August 19, 2004

Dearest friends and supporters,

We have waited SIX months to write this letter and now here it is. WE ARE BACK AT HOME IN BRAZIL!!!!! It has taken me one more month to get time to sit at the computer and write to you about the good news. We struggled for 6 months trying to get our one year temporary missions visa and after those six months the Lord provided us with just that. We have returned to Brazil with our first year temporary missions visa just as though we have never been in Brazil. But I am not complaining, we are here and fulfilling the will of our Lord and Savior. 

Our trip was a good one we started in Lexington KY at the airport where we had two extra bags. I had called ahead to the baggage department to ask permission to carry those two extra bags and was told that there would be no problem. We would just have to pay $100 dollars per bag, for us that was fine. But when we checked in at the ticket counter they forgot to charge us. We were sitting waiting for the time to board when we remembered that we had not paid so I went back and told the counter person about this oversight and she said "no problem, we Christians have to stick together, you are going to do Gods work." So the trip began in God's hands. 

We had several friends that had said be alert you are not in the country yet, so when we got to Brazil and was passing through customs we were a little apprehensive. When you get there, there is a separate line for Americans because we have to be fingerprinted and our picture taken. We had taken our time getting to this line so we were last in line and when two employees of the customs came and motioned for us to get out of the line and come with them, well my heart sank to my toes. You see I was thinking about what some person had said and forgetting that our God was in control. You see here in Brazil they honor their elderly, so we, with grey hair, were being put at the front of the line. God works in various ways to show that He is with us at all times. We have been very busy since we have gotten here. We have had visitors from Manaus, Brazil and from the States. We enjoyed the visit with John, Tommie Greatbatch and Taylor Brown and had some good fellowship. Any time anyone of you want to come visit we are open to have visitors. Just bring your work clothes!!!!!

We have registered here and are waiting our card that lets us participate in everything here in Brazil.

All the work here in Caraguatatuba is going well, we are getting involved with one of the congregations and the Saturday Bible school there. We have not begun our language classes yet but are planning to begin again in about two weeks. Our plans for the Vocational School are going forward, just slowly. So as you see we are knee deep in the work here and loving every minute of it.

Always take us to the Father in your prayers so that we may be the witness that He would have us to be and so that we may be about His business of winning souls for the Kingdom. Thank you for your prayers and being there for us when we were getting down while we were in the States. Never forget that without you we could not be here. So ever soul that is snatched from the grip of Satan you are having part of the process. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!

Working for Him in Brazil,

Aj and Barbara 

A.J. and Barbara back in Brazil.