Archive for Bill & Sue's JournalThursday afternoon, February 20, 2004
This is one of those days that you seem to melt in the heat. We’ve kept busy through the day though with pastors’ meeting, classes, discipleship and waiting on workers. We finally have permission to put up our church sign and are trying to get workers to get that done, but are finding that people here are already getting in a Carnaval mood (just wanting to party over the next five days) even though nothing gets going until tomorrow night. Our young people are excited about camp and getting away from things of this world.
This past week has been a roller coaster ride with the plans for the soccer team ministry trip. A week ago, we received news that their applications for visas were refused at the Chicago consulate, which asked for letters from sponsors there and here. We started praying and asking others to pray both here and in the states. Saturday, one of our families from church said they had a cousin who is a state congressman for São Paulo state who may be able to help. After contacting him, he agreed to fax a letter to the consulate asking them to grant permission for this group to come down on tourist visas. Then, Monday was a stateside holiday and the consulate was closed. The congressman’s letter was faxed there before the place opened on Tuesday. With all the letters and passports in hand, the consul agreed to grant the visas on condition of a couple more letters from sponsors here, which were to be faxed yesterday. If those letters were not received, he threatened to cancel all their visas.
Meanwhile, back at this end, we were informed that reservations for ground transportation and hotel, which was made months ago, had been cancelled because no down payments had been received. The group had sent no money, and who would want to pay anything while nothing with the visas was confirmed! Now, our travel agent here is trying to rebook buses and hotel, but we still have no visa confirmation and no money. The moneychangers and banks will be closed until next Wednesday afternoon, which brings us to just over a week before the group arrives. We’re thankful God is in control in all that’s going on, and we can rest in Him! But we ask folks to continue to pray until this is taken care of.
Life still goes on around here. Friday morning Sue and I met with a new family who wants to join our church. They shared how it’s just the kind of service they appreciate and can be involved in. Saturday, the ladies of church had a church bazaar with unused items from around their homes and some new items that had been made especially for the bazaar. Sue was concerned that no one would show up since no one showed to help her mark items in the hot garage are of the building on the Thursday afternoon before. Saturday came and it was pouring rain, but people showed up to help and lots of people came in to buy. We made the equivalent of about two hundred dollars with plans to buy a new stove for church. But in the meantime, one of the men from church said not to buy the stove since he wanted to donate one, so we are planning using the bazaar money for another refrigerator. The ladies thought the sale went so well they want to do another one next month.
Sunday had a lot of activity. Above all was an excellent worship service, but afterwards different groups had meetings-– to pray for the soccer team, planning for the youth camp, setting up a church barbecue for adults, organizing another bazaar, inviting new folks for Monday night Bible study. It was exciting! We were thankful for so many ways to get people out and involved and opportunities to share the Good News.
Time to close, and get ready for prayer meeting. We’ll let you know what happens with the visa situation as we find out. Tchau!
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