August 2, 2005

Dear Brothers of the Beloved Lord Jesus and Sisters of the Savior:

Once again we greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Here in Manaus it is hot and dry. Our prayer is for Him “who sends the sunshine and the rain” to cause it to rain on the just and the unjust wherever the rain is needed.

During this “Mission Sheets Month” which is the month of July, I heard 3 sermons preached and I preached a total of 15 sermons, (Marie heard 14 of them). Ten of the fifteen were delivered at the 24th of March BC where I serve as pastor.

On the morning of the 9th around 4:00am, our son Stephen, his wife Salete and their son Stephen Matthew arrived and spent almost two weeks with us and her parents and family. Stephen attended and participated in three services at the 24th of March Baptist Church. That night I attended with four others of the 24th Church, the organization of the Vaso de Bençãos Mission of the 14th of December BC to be the Vessel of Blessing Baptist Church. Three pastors labored much during the years that the church was a mission – Dr. Asa Mark Bratcher and I as former pastors, and Wanderley Melo Rodrigues, the present pastor. On the 21st at our home, we celebrated with 11 of us present the 13th birthday of Stephen Matthew Bratcher.

At around noon on the 25th we were visited by two Kentucky Baptist pastors; Dr. Hershael York of the Buck Run Baptist Church in Frankfort, and Adam Dooley of the Red House Baptist Church in Richmond. They stayed over an hour and we were blessed by their visit.
On Friday night the 29th, I preached at the Liberdade Baptist Church that is located in the same suburb as the 24th of March Baptist Church. The church was celebrating her 7th anniversary as a church. I preached the following two nights also.

Thus we have shared with you some of our labors for the Lord in the city of Manaus. We praise God from whom all blessings flow. Many of His blessings flow through you that support us through BFM. May the Lord bless you is our prayer.

Note from Marie: We are thankful to our Lord for the 46 years we have been in Brazil, and for His guidance, love and protection He has shown us these many years. On July 15, 1959 we (Harold, Asa Mark and I) first arrived in Brazil with Brother John Hatcher, Alta and their five children. Those first months, many tears were shed due to homesickness and not being able to speak and understand a “foreign language”. Little by little our knowledge of the language increased and we were able to have fellowship with our brothers and sisters in the Lord. Our prayer is “Lord, help us to be grateful for all your blessings”. Thank you BFM for all you have done for us and for all the other missionaries.

Yours in the Service of the Savior,

Harold and Marie Bratcher

Baptizing the youngest of three juniors that I baptized.