have now set up a better conection and are getting connected again. Our new connection isn’t a mobile one, so I have no internet at the church office. But we do the best we can.

We began adult and children’s Bible classes in February, and in order to have everything in order Ally and the ladies got together for a real workday. They planned and prepared the curriculum for three different age groups. The number of kids we have is growing. It is great that they have prepared quality studies to trains these young people in the Lord! Thanks to Sophia Cannedy for all the matierials you sent. They will be put to good use!

One of the reasons we have more kids is the membership of the Guerrero family. Carlos, Adriana, and their two daughters placed membership in January with us. They have been encouraged, and so have we, to have them join with us as we grow the kingdom.

We were blessed this month with a special anonymous gift of $300. Thanks so much to whoever it was that sent it to us! You made us feel very special. May God bless you richly in Christ. We know he doesn’t fail to notice any good deed.

Chris, Ally, Jonathan, Stephanie.

January 2008 Newsletter

As I was riding home the other day, toward the hills that are Praia Grande’s western boundary, I had the privilege of watching the sun set beyond a beautiful pastel-colored cloudscape. The sky, here at the meeting of sea and mountain, is an ever-changing wonder. I let back on the throttle of the Virago for a moment to take it all in, and as I did, I realized something. I was content. I was happy. I loved my life. My wife was beautiful, intelligent, and supportive. My children were wonderful and needed me. My job was challenging but of great importance. My ride home from work was beautiful. I don’t mean to boast, because I truly hope you all have had similar moments. Isn’t that what the author of Ecclesiastes was describing by “enjoying his work” (Ecclesiastes 3:22, 5:19, 8:15)? I am thankful that I can live in such a wonderful part of God’s creation, with a wonderful family, working as a tool for the Kingdom, which is the greatest job a man can have. Thanks again to all of you who have supported us either financially, emotionally, or spiritually, for allowing us to be here.

Last I wrote, our shipment had not arrived yet. Well, now it has! And what an arrival! 156 boxes. Everything was in good shape and we got right down to unpacking. Jonathan liked the boxes! Lucy (the dog) did too, unfortunately. It took us about a month to unpack, during which time we were preparing for visitors and getting things ready for the inauguration of the church building. We decided to recycle the boxes ourselves to make a few extra bucks, and it took us four trips fully loaded to finally get all the cardboard taken. It was worth it though; we made about $75.











We were blessed in November to take a trip to the interior of the state of Sao Paulo, where we visited a farm. The kids loved it. I even got to milk a cow. Jonathan got to do a bunch of jumping and swinging. Stephanie climbed and did a bit of everything, but she was cutest sitting on a giant lily pad. There were beautiful wild birds of all kids. We all had a great time.

While we were in the interior, I took the time to stop by the School of the Bible in Jundiaí, which is administered by Paulo Bottaro. There were 34 baptisms through the school last year. I spoke to him about his strategy and materials, and am very excited to begin our School of the Bible here.
In November Ally gave the class at the ladies’ meeting in São Vicente. Her classes are always very encouraging.
December was filled with activity as we prepared for the inauguration of our newly remodeled building. Dan Goodyear, one of our elders from Southwest Church of Christ in Tigard, came to visit us for ten days. He spent time meeting with us, the Liras, and the whole team all together. It was a wonderful visit as we made plans and set goals for the coming year. Most importantly, Ally and I were very encouraged by his wise counsel and loving encouragement to keep on working toward the mission. Thanks Dan!

As the inauguration approached, Ally’s brother, Junior, offered to organize a group of volunteers from the 9 de Julho congregation in São Paulo to come and help. He made maps of the city and divided them into groups to pass out invitations. They were a tremendous help to us! Muito obrigado! (Thanks a bunch!)

The inauguration itself was a two-day event, beginning with a drama (organized by Priscila and Jefferson Barroso) about the possibility of making a new beginning in life through Christ. We followed the presentation with a class given by Claudio Rancoleta, another brother from São Paulo. He deepened the theme presented in the drama-A New Beginning.
We then took a break and had some fun Bible trivia games, and then taught a new song which I had recently translated: Can He Still Feel the Nails. We closed with a devotional that evening.

Sunday, the volunteers were up early for breakfast and passing out more invitations (we passed out about 4500 total). We had Bible classes at 5:00 pm and worship at 6:00. Our building was filled to overflowing (about 75 people) and we had many visitors. Even though none of the people I invited have come yet, they still ask me how it went and express the desire to come and visit. Please continue to pry for these contacts: Reginaldo, Felipe, William, Erika, Valeria, Léa, Fabiano, Priscila, Noeli, and Edmilson. They are all interested in visiting, LST, or the school of the Bible. Please also pray for Francisco’s ongoing studies with Marcia and her son Lucas, Pedro, Adriana and her mother, André, and Antonio Espedito.

The day after the inauguration we were blessed to receive a visit from a woman named Eloisa who had been baptized many years before, but had moved to the beach and lost contact with the Churches of Christ. Her friend in São Paulo called and told her about the church here in Praia Grande, and she came to meet us right away. She is a professor, and has been a big help since she began to come. Please keep this newest member in prayer, as she is desperate to find a job.

Christmas is a little different here in Brazil. Each family’s traditions are unique, but for the most part families here eat Christmas dinner after midnight on Christmas Eve, after opening presents. It makes for a late night, but if you think that it will most likely be over 100 degrees F during the day, you might not want to slave over a turkey all afternoon. They do eat turkey here, and ham, and a cross between a chicken and a turkey called a Chester®. That’s right. Somehow they did it.
Christmas trees are all artificial here, since there are no firs or pines here, and tree cutting is looked down on in general. Presents are put underneath, but in our case we just hid them from the kids since they would have destroyed any wrapping anyway.
We were in for another treat just a week from Christmas: New Year ’s Eve all the church got together and celebrated together with time in prayer and watching the fireworks from the roof of the building. I think it was a great way to ring in the New Year. Afterwards, since about three million people came to the beach for New Year’s, it took us two and a half hours to drive home (about 18 miles). Go figure.
January 5 was Ally’s 32nd Birthday, and we had the pleasure of celebrating with Yanina Vargas, one of the members of the church in Buenos Aires. She has come to be with us for two weeks. Happy Birthday, honey!

If you remember, Argentines love Yerba Mate. Now we have proof that Jonathan is Argentine-he loves it too!
Our family is well, the church is growing, and it seems that God, who made possible the move from Argentina to Brazil, knew what he was doing. We pray and hope that 2008 will be a very fruitful year for the church here as we open the School of the Bible and other outreach ministries, and continue to study with those who come. Thanks again for your overwhelming support.

Love,
Chris, Ally, Jonathan, Stephanie, and Lucy