Archive for Bill & Sue's Journalearly Tuesday morning, March 2, 2004
The weather is cool at this time for day, but it’s a sure thing it won’t last so better take advantage of the time.
It has been a tense past couple weeks, trying to work out the visa situation for the soccer team from Cornerstone University, with letters and schedules and documents sent up to the Brazilian consulate. Finally it came to the point that we could do nothing more but leave everything with the Lord. As we waited on Him, the visas were released and only He received the glory!
Then gears shifted and planning moved ahead for the time the team will be here. Several events had to be changed, reservations were lost and had to be remade, menus for meals were made, but step by step things are coming together and we are expecting a great time of ministry for the group of twenty that will be here. They have games every day except Thursday (when we’ll go white water rafting) and there will be a tournament of indoor soccer on their last Saturday. With each game, there will be time for testimonies and presentation of the gospel to all who come out. On Sundays, they will be leading the services in the two churches our mission has in Bauru and eating in the homes of church families that have “adopted” them. Suddenly, all the planning will become reality, and we are excited about how God will use this time in the guys lives and the impact it will have in our community.
With all the going on with visas, there was also Carnaval camp. Our young people had a good time getting to know youth from other churches around town at a very nice retreat center about ten minutes from our house. When we first saw it and heard it was for sale, we started thinking of how it could be used and how to buy it. (It’s always nice to dream!) The kids were divided up into teams for activities during the day from Bible quizzes to sports time. The speakers did a good job of presenting the Word and from hearing testimonies of some of our kids, their lives were changed.
Thursday evening we had one of our largest groups out for prayer meeting. It was encouraging after weeks with low numbers because of summer vacations. Sunday evening the young people led the service. They did everything from special music to testimonies to reception at the door to serving refreshments and cleanup after the service. With the different program that evening and the excitement of the team coming this week, folks stayed around visiting until almost ten o’clock. When the adults left, the kids hung around and did a barbecue.
Sue got to go shopping last weekend. A friend of hers received money for her birthday and wanted to use it by traveling to a city nearby with the largest mall in Latin America. For a couple days they got to shop until they were ready to drop, and from there go to eat at Fridays or Pizza Hut! I think they got their fix!
Pray extra for us this next week as the team’s here. We’ll need extra energy and patience with change of regular schedules and hosting in general, but it should be fun. From reports we get, all the guys are excited about the trip, both for the adventure and the chance to serve.
We’ll let you know how thing go. This is it for now. Have a great week. Tchau!
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