May 5, 2007

Dear friends,

We got back home here in Brazil on the 26th of April and I think that I will not miss the cold weather there in the States. I do totally appreciate the warm weather here (summer all year long with just a touch of chilly weather in June). I think this would make for a good commercial, so I will make it one: If you were thinking about somewhere to go for your vacation and want a place warm and by the sea, come visit us here in Caraguatatuba.

It was a privilege to be able to preach at the BFM Spring Conference in Lexington. Barbara and I were able to renew friendships and make a couple of new ones. If you were not able to go to the Conference we missed seeing you there. It is always a blessing to be among so many of God's servants and bask in all the good things that God is doing everywhere.

While we were still in the States we received word that the paperwork for our permanent visas had been approved. God is faithful in all things. We just have to know that our timing is not always the same as His. This process that should have taken three years has now taken ten years but what is important is that it is in the works. We had to go to the American Consulate to get a letter proving that we are American citizens and then pay some takes and some other paperwork done. Then we went to the Federal Police and they took our fingerprints and will send all this back to their capital for the final approval. This process is slated to take another year so don't stop praying yet. There are always ways that Satan can put blocks in the road of progress. The thing that we know is that our God is greater than any other thing in this world and beyond.

We would like to thank you for the prayers that were sent up for the test that Barbara had while in the States: the biopsy was negative. So that was an answer to your prayers. All this is a gift from an AWESOME God!!! The next thing that we need your prayers and possibly your help is this, the doctors want her to come back in six months for a follow-up exam. The problem is this: with all the traveling that the both of us had to do this time has depleted our financial resources. So if God provides a ticket for her she will be able to meet this appointment but if not we will have to put it off until our next furlough. So if there is someone that has an abundance of frequent flyers and would want to give a ticket for this we would gladly accept it.

As we are back in our ministry field we are gearing up for the following months. We are planning an evangelism and visitation ministry that will culminate in June. Please keep these dates in your prayers, June 18-22. This is when the group from Virginia Beach will be here with us and we are planning to take the Gospel into twelve schools in our area. We will have the opportunity to present the Gospel to more than 3,000 students in these schools. Isn't it AWESOME how when the doors to our schools there in the States are closed we are able to get into schools to tell the Gospel story? We will take this group to the two "foreign missions" that we have: Salesopolis and Natividade da Serra for them to do a Gospel presentation also, so be in prayer for this also.

We are having a shake up in the leadership of our mission points. Some of the leaders are changing locations because of other commitments and when you make changes Satan tries to cause confusion. Pray that he does not have that opportunity in our ministry. The works are going well, the Church at Olaria is meeting two nights a week and the kids are continuing on Saturday. We still lack money to purchase the water meter so we are using the water from our neighbor's house. Morro do Algodao are continuing to meet in the homes of believers because the Church building lacks front door, the floor tile and the sidewalk to the bathroom before we can return to having meetings in the building. Salesopolis has just had a revival and next month we will have the results to tell you and Natividade da Serra is continuing to go strong. And the three that are held in believers homes also continue to go strong. One more that was in a believer's home has been discontinued for a short time. Pray specifically for this to begin again soon.

I have asked for various prayers and now I am going to ask for one more that is much needed. This SPECIAL prayer request is for a fifteen passenger van or a mini bus. Our ministry is growing so our need for transportation is also growing. One use for the transportation is for visitation, it is hard to get the needed number into my little truck. Though one time I did get thirty plus children in it, the police frown on us doing that. Our different ministries are lacking because of this lack of transportation. So as you are praying, put this first on your list and if God lies on your heart to help financially, mark the donation "AJ's transportation". We would like to take this opportunity to thank those who have already given on this need and would like to tell you that before long we will be able to show you a picture of what has been bought. That is when we get the rest of the needed donations.

Well once again we would like to thank BFM for the continued support and ask each of you to continue to support BFM as they support us.

Just remember the light is on and the bed is ready we just have to know when to turn down the sheets. You know that it would be good for you to come down and see what your mission dollars are doing here in Caraguatatuba, so plan your next vacation here with us.

In His service,

Aj and Barbara Hensley