April 3, 2007

Hello Fellow-saints,

I´m so thankful that my sainthood does not have to depend on my good works but on the priesthood of my precious Redeemer! Certainly the Gospel is good news to all who desire to be right with their Creator. May we all be faithful to proclaim it.

We just got back from one of our works about 150 miles away at Primavera do Leste. We had a wonderful time while there with our young preacher Osmar and family and with the folks at that mission. We were scheduled to go next weekend to the church at Novo Diamantino but have had to change our plans. The preacher and family there have all had the scabies(seven year itch). It is very contagious and we don´t want to catch it. We took it home to the States one time and gave it to a good part of our family. They didn´t appreciate it too much! I just got off the phone with that young man and now his four-year-old daughter is in the hospital with the dengue fever (bone breaking fever). This was practically eradicated in the States about a 100 years ago. I have had it several times here and it can be fatal. We are praying that it won´t start the little one in having internal bleeding.

Sorry I am talking about such unpleasant stuff but that is all a very real part of life in these parts. The extremely hot weather is getting hotter yet than normal. It causes Ursula to swell a lot and she can´t stay too much on her feet here. So much for the complaining, but sometimes it feels good to get it off our chest.

The Lord has blessed us so much. This past month we received a visit from our youngest daughter Michelle. We as well as the church folks here really enjoyed having her here again. She grew up here in Cuiaba and has many friends here still. Also this past Friday we moved our new pastor into the living quarters at the Altos do Coxipo Baptist Church. Brother Ernesto Junior was saved under Brother Bobby Creiglow´s ministry many years ago. He is a dedicated young man in the Lord´s work and we have a great hope that he will be greatly used here in this fertile mission field.

At this present time all of our works have Brazilian preachers and this leaves us free to help out more in the newer missions. Our heart´s desire is for these works to carry on well after we are gone. We thank all of you who support our ministry here in Central Brazil. To Him be praised for all that has been accomplished. May the Lord continue to bless all of you. Pray for us as we come to mind.

Yours in Christ,

Harold & Ursula Draper