Dear Friends,
We are survivors! After “killing a giant” a day for many months we have made it through the big events and are alive to tell the story. Praise God for another successful year of our Passion Play outreach! Although we had to cancel Friday’s presentation due to rain we were happy to be able to present to about 700 people on Saturday and Sunday. The beautiful natural stage outside the ARCA is a perfect backdrop for portraying the events of Jesus life, death and resurrection. Now we are in the “clean-up” mode, taking down sets and washing costumes, etc. Our niece Melissa and nephew Jonathan enjoyed being a part of the cast this year. They are pictured on either side of me in front of the empty tomb with two other girls from Bateias.
Although the play was the big event of the month we were involved in several other activities as well. We enjoyed a quick visit from our Missions director, Del Palmer, and the Vice-President of the AFLC, Dick Gunderson. They came to see the work and share the vision of the World Missions Committee with us. They also took part in meetings with key leaders here to discuss the future of the ministries in Brazil. We are thankful for their encouragement and for the assurance that we share the same vision for ministry.
During March Paul’s folks held an evangelism campaign in the new church plant in Borda do Campo. Although rains kept attendance down, there were several decisions for Christ during the 10-day outreach. My trip with the ladies to Iguaçu Falls turned out to be a wonderful weekend. The gals from the churches there had done a spectacular job of planning an uplifting and encouraging day for the ladies. We also had a chance to see the awesome Falls before returning to Curitiba.
We had a wedding for a couple from our church two weeks ago and are involved in pre-marital counseling with two other couples. Our Bateias church has started a seminary extension course once a month – nine hours on a Saturday. The first block of classes was on Conflict Resolution. Pastor Joel is also implanting a discipleship program, training key people to disciple others.
Adriano, Janicleia and Edival are in their last year at seminary in Campo Mourão. They are all hard workers and have weathered the storms through the years as they have let the Lord shape their lives and prepare them for future ministry. Kleber from Bateias is in northeastern Brazil at a YWAM training school. Augusto, a family man from the São Braz church, has sensed God calling him into the pastorate. He has taken on several responsibilities of preaching and teaching in his congregation and is looking into further pastoral training. He graduated from our Bible School almost 20 years ago.
Our Matthew is in China right now on a short-term mission experience. We pray this will be one more opportunity for him to share Christ. As soon as he returns from China he will be on his way to Mexico with other Hillcrest seniors for a mission outreach there. His fluency in Spanish will be an asset to the group. Andrew will also be traveling in April with the Concert Choir from AFLBS. They plan to travel and presents concerts from MN to WA during spring break (April 4-20).
Life is full of choices. Choices change the course of our life. God has a plan to bless our lives, but we will only experience that blessing as we walk in His ways and obey His commands. Pray that the people with whom we work will continue to choose life, choose God, choose obedience. God has chosen us, chosen to love us and forgive us and use us for His glory. What great blessings are ours in Him!
Thankful for His faithfulness,
Paul and Becky
