Guess what? We are back in the U.S. for a few weeks, enjoying time with our two sons and parents and other family members and friends. After flying and saving miles for several years, we accumulated enough frequent flyer miles to make a trip to the States for our vacation this year.
We arrived in time for the AFLBS choir concert on May 16. It was a joy to hear Andrew sing, to meet his friends, and to see many of our dear friends as well. We have also enjoyed meeting the four young people who are traveling with him this summer on the Ambassador team. Tonight we will hear their first full concert in Cokato, MN. We are very thankful for this great opportunity for Andrew!
That first weekend we arrived we also drove up to Fergus Falls to see Matthew as Bert (see photo) in the school production of “Mary Poppins.” He did a fantastic job and entertained us all! The next weekend he graduated with honors from Hillcrest Academy, the last of our four children to graduate from this fine school. We also enjoyed his choir concert and the other special events of the weekend. Many people joined us to congratulate Matthew and celebrate with him at a Grad Party at Calvary Lutheran.
We spent a few days in Hitterdal with the Abel clan and that was fun, too. This week we have been with my folks in Northfield, MN, catching up on mission business. But, tomorrow we hope to head for the lake and get some R&R before returning to our crazy life in Brazil. Hope we can actually “turn off” a bit and get renewed so that we can joyfully return to our mission work.
The month of April and the first part of May slipped by in such a hurry that I failed to find time to write an update. We were all-consumed with ministry responsibilities and preparing to be gone for a month. We said good-byes to our niece and nephew and Paul’s folks who had been with us for over three months. We had several funerals and a couple of weddings. Plus we spent a good deal of our time and energy and prayer helping a dear Christian gal and her two children find protection from her abusive husband. Threatening phone calls at all hours of the day or night, trips to the police station, visits with lawyers and fearful confrontations were part of our life for a few weeks. In the end we did not get enough legal help to safely remove her from the situation, and she ended up returning for the time being. Our life sometimes resembles a melodrama, and most of the time our lines have not been prepared for us. On many occasions we have depended on God’s promise that “in that very hour” He would “give us the right words to speak.”
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Pray for our church in Campo Largo under the leadership of pastor Nilson while we are away.
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Pray for the São Braz church as they continue to be without a pastor.
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Pray for Pastor Jaime and Maristela as they work on their marriage relationship.
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Pray for pastors and Christian leaders everywhere, that they may be encouraged in their work and personal spiritual life, and that they would stand strong in the time of temptation.
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Pray for the Ambassador team and other Bible School teams as they minster during the summer.
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Pray for our time of rest and renewal.
Thanks – we appreciate you!
Love, Paul and Becky
