TUESDAY PICS

As you can see below, we are either working very hard, or having some fun now and again. Ricardo, who speaks English is Kenny's new best friend. He is making trips to the hardware and lumber yard possible, runs the Brazilian crew, and helps with carpentry. Ricardo was the first convert here many years ago, has successfully planted one church, raised up leaders there and is in the process of planting a second as he pastors both. An amazing man with a wonderful testimony! You should come visit sometime. He'd be glad to share it. What a blessing to work side by side with men of God like him.
Pray that Kenny, Seth and Ricardo can finish what they started! That is Kenny's main concern. My prayer request for the day is that we will all obey the Holy Spirit's leading as we go into this conference "blind" in many respects.

Boa tarde!

Good afternoon! We are learning some Portuguese, and so are you. If you like that, you can say, "obrigado" ( a male saying "thank you") or "obrigada" ( a female saying, "thank you"). Once again, I am here in the air-conditioned internet cafe, while Kenny and Seth are "sweatin' for Jesus" over at the seminary. This cafe is a miracle from God - a long story I can't go into here. World Renewal Brazil owns and operates it first and foremost as a place of ministry.

As I sit at my terminal I look out of a 4'x16' window to the world of Carpina, on a heavily trafficed road, connected to a very busy gas station (complete with 15 fully uniformed employees who wait on each customer's every need!). People who come in here use the internet, contract various printing jobs, hear about Jesus, and help to plant more churches with the profits. What a deal! 70-80,000 people live in Carpina. At most 10% are Christian (most nominal), but within a days drive of here over 400 towns and cities do not have one evangelical church. So, the harvest is ripe in NE Brazil, and that is why WR Brazil exists - to plant churches. At present there are 13.
You can see by today's pics that we are either working hard, ordering lumber and parts for the playground...or once again having a little fun.

Misc...

As I write this, Kenny and Seth are busy finishing the tearout of a good portion of the porch you see them standing on with Heather Moraes, director of the International School. After much talk about size and type of structure, some good Brazilian hardwood is being delivered this afternoon. That makes Kenny happy! This playground will be a big plus in the growth and development of the school. Pray that he will have the time and help he needs to meet his goals. There are four or five Brazilians who are helping, only one of which speaks English. But praise God, progress is being made! I am doing what I can one step at a time to prepare for the conference, which starts Thursday after lunch.

Seth doing his thing. I was so proud of him. He jumped right in and started to play with four guys who speak very little, if any English. Their reaction to his playing is always big smiles and nods of approval. This is Sunday morning at the Acacias Community Church. At night we sang, spoke at Timbauba, about 45 miles away. We arrived late, and I had to coax Seth into joining the band who had already started, but he agreed, and the reaction was just the same - especially from the 10 year old drummer and bass players -big smiles and nods! Kenny's testimonies were a great blessing in each service. I did "Zacheus" without being able to check the sound or the powerpoint in Portuguese. The Lord helped us all to be a blessing, and to be blessed beyond words. All of these guys play most of these instruments very well - amazing! And my new Martin guitar is a big hit. It has spent more time in other people's hands than my own - another blessing from God!

See what I have to put up with! The guys affectionately call me "Dad" and Seth is "Bones." We haven't figured out a good name for Kenny yet. They are both like a couple of giggly junior high girls. What else is there to do all night on an airplane but have a good time? Truthfully, our fellowship has been good, and we really feel like a team. I see the Lord using Kenny and Seth as they do such a good job of making friends and relating to people. They are making this trip so easy for me. Their love and support means a lot.