July 9, 2007

Dear Fellow-servants,

I have let the time get away and am only now getting out this month´s letter. I hope it is not too late to make the Mission Sheet for this coming month. We have been so busy lately here in Brazil. We have had car trouble and just now have gotten our car running after almost two weeks. We have had to ride the city buses some. They are very dangerous here. I just saw in the news today that 430 robberies have taken place on the buses in our city already this year. Our God is our protector!

We are now in the dry season here in Central Brazil. It is so dusty with very low humidity. Everyone is getting sick with respiratory problems. Our family in Novo Dimantino has been especially hard hit lately. The preacher there has been down with malaria. He is better but his little four-year-old daughter has almost died with a bad infection from scabies which went into her blood. We have sent her and her mother down to Sao Paulo and she is responding to treatment. Last week the worker´s bicycle shop was robbed and they took all of his parts he uses to fix bikes with. It came to over $700 worth and only half of them were paid for. It seems to be testing time for them.

We were able to help them with the As Needed Funds some of you so graciously give . Another preacher here in town and his family went through an awful experience this past month also. When they got home from the Boa Esperanca church on Sunday night, two men were in their house and put guns on them. The whole family were tied up and beaten repeatedly all night. Then at daylight the robbers took everything of value in the house and put in the family pickup truck and left. The seven-year-old daughter was able to get loose and untied her mom, who called for help. The father and son spent time in the hospital and the police were able to get the truck and arrest the robbers a few hours later before they could cross the border into Bolivia.

Why does the Lord let things like this happen to His people? He has a purpose. We are thankful they did not harm the two women and did not kill the two men of the family. We live in a dangerous world. Surely our Redeemer´s return is near. The Muslims have their Messiah who they believe will soon come back. The Jews are looking for Jesus to come the first time. Are we really looking for His return?

We thank all of you who support our work here. We have much to get done by September of next year before our furlough time. Pray for us and all of your missionaries and give as you feel led of the Lord.

I am writing this after midnight and can hardly see due to fatigue. I hope it makes sense and doesn't have too many mistakes. God bless all of you.

Yours in Him,

Harold & Ursula Draper