It’s been said that March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb. I can’t speak to how your spring is getting started, but March was quite the month here in our corner of the world.
Right after Carnaval I got Covid and was down for a few days. After that we had 3 families that were sick at the same time–one with dengue for the second time this year! Then we traveled to participate in the BIMI field conference about 3 hours from us. While we were there we had a wonderful time and were greatly encouraged in hearing God’s Word and what God is doing in South America! Also while we were there, Jamie got bit and was down with dengue for the next week. Thankfully she is doing much better, but it was quite the week attempting to keep her, the house, the kids, school, and ministry going! Needless to say, it was a month where in regards to ministry was not the most fruitful. Regardless, God is always good. And despite all that we still had several families that came as a result of our soulwinning efforts.
One of the joys of the month was ending March with our Resurrection Sunday celebration. We had an early service on that Sunday morning and even at such an early hour, we had nearly 40 people with us. We had a wonderful service remembering Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection and then had a wonderful time of breakfast afterward. I was able to talk with Anderson for quite a while. It’s such a joy to see how the Lord is working in his heart. He was expressing some doubt with some sin that he has. It was wonderful to see him as he listened while I was able to share God’s Word in that specific area. Please continue to pray for him and his wife Ana.
Our theme this year is Continue. One of my great burdens has been for our men. We’ve had men who have been coming on and off for some time, but to see their growth, involvement, and participation in His Work has been slow in coming. We had a time of fellowship on the first Saturday of the month and had over 20 men participating. Often, it is easy to become frustrated with the lack of dedication, however, it truly has been a joy to see the Holy Spirit correcting and exhorting these men to step up.
One of these men is Damião. He and his wife Erika started coming with their two kids last year, but then abrupting stopped in August. Long story short, right after the new year they asked for me to visit with them and they have been faithful since. Erika was saved last year but has not followed the Lord in believers’ baptism. She has not been very faithful. Please pray for her and for Damião to be the spiritual leader in his home. They are a sweet family and it’s been awesome to see God working in their lives–however slow it may seem to me!
We will be having our missions conference here in a few weeks. Please be in prayer as Bro. Ed Johnson will be preaching for us and Missionary Josiel Lima from northern Brazil will be with us as well. I’m excited for the church to continue to catch the missionary vision. Pray that we can increase our giving and that the people will be faithful in their promises. My heart is to help Bro. Diego and his family as they are looking to start a church within the next year or so in a neighboring city here in the Valley.
I praise the Lord for your continued prayer and sacrifice on our behalf. I’m overwhelmed by God’s goodness to us through you all. We are all well and continuing on joyously. We are anticipating our furlough in August. Please continue to be in prayer as we make plans and preparations for this. We look forward to being able to report to many of you in person. We love you all and pray for you regularly.