January 25, 2003

Dear Friends,

Thank you dear ones who have been so loving and faithful to pray for us and support us with your offerings for so many years. 2003 brings us to forty-eight years in Brazil. We praise Him. Our special thanks to you our "friends in Kentucky" and "a friend in Michigan" for your gifts.

The year 2002 ended full of blessings and 2003 has begun the same way. After twenty years our daughter Lynn was able to visit Brazil once more. She and daughter, Virginia, were here the month of November and Ross and Ryan were here during the last half of her visit. Believe me when I say, "we enjoyed the most of this rare joy." Day and night we looked at each other and shared our love with every glance and touch. The last week of December and the first days of January we were in Manaus to visit Paul and Wanda, David and Pennie, and many friends. What a thrill to see how God has blessed and is blessing His work. (Got to play tennis one day! No, they did not have to carry me off the court, but if I die while playing tennis, just say, "he went down with a racket!"). The only times I do not tire is when I am preaching or playing tennis. Unfortunately, tennis has become a rarity.

We arrived home from Manaus on January 3, rested a little, Alta repacked our bags and we went to Camp on January 6. There were 173 persons from three States and about ten cities. All from works that have been started through the ministry God has given us through the years. The people are like our children and grandchildren. Valdir dos Santos, pastor at Cornelio, directs the camp and he insisted that I bring the principal Bible Study each morning. This year I taught on KNOWING AND DOING GOD'S WILL. The interesting thing is the Study is for everyone from nine years up, a total of about 140 persons, and the study lasts for an hour and a half. Many lives of young and old have been changed during this time of communion in God's Word. 

After Camp, we had a week for rest and preparation for our Vacation Bible School. A total of 75 children were enrolled. Valdir and his wife Sonha directed the VBS and some of our members got first hand experience. It was a success and several children were saved. On the third day our neighbor, William, ten years old, came on his bicycle to visit Alta. He asked how we could know that God did not have a body. She talked to him and answered another question or two and left. In a few minutes he was back and said, "Dona Alta, what I really want to know is how to trust Jesus and be saved." He listened and he believed. Two days later he telephoned and asked me: "If God created men, how can men clone men?" When I explained that God created from dust and men clone from living cells but they cannot create from anything that is not already living, he was content. Pray for William. A young boy with a mind looking for the right answers could become a great servant of God.

I wrote in another letter that there are two projects I wanted to see completed if possible: a new building in Casa da Familia mission and the purchase of a large lot in the city of Marilia for a new mission. God blessed us in a special way. The lot where we are planning to build is smaller than we would like, but that is what we had. Well, this week the lady who owns the property next door came and offered the house and lot for about two thousand dollars. Verbally, we have closed the deal and we have the money to pay as soon as the documentation is in order. This will give a house for services while building and room for growth.

Dear Friends, we love you.

John and Alta Hatcher