THE FIRST OF MANY TO COME

SMITH CUSTOM WOODS (the Kenny, Frank and Ricardo crew) in

Carpina, Brazil Tuesday, July 24

It's very late in the day, Kenny and I leave for the US in the morning and I ran out of what little time I had today to get more than just a few pictures on this blog. But, we have had an incredible experience here, have been blessed beyond measure, and I couldn't wait any longer to show you something. I may not be back at this until the weekend. We will arrive in Indiana mid-day on Thursday, and won't get back to Wichita until long after midnight (early Friday morning).

To God be the glory, great things he has done! In a nutshell:

1) We left Kansas Saturday, June 30 for Greenfield, Indiana where we spent 4 days resting up (Kenny had just finished a very time consuming job on Friday) and getting everything we needed to do the job before flying out July 4.

2) We started working one day after arrival, and put in mostly 10 to 11 hour days 17 days in a row in order to finish.
3) Besides the energy to keep going, finding tools and materials was our biggest challenge.
4) Ricardo da Silva, a church planting pastor was our co-worker, interpreter and best friend.
He was the perfect team member for the Smith Custom Woods crew. He worked along side us everyday in-between his pastoral duties, did most of the finish work, and taught us a lot about what it means to have a passion for God and his calling in our lives. "Planting churches is my passion, carpentry is my hobby."
5) Thanks to many of you, your prayers and your generous support, God gave us the great privilege of bringing an indescribable amount of encouragement to a faithful missionary family and their co-laborers. God has received and will continue to receive great glory through the very basic but necessary act of building kitchen cabinets.

6) The Lord even provided the time and energy for me to attend 4 worship services, preach twice, sing three times, meet with leaders and begin to plan the December worship and music conference, and teach a whole Brazilian congregation a song in Creole (one I had translated from English while in Haiti in May!)

7) Kenny always tells people he's "just a wood butcher", but I still say he is a master carpenter. He did an amazing job making this all work, and the Lord used him in a very big way. It was a blast seeing The Master Carpenter work through him to not only design and build a beautiful kitchen in less than ideal conditions, but to touch the lives of countless Brazilians with the love of Jesus Christ.

I will write and send more pictures in a few days. There is much to show and tell! Here are some before and after pictures. Tele and Heather were speechless when we unveiled the final product. There is no way that we or they could ever tell you how much this all means to the ministry here, to their family, and to us or how much it really will do to enlarge the Kingdom of God and the Body of Christ here in Northeast Brazil. Thanks to all and Praise the Lord!

Look again next week for more!

When we arrived...

When we finished 17 days later...

Ricardo, Kenny, Tele, Heather, Frank

We had an annointed time of prayer standing in this kitchen.

God is on the move in Northeast Brazil.

We thank Him for letting us get in on it!