Cooler
fall weather is arriving here.
Advertisements everywhere are all about the World Cup Soccer games
coming up in June. Political parties have
begun choosing candidates for Brazilian presidential elections in
October. The biggest headlines around Bauru
are about the first Brazilian to go into space. Though he didn’t seem
to get much worldwide coverage (maybe because he went up to the Space
Station in a Russian spacecraft), he is from Bauru, and that is quite an honor for
our town!
Within a
week
of our return in January, the Lofits family started arriving for Ben
and Claudia’s wedding, which was a beautiful event. Ben’s dad Michael
spoke to a joint service of our two ABWE churches before leaving, and
as a result, three people have talked with us about becoming involved
in missions.
We are
thankful to
be home in Bauru after a lengthy stay
in São Paulo.
In February Sue was having abdominal pain. Considering what she had
gone through in the past, we felt it best to check it out quickly. The
doctors found she had a tumor in her intestine which had to be removed
surgically. The operation went well, but initially the doctors were
concerned about malignancy and it became a long few days of waiting
until the reports came back “benign”. What a relief it was to hear that
word! Recovery
was not without its complications, but now she is doing quite well. God
has been so good during these days, both to us personally, to our
church family here and to the rest of our family so far away during
this trying time. It is good to know that He doesn’t change, and He
always knows what is best for us.
It was
encouraging
that the folks at church that filled in for us in leadership positions
during our furlough didn’t want to give up the jobs they had been doing
in our absence. That, of course, is one of our objectives in getting a
church on its own, and we have been learning where we “fit in” to this
new system. I’m still pastor though, and the first Sunday of March I
had the privilege of baptizing four people.
Events
every weekend
in May are taking place along with regular services and activities. The
first weekend is a ladies tea on Saturday (forty ladies have signed up
until now) and Sunday a pastor from Cuba will be speaking about the
church and what God is doing in that nation. The following weekend will
be a concert by the Adorai praise team on Saturday (expecting over 200
young people for that) and Mothers Day celebration on Sunday. The third
weekend is the Fifth Anniversary of New Life Baptist Church. And the
last weekend is the annual church meeting when we will be electing our
first deacons. But things don’t let up, as in June, we have our
Valentines dinner (that’s right, Valentines Day is celebrated in June
here). And with World Cup soccer games, whenever Brazil
plays, we will be showing it on the big screen at church. You have to
be here to realize the World Cup fever that’s already going on around
this nation!
The search
has begun
for our own church building. The building search committee is looking
for a place we can buy and call our own instead of paying rent to
someone else. We have a goal of moving by September. We have already
looked at several places that have great potential. A fund raising
campaign has already started among our people. If
you would like to have a part, tax deductible donations can be sent to
the mission in our name and labeled Building Fund. Address
is below*
The
happiest place on earth, Disneyland, was
the setting for our son Aaron to ask a lovely Christian girl named
Rachel to be his wife. We have had a couple times together to get to
know her and love her already. We will travel up to San Diego in September for their
wedding. We are looking forward to a great
family celebration!
Praise God
with us:
For Sue’s medical reports
and recovery
For 5 years of New Life Baptist
Church ministries
Please
Pray:
For the opportunities to
share the Gospel in everything that is happening in weeks ahead.
For the New Life Baptist
building project
For Aaron and Rachel as
they begin their life together
Thank you for the part
you have in our ministry!
In Christ’s Exciting
service,
Bill and Sue
*Mission address:
Association of Baptist
for World Evangelism, Inc
Box 8585
Harrisburg, PA
17105-8585