December, 2004

Faithful friends,

In our last letter I wrote about our construction and the energy. Well, I am still waiting for the pole to be set for the energy. Sometimes when you are waiting for great things to happen it just takes a little longer. Hopefully with a little time and some more money we will have this solved soon.This problem is delaying the construction of the wall around the property and without the wall everything else is on hold. We can't put the equipment on the property without the wall because of security, we can't begin the work without the equipment, and the supplies cannot be stored on the property without the wall. So you see the urgent need for the wall. The block making machine is on the property (it is very heavy and so it is not at risk) but it is awaiting the motor, but you don't need a motor when you don't have energy. Oh well, here we are learning another culture. Sometimes it is a little painful, but all worth it when you see God's plan at work.

With all this on hold, the school is too in the waiting mode. We are not planning to have any boys until January when the regular school term begins. So, maybe we will have some more progress on the energy problem. In this time while we are waiting on God and His will we are learning several lessons. The first two boys that we had here with us did not work out as they still had their street ways and that did not conform to our plans. We then took another boy and after 5 months he decided to go home because we had too many rules. It is hard for these boys to get used to rules, especially rules of the family, because they have lived without a family and household rules for many years. But we are confident that God is using this time and these young men to teach us how He wants us to run this Vocational School. These lessons too are painful but necessary. When you enter into another culture you have to adapt to that culture. We are doing just that every day. Continue to pray for the school and our seeking God's will in everything that we do.

We are getting real excited about the 4th of December. We are planning the first Men's Retreat here in our Church. The ladies had a retreat 3 months ago and there was some AWESOME spiritual growth. We saw more dedication to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. There were many reconciliations one with another. So we are following their lead. We are praying for about 15 men. We have a great speaker,Tom Turley, a missionary from West Virginia. His specialty is the family and the Church. Pray for this with us. As in all Churches the men are a little laid back in Church attendance and work within the Church,and this is even more the rule here in Brazil. So for us to get the men involved, it is a little more difficult. But for God, nothing is impossible!!!

This month as we were washing the bus with the youth of the Church we discovered that the tires were worn out. Here we use things until the last thread and then use that thread too. Well, when I say that we need new tires, it is so. I could see the inner tube through the wall of the tire. Thanks to a Sunday School Class in the Atlantic Shores Baptist Church in Virginia Beach, we were able to put two new tires on the bus.We got a one year warranty on the tires, so it looks like we will be ready to go for at least one more year. This bus has been a God-send in our ministry, but we are growing so much that we need another bus to bring the children in. We are having to make two trips with the bus to get everyone to Church that wants to come. Is that not a wonderful problem to have? The question is this, "How do we solve this problem?" Well, here is where you can help: I looked at buses in the next city this week and found 3 that were in excellent condition and the price was $7,000.00. For us this is an insurmountable price but with your contributions we could buy one of these buses. Think about the little children that you would be helping to hear the Word and give to the Hensley Bus Fund. Getting a bus is the first step. Then comes the maintenance. Our present bus is a 1975 Mercedes and is in pretty good mechanical shape as we have just repaired the transmission and changed the windshield wiper system from air to electric. And as I told you, we have purchased two new tires, but the seats need reupholstering and the floor needs some repair, but that is something that will come with time. This ministry is very important as the people here cannot afford a car and for ONE person to come to Church for the two services on Sunday and to the one on Wednesday night it would cost 10.20 per week. For us that does not seem like much, but remember that the average Brazilian makes $280. to $420 per MONTH (this is in Reals, our money here, and that amounts to $112 to$168 dollars per month) and you will see the reason that we need the buses.Take tithe, rent, food, clothing, light, water, gas and any emergency that comes up and you don't have anything left from your salary.

We have had another baptism service this month. The Lord is really AWESOME! One of the men(Daniel) who was baptized is attending our Seminary and has expressed an interest in becoming a minister. This would be a great help in one of our missions. Pray for Daniel in seeking the Lord's will in his life. It is AWESOME to see the Lord at work in our Church as the people grow in the Word. We are getting to be a part of this growth and we are seeing people's lives changed. The Lord is working miracles because you are giving to B.F.M. For this Barbara and I are eternally grateful. Without the Lord working, your financial assistance, and your Prayers, it could not happen. 'THANKS'

In His service,
(because of you)
Aj and Barbara

HOW AWESOME IS THE GOD WE SERVE!!!!!