April 5, 2008

Dear Blessed Brothers and Sisters of the Blessed Savior Jesus Christ:

Once again we, Harold and Marie Bratcher greet you from the land of Eternal but rainy Summer. The month of March was a hot and very rainy month. This Mission Sheets month began March 8th (Stephen´s 48th birthday) and ended today, April 5th. During these days I preached a total of seven sermons, six at the 24th of March Baptist Church, where I am pastor and one at the Beautiful Garden Baptist Church where Edilson Rodrigues Miranda is still the pastor. The church was celebrating their 51st anniversary of the organization of the church. The total attendance was 156, many more visitors than members.

The Lord not only blessed me on my birthday (I was born on March 24, 1927 in Louisville, Kentucky) but every day during the 28 days of the Mission Sheet month. The 24th of March Baptist Church on the 27th of March celebrated nine years as an organized church. Each one of the sermons I heard honored the Lord Jesus Christ, first of all, and the church and myself as well. The first sermon in honor of Lord and the church’s 9th anniversary was preached on Saturday the 22nd, at the church by Dr. Asa Mark Bratcher, who with his church’s choir of 25 members and 50 more members, honored “The Christ of the Cross”. We, Harold and Marie received twenty-six cards, more from the USA than from Manaus. On my birthday I received eleven telephone calls, three from the USA and eight from our beloved brothers and sisters here in Manaus. The 24th of March Baptist Church presented me with a beautiful black suit.

Today, I sang “Happy Birthday to you, Marie” at 5:30 a.m. Around 6:30 a.m., Marie received a large breakfast basket from four of the faithful sisters of the church. Soon after, our son Stephen called from Ocala, Florida. Antonio and Lourdes also brought gifts. At around 9:00 a.m., Asa Mark telephoned to wish his mother a “Feliz Aniversario” and to inform us that Carlos Alberto Paiva Coelho, 45 years old and a faithful member of the Comunhão Baptist Church was killed by a robber at a Bank ATM machine. He will be missed by many, especially his widow, Sister Lady Paiva. Marie and I are suffering now! Asa Mark, Lucia, Marcia, Lucy Marie and the Comunhão church family are suffering much more than us.

Please continue to pray for us (all the Bratchers in Manaus, Brazil) during these difficult days. Please continue to pray for my cousins in Georgetown, Kentucky, (Wes, Winnie and especially for Kris Bratcher). Also the notice of the death of Sister Kathy Underwood reached us a few days ago. Sister Underwood was a faithful member of the Buck Run Baptist Church, Frankfort, Kentucky, and the beloved wife of Pastor Ken Underwood who was pastor for many years of the Glen´s Creek Baptist Church of Versailles, Kentucky. The Underwoods, during many years, have been a blessing to all four of us. Pray for the Lord to comfort Brother Ken.

We thank all of you readers of the Mission Sheets who contribute to the regular fund and or designate offerings for us – the Bratchers of Brazil - and have been a blessing to us during these days. We need and appreciate all the prayers and offerings we receive as the dollar is now down to its lowest rate in nine years, but prices continue to rise. “God be with you till we meet again”.

Yours in the Service of the Savior, Harold and Marie Bratcher.

P. S. I was 12 days old when Marie was born!