October Update - Back to Brazil!

Greetings from Brazil!

It sure is nice to say that!  To say the least, life comes at you fast, but we're taking it in stride and loving it!  After returning to the states from Africa, we had one more week in the Midwest before heading south.  So we spent some time enjoying the fall weather in IL, drove to Indiana so I could stand in a friends wedding, made some last minute visits to friends and family, and even got a couple hours in on the farm harvesting soybeans!  But finally Oct 14 arrived and we headed to Miami for some last minute shopping and to catch our flight back to Brazil.

Coming off an amazing time in the US and Africa, we returned to find our apartment nearing completion!  Special thanks to Silvia's parents for heading up the remodeling while we were gone traveling!  We hope to get things wrapped up this week so that we can move in next weekend!  It sure will be nice to have our own place!  I have yet to meet a couple who spent the first three months of their marriage on the road.  The crazy part is that this week since we have been back in Brazil and are staying at Silvia's parents home is the longest we've been in one place since we've been married!

Praise the Lord that we had a successful trip to Africa!  We saw so much that's it really is hard to sum it up; poor, wealthy, malnutrition, drought, rugged beauty, skepticism, delight.  It's amazing to me how much difference a border can make, even in the middle of the bush.  We saw this first hand traveling by car between Mozambique, South Africa, and Malawi.  Most of all, we saw the need for a church that will care for the people.  This is God's design for His church and we know it is His Will for Africa!  Aids has taken its toll there, which can easily be seen by the lack of older people.   This is also one of the main reasons for so many orphans.  We visited several ministries and spoke with various missionaries which helped us to better understand some of the hurdles in starting a ministry in this part of the world like cost, legal processes, strategies, and possible locations.  May His Will be done!

Thanks again for your support and prayer!  Mostly we look forward to a prosperous cell group ministry!  Please pray for our cell group that Silvia leads for young people, that we can be good role models and see vibrant growth and blossoming love for their Lord!

We are praying about purchasing another car.  We are blessed to have Silvia's car from when she was in college, but to say the least, the brutal roads here in the Amazon have taken their toll and we are beginning to see the repair cost pile up!  Pray for our ability to make a wise decision about this!  If you would like to help us specifically in this financial area, please send me an email.  Also we are still shy of our monthly budget, but we know our God will provide the increase!  Go here to Donate!

 Praises

- Safe travels from Africa to the US and back to Brazil

- A great MDA Conference

- My Portuguese is coming back!

- An apartment nearing completion!

Prayer Requests

- A prosperous cell group ministry in Santarem, that we would see our youth with vibrant spirits

- Wisdom and stewardship in finishing to remodel our apartment

- Focus on a strong beginning to Silvia and I's commitment to a marriage relationship and ministry to each other

- Wisdom for our car situation

In the name of our almighty God,

John & Silvia

With the kids in Malawi