January 30, 2003

Greetings in the Name of our Lord,

Here another month has gone into eternity and what have we accomplished for God's work? Sometimes it seems as though the answer is "very little." But where God is concerned little is much when He is in it.

It has just been brought to our attention lately that there has not been a letter in the Mission Sheet from us for some time. We did not know because we don't receive the Mission Sheet and had not read one lately. We were saddened because we have faithfully written our letters and sent them by e-mail. But as happens from time to time with these new-fangled gadgets, the stuff gets lost in the air. So this month I am sending our letter by way of regular mail. So hopefully, it will get to the desired destination.

When we first got home Barb and I went to a missionary conference in St. Charles, Missouri. We met many people there and had some wonderful Christian fellowship. Since then we have been traveling a lot and have not thought much about that first trip. But today we opened the computer and there was a letter from one of the people that we had met there. This couple had taken our material and was interest in our work there in Brazil. They had lost a friend to cancer and wanted to do something in her memory. And since she had adopted a Brazilian child 21 years ago, they thought it appropriate to make a contribution to a work that was with and for Brazilian children. God is AWESOME in the many ways He works to further His work.

I have a very serious and immediate prayer request. I know we have kept you up on how we have not been able to secure our permanent visas and have been in Brazil on extended protocols. Well, we got word last week that our extended protocol had been revoked and that we could not get back into the country until this matter had been resolved. Now we don't know if that means our permanent visa application has been denied or just the protocol, but we are needing prayers for this matter. We just have to remind ourselves that the devil is at work trying to discourage people that are working for the Lord. Barbara and I are so excited about this new work that we are going to start when we get back to Brazil and we just know that it is going to be great because of how Satan is fighting to keep us from doing it.

Odali and Kathy and a lawyer are working in Brazil to get to the bottom of this problem, but Barb and I know that our God is in control and He has already solved the problem. He just wants to give some of His saints the opportunity to get on their knees and communicate with Him. If that is you, please be the prayer warriors that God wants and talk to our Father with us about our permanent visas. We want to thank you in advance for your prayers and also for your love and care for us.

We have just returned from the Winter Missions Conference in Florida and it was wonderful to meet old friends and make new ones as well as enlist prayer warriors all over the world. There were many things that impressed me at this conference, but this one stands out from the rest: Pastor Danny King takes time each and every Wednesday night for him and his Church to stop and read the Mission Sheet. By this manner they keep up with what is going on in the mission field and with their missionaries. This way they know how to pray for their missionaries. I think that this is AWESOME!!!

While we are on the subject of missionaries, how many of you have been on a mission trip or have been involved in a short term mission project? I think that we are missing the boat if we are not participating in this manner. Why?!? Because from these trips and projects I think we can inspire our missionaries. Are you planning such a project? I encourage you to do so now! And if you don't already have a missionary in mind to visit, Barbara and I would like to talk to you about visiting us in Brazil. Our telephone number in the States is 859-252-2859. We are expecting to hear from you. Start planning now.

Again, please pray for our visa problems and for the new works that are beginning.

In His Service,

AJ and Barbara

A.J. baptizing a young man, Ricarde, who feels called to preach.