July 4, 2006

Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Blessed Savior:

“God bless America, land that I love, stand beside her and guide her through the night with the light from above. From the mountains to the praries, from the oceans white with foam, God bless America” that was our home, ( Marie and myself ) for many years before Brasil became our home, sweet home. Thus I felt like greeting you, the readers of the Mission Sheets, because today is Independence Day in the U.S.A.

This Mission Sheets month is two months late due to the fact that I forgot to write the MS letter in May. Forgive me, brothers and sisters! During the month of May I preached eight sermons, all at the 24th of March Baptist Church and I heard nine sermons here in Manaus. The June Mission Sheet month was from June 3rd until July 3rd. During these days I heard six sermons and preached ten.

Now we bring you an update about the two pieces of missing luggage. One bag, which is mine, is still missing. Marie´s came after seventeen days. Now that the airline company Lloyd Aereo Boliviano has moved out of Manaus, they told Asa Mark that they had no idea where the missing suitcase is. Marie had a pair of sandals in the bag, and the rest was my things. We believe that the suitcase was stolen. In the forty-seven years of being here traveling back and forth, this is the first time we have had such a problem and loss of our personal things.

Last Saturday morning at 7:10 the two of us, Stephen’s mother-in-law and our driver Brother Chagas, left the house here to travel to Parana da Eva to attend the 11th anniversary of the Ladies WMU there. We were royally received and were entertained in four different homes. I preached in the two churches. There were good crowds at all the services.

Our son Stephen, arrived at 3pm June 27th. His plane arrived 13 hours late. So we were very glad to see him. Asa Mark picked him up at the airport and have been quite a bit together. Yesterday he went with his brother-in-law to Parana da Eva so that he can fish some. He has been to the 24th of March Baptist Church twice and preached Sunday night at the Comunhão Baptist Church. He has invitations to preach in more churches before his departure later this month.

We thank all of you who pray for us and support us in any way. We still pray for Brother Jim Orrick, Brother Marvin Summers and for Brother Homer Crain. May God bless each one of you, is our prayer.

Yours in the Service of the Savior,

Harold and Marie Bratcher

Harold and Marie Bratcher.