August 27, 2002

Dear Friends,

When we came back to Brazil last September, we left the United States in a real crisis. But we left seeing that many people were seeking God and Churches were filling again. So we left feeling good about our home land. We were returning to our other home to begin a new work with kids of the street and to evangelize our new community.

In this year we have accomplished part of our plans. The property has been purchased, although we had to borrow for the last payment. We are now ready to begin building homes to receive the children. That, too, depends on the incoming funds. We have two organizations that would like to help with the first home. Who knows, maybe there will be some ground moved soon.

The evangelizing of our community, we feel, is going well. We have started a mission and have ten baptized members and two waiting for baptism. Our attendance is anywhere from eight to twenty-seven in any of our three services. We have at least ten children attending our Sunday School and this is just from our closest neighbors. As you can see, there is still more to do for the Lord. Our young song leaders, Ricardo, received a guitar as a gift this year and is now taking lessons to help in the song service. We are reaching our community for Christ. We have discipleship training three nights a week in the homes of the new converts and are teaching some of the young adults to speak English.

Our days are filled with Portuguese classes. Yes, we have been in Brazil for six years but we are just now getting some formal language training. You can imagine how it is to learn a new language. Yes, you can teach old dogs new tricks; it is just much harder and it takes longer. You know when you learn something wrong. It takes more time to unlearn and relearn. So we will be continuing our language classes for some time to come. On a property this size there is a never ending need for maintenance. We have had many wonderful helpers from the States to keep this work in hand. Not only was the help greatly appreciated but the fellowship was wonderful. If you have not been far from home in a place that does not speak your language, you will not know how much this fellowship is welcomed.

We are now planning a six month break from studying and some wonderful time with friends and family. We hope to see many of you at your Churches; others we will see at some of the conferences.

As always, we would like to thank all of you who make it possible for us to be on the field. Without Baptist Faith Missions, that would not be possible.

In His Service,

AJ and Barbara Hensley

Hi from Barbara,

When we returned to Brazil I came ready to begin our work with street kids. But you know how God works on a different time table than we do. So, I had to re-group and get ready for something different.

We must always be ready to change our plans when we seek God's will in our lives. It is not always easy, but He did not promise a bed of roses.

I am learning every day that when you put your life in God's hands things will be just fine. There will be ups and downs, but God will always be there by your side.

We have had an overall good year except for this last month. We were robbed at gunpoint in our house. But the good side of this is that we were not hurt and that is what matters.

The life of a missionary wife is much like yours. It is a test daily to see on whom you depend.

-- Barbara