May 31, 2004

Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Savior,

This month's Mission Sheets letter tells of our happenings from April 30th to May 31st.

During the month of May, I heard 12 sermons preached (Marie heard most of them) and I preached six sermons in 3 different Baptist Churches. Marie heard all six. Sunday, May 9th, I preached at both the a.m. and p.m. services at the Clarksville Baptist Church, Richmond, KY, where Bradley Johns is the pastor. Sunday, May 16th, we attended Sunday School and I preached at both services of the Storm's Creek Missionary Baptist Church, Ironton, Ohio, where Jim Orrick and Kenney Hurst are co-pastors. Sunday, May 23rd, we attended Pastor Bobby Greene's Sunday School class at Calvary Baptist Church, Richmond, KY. I preached at the 11:00 a.m. worship service and again at a special 2:00 p.m. service.

The apostle Peter wrote the following in I Peter 1.6: "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness (distressed) through manifold temptations." Yes, on May 20th, we entered into a season of heaviness or distress. Pray for us that we may still rejoice during these days of uncertainty whether Marie and I will be able to return to Manaus on the 24th of June as we wrote in the April Mission Sheets letter. I also wrote: "Pray for us, especially Marie, that she will enjoy better health."

On the 20th of May, Marie received more heart exams and her heart doctor, Dr. Bill Harris, recommended that she have a pacemaker implanted. Tomorrow morning, June 1st, she will consult with Dr. Michael Antimisiaris who implants pacemakers. He will give us his recommendation. I'll finish this letter tomorrow after hearing what the Dr. has to say. My prayer these days is: "O Lord, heal Hattie's heart!"

June 2, 2004: Yesterday, we (Marie, myself, and Dave Parks) spent some 4 hours at the Saint Joseph Heart Clinic. We met with Dr. Antimisiaris who after several examinations of Marie's heart, informed us that her heart was far from being healed and that she must have a pacemaker installed. He will (the Lord willing) implant the pacemaker next Wednesday, June 9th. She will have to spend that night in the hospital. Now, the good news! The Dr. told us that until unforeseen complications arise, Marie will be able for us to travel on Wednesday, the 23rd of June to arrive in Manaus at the airport Thursday morning at 2:30 a.m. "Praise God from Whom all blessings flow." Permit me to copy from May Mission Sheet letter: "Yes, we thank all of you who have made us to rejoice in the Lord during the furlough year. We are both sad and glad to return to Manaus. We will miss the sweet fellowship and kindnesses we have enjoyed here in the USA. We have many brothers and sisters in the Lord awaiting our return. We are not looking forward to the rats and roaches that invade our house in Manaus." (Permit me to add another "r" - "robbers!")

Also this past Friday morning (May 28th), we were privileged to attend the funeral service of our fellow-missionary, Brother Walter Lauerman, at the Thompson Road Baptist Church. Brother Walter was a faithful missionary, so was his wife, Sister Delores. May God's grace be upon her and the children and grandchildren that he left behind.

The Lord willing, when you read this letter, we (Marie and I) will be back in Brazil to stay for many months and moons. Stephen will return to the U.S. after around two weeks. You may e-mail us in Manaus at: ambratcher56@yahoo.com. Phone 011.55.92.611.2331.

Please continue to give to the General Fund of BFM and designate any offerings to us as the Lord leads. When we left last June and while in the U.S., we received more than one request from our Brazilian brethren to help them buy a boat, build a building, and buy a car. "When we asunder part, it gives us inward pain; but we shall still be joined in heart and hope to meet again."

Yours in service of the Savior,

Harold and Marie Bratcher

Brother and Sister Bratcher hoping to return to Brazil soon.