April 15, 2004

Dear Friends,

Would you find it exciting to speak to 230 young people, some married and some single, who had dedicated their lives to going where God called? The Tabernacle Baptist Church in Manaus has such a group. Alta and I were surprised when Paul called and told us that we had been chosen to come and speak to these volunteers. The church is making plans for the present, near future and future for planting teams of these workers in every State of Brazil and to the regions beyond.

Our hearts were filled with joy and thanksgiving as we spent an entire day with this group of dedicated servants. Alta and I spoke about our years of missionary life, our home, our children, our joys, and our trials. There were many questions; some answered and others to be answered as each does the will of God.

While there, we attended the Story of Jesus' life, crucifixion and resurrection presented by the people of Tabernacle church. It is a moving, clearly evangelistic presentation of the Gospel. In four days, 8,000 people heard the Gospel.

When in Manaus, one of the great joys of our life is to be able to visit with Paul and Wanda, and this time with Wanda's mother, Willa McGary, and with David and Pennie. We never run out of things to talk about and for which to praise God.

PRAY FOR LYNN: Sunday night we received an e-mail from Ross. Lynn spent three hours in emergency with extreme pain in the only kidney she has. Please pray for her. The doctor thought it was an infection and gave her an antibiotic.

SUCCESS OR FAILURE: For many years Alta and I have lived in Urai. It is a small town but big in perversity. We have had Bible classes and preaching for over twelve years. We have watched the little ones grow into adults. Many, many children made professions of faith and were faithful until their parents put a stop to their coming where the Bible was taught. Many of these parents were of the Catholic church and many were Pentecostals. But, one thing they had in common: we do not want them to be baptized and become Baptists. Some are now in prostitution. Some are now on drugs and have become thieves.

Three days before going to Manaus, I was awakened by some cracking sounds. Sitting up in bed I saw that someone had pulled out the piece of plastic foam that kept the window from rattling. I jumped up, ran to the window, stumbled over a chair and knocked off the electric fan in time to see someone jump off the roof (height of 10 feet). In the light of the street lamp in front of our gate I saw him jump over the four and one-half foot gate like a cat. I recognized the figure as one of our neighbor boys. He ran down the street. I told Alta that I was going downstairs to see if all was okay. There, I heard something on the front roof which is lower than the second floor. Too big for a cat, I thought, and ran up the stairs. At the top of the stairs there is a small window which I noticed had been messed with. I opened it quickly and stared into the face of the two-legged cat who ten minutes before had jumped off the roof and ran down the street. He was fast and agile.

This was at two-thirty in the morning. He jumped down and tried to hide. I began calling his father's name. In a couple of minutes he appeared. I talked to him from the window and told him what was happening. He went and called the police.

This is a boy who has been in our home, done work for us, heard the Gospel, but whose parents do not want their children to follow the Lord. I can give you the names of fifteen more whose parents took them out of the way of truth, many who we see smoking drugs in the park in back of our house.

Pray for these young people, pray for us to be able to reach them. There is a chance; they are still alive and God is not dead.

In Christ's love,

John and Alta Hatcher

John Hatcher baptizing at Nova Fatima.