July 4, 2006

Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

I just got home last evening from North Carolina.  I had a wonderful time with the saints there in Winston-Salem.  I am weary.  This morning I noted that we have been in five States and in ten churches this past five weeks.  Maybe that's the reason I am a little tired.  It has been wonderful visiting the churches and dear saints of God.  We are beginning to wind it down.  We will go back to Brazil sometime next month if all goes as planned.  Tomorrow, Ursula and I go up to Breeze, Illinois, for Ursula to get her colon test.  She had surgery in this hospital on her colon five years ago and they want to check it.  As far as we know, all is well.

As we make preparation to return, we also are making plans for the work there in Brazil.  We want to finish up the sanctuary at the Altos do Coxipo church.  Some churches have expressed interest in helping with this.  I can't give an exact estimate on how much we will need in finances to complete this until I get there and do some checking on the price of building materials.  Also, we hope to build four classes for Sunday School at two of the missions.

We just got a call today from one of our Brazilian brethren, saying that all is going well there.  One of our faithful workers, Luis Antonio, is near death in his battle with colon cancer which has spread all over his body.  He is just waiting for the Lord to come for him.  He probably will be gone before we get there, but we will meet again under much better conditions.  If I didn't believe that I'd be in bad shape.  As Job said, I know my Redeemer liveth and I shall see him face to face in my new body!  Praise His name!

We will write one more letter here from the States, probably, before leaving out for Brazil.  We will need a little time after we quit traveling the end of this month to get packed and organized to leave.  Do pray for us as we make our preparations to return to the field.  We are not old, but we've got a lot of miles on us.  Ursula suffers a lot with her arthritis.  God bless you all.

Yours in Christ,

Harold and Ursula Draper