November 9, 2004

Dear Friends

As I write this letter Alta is giving a piano lesson to Marcio and Carol.

Marcio and Carol moved to Urai this past week at our invitation to serve the Lord with us. They have been married about a year. I baptized Carol in Garça when she was nine years old. Her mother, father, grandparents, and other relatives were also saved and baptized in Garça. Marcio was saved and baptized in Duartina. They are both fruit God has given from the work we began in those places. Their ministry here will make it possible to expand God’s work to other places, the Lord willing.

God has reminded us one more time this month that we are fragile, that our life is fleeting and that we need to remember: only what is done in His will is lasting. Our friend, Ken Kunihiro, missionary , went to be with the Lord. We met Ken and his wife at a missionary conference about twenty-five years ago. They did not have a car and they rode back with us to the city of Bauru. They worked with Japanese speaking people. Alta asked Ken: “Were you born here in Brazil or did you come from Japan?”

“You will not believe what I am going to tell you, Alta,” he replied, “I am a Texan of Japanese descent, I am an American.”

Ken was in Brazil for about 50 years and had begun many works among Japanese speaking people. They had a work here in Urai years before we came. About every six months he would come and visit the old Japanese pastor and the very small church they had here. The eighty year old pastor did not speak Portuguese and his wife spoke very little. When Ken came he and the old pastor visited families who lived on farms. Each time he came I loaned him our pick-up to make their visits. The last time he came, the old man, almost 85, was leaving Urai and the work was closed. It was also the last time we would see Ken. About September 15, Ken went to his eternal home.

And it won’t be long until we, too, will be joining the glorious cloud of witnesses.

Our bus route continues to bring folk in. Sunday morning there were four or five children who made professions of faith. Praise God.

Alta continues to stay as busy as a bird dog on a field day. She plans the Sunday School lessons for the teachers and then orients them in techniques. Pray for us. Pray that God will give me physical strength and wisdom for His work. If the Lord wills, I hope to start some seminary classes in Urai in February.

One of our members, Alice, has gone to Portugal. She found a Baptist Church and is working in one of their missions. They call her the Brazilian missionary. Please pray for her.

Thank you for our prayers, your support and your love.

In Him,

John and Alta Hatcher

John Hatcher in a newly built Baptistry.