January 4, 2005

Hello Brother & Sisters in Christ,

We have all started a New Year.  We pay that yours will be blessed of the Lord.  We have so much to be thankful for as we look back over this past year.  It hasn't been an easy year in many respects, but we can see where the Lord has worked and been with us. 

In Central Brazil we have seen some growth in nearly all of the works. 

In Novo Diamantino, which has been so difficult, we are being blessed.  Many have been saved and the young preacher is really doing a great job.  We are trying to finish up some Sunday School rooms there.  They are already under roof and being used. 

The new work in Primavera do Leste is very stable in spite of some problems between two of the men in the work.  We have had several saved there this past year. 

The work at Jardim Fortaleza is steady.  It is in a very poor and dangerous part of town and is being a light in great darkness. 

The Altos do Coxipo Church will be receiving their new preacher on the 13th of this month.  He is coming from another part of Brazil.  We pray that he will be greatly used in that work. 

The Chacara dos Pinheiros continues to be a solid and great church under the leadership of Pastor Miqueas.  His wife seems to be cured of the awful cancer in her skull and face. 

The Boa Esperanca Church just lost their pastor.  Joao Candido da Silva was only 46 years old.  They have two younger preachers in the church who are taking care of the church until the Lord gives them a pastor. 

The Faith Baptist Church in Varzea Grande is doing well under the leadership of Pastor Jairo. 

The St. Mary's mission of this church continues to have the problem with violence in the neighborhood.  They can only have daytime services due to the crime there.  Several times thieves have come into the church and robbed the people who were in the church services. 

The 5th of May mission is going well and several have been saved there.  That about covers all of the works except for the services that are held in homes.

We thank all of you who support our work as well as all the other missionaries.  Ursula is getting excited about the possibility of seeing her people in Germany.  We trust that our Lord will make it possible.

We pray that all will be blessed in this coming year and we thank you for your faithful support.

Yours in Him,

Harold & Ursula Draper