We have had an interesting few weeks recently and the phrase that came to my mind is that God is allowing us to minister in lives of “all ages and stages.” I had a mid-morning phone call one day from a language school student (Americans learning Portuguese) asking if I could watch her little boy, Isaque, for a couple of hours in the afternoon. Her husband was not well and she needed to be in class. So we were happy to be able to do that. Meanwhile, I got to have a “grandma fix” while taking care of this little guy.
Later in the afternoon of that same day, we had a “coffee break” with our co-workers Paulo and Neli Jancitsky. They are now retired and both celebrate their birthdays within a week. That day just happened to be Nel’s birthday and we had brownies and whipped cream with our coffee to celebrate with them. Paulo is going to need to have a pacemaker implant soon. Pray for him
That evening we invited a young couple to come for waffles with us. Kleber and Kelly and two young daughters are in the missionary training across the street from us. They came to study here from a different “evangelical “ background and are loving the training that they are receiving here. We have enjoyed getting to know them and endeavoring to be an encouragement to therm.
A few days later we had week–end company from the USA. Don and Glenda Greenwood were returning to Brazil to spend a month with their daughter and son in law who minister in a tribal area a long distance to the north of us . Several years ago Don and Glenda helped in a church plant in a small interior town near this tribal ministry and they were coming back to visit and attend a baptismal service. It was a blessing to have Don and Glenda here, to reminisce over the past as they also worked here at the MK school with us. We took them to the airport the day they flew north to their daughter’s home for the rest of their time in Brazil
Whenever we are not on a trip somewhere, we are involved in evangelism and even member care/encouragement nearer to home. In February we began studying the chronological Bible study with a young couple who live near us. Elionaldo was formerly self-employed in all kinds of wood working projects in construction. But, a little over a year ago he was working on a project and carrying a metal piece from one place to another high up on the construction structure and came into contact with high tension wires. He was badly burned on one side of his body and eventually had to have both legs amputated just above the knee. He is in rehabilitation and physical therapy and hopes to soon be able to get two prothesis and begin to walk again. We are glad that his wife Elisangela and two daughters, Vitoria (12) and Naiara (18) are also studying with us. Our local church first reached out to them through our “food basket” ministry which takes baskets/boxes of food staples to families in financial need. Then they were invited to study God’s Word and accepted that invitation. Please pray with us that they will also come to accept the most important invitation, to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. We are just ready to start in the new testament in our study time with them.
Our most recent visit was to our dear friend Judith Pinheiros who is now 98 years old. Judith has been a long time friend of ours, and a most dedicated prayer partner before God’s throne in behalf of missionaries. Many long hours she has prayed and yet continues to do so. She is praying for God to “taker her home soon” but we also encouraged her to be a witness in this new mission field where God has placed her. She is in a very nice nursing home where she is very well cared for by several health care professionals. It is a bright and cheery place and she is happy there, except that she has no Christian fellowship. So, we have shared this with several in our mission community hoping to raise awareness for folks to go and pay her a visit now and then. We are so thankful for our friend, Judith.
Yes, our lives touch the lives of others in all “ages and stages” and we ask God to make us a blessing wherever He places us.
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