March 7, 2008

Dear Brethren,

The news from our works along the rivers continues to be good. The building at Tipisca, Peru is under roof. They are having to saw a few more boards to finish the floor and walls. Vando is working full time getting his house built at Foz do Breu on the border. Emerson, at Thaumaturgo, reports that they have stayed over the 250 mark in Sunday School since moving into the new building and more people have been saved. They had tried hard to reach 250 while still in the old building, but didn't get there until the first Sunday when we had the dedication of the building. Now they are averaging over that number. José Maia and family spent the last three months living among the Caxinauá Indians on the Breu River. He had already discovered that their name means “people of the bat”. He made a more important discovery during this last stay in the tribe. Their god is a certain kind of boa constrictor common to the Amazon: the jiboia. He has his work cut out for him. It’s a good thing he has the Holy Spirit to do the convincing that the real God also has a name that starts with the letter “J”, but He is the total opposite of the serpent!

This last week, Missionary Hudson and two of our pastors, Eliésio and Gilles, were back down the Juruá River to visit places that they preached last year. They visited 122 homes, preached to over 450 people and there were 17 professions of faith.

We have had steady results here in town. Last month we had around fifteen more people saved. Last Sunday, my son-in-law, Dauro Lima baptized twenty-one more. We also had three more new members by letter.

This was the last baptism in that baptistery. I performed the first baptism in that tank over 29 years ago. Our building did not even have a roof at that time, but we had to go ahead and press the baptistery into service. On that day, among many others, I baptized my oldest son, Adam, and a precious little old saint who was 84 years old at the time. She is now in heaven, but her 80 year old daughter is still with us and faithful as ever. The reason that that was the last baptism in that tank is that we are tearing into our building again to try to make more room for all the crowds that continue to pack our present building. Right now we are expanding our auditorium to seat an extra 150 to 200 and working on our Sunday School annex at the same time. We do not have the money to start our new building yet. The annex will let us have a projector for members to attend services (at least overflow of 500 people) and free up space in our present auditorium for visitors. Of course, we do not call on you for this building project, but expect the Lord to provide the funds through our local church. I would appreciate it, though, if you would pray with us. Yours prayers will be important in two major areas: 1. that the Lord will provide the money, and 2. that He will give me grace and strength. All the building programs of the church are my direct responsibility.

Baptism at First Baptist

Would you also pray for my health? I have had a serious skin problem that popped up late December. The treatment is debilitating. Also later this month, I want to have knee surgery. I have no pain or swelling and can walk and run without a problem. The doctor says that my knee is in great shape with exception of one ligament that must be repaired to stabilize it. The problem is going up and down those slippery river banks with fifty pounds on my back. There are still many details to work out before the surgery can happen. Please pray.

Thanks for all of your prayers and support. God bless you as much as He has us.

In Christ,

Mike Creiglow