Skip to main content

The Great Plain

By
       A couple of weeks ago I traveled to Campina Grande, this time to visit the church and spend time with the supported workers, as well as with Raianne and Rayssa.  Adeliton, Ayane, my AME travel companions for the next two months, and I stayed with Danny and Lee Bratcher. What wonderful hosts they were! Danny and I grew up in the same congregation at Joelton, TN, so we always have a good time together.
        Júnior and Kátia came over to visit with us on Friday night. Júnior was going to travel to another city in Pernambuco to teach and visit with the church in that state. They used to travel with me quite often before becoming missionaries to Campina Grande. It was great to sit and visit with them and talk about past travels and dreams for the future of the church, as well as present needs and plans.
           Saturday, we went to visit Isac and Solange, who also work with the church in Campina Grande. We talked about plans for the church in Campina Grande, vision for the church and support for workers. These are all men and women to be honored for their dedication and sacrifices made for the growth of the Kingdom. It is a joy to be around all of them. That afternoon we picked up Raianne and Rayssa went back to Danny and Lee's house to spend the afternoon and night playing games and talking. I took the girls home around 10 p.m. and it is a deserted and dark place where they live. I can see why they are a little scared, although they don't show it.
            Sunday morning I went and picked the girls up and took them back to Danny and Lee's house where we spent the day together. Lee made some marvelous meals and peach cobbler. Thank you, Sara, for teaching her how to make it. You taught her well. That night we met with the church; there were a number of visitors, and only a couple of empty chairs in the whole place.

Please pray:
  • That God will protect Raianne and Rayssa from harm and that their faith in God may grow each day.
  • The church in Campina Grande may continue to dream and work to reach the dreams as they are in line with God's.
  • God may open the hearts of people in Campina Grande, which is in desperate need of His Word.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

For the Kids, Part III

By
    In the USA, there are two special days during the year that children love: birthday and Christmas. Brazil adds one more: Children's Day. On this day, children receive a present and since it coincides with Our Lady of Appeared Conception, Brazil's patron saint, it is also a national holiday.     Each week we get kids from the Castelo Branco neighborhood together at the square in front of Dona Terezinha's house to talk about Jesus. For Children's Day, we invited the parents to watch the kids perform a play of the "Prodigal Son," then each kid receives his or her fill of cotton candy, cake, and a sack full of goodies. The parents who came received a Today's Portuguese New Testament and an invitation to the weekly Bible study at Terezinha's.     Lori Hagewood has organized this activity for three year with the help from Terezinha, Joseph, and Michel (from the China Taiwan restaurant). Michael, Ashton, and Tif...
Post a Comment
Read more

Pedro's New Family

By
           Good Christian parents are invaluable in bringing about children’s faith, but in the absence of such, the younger generation must take up Christ’s banner and follow for themselves. Pedro and João have been coming to our church meetings for a long time. Their parents, though, haven’t even visited, showing no interest whatsoever, except for an internet search to make sure their kids weren’t getting into anything crazy.            This past Sunday Pedro gave his life to Christ and was baptized into a new family. I admire young people who break with family tradition for the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Let our Lord be praised through the dedication and sacrifices that young people make.
Post a Comment
Read more

The Planting, the Watering, and the Increase

By
Emesson started coming to Bible Club over a year ago, when Neil Schultz and Cait Beckloff, our AIM team, were teaching it. For several months, they planted the seed in his and his sister's hearts. Unfortunately Neil and Cait's time in João Pessoa ended. In 2014 Bible Club received a boon when Erick and Jenny Paddy, former AIMers, returned to the field and picked up teaching the Bible Study for English speakers. They watered the sprouting seed in Emesson's life until God's Word became more important for him than just practicing his English. Last Wednesday night, God gave the increase, adding Emesson to the Family of Christ. Sometimes things don't happen when we think they should, but God is in control; His time is best, and we must thank Him for playing a small part in His plan. 
Post a Comment
Read more