DECEMBER 2010 - From KS, IN, OH to Carpina, Brazil

My fourth 2010 trip to Brazil in December was the culmination and celebration of a year long effort by many to plant the first ever Evangelical Friends Church in the northeast. Gary Wright (center back), President of World Renewal International, and 5 others came from Indiana (each with loads of Birthday Party for Jesus gifts). He also brought with him a new laptop computer for Flavio from our partner, Evangelical Friends Church-Eastern Region (Canton, Ohio). Gary was there to teach, preach, encourage pastors and help begin new recovery ministries. God is blessing WRI and WR Brazil in many ways with new ministries. PTL!

We had night worship meetings on the streets of Santo Antonio.

Wayne Phelps (below left) from Willoughby Hills Friends Church (Ohio) came to encourage recovery ministry leaders and share about Celebrate Recovery.

We toured and prayed over this brick mill whose purpose in part will be to provide resources to the glory of God and for the planting of churches in NE Brazil.

Words cannot express how amazing the GLORY SOCCER program is. Jon Wright (Indiana) designed and initiated it in July 2010. We have over 100 boys playing every week. Nearly every one of them comes from a home where the gospel of Jesus Christ is NOT known or lived. Their leaders are all elders in their churches, who faithfully share their testimonies and the truth of God's word every practice and game. Look for more GLORY SPORTS (volleyball and basketball) to support and share in. What potential God has given us!!

With me for the entire trip was Cody Jessup, a student and longtime family friend from Wichita, Kansas. He was blessing everywhere he went, and did everything asked of him with great humility and with the love of Christ pouring out to others he touched.

Cody played the drums on several occasions......shared his wonderful testimony with young kids...

...walked the streets and visited the school and homes of Santo Antonio sharing his faith...

...helped sort and pack Birthday Party for Jesus gifts with missionary Dan Kubitza and the lovely three generation Brazil (and very British) missionary ladies Karine, Heather and Pearl......and played futbol every chance he got.

Noticing the kids were all barefoot, as any good missionary would, Cody lovingly played without his shoes. See below for the results. He walked "funny" for days...

OUCH!

I don't want to say we wore Cody out, but...

How low can he go?

Thanks, Cody. You did a great job!

Senior Pastor John Ryser and Steve Steer from Damascus Friends Church (Ohio) came for three short, but full days of meeting and encouraging folks like Principal Ediberto, who has graciously allowed the Friends Church to start up in the public school free of charge. They even walked the streets of Santo Antonio together to invite others to worship with us. Can't you just hear the "hoo-ee-oo-hee-oo, hoo-hoo-hoo" whistle as the good, the bad and the ugly (and the other guy...which one is which?) stroll through the neighborhood, armed with the Word of God, ready to share His love with all who will listen?

One blessing to all was 2 Skype calls to the Damascus Friends Church Sunday morning worship services that allowed us to introduce the Evangelical Friends Church Brazilian church planting team. Ain't technology great?

Pastor John Ryser and Steve Steer gave and received thumbs up. Thanks for coming. Thanks, Damascus Friends for sending them during the busy month of December.

Everyone on our December trip was deeply moved and touched by the ongoing mission work in Cajueiro Claro. It is a major challenge. The children there are like sponges, soaking up all the love, the truth of the good news about a relationship with Jesus Christ and more.
Thank you God for Flavio's leadership and faithfulness.

Jesus said that people will know we are his followers if love one another. (John 13:35). So much of the power for effective, successful mission partnerships comes through our relationships. Our love for one another is contagious. I am so grateful for the team God has assembled. Pastor Valmir, his wife Michelle and their beautiful daughter Yale are a blessing.

Thank you God for Valmir and Flavio!

I wouldn't want to say the spiders are big (or can read) in Carpina, but...

A true blessing you can help us with anytime: this Fender sound system is under $1000, weighs about 40lbs, has 6 channels with 500 watts of power and sets up in minutes. A perfect system to buy in the U.S. and take to Brazil. Let us know if you ever want to help us buy and/or get one down.

Thanks as always for your love and support.