Togo Team Update – April 18th
Here is the audio from Sunday Night’s Togo update.
Podcast: Download (Duration: 7:27 — 3.4MB)
Bair – April 2010
We just want to send a quick prayer request update for you all. We will be sending a more detailed video update soon, we promise!
As many of you know, we invited a friend of ours, Julia Seagrist, to come down here for a year with the ABWE AMP program to help care for our kids while we are in language school. Last week, after some severe abdomen pain and eventually yellow eyes, we learned that she passed a gall bladder stone. Not only that, but it was discovered that she still has 30 or more stones in her gall bladder! After many exams and blood tests, it has been determined that removing the gall bladder is the best action at this point. So, Julia is scheduled for gall bladder surgery on Tuesday morning, April 20, at 10:30 am.
We are very comfortable and confident with the doctor that God has provided to do the surgery. He was the on-call doctor at the ER we went to last Friday night and it “just so happens” that he specializes in gall bladders!! God is so good, isn’t he?
We are asking for you to pray for several things related to all of this:
1. Julia has one more blood test that needs to show improvement in some liver enzymes on Saturday. Please pray the results are good or we will have to move the surgery.
2. Teresa needs some extra energy because the same day Julia has surgery, the boys MK teacher Carol is having surgery. So, Teresa will be homeschooling them for a few days in the midst of spending time at the hospital, caring for Julia, and doing language school. (Please pray for Carol too! She’s having surgery on her esophagus valve.)
3. Most importantly, pray for a smooth surgery Tuesday morning and a smooth recovery following.
Thanks so much for all your prayers. We will let you know how everything goes!
Serving God in Brasil,
Lucas and Teresa Bair
UPDATE: Julia’s surgery went well and she is back home with the Bair’s recovering.
Togo Team Update – April 11th
The following is an update from Jessie Miller:
Abe called to let us know they made it to Mango in about 9 1/2 hours. The trip was extremely hot. Air in van only worked part of the time. The roads were better than expected but the drivers were dangerous! They had dinner with the missionaries at the guest house and then joined them for their church service there. While in the service the electricity went out, thus went the fans! It took a while to get the generator going so they could have some air circulation. He said he was standing on the porch out back and there are nicer houses than he expected around them. Outside of the village there are many more grass huts. They start work early tomorrow morning and he said it is beastly hot. They are all just dripping with sweat! One of the air condtioners is out in their bedroom so pray that they could get it fixed! They are all tired but ready to get to work he said. Found out Tylers’ suitcase with tools in it was lost. Praise the Lord not his clothes!!
Togo Team Send Off Prayer
Pastor Pat Nemmers prays for the Togo Team before they leave for Africa.
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.
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.”
New Design for MatthewsDownUnder.com
Our missionaries to Australia, Russ and Cathy Matthews have launched a new website design. You can visit it at www.matthewsdownunder.com. It was designed by Josh Byers from our Lakeside church plant.
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
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.
