December 1, 2006

Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

It is hard to believe that this is the last mission letter we will write in 2006. The year has passed so fast. We have been blessed so much this year in so many ways. I´m sure you feel the same way. Our work here in Brazil for the most part has grown both in number and spiritually. As is always the case we have a couple of trouble spots. We are looking forward to see how the LORD WILL WORK THEM OUT.

One is our work in a city of sixty-five thousand people called Primavera do Leste. We have been without a preacher there for over a year. One is the men of the mission there Dr. Pedro Silva da Costa amd wife have been taking care of the services and Sunday School and doing a great job. He is a lawyer there and one of the founders of the city, which is only about 25 years old. In January, Brother Osmar and wife and two sons will go there by faith to take over the work. This mission is under the authority of the Good Hope Baptist Church here in Cuiaba. Your "As Needed" Offerings are helping to make possible this family to go and work in this so needy of a place. Also, your help is needed as we are by faith starting to build two Sunday School rooms there.

Another needy place is the Altos do Coxipo Baptist Church here in town. We are without a pastor again. Brother Marcelo and family have moved over to the Chacara dos Pinheiros Baptist church to help out. The pastor there has had open heart surgery and is not able to do a lot yet. This church has never been able yet to find a Brazilian pastor who really had his heart in the work. Both of the pastors they have had so far were more interested in material things than the work of the LORD. Consequently, the church has suffered. Presently we are having a young preacher who was saved many years ago in the work here and has surrendered to preach this past year. His name is Elisael; he is a a bricklayer and carpenter . He has built several church buildings for our works here the past 18 years. He does not feel his calling is pastoring but wants to help out while the church looks for a pastor. I do a lot of the preaching here but have to be involved in the new works as well. We also want to finish up the church auditorium here by the end of 2007 if possible.

In our January report we will give a quick rundown on all of the work that is going on here. This month we are having to make a quick trip back to the States for Ursula to see her heart doctor. She has a bad heart valve which causes shortness of breath at times and she feels faint at times. I am not letting her drive in this crazy traffic here in Brazil. The extreme heat is also hard on her. She has an appointment on December 19th. We will try to be back here by the 3rd Sunday in January; Brother Elisel and Pastor Paulo Ricardo of the Good Hope Baptist Church will be taking care of our work whle we are gone for this short time. Pray for Ursula's health. Her arthritis really makes it difficult for her to let a normal life. We have a physical therapist come here to the house three times a week and her doctor has suggested that she start exercise therapy in a heated pool.

We thank the Lord for all of you who make possible our work here in Brazil. We are now in our 30th year and our Lord has been and continues to be faihful. God bless you all.

In Him,

Harold & Ursula Draper