Dear co-laborers in prayer,
“There are many who have not yet heard of Christmas, and soon we will be celebrating the resurrection of Jesus.” Vasti de Senna is the one who wrote this in her letter the other day. She was our student in the late 70’s, worked in a tribe, then due to problems with her eye sight she was invited to care for the NTM office in São Paulo. She is retired now and both eyes, after multiple operations, are some better. Her letter shows that she still knows where to look for encouragement. Just look at this verse that she sent: “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” Ephesians 3: 20-21.
Gwen and I are always amazed and grateful for the gifts that have come again this past year. The Lord is certainly the One to praise since He brought you to Himself, gave you a heart for those you have never even met, and blessing us with your love and care.
The Lord is very aware of our needs and is pleased to come to our rescue. The famous document that had to receive our author’s signature in a law firm in Australia has made its rounds. Another signature was done in the Brazilian Consulate in Sydney and the last one in the Brazilian Consulate in Florida. It arrived in Brazil on the 3rd of December. Now a legal translation of the document is required and then a copy of it must be sent to the ISBN department at the Brazilian Library of Congress. Because the document is a new type, we hope the Brazilian Library of Congress will accept it, making a way for something new to work. “A gente dá um jeito,”(translation: we will make a way) is a very common expression in the Portuguese language. So pray with us that “O Senhor dará um jeito,” “The Lord will make a way.” Each tribal missionary team will need this document to be able to print this series into the tribal languages. It will be a 12 volume series, Lord permitting.
Volume 3 is half way done. Claudio Berto, Ruth Schuring, and Giovana Gomes are the ones who need the Lord’s help in doing the first translation of these lessons for new believers. Emília Abreu, Rejaneide Monteiro, and I do the several rounds of corrections that follow. Thiago does all the formatting, at many levels.
Thiago and Letícia Ishy have finished training and have accepted the opportunity to teach in the Peniel Bible Institute. I was told that, since he has been on our translation team all of these years, he remains on it and will also keep doing these books with us. They have recently been with Letícia’s relatives in São Paulo and in the church she grew up in. Both of their churches need encouragement and vision in participating in this difficult task of reaching unreached people groups.
Paulo and Patrícia Tezzei, who worked on our team a few years ago, have now been working among the Yanomami tribe for two years. Patrícia wrote this week and mentioned her grandma Cida (Seeda), who has never received the Lord and is nearing death due to her poor health. Her grandmother is a spiritist; few of them ever repent and trust in Christ as Savior because they depend on their good works as their savior. Our letter to her was one more challenge to trust in the Lord as her Savior for He is the only one whose works the Father will receive. Eternity is too long to go into it depending on one’s very flawed works.
Joel Stadem, my cousin’s son, has been in ICU since June the 11th due to a near drowning in Minnesota. His neck was broken, so he has faced some very difficult months of therapy. After 7 months Joel and his family continue to be a testimony of the Lord’s grace.
Yours in Christ Jesus,
Calvin and Gwen Taylor- NTM Portuguese Translation Team- Knoxville, TN