July 30, 2003

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

May the Lord refresh your heart this day with His grace and mercy like only He can (Hebrews 4:16). Thank you so much for praying for me and supporting me. God is doing wonderful things here at Alpha & Omega. It is truly a joy to be serving here under Pastor Odali and Kathy Barros.

Praises: July

Living here at Alpha & Omega Children´s Home, teaching the kids how to lead people to Christ, going out witnessing with the kids, and helping them share the gospel

Since I´ve been in Brazil, we´ve given out over 5,000 of the Portuguese bookmarks that go with the gospel bracelets and explain the colors and plan of salvation in Portuguese. I praise the Lord for those of you who helped me order 15,000 more gospel bracelet bookmarks this month. The kids and I at Alpha & Omega are making gospel bracelets to go with the bookmarks and praying for more gospel bracelets. The kids love them here and are learning to lead people to Christ through the colors.

One weekend, Carol (my good friend here) and I took the older girls from the home to the farm for a time of training in evangelism. Praise God that Deborah and Gabriela, two teenagers from Alpha & Omega were saved. While we were there some of the girls and I went witnessing and got to lead Osmarina to Christ and give her a Bible.

The kids here are so eager to witness for Christ. At soccer games, we pass out gospel tracts and bracelets. In the afternoons, we go out witnessing together here in Garca. On July 6, we went out witnessing and Tiago (one of the teenagers here) prayed with an older man named Zoomedo to receive Christ. Tiago told me his heart was pounding while he was helping this older man pray the sinner´s prayer. Tiago said, "Stephanie, we´ve got to get a notebook of these people who are getting saved."
Praise the Lord!

I greatly appreciate Pastor Odali and Kathy allowing me to focus on evangelism and discipleship Almost every afternoon, the kids and I pass out tracts, share the gospel, and invite people to Central Baptist Church of Garca. Praise God for people like Carlos and John, who prayed the sinner´s prayer on the streets of Garca this month.

Prayer:

Please pray for me as I start a Christian library here for the children at Alpha & Omega. Many of the kids love to read, but do not have many Christian books and Bible stories in Portuguese. Through the love gifts from my supporters, I was able to buy some good Bible stories and other Christian books in Portuguese for the children, as well as books (like the Left Behind series in Portuguese) for the teenagers. I´m praying for more Portugues books about the Lord to help these kids grow in Christ.

Thank you so much for helping me order 400 Portuguese Bibles this month and 5,000 more gospel tracts. It´s been such a joy to give Bibles to kids and adults at Alpha & Omega, Garca, and other cities who don't have them. Pastors from the different mission churches that Central Baptist Church has started are asking me for Bibles and tracts. You have helped me set up a Minstry Resource Center in my room, where the kids and adults can get Bibles and tracts for their family and friends.

Please continue to pray for spiritual and physical protection as well. For, "We wrestle not against flesh and blood..." (Ephesians 6). Thank you again for praying for me and partnering with me in the work God is doing here at Alpha & Omega Children´s Home.

God bless you!

By His Grace,

Stephanie Parker
stephm2237@yahoo.com

Alpha & Omega Children´s Home
Caixa Postal 182
Garca, Sao Paulo 17.400.000
Brazil
011 55 14 461 1191

c/o Gayle Penley
8286 Liss Rd.
Willis, MI 48191

(734) 439 - 8458

Matthew 22:37
"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."