April 2, 2002

Dear Friends,

Is it difficult for you to imagine how these disciples of Jesus in the first century could actually rejoice when they were persecuted for the cause of Christ? I have to admit that when I read about them singing and praising God after being beaten, I wonder if I would have had the same attitude. We have often been ridiculed and defamed, but I had never actually been physically assaulted. On my recent mission trip to Bahia, Brazil I got my first opportunity. It wasn't actually a stoning or beating. I guess you would call it more of a "pebbling." Some young fellows thought that it would be funny to pop the bald spot in the back of my head with pebbles while I counseled people in the crowd at an evangelistic rally. It was annoying at first and it made me a little angry. Then I saw the humor in it. I could already imagine how folks would laugh when I told them I had been pebbled, rather than stoned for Jesus. That was no big deal. What was a big deal was the more than 500 folks who trusted in Jesus as their Savior. The neighborhood we were working in was very rough. As they went around town inviting folks to go to the rally, many folks exclaimed in horror that they wouldn't set foot in that neighborhood. They said that it was too dangerous. A new church is being established there with those folks who trusted in Jesus at the public rally. I want to extend a special thanks to Ahava Baptist Church for providing the funds for me to make the trip there.

I don't know why I'm still amazed at the ways God demonstrates His power. He has done it so often for us. I guess I am always caught by surprise because He often works in ways that are least expected. We have been working diligently to get this big evangelistic Marriage Workshop organized. We ran into several snags concerning locations to sign up for the event. We needed some places that folks would readily recognize when time came to sign up. The places we got are ideal for our needs, but the details about how we got them are amazing. First of all, the owner is a Jewish immigrant from Israel. His secretary told me that in the 25 years that his establishment has been in business, he has never provided an opportunity for anything Christian. In fact, she said that he has always been anti-Christian. Also, she said he never participates in anything that isn't going to make money for his business. When his secretary first approached him about letting us use his stores as a sign-up point, he flatly rejected the idea. Later in the same day, he asked her to give him the proposal again and okayed it. Not only did he give permission to use his stores in our town, but his secretary told us that we could use any of his 712 stores throughout Brazil to sign up for our Marriage Workshop.

We still have a lot of work to do to put together an effective workshop, but acts of God like this encourage us, for we see that He is with us and will use it for His glory.

The family is doing great. We all are enjoying good health, for which we are thankful. We appreciate your prayers on our behalf and ask that you continue to do so. God hears and is blessing through you.

In Christ's love,

Bobby, Charlene, Jessie and Brennen Wacaser

The Wacasers at camp