October 3, 2005

Friends,

It has been an absolutely AWESOME month for the work here.  First, I had the privilege to preach at another Baptist Church here in our town this month.  It was their anniversary service.  It was a small congregation but a very sizable church building.  It is here that I got to see how blessed our work is.  We have a small church building and a large attendance.  The Lord has unusual ways to show us sometimes just how blessed we really are.

Our Sunday School is bursting at the seams.  And after using the rooms in the parsonage (we moved the pastor to a nice apartment) I only have one area left that will not be occupied.  And even after I have divided two more classes and started a new youth class, we have two more classes that need to be divided.  Someone out there is really praying - KEEP IT UP!!!  For all these new class rooms we need new benches.

Also this month we rearranged our mission points with respect to leadership, and now Barb and I are helping in a different mission point with one of the seminary students.  Where we were helping will have the seminary graduate and another student working there.  Where we are working we had twenty-four people in attendance this week.  It is in a believer's home, in their garage.  Our helper's name is Daniel and his wife's name is Lillian; they have four children.  Please remember them and us in your prayers as we begin this new ministry.  Here the children come first and then bring the parents.  Where we were working, the Saturday Bible School had grown to about fifty children.  So pray as we make this transition in ministry points.  This will be our 7th mission point away from the main Church.  How AWESOME is the God we serve.  As we have opened these new preaching points we are in need of benches for these also.  As you can see, our need for benches is great and you can help in this area.  We need $400 to build all the benches for all the different needs.  These can be built in the Vocational School for this price because we are teaching these boys how to work for a living.

Speaking of that, we have been working on the lots and building of the Vocational School.  Our area is just about clean and the carpentry shop is covered.  Last week we started purchasing the tools for the shop.  I spent two days in Sao Paulo, shopping and purchasing.  This week I am recovering from the shopping and moving the tools.  It will probably take another month just to get the tools organized.  And since some were secondhand, we are having to recondition them (sanding, painting, and oiling).  We are still struggling with the energy problem.  I am paying close attention to the electrical wiring.  Most of my machines are 3-phase, but some are 220.  So in the shop we will have to have 3-phase, 220 and 110.  Our town is wired for 220, so I will have to keep a close eye on this part of the project.

Sometimes it is really hard to write what is going on in our ministry here.  The work is plentiful and thanks to all who are praying and contributing, we are able to keep sowing the seeds and sometimes reap the harvest.  Continue to pray for our seminary students, because from there we will be able to raise up more workers for the ministry.

Again, KEEP PRAYING!!!

In His service,

Aj and Barbara