August 1, 2004

For the first time since we arrived in May we can report that we are doing much better with our health.  We are thankful for that.  It is now 2:00 am after midnight.  I learned from Brother Hafford Overbey, if you can't sleep, get up, pray, and do something constructive rather than toss and turn; so I'm sipping hot milk and getting out this month's report.

July is vacation month from school, etc., and two of our works in two of the missions went back to Sao Paulo to see their families.  Both had to leave their wives and small children here due to the high price of bus fares.  They are now back and into the work.  At our work in Novo Diamantino we had an awful thing happen.  A faithful man of the church fell into an awful sin and had to be disciplined.  We are trusting the Lord that it will not hurt the work there.  Our three faithful servants with cancer are still alive and having treatments.  Pastor Joao Candido of the Boa Esperanca church is the worst off.  I'm afraid he won't be able to hang on too much longer.  Sister Teresa Santos seems to be much better and is scheduled to arrive back here this coming Friday if all goes well.  We are planning a big reception for her.  Our dear brother Luis Antonio will leave out tomorrow night for another round of chemo.  His outlook isn't too good either.  We commit them to prayer and to our sovereign Lord.

We want to thank all who are giving to our support and to the General Fund.  We thank all who give to the "As Needed Funds."  Right now we have three workers who are taking Freshman College classes.  We are hopeful that by the end of the year they will have enough classes to be able to get jobs teaching school.  Hang in there with us and let's make this possible.  We are building a new bathroom at the Novo Diamantino church as well as replacing all the broken glass in the windows.  We are studying the possibility of building a small living quarter at the 7th of May work for the worker.  We ask that you pray with us that we will be able to do this.  This is vital to the future of that work.

All our children and grandchildren seem to be doing okay.  Michelle has a new job at Lowe's Building Supply in Paducah, KY.  She really likes her job.  She starts back to college on the 15th of this month.  We love all of you and appreciate your support and prayers for us as well as all other faithful missionaries.  Keep up the good work there are pray for us as we serve the Master here in Central Brazil.

Yours in Christ,

Harold & Ursula Draper