December 8, 2006
Dear Friends
The thought that comes to my mind as I begin this letter is not comforting to me and I hope God will make it discomforting to you: "where are the men who should be going?" Do we imagine that God¹s work is done? Are there no more to hear? Do we think that God will get the job done just anyway? Is it possible for us to become sound in doctrine and heretics in our works? Does God not still ask, "Whom shall I send, who will go for us?"
Dear brother and sisters, have we forgotten the love of our Master as we desire for our families and our sons and daughters a fine standing in this world that crucified Jesus and continues to badmouth Him and reject His word; where its godless schools and universities teach that we are the product of godless evolution and brings our existence to be the product of amebas and monkeys? Is God not worthy to receive our sons and daughters, not worthy of our wealth; is His love and death shown at Calvary not worthy to be proclaimed for His honor and glory?
At this point I had decided to erase the first two paragraphs but this morning I bowed my knees before God and asked Him to use my body and spirit today because they are His. He bought them with His sacrifice on the cross. I asked Him to guide my thoughts, my actions and my words, so the two paragraphs remain.
SEVENTY YEAR OLD MAN SAVED Three weeks ago at our prayer meeting in Urai someone made a request to pray for Benedito who had terminal cancer. He was well known to us since he worked in the city park and day school behind our house. I visited him two days later. "Benedito, I came to talk to you about Jesus and tell you how to be saved if you want to hear."
"I want to hear."
He was lying on a small sofa. I opened my Bible and read passages and explained what Jesus had done to save men. The story of Christ¹s life, death, burial and resurrection had its effect and when I finished he said, "I trust Jesus as my Savior." One week later we visited his body in the funeral home.
SEMINARY SEMESTER ENDS There were five young men and one young married couple who studied: two of the Sussumu Mission and Claudia teaches a children¹s class in Rancho Alegre Mission where Marcio and his wife take care of the work.
NEW HOUSE FOR SUSSUMU MISSION The new house purchased for the Sussumu Mission is now in use. The total amount for house and legal costs is about twelve thousand dollars. Our thanks to each of you who gave for this project.
FIFTY-NINE YEARS TOGETHER On December 20th, Alta and I will celebrate our 59th wedding anniversary. Fifty-one years in Brazil. What a love life I have had! "The journey gets sweeter every day".
ASSAI Our new work in Assai continues though progress is slow. Alta and I spend Saturday and Sunday there with services on both days. Maybe you will be interested to know I found Urai and Assai in the Bible - Isaiah 59.19: (translation of Portuguese) Then they shall fear the name of the LORD from the setting of the sun (Urai) and his glory to the rising of the sun (Assai). When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up His standard against him. Note: Urai means setting sun; Assai means rising sun.
In closing, the harvest is great, the laborers are few, pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers.
In Him,
John and Alta Hatcher