February 7, 2005

Dear Friends,

Greetings from Urai.  This year marks our fiftieth year in Brazil.  Fifty years of loving Brazil with the love God has shed abroad in our hearts.  We hope that each of you was blessed with many blessings during the first month of 2005.  It certainly flew by quickly.  Thanks to you who gave to the General Fund of BFM last year and to those who gave to the special need of missionary projects.  Alta and I praise the Lord for our health that enables us to keep on the go almost twenty-four hours a day.

The Lord sent Marcio and Carol to help us and we are thankful.  They are a young couple recently married from two of the churches we started in Duartina and Garca.  I baptized Carol in Garca when she was nine years old.  They are dedicated to serve the Lord and came without the promise of any support.  We have been able to provide them with a small house and a used car.  They are a blessing and this month we are planning to extend our work in Rancho Alegre and Sussumu Assanuma.

BUSY JANUARY - Our annual family camp was the first week in January.  I brought the morning Bible Studies each morning from ten to eleven-thirty for all from eight years old and up.  There were changes made in several lives, one who is from our church.  Danilo came back with a surrendered life.  He is busy doing all he can to serve the Lord and is studying in the Seminary.  The last three weeks of January were filled with three Vacation Bible Schools:  Rancho Alegre, Sussumo and our church in Urai.  Marcio and Carol along with Wilier and Danilo were the ones who led and taught in the VBS.

BUSIER FEBRUARY - On February 1st, I began seminary classes in Urai with six students.  This makes six seminaries from BFM churches with seminaries training preachers and workers.  On the thirteenth of this month regular Sunday services are planned for two places.  In Sussumu, Wilier, Danilo, and Odete will be preaching and teaching.  In Rancho Alegre, Marcio and Carol will be working.

PROJECTION - The Lord willing, a new mission will be started in the City of Assai within the next two or three months.  Pray for this new work.  We wish to extend our sympathy to Sister Wanda Turner and her family in the passing of her husband, Brother Richard Turner.  May all rejoice that he is in Heaven with the Savior he loved.

PRAYER FOR LYNN - Many of you have prayed for Lynn in her battle with cancer and God has heard and healed.  She is now facing the second struggle in her lungs and back.  Her last visit to the doctor was very encouraging.  Please pray for her and her family.

We love you and there are not words sufficient to express our gratitude for your prayers and financial support through these fifty years.  To the directors of BFM we express our thanks, especially to Brother Orrick, Brother Sledd, and Brother Dave Parks.

May God bless you abundantly in 2005.

In Him,

John and Alta Hatcher

Odali Barros presenting a plaque of gratitude to John and Alta Hatcher from the school and seminary they funded in Manaus early in their ministries.