Happy New Year 2010 to our great friends and supporters!
I realize that almost two months have raced by since I last was in touch with you by e-mail. The days have been full and memorable. However, sometimes I’m not so great at remembering anymore, so it is good to write a few things down. Every day is packed with people and responsibilities, blessings and challenges. Let me share a few of the blessings with you –
1. A wonderful time of celebrating Christmas
- Christmas programs at both churches with adult and children’s choirs
- gatherings galore, including a Friendship Tea for women
- Christmas present preparation and visits to deliver them all
- decorating the house with family and welcoming Andrew and Matthew home again
- Christmas Eve dinner at our house with church friends (25) and Christmas Day celebration at our place with family (31)
- a special night out with the girls to watch the Nutcracker Suite and another night with the youth group to watch a Christmas extravaganza put on by the huge Baptist church in Curitiba
- music filling the air and real candles on the real Christmas tree which did not wilt this year
- and best of all the certainty that we know and have experienced the love of God through His Son Jesus Christ
2. Special Family time with our whole family
- Everyone slept overnight at our house on Christmas Eve (my big Christmas wish)
- We spent four days together at the beach (it was really hot, but we had fun)
- Special times with the boys making our home a happy place
- Rejoicing in Joanna’s announcement that Baby #3 is on the way
3. Children’s Camp at the ARCA
- Ninety-two campers and staff spent four fun-filled days together
- God did not listen to the weather report and blessed us with good weather
- Many kids expressed their desire to live for Jesus, listen to God’s voice and obey their parents
- It was tremendous to have Andrew and Matthew as counselors along with other great youth
- The children did an enthusiastic cantata about Samuel and hearing the voice of God
- I (Becky) am exhausted but thankful for God’s faithfulness in using camp to bless lives
4. Wonderful People coming and going
Edival and Karla’s wedding in Campo Mourão (Paul did the ceremony, I did the music and Andrew did the filming) - Visits from people who have lived with us in the past – Neusa and Marcelo
- Arrival of short-term missionary Karyn Ballmann from Texas – she fits right in with the family! (pictured far right)
(If you want to see photos and hear her impression of life here go to www.karynbrazil.blogspot.com )
- Neighborhood kids working to receive camp scholarships or hanging around to play
5. Church events
- Paul is extra-busy covering for pastors on vacation in the month of January
- He has devotions with the kids every morning in our porch
- He also has been mediating relationships in the churches where there have been some difficulties
- Counseling opportunities are ever-present in our hurting world. We both have spent hours listening and praying and counseling with those in need.
- Preparation for our Youth Camp in February (please pray for this big event as we seek to influence lives for the Kingdom)
We thank you for your prayers on our behalf and realize how much we need your support as we begin another year. We are not getting any younger. The demands on us keep growing. We have lots of experience, yet we sense our own inadequacy to meet all the challenges. We are ever-grateful for God’s grace poured out upon us and through us to bless others. We send our thanks to those of you who sent Christmas greetings our way – it is always fun to find out what is happening in your lives. We pray that our readers will heed the words of the prophet Amos – “Seek good and not evil, that you may live; and thus may the Lord God of hosts be with you.” Amos 5:14
Praying for His power and presence in your lives, Paul and Becky
