April 30, 2002

Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Savior,

This Mission Sheet month goes from the 5th of April to the 30th of April. During the above days, I preached six sermons: two at the 24th of March Baptist Church, Manaus, where I am the pastor; one at the New Jerusalem Baptist Church where Ediberto Ribeiro da Silva is the pastor; one at the Communion Baptist Church where Asa Mark Bratcher is the pastor; two sermons, Sunday morning and night, April 28th, at the Clarksville Baptist Church, Richmond KY, where Bradley Johns is the pastor.

On the 13th of April, we were honored at a special morning service at the Rosa do Sarom Baptist Church. We received from some ten Brazilian pastors many kind words and praise. "To God be the Glory."

The first service we attended in the USA was at the Thompson Road Baptist Church, Lexington KY, where Dave Parks is the pastor. Thank you, Brother Dave for all the help you have given us since we arrived.

Sunday morning the 21st, we attended Pastor Edward Overbey's Sunday School class and heard Jeff Pell preach at the Heritage Baptist Church here in Lexington where Greg Waltermire is the pastor. That night we attended the Glen's Creek Baptist Church, Versailles KY where Mickey Hyder is the pastor. On the 22nd of April, we had supper with Dana and Becky Adams.

Besides the persons mentioned by name above, we thank the following brothers and sisters that have been a blessing to us: Charles and Reva Bratcher, Mrs. Ella Casey, Dona Engracia Dias Cordoso, Paul E. Campbell, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Million, Mr. and Mrs. Allen Zacariah Whitaker, Mrs. Helen Palmer, and Bobby and Betty Creiglow.

"We praise Thee, O God, for the Son of Thy love, for Jesus who died and is now gone above."

We also thank all of the directors of BFM.

The Lord willing, we will return to Manaus on the 30th of May, 2002.

May the Lord continue to bless each one who gives to BFM and pray for us. We pray every day for many of you.

Yours in the service of the Savior.

Harold F. Bratcher.

MARIE WRITES:

"IN ALL THY WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS."

We have sought the will of the Lord now for many months concerning Harold's pacemaker. Finally, we were convinced that we should return to the USA for treatment for our hearts. 

With Brother Dave Parks' help and the help of many others, we arrived at the Lexington Airport in Lexington on April 16th at eleven o'clock that night. To our surprise, there were thirteen brothers and sisters in Christ to greet us. This included four pastors and our granddaughter, Marcia Bratcher, who is a college student at Georgetown College. We appreciate all who came. 

The Lord has been good to us and has provided for all our needs for which we praise His Name. So far, the pacemaker has not been implanted yet because the doctors here were able to give Harold the "electric shock" treatment, and he is now waiting to see if he will need to have the pacemaker implanted at all. This will be known on the 8th of May when Harold returns to his doctor. We pray that the Lord's will be done. [For more information about Harold and Marie's medical treatments, please click here to read Brother Parks' report].

Before we left Manaus, there were many 75th birthday celebrations for the two of us with special services, gifts, flowers, food, and fellowship. One of these celebrations came as a complete surprise to us as the pastor at the New Jerusalem Baptist Church at Parana de Eva in the interior insisted we make a weekend visit there with him. On April 6th, the night service was in our honor, celebrating and giving thanks to the Lord for our 75th birthdays. The final celebration, in a special service, on Sunday night April 14th, was held at the Communion Baptist Church, Asa Mark Bratcher pastor. Again, we give thanks to the Lord for all who were so kind and considerate to us during our last days there in Manaus.

Thank you for all your prayers, help and support you have shown to us. God bless each one of you is our prayer.

Yours in Christ,

Marie Bratcher