Dear friends and family,
This has been another month that come and gone and we are looking around and saying "where did the time go?".
This month we have concentrated on the house we have purchased. We got started last month and the work has continued into this month, that is the way with fixer-uppers. We have been blessed with a group from Virginia Beach this month which consisted of two who had been here before and eight that had not. This trip was primarily to see if here is a place that the youth of their Church could minister. And God in His wisdom sent workers so we put them to work on the house. We were able to accomplish various chores while they were here.
We kept them busy during the day with physical work and at night ministering in the various mission points. The ladies were gracious and brought studies for our ladies here for three nights on some of the women of the Bible. The studies were very uplifting and we here appreciated each and every one of them. We were able to travel to Salesopolis for the group to participate in the service there and one of the men was asked to bring the sermon.While they were here they began to plan for their next trip with their young people.
To explain a little about our purchase of a home, we decided that it was time to get out from under the load of rent and to have something of our own. The timing was right because Petro Bras(a Brazilian petroleum company) has purchased some land here in our city and they are establishing a refinery. This will make the cost of property go up and also bring in more work for the people and bring in more people to live here. So we decided to purchase before the prices went up. We are looking forward to this expansion in the city happening so that we will have more people to evangelize and more opportunities for our people to use what they are learning in the Seminary.
Speaking of the Seminary, we started back on the 5th of the month and we have 10 students. Mary's husband Walmir is in charge of this area of ministry here. There are blessings and burdens with this Seminary, the blessings are that more people are learning more of God's word and the burdens are the cost involved. Such as the purchase of class materials, books and reference materials. We are teaching the word to those who want to be pastors and also to those who want to teach in the Sunday School program.
Our evangelism program is going great guns. We are using every other Saturday to evangelise some part of our city or go to one of our mission points outside of the city. Our last trip outside of the city we did not have space sufficient to take everyone that wanted to go.What an AWESOME problem to have!!! So there many people that want to participate and we are trying to use every one of them.
The work at the School has slowed down some this month as the house has taken front seat in the need area. But the foundation is waiting for the blocks to be laid and we will be using the blocks that last months group made in that beginning. The carpentry shop is being used to help in the various things that are needed in the house and will see much more service in the building of the dormitory.The key shop is just waiting a place to set up to begin more training and the block machine is still just for now. This month there has been a young man learning and putting to use the knowledge of painting cars there at the school. So as you can see everything is in working order just needing more workers for the labor. For this reason the month slips by and we wonder where it has gone.
One thing that has happened this month that many of you will be interested and saddened to know. You that have followed our work here are familiar with the lady called Gloria, she lost her husband last year and works supporting her 6 kids selling fish. Her home is where the Texas group added to the porch to make a space for Tuesday night services. Well, this week she was evicted from the house where she lived. It is a long story and in the end she lost the battle and was evicted. We had to go move her to a 2 room house while she tries to build something that will house her family. But in the midst of all this the other converts have offered their kitchens for the Tuesday night services until she can build and have the services once again in her home. Her faith is a testimony to all of us here.
Our daughter Mary and her husband Walmir who live and work here in Caraguatatuba are expecting their first child and needless to say, grandpa is getting anxious. Barbara and I became grandparents for the first time in January when our son Bryan and his wife Jill had their first, Briley.Pray for our family there in the States (this is the one down side to being a missionary but the Lord gives what is needed in the time of need). We are feeling the absence from our grand baby there but God is giving us one here. With this arrival we will have two beautiful baby girls to be showing pictures of everywhere.
Pray with us for our ministry here in Caraguatatuba and the needs that we have. Come down and help us when you can, we will treat you so many different ways that you will have to like one of them.
In His service,
Aj and Barbara
