May 31, 2002
Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Savior,
During this Mission Sheets letter month, the 30th of April until today, May 29th, I preached seven sermons and heard 8 sermons preached by other preachers. I shall now relate to you about the sermons preached.
On the 5th of this month, we visited (Marie and I) the Hilltop Baptist Church of Beattyville, Kentucky, where I preached both morning and evening. Patrick Prather is the pastor. We enjoyed the fellowship.
On Tuesday night the 14th, I preached at the South Lexington Baptist Church. The church is presently without a pastor, but Joe Earwood and Steve Blake are holding the services.
Sunday morning, the 19th, I preached at the Devondale Baptist Church where John T. Thompson is the pastor. That night I preached at the Thompson Road Baptist Church where Dave Parks is the pastor.
Sunday morning, the 26th found us at the Glen's Creek Baptist Church, Versailles, Kentucky, where I preached. This church is also without a pastor. That night I preached at the Heritage Baptist Church where Dr. Greg Waltermire is the pastor.
Now I will share with you some other happenings of the days in the USA. On the 2nd, we moved from the Extended Stay America Motel to 1643 Alexandria Drive, Apartment 7. The owner of the apartment building is the Gardenside Baptist Church.
On the 3rd, my brother Charles and his wife picked us up and took us to Georgetown where we had supper at a restaurant with Marcia Bratcher, our granddaughter, who completed her first year at Georgetown College. A few days later, she returned to Manaus.
On the 9th, we left Lexington with Charles and Reva and we drove to Owensboro, where we visited my brother Donald's widow, Jodie. The next day, we drove to Henderson, where we visited my brother, David, and his wife, Camilla. We visited also Mrs. Edna Mayberry and Ken Mayberry, members of the Calvary Baptist Church of Uniontown. She is 98 years old.
On the 23rd, our son, Stephen, arrived from Ocala, Florida, and will leave on the 30th. He has been a great help.
To every church and individual mentioned thus far in this letter, Marie and I express our sincere thanks and appreciation for the favors showed to us during these days. May the Lord bless you is our prayer.
Oh, yes, on the 12th, Hershael York picked us up and took us to Louisville, where we attended the Sunday morning services of the Highview Baptist Church, Louisville. We heard the pastor, Dr. Kevin Ezell, and then we heard Dr. Hershael York preach.
To the many others who have taken us out for meals or have given us special love gifts or helped in transportation, we say "Thank You" and God bless each one of you is our prayer. Also for the Directors of Baptist Faith Missions. We appreciate everything you have done for us. Continue to pray for us.
Yours in Christ,
Harold and Marie Bratcher
P.S. Tomorrow morning, the 30th, we will leave Lexington (the Lord willing) at 10:45 a.m. bound for Brazil. When you read this letter, we will back in the "land of eternal summer." In addition to the post office box address above, you may also mail to our new street address: Rua Francisco Jose Furtado, No. 2, Bairro do Sao Francisco, 69.079-200, Manaus, Brazil, S.A. Phone 011-55-92-611-2331.