Matthews – March 2010

Caroline’s Heart Update

Thank you to all our family and friends who have kept us in your thoughts and prayers this past month. We rejoice in telling you we had an excellent doctor’s visit, with a great prognosis for Caroline.

Her actual condition is called sub-aeortic membrane. It is very, very mild at this time and is in no way dangerous or threatening and therefore there is no need to do any procedures any time soon. She will need to have once or twice yearly heart checks to make sure the condition hasn’t worsened. There is no time frame on how quickly this could change, but based on the fact that it has only progressed very slowly in her almost 5 years, we don’t foresee sudden changes occurring. This most likely will need to be dealt with at some point in her life, and the only way to deal with this is through open heart surgery. But the good news is, this is one of the simplest and easiest procedures that is done.

So that sums up today’s doctor’s appointment. Again, we thank you so much for keeping us and especially Caroline in your thoughts and prayers. We will definitely let you know of any future changes or needs in this specific area.

I’ll finish with a beautiful Bible passage that really blessed me:
“For You formed my inward pars; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made, marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.” Psalm 139:13-14

Rejoicing,
Cathy for all

Bair – February 2010

A precious song about the Precious Blood

A message from a friend recently brought to my mind a song that is very precious to me. This is the song that the Lord used to speak to me about my unwillingness to follow His leading to Brazil. I was being stubborn and selfish. He reminded me of what He had done for me. Unfortunately, I’m still stubborn and selfish. So, He has reminded me again.

“The Precious Blood”
Before the cross I kneel and see
The measure of my sin
How You became a curse for me
Though You were innocent
The magnitude of Your great love
Was shown in full degree
When righteous blood, the crimson spill
Rained down from Calvary
Oh, the precious blood
That flowed from Mercy’s side
Washed away my sin
When Christ my Savior died
Oh, the precious blood
Of Christ the crucified
It speaks for me before Your throne
Where I stand justified
And who am I that I should know
This treasure of such worth
My Savior’s pure atoning blood
Shed for the wrath I’d earned
For sin has stained my every deed
My every word and thought
What wondrous love that makes me one
Your priceless blood has bought
A crown of thorns, pierced hands and feet
A body bruised, and Mercy’s plea
Oh, the precious blood
That flowed from Mercy’s side
Washed away my sin
When Christ my Savior died
Oh, the precious blood
Of Christ the crucified
It speaks for me before Your throne
Where I stand justified.

Praise the Lord for His precious blood.

Voelker – February 2010

Teachers 2010-2011
God has provided teachers willing to serve the Lord here next school year. Please pray with us for Sarah Haynie and Erin Wahlstrom who are in the process of raising support to join us for 2010-2011. Meredith Peters came to us last August and has decided to return for another year. Pray for her supporters to be willing to continue to give toward her ministry here. Pray too for Tammy McComb, Laurie Flietstra and Craig and Megan Beatty, and Minne and Michelle Bouma who are currently in North America raising the necessary funds to return as career missionary teachers. God is able to supply for all of these individuals. Pray too for those who are already here as career missionary teachers; Cal, Nick Rachevsky and Phil Schlener. Ask God to con-tinue to use our staff and our school to touch lives for eternity.

Charity Voelker
Our youngest daughter will graduate from Moody Bible Institute in May. God is leading her into missions. Charity plans to do a one year missionary internship with Association of Baptists for World Evangelism. She will be working with the mobilization department, traveling to various college campuses to encourage Bible college students to give their lives to serving God in missions. We are excited about God’s leading in Charity’s life and the way that Charity can use her gifts and passions to serve the Lord in this way. Please join us in praying for her as she raises the financial support she needs to serve in this capacity. Individuals or churches can participate by pledging monthly support for a year or by giving one time gifts. If you are interested, please contact us for more information or to know how to get in touch with Charity.

Prayer
- Benjina’s need for salvation.
- Four unsaved families represented in our school.
- Teachers needing support.
- Church – Pray for Pastor Beto Marques and his family as they serve the Lord by leading two congregations.
- Tobias and Angela Pray for them to find jobs here in Portugal
- Charity – support needs
- Car Fund: Pray for the remaining $2,500 needed in our car fund.

Car Fund
We now have $1,125 in our car fund. If you would like to give toward this project, please send your gift to our ABWE account and mark it “022 Car fund.”

Delores Woods – February 2010

Dear Ones in our Wonderful MESSIAH,

Praise GOD for His guidance and leading this last week.

I have enjoyed the Ladies Bible studies. Dyhana is enjoying helping Ana as she begins to walk with the LORD. We had a great time in Bible study Friday afternoon.

Thursday I was making some purchases in a store. I was the only customer and there were 2 Ladies to wait on people. Ilma waited on me and I noticed she had been reading a book about a television “evangelist” The other Lady had lent it to her as she likes to read. I was able to share the gospel with her and I am rejoicing as she accepted the LORD as her personal SAVIOR. She was happy to receive a Bible and Daily Bread devotional book. Pray for her. I seeking to find a church near where she lives for her to attend.

Bet Sar Shalom is getting a new gate. The old wooden one is down and just propped up until all the torn down parts are removed. The part of the side walk that had to be taken out when the new sidewalk was put in is going out with the gate “junk” A big garbage container from the city is in the yard and the young men of Bet Sar Shalom put the junk in the container. Since one container is not enough there is going to be a delay taking this one away and getting another brought and filled. The city does this in the middle of the night and “never” on week-ends. The first one was delivered at 3 a.m. What “fun” it has been. A night watchman had to come and will be here 2 more nights. We hope the new gate is in by Tuesday or Wednesday. One of the young men is also staying during the day to keep an eye on things. Please pray for the gate to be placed and ready soon. Please pray for the rest of the money to come in to finish paying for it.

Several had talked to the night watchman this week-end and mentioned that he attends a “saved by works” church. After the service and snack time I had the privilege of sharing GOD’s gift of salvation with Jeromarcio. He was thrilled to receive GOD’s gift of salvation and know he is saved for eternity. Please pray for him, his wife Nita, 2 children and soon to be born daughter.

With all this going on the Young People under the direction of Renilde have been practicing a liitle play for the Purim program next Saturday. Please pray for the luncheon and program Saturday Feb. 27th starting a 1 o’clock. Pray that the story of Esther and GOD’s deliverance for the Jewish people will speak to hearts as they hear the message of GOD’s even greater deliverance in salvation, forgiveness of sin.

I am looking forward to Nickell Family members arriving Friday the 26th. They are coming in order to attend the All Brazil Baptist Mid-Mission Family conference celebrating 75 years in Brazil. It is to take place in a town about 2 hours from Sao Paulo, March 1-6. All the Nickells and I leave on Monday afternoon for conference. It will be an exciting week of hearing GOD”s Word and seeing many friends.

Thank you,
Serving HIm with You,
Delores Woods

Bair – February 2010

Please pray

This is my best friend. I used this picture because this is how I knew we would be friends for life, totally selfish, I know. 10 years ago this month (last week actually), I attended the NANC training in Lafayette, Indiana. I went there with a married couple from our church and this single girl I didn’t really know. She and I roomed together. Our first night she gave me a back rub. I knew she had to be my friend forever. Actually, God brought her into my life at a time where I was very lonely. He knew just who I needed.

We could not be more opposite. She’s quiet, I’m not really so much. She’s an amazing writer, she blogs alot, I think we all know how good I am about blogging. She has 2 girls, I have 3 boys. She used to chop wood, I’ve never mowed a lawn. Actually, after several years of picturing her with an axe in her hand, I learned she used a wood splitter, it was devastating. Anyway, the list of our differences go on and on. I think that’s why this friendship is so beautiful. We mesh perfectly together. We never argue. We can sit in silence without it being awkward. She’s a great mom. She let’s me pretend her girls are mine.

Someday, these two are going to get married.

Our husbands are best dudes too. They understand each others quirks. They laugh at each others jokes. They play video games together. Its a beautiful friendship.

This is one of their proudest moments together when they won the Halo tournament at the Impact Superbowl party 2006.

Becca officially found out she has cancer this week. She’s had a tumor in her lung for 2 years now, but it was confirmed this week that it is cancer, along with some small spots in her liver. What her cancer is going to learn, if it doesn’t know this already, is that she is one tough chick. She used to chop wood, you know.
It’s not easy to be so far away while she’s facing this. She has walked hand in hand with me through every difficult thing I’ve faced in the last 10 years and I so desperately want to do the same for her. Unfortunately, thousands of miles hinder that a little. God has been reminding me, though, that His plan is for me to be here. My favorite verse is Psalm 18:30.

“As for God, His way is perfect”.

Becca gave me a bracelet before I got on the plane to move here that has this verse inscripted on it. She now wears one on her wrist with the same verse in portuguese.

“Este é o Deus cujo caminho é perfeito.” Salmo 18:30

This verse is so true (duh, its from God’s Word). God’s plan in her life is perfect, no matter what it is, as it is perfect in mine as well.

I am asking for your prayers for our dear friends. They have some big decisions to make in the immediate future. They meet with an oncologist next month to figure our where to go next. Pray for God’s working in Becca’s body. Pray for strength and wisdom for her husband, Dustin. Pray for those beautiful girls whom I love dearly, Karis and Gabi. Pray that in all of this we remember that “As for God, His way is perfect.”

Bair – February 2010

So, I think I’m officially the worst blogger ever. But, I’m going to try harder now-blog more often with smaller entries…I promise??

We have gone back to school after a 7 week summer break. At the beginning of the break, I was like, “7 weeks! I don’t want to miss school for 7 weeks!”. The week before we returned to school I was like, “7 weeks!! I don’t want to go back to school after 7 weeks!!”. It was so nice to have a break from studying and just be a mom and wife. We had a great break. We traveled the area a little, visited the beach a few times, even had a group come down from one of our supporting churches. It was really great to have visitors.

Well, we have completed 2 weeks since we returned. I think we’re adjusting well to jumping back in. Yesterday, I gave my first devotional in portuguese for class. It is certainly a different experience giving a devotional in a language that I speak like a preschooler. Really what it consisted of was thinking in english in words I could translate into portuguese and writing them on paper. It was more of a 3 minute testimony about a passage that is dear to my heart than it was a devotional. I actually thought it was way too fluffy and it seriously annoyed me, but it was as far as my current portuguese would take me! Then the actual presentation itself was simply reading the written out devotional in portuguese. I’m not sure how I did, but it was kinda cool to talk about the Lord in a different language! Lucas gives his this coming Friday…

We are settling into a church, which is great. It is “Comunidade Crista” in the Rincão bairro. (A bairro is like a village or neighborhood in cities. Cities here are all broken up into bairros.) We love it. We love the people. We love the pastor and family. The first time we visited in November we really felt like it was where we belonged. I’m sure I’ll share more about it in blogs to come.

Here is a video of highlights of Crossway Community Church’s recent visit.

Delores Woods – February 2010

Dear Ones in Our Wonderful MESSIAH,

Thank you for praying. Thank you for giving.

Greetings from a very warm Sao Paulo. It is 85 in the room where I am.

Tomorrow is “Carnival” day. The holiday actually began Friday. Businesses closed and will only reopen after 12 noon on Wednesday. While there is much dancing, carousing in some streets, clubes and the “Sambodromo” (built for the samba schools to dance and parade) it is pretty quiet in our area. There is not even the noise of any building going on at the mall addition site, directly across from Bet Sar Shalom.. Many of this mega city have traveled to the beaches and mountain resorts.

Tomorrow Bet Sar Shalom People will be coming for a work day, lunch, game time and ending with the regular Tuesday evening prayer service.

It is very exciting to see those who have come to CHRIST growing. It is even more exciting to see them sharing the Gospel with others. Dyhana is the single Mother of the twins Brida and Hana who turn 4 in March. She met Ana and as their frindship developed began sharing the Gospel and gave her a Bible. She brought her to Bet Sar Shalom. Ana really liked Bet Sar Shalom and how people treated her. Ana also received a year long Daily Bread and was reading both her Bible and the devotional. She returned last week-end. What a privilege I had of sharing with her after the service. She accepted JESUS as her Savior. Can you imagine how excited Dyhana is? Ana wll be joining Dyhana in our discipleship studies.

Please pray for Ana who is talking to her Mother and has invited her to the services.
Ana is to be going to the USA in a few Months to study. Please pray as I seek to find a Church for her to attend there. I do not have the exact address but understand it is in the San Francisco area.

Pray also for Dyhana as she grows in the LORD. Pray for the salvation of Dyhana’s Mom Angela. Her brother Fulvio is one of the young men helping in Dan’s absence. Her other brother Rodger is away from the LORD. All live at home with Angela.

Thank You,
Serving HIM with You,
Delores Woods

Boyd – February 2010

First impressions from Sant Marta

I wanted to share a few first impressions from Santa Marta, although I don’t have any photos on my computer in this moment to upload (The photo of El Rodadero above, near where we’re staying, is courtesy of somnoliento).

First, the people have been wonderful so far. The costeño (person from the coast) in general is known for being friendly and fun-loving. That has been our experience. We’ve had more conversations with strangers than you can imagine. The funniest was talking to a guy who must have had a few mental problems because he authoritatively talked about all of the Colombia soccer teams as if I were his best friend and knew all of them as well. The truth is I hardly know the names of all of the teams, let alone the best players in the history of the teams from Cali, Tolima, Bucaramanga, etc. He was with two other guys who were talking about soccer, and I counted about eight front teeth among the three.

Second, I have noticed very few Christian churches, at least on main streets. I wonder if this is because I haven’t traveled around much or if it’s because they are located on neighborhood streets. When I’ve told people that we want to start a new Christian church they tend to say something like, “Oh, okay,” and give me a look of pity or bewilderment perhaps. “Why would you want to start another one here when we already have a few?” seems to be their thought process.

Third, living in Costa Rica a year was great preparation for the coast. The heat is similar, although it’s hotter here than in San Jose. The culture is also somewhat similar, although I would say that costeños here are easier to get to know than the Costa Ricans were. Holly and the kids are doing very well with all of the changes, for which I thank God.

Matthews – February 2010

A great season in ministry

For those in the frozen Tundra (The Northern US), to give you a warmer perspective on things. We are currently in the middle of the hot season here in Australia. It has been unseasonably humid, but February is generally hot every year. (30+ Celsius everyday) Also, this is the time of year when things start to ramp up in ministry opportunities. We would appreciate your prayers on many items that are on our plate at this time. It is exciting to be part of all that is going on in Sydney.

1. Start of City Bible Forum (We are on Facebook City Bible Forum, Sydney, become a fan) and great series. (Did Jesus Say That? , Journey with Jesus -A perspective from John, Ecclesiastes, Counterfeit gods,etc.) Please pray we can find a new and more accessible venue for Wednesday and Thursday. Please pray for a fruitful year of ministry. Pray for our expansion into Melbourne & Adelaide and continued growth in Perth & Brisbane.

2. Sydney Prayer Breakfast – I was asked to be on the board for a first in Sydney. I know there are many prayer breakfasts around the world, but this one is a first for Sydney. Andrew Scippione (Commissioner of the NSW police) will be our speaker. Good Christian man and a big event. More details and website to come.

3. Spiritual Leadership course- Glorious Hope Baptist will be a running a course for the next couple of months for our leaders. Based on the book by J. Oswald Saunders. I will be assisting with the running of the course. Please pray for the leaders for our church to rise up to the opportunities of our growing church.

4. Life of Jesus course and Bible reading groups – All of our new courses are beginning in the city. Pray for many non-Christians to come to these courses and for a fruitful ministry.

5. Urban Fight Club (Men’s ministry) – UFC gets started next week with a good Aussie BBQ. Looking ahead to the year and how we can serve the Lord.

6. Church plants- We could use your prayers on these opportunities. I will send details soon, but I will be in discussions with some key leaders in the city for two fellowship plants in the city, Sydney. We are asking for God’s wisdom in these exciting new ventures.

7. School- We are still homeschooling for this year, but we are considering putting our kids into a great school next year. Challenges are distance from where we live. Thanks for your prayers on this decision.Also, it is a new curriculum for the kids this year (School starts in January in Australia and it is year round). Pray for their adjustment to a web based learning system.

8. Caroline’s health – Caroline started Kindy this year and is excited about all things. She will be going into the pediatric cardiologist for a second opinion on some tissue growing over one end of her aortic valve that shouldn’t be there and if it continues to grow it could cause damage due to disrupting the flow of blood. Thanks for your prayers for Caroline.

9. Footy season begins- Josh will be playing AFL (Real football-check out the promotion on my Facebook page) again this year. pray for his adjustment and protection for the season. Also, we would be a testimony to the players and families who attend each week.

10. Hope and Becca turn 16- I think the prayers for the parents go without saying on this one. Two words – Drivers Licenses. Two more words – White hair. Actually, pray for the girls. They are amazing young ladies and have servants hearts for the Lord. Pray for them during these challenging teen years. Pray they would continue to be a witness for you and testimony of all He is doing in their lives.

Well…that was supposed to be a quick update. My apologies for the length. Please keep in touch with us through signing up for our monthly updates on our website, just enter you e-mail in the RSS feed box. Also, we are on Facebook. Sorry, Skype is not the best option to contact us.

I will finish with a story: a good friend was all excited about the year of talks in Sydney. He had brought a non-Christian friend to the talks. His friend had commented, “You all really focus on Jesus, don’t you?”My friend stated, “Now he is getting it!”

All praise and honour goes to Jesus. That is what we are on about here in Australia. There is much to be done and we look forward to what he has for us in the future. We appreciate your prayers and support.

The adventure continues…

The Matthews Family

Leonard – January 2010

Dear Prayer Team,

Greetings from warm, humid south Brazil!!! It is summer vacation time here! After having our traditional family time on Christmas morning, if was so nice that we decided to celebrate the day as many Brazilians do and have a cookout/picnic. John’s mother was able to be with us this year, as she is getting ready to leave for her furlough in the States beginning January 20th. Our short-termer from Grace Baptist Church in Chariton, Iowa, Bekah Hendricks, was also here for Christmas and will be staying through March. She loves snow, so it was hard for her to hear about all the snow in Iowa that she was missing. We were trying to dream up ways to make her Christmas “white,” (throwing popcorn in the air, spreading corn starch around…etc.), but decided against those. We think she enjoyed the picnic, though. She has made some good friends down here–in fact a couple of them are here from Fortaleza visiting her right now so we have a full house!! We are enjoying the extra visitors, as it is nice to have help with the ministry and also at home.

The last time we wrote we were gearing up for our Christmas program at Gato Preto, and we are glad to report that it went well…all except for the stormy downpour RIGHT at the end as John was wrapping up the Christmas message. Even the tarp that we had put up before the meeting did not keep the strong winds and rain from dampening the crowd, and we ended up quickly running for cover in the small home where we meet. There we enjoyed a time of refreshments, gift distribution (small sacks of candy for the kids and devotional books for the adults), and also inspirational special music with Orlando and Lourdes, a dear couple that has been helping us. Even though the program did not go as we had planned, it was a blessing to hear one lady say at the end that this was the best Christmas she had ever had! Also, since that night, a lady named Rose and her two children have not missed a meeting. She hasn’t accepted Christ as her Savior, but we sense she is very close to making this decision. Please pray for her salvation.

Besides our work at Gato Preto, John has had the opportunity to speak at various churches and also at a camp for Chinese adolescents. (pictured below) How awesome it has been to see the Lord work each time He opens the Word of God!

Our prayer requests are as follows:

-For Rose and others who need to be saved.
-For a place for our group in Gato Preto to meet–our land issue was put on hold until February, but a couple other options have come up.
-For our up-coming VBS in Gato Preto. (salvation of children)
-For the Carnaval events planned (retreats, special meetings…) in February.

Thank you for your prayers!!

Sincerely in Christ,
John and Bev Leonard

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