August 5, 2008

Dear Friends,

It is a chilly morning here at our house and it is raining. I like the rainy days because the dogs do not bark, people do not knock at the gate, and the loudspeaker cars do not pass in the streets. Another like of mine is long bank lines in hot weather. The bank is air-conditioned, there are no dogs barking, and no cars with loudspeakers pass through.

GOD'S CARE: On July 28th we were on our way to Garca when I heard a different sound in the car. Just before leaving the city limits, the Lord seemed to say that I ought to have that sound checked. I did, and there were two bearings that had to be changed. Our trip was postponed until the next Monday. Kathy met us with her three boys for a lunch at McDonald's with Gilberto and family and Maria, our adopted daughter. Gilberto was saved in Cornelio Procopio. His wife, Valeria, was saved in Galia. Maria was saved in Manaus. The sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, and grandchildren God has given us through the Gospel of Jesus make our get-together's little family reunions.

THIS WEEK'S ACTIVITIES: On Sunday, Alta and I went to Assai for the morning service. Only one person appeared since it was a very rainy day. Maria, the lady present, had lost her ninety-year-old father during the week. The Bible lesson for the morning was concerning the benefits of Grace in Salvation. Maria has been the victim of false evangelical religion for several years and has shown a real interest in studying the Bible and hearing the truth. Pray for her as she attempts to bring her sons to hear the truth. She is a widow. On Monday, Alta and I went to Cornelio Procopio for the monthly meeting of pastors and their wives. The ladies meet together and Alta always has a Bible study with them while the men meet to study and pray.

OUR CHILDREN: Needless to say, one of the things most difficult to deal with in our old age is the desire to see and be with our children. However, we praise God for their lives and how the Lord is using them for His glory. We praise Him for caring for them in difficult situations. Lynn and Ross continue their work with exceptionals and the work is being extended. Lynn still battles with cancer, but we praise the Lord and thank Him for sustaining her. Paul was on a missionary trip to Northeast Brazil this past week and two thugs threw him to the ground and took his cellular phone. Evil persons have been fighting the Children's Home in Garca and have almost closed the work of Kathy and Odali. The work of John Mark and Judy in France is being blessed, a miracle of Grace in a nation of ungodly.

The Chapada Baptist Church where David and Pennie work is now in the process of building a new ample building. The Tabernacle Baptist Church and Baptist School of the Americas under the leadership of Paul is changing lives. His blessings continue in our children's children. All of our grandchildren are seriously serving the Lord. For all of these blessings we praise Him. His Kingdom is not of this world, so if you accumulate great riches and die rich here, you have lived poorly.

Sincerely in His love,

John and Alta Hatcher