Newsletter

Dear Friends,

How wonderful it is to get to see and visit family and friends in the States. Barb and I made a quick trip home in Feb. and got to see a lot of snow. Boy! What a difference in temperature; Brasil 104 degrees and in the States in the low 20"s I was thinking to myself at this time, maybe the trip was to get away from the heat(partially that was right).

We had two ladies visiting us this month. They did back yard Bible schools in two neighborhoods and helped in the two homes that were getting ready for the two widows in our Church. They were a blessing to us and to the areas where they worked. Thanks Rebeca and Cathy!!!

We have been and still are very involved with helping two widows in our Church. One is building a new house and the other is remodeling her existing house. Grannies house is about 2 weeks from completion. This is the house that was below ground level and every time it rained this 82 year old lady had to bail water. She has lost furniture and appliances because of this problem. The other lady, Gloria, will be able to move into her house in approximately 2 weeks. This is the family that has 6 kids and the father died about 1 year and 1/2 ago. The mother provides for the family by selling fish. We are also taking a counseling class in Sao Paulo each month to be able to help the people here through the Bible. Pray for us as the home work and the reading is extensive.

Sometimes we get so involved in the work that we allow "the work" to suffer. So we are trying to balance "needs" and keep the main thing the main thing. But isn't it AWESOME, we are about to move two widows into their new and remodeled homes. We serve and AWESOME God!!!!The
reason that these homes have taken more than the usual time to complete is that we have been battling the elements----RAIN. As I am writing this letter we have been in a rain period (Continual) for 2 days. The streets going into the various neighborhoods are covered with water and are only going to be getting more and more watter. As we were entering into one neighborhood yesterday we passed one woman walking on the street with the water half way between her feet and her knees. But thanks to God there is no water in Grannies home.

I don't know if I can blame the rain or not but we are in an Internet turmoil as of late. We cannot rely on it as it is maybe yes and maybe no when we want to use it. Oh well, in ALL things give
thanks.

This year we are planning to concentrate on the Vocational School and the students that need to have training. We will begin with the dormitory and the finishing of it.It consists of 3 bed rooms and three baths, livingroon and kitchen. We have the walls and the roof and the concrete floors finished. We will need to put in the windows and doors and the electricity and the plumbing and the plaster walls and the bathrooms and the kitchen and the tile on the floors. All this will be ongoing with the classes that we will be starting next month. Our classes will include beginning carpentry, basic electricity fot homes, and introduction to locksmith. Our first students will be from the surrounding area. They will be transported daily to the school. When the dormitory is completed we will then be able to have students living on site.This is an ongoing project and will fill a great need in this area as young boys 14-21 years old need work experience and job training. This training will prepare them for their future.

It goes without saying that Barb and I are blessed beyond measure. We have some of the most AWESOME friends in the world.!! We were going over some of last years accomplishments, construction, the Kingdoms work, and just plain personal growth. All this accomplished through
God who gives us friends, Churches, and concerned Christians. How AWESOME is He whom we serve!!!! "THANKS EVERYONE" without U through Him it would be impossible.

We are planning several work groups for 2010 and a couple of backyard Bible Schools. Pray for us and these helpers as they come to work and minister. And mark your calenders because in Nov 2011 we are planning a Pastors Conference. We are hoping to have Pastors from all over São Paulo State to come to this conference.This will be a great opportunity for outreach. We are asking that you be in constant prayer for this event.

Continue to pray for us in these ministries, for His will and the Kingdoms glory.

In His service,
Aj and Barbara