12 de junho de 2012

Wow, there went May - Praise be to God!!

Dear friends and family,
 
Well another month has come and gone. I don't know about you but for me these months are going way to fast. I don't know why the time is passing so fast I don't want want to think that it has anything to do with age but it might be.
 
There is lots of work to be done and it seems that there is nothing going the way it should.The work on the Vocational School is getting started back again. This month we have gotten the wires put into the walls for the energy. Also we are leveling the floors for the tile work to begin. I get frustrated some times because I am used to getting into the work and getting it done, but here that is not the way things go. We are at a semi stand still on this work because of the paperwork that has to be done. But we know that anything that we do that God is in, we are more than winners. So maybe God is teaching me how to wait on Him with patience and not get frustrated. Pray for me in this area. This school will be a great ministry for training young men and we are seeing interest from adults (men and women) for this ministry also, and I am not talking about adults helping us but they also want to train with us. So God is opening yet another door for us in the area of adults.  Pray that we will be able to see where God is working and join Him there.
 
We organized our work into a Church this month. This work has been going on for a little over two years and now we are a full fledged Church. Our mother Church in Georgia sent her pastor to do the organization sermon and it was a blessing. We had a record number in attendance and God was present. Pray that we will continue to be a blessing in this neighborhood. Also pray that we can find a place to buy for us to continue growing in the Lord. Our contract on the building where we are presently will end this year and that means that the owner will have the right to up the rent. We are already outgrowing this present building so we need some place of our own where we can build for growth. Another need we are having is for a bus. Each week we are having to make various trips with the van that we have and this van is getting worn out because of the streets. So if anyone has an old bus that they would like to sell there in the States and donate the proceeds to us for a buss we would be greatly appreciative it.
 
We have had a blessing this month of visitors from the States. This was a group of Doctors, nurses and Pastors.The arrangements were  made  and everything was set for the visit, that is until the last week before the arrival of the group. At that time we were informed by the association of Doctors here in our city that we would not be able to do exams and certainly would not be able to give out meds. So we called the group and told them the news but they said that they were coming any way and we would see what God had in store for us and them. SO we set up for the Dr's in the Church and people started to come. The Dr's and nurses began to see people. They did not examine or prescribe meds but listened to the people and wrote down what they thought was their problems. We would, after they left make a visit to these people and give them the meds that the Dr's thought they needed. This way we could help the people and give an open door for us to make a home visit to each one that came to see the Dr's. See how AWESOME our God is, He made a way for every person to get their physical health taken care of and also their Spiritual health . God turns around the things that are meant to do wrong and makes them a blessing if we just trusty in Him. This is an answer to many prayers!!!  Everything worked out because God was in control. The group got to do what God sent them to do, our Church got to give a great testimony and God got the glory. Just one more example of you letting God work and you joining him where he is.We can plan and plan but when God puts it together --Watch out--.
 
Speaking of medicine and Doctors, Barbara took a member of our Church to an appointment last Monday to do a procedure at 9:00 o'clock. Well at 1:00 o'clock they were still waiting to be seen. This made me think about what those there in the States are wanting for our people there.  Barb's dad used to say that you could die waiting to be seen by the Doctor and today I can tell you that this happens here in Brasil frequently. Here some of our people have been called to come to the Doctor for an appointment that had been scheduled at least two years ago.
 
This month our son-in-law and daughter (Walmir and Mary) were to celebrate their 1 year anniversary in the ministry in Sales Olivera . The Church people wanted to surprise Pastor Walmir with something on the day and they called us to participate.  They asked me to bring the message on the Sunday night and on Wednesday night also. So Barbara and I sacrificed and went to spend some time with our children and grand kids(what a sacrifice). Pastor Wallmir was totally surprised and we had a great time of fellowship with Gods people.
 
We are entering into our winter season and things are cooling down, so if you are suffering with the heat there in the States come on down. There is; plenty of work to do and you can do it in cooler weather. As a matter of fact your bed is turned down and there is a mint on the pillow. And we will just add a little bit more water into the soup beans and there will be plenty to eat.
 
God bless and keep you all till the next time.

In His service,
Aj and Barbara