Home | About Us | Contact | News Letter Winter 07-08 Summer, 2007 |
Praise and Prayer | Our Out Reach Ministry | Current projects
Volumn VII, Number 5 Autumn 2008
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A word
hardships
that feel
like the
blistering
sun of mid August scorching
our backs. But we serve a
faithful God who has an
abundant supply of
refreshment that soothes the
soul like a frosted glass of ice
water. The last several months
we have experienced moments
Sandy's health and her continuing struggles with asthma has been a trial that, at times, has had us longing for that tall glass of water. This Spring, we found ourselves increasing her medication, but her condition continued to worsen. We praise God that he provided for Sandy to be able to return to the US in order to get relief from the molds and fungi that provoke her allergies here in Brazil. This proved to be a great time of refreshment for her, allowed her to get off all her medications and work to strengthen her lungs. |
We were all able to join her for the month of July and were once again refreshed by so many friends and family members that we were able to see during this short visit. The entire family was able to return to Brazil August 8th and we are thankful that, for the most part, Sandy has been well. God used the time away, education from our doctors in the US, a new air purifier we were given and the prayers of His people to bring some much needed refreshing to Sandy's health.
 This last summer saw the ministry here in Brazil going at full speed. Between camps that we hosted on our property and camps that were held in river communities we had over 700 kids in attendance and over 200 decisions were made to trust Christ. It is refreshing to see this beautiful campus, that so many of you have given so sacrificially to build, just bursting with young people that are being given hope through the preaching of the Gospel of Christ. Some of the children came to camp from the trash dump that they use as their home and source of food. Some of the kids are from wealthy families whose parents are seldom home. Some kids are released from prison to come to camp. Some kids are leaving their river community for the very first time. At camp they all come together, eat the same food, share the same room, play the same games and are refreshed by the same message; that Christ gave His life that we might have forgiveness of sin. |
The last couple of years have been faith stretching times as the Lord has seen fit to move several of our staff members into other ministries. By the end of this year, we will have lost six couples and seven single staff members; this during a time that the ministry is expanding in both size and scope. God has been faithful to assure us that the ministry is His and that He will provide the people for His work in His time. He has brought us qualified missionaries to replace many who have left. He has also provided competent employees to take over some tasks. By God’s grace we continue to press forward. It is comforting to know that God is able to refresh our staff, but we would greatly appreciate your prayers concerning this matter as there are still several gaps that need to be filled. Pray that we will have wisdom to know how to reorganize the ministry responsibilities so that the remaining staff does not get overwhelmed. The Oliveira Family
Paul complemented Philemon on the fact that his ministry was a source of refreshment to the hearts of the saints. I would like to echo those words of gratitude for each one of you that partner with our lives and ministry through your gifts and prayers. You have no idea how refreshing it is to get assurances from you of your faithful prayers. We are humbled by the way that God has led so many of you to provide for our family through your generous giving. It is our prayer for each of you that you will experience the refreshing grace of God’s goodness in your lives just as you have been used by God to be a constant source of refreshment for our family! Refreshed by His grace, |
One staff couple that has been a refreshing addition to our staff, during their first three years of ministry with us, is Richard and Yohanna Oliveira. Richard started our Leadership Training Course that today has about 250 students enrolled in one of the three locations where we hold these intensive weekend classes. He has now also taken on the role of directing our internal program at the Missionary Training Institute. Both he and his wife are gifted teachers and tireless workers. One year from now they are planning to continue their education in order to meet accreditation requirements for our school to offer a bachelor’s degree, as well as to be better prepared to carry on their various ministries. They have made a long-term commitment to the ministry here and we are very excited about the impact they are having. Since their further education will be a direct benefit to the ministry here on a long term basis we would like to raise funds for their education. They are a young Brazilian couple that has worked very hard to raise their own personal monthly support from churches here in Brazil, but it is not possible for these churches to fund their further education. We feel that helping the Oliveira family at this time is a very worthy effort. If you would like to invest in the lives of this family you may do so by following the instructions on the support slip. You will be partnering with a couple that will certainly bare much fruit for the kingdom.Our children continue to grow physically at a dizzying speed as well as mature in their walk with the Lord. We took advantage of our time in the US this summer to look at some colleges for  Mishaela as she is now in her senior year of high school. At this point, she is planning to do her first year of college at Word of Life in Hungary. They have a great Bible and ministry program that is taught with simultaneous translation into English or Hungarian, depending on the language of the professor. It will be hard to have her so far from home, but we have committed her to the Lord and His work and believe that this exposure to yet another culture, as well as the study of His Word, will be a great preparation for her to be able to spread the fame of Christ amongst those who have never heard.  Joshua is a freshman and continues to be a very dedicated worker. He has also taken up the guitar and is doing very well. Mackenzie  is in seventh grade and is really enjoying the change into Junior High. In a few weeks she will turn thirteen so all of our kids will be teenagers. We are so thankful that this stage of our children’s growth, which in many cases is a source of trials and tensions, has been a refreshing blessing in our lives and the lives of others. |
Praise the Lord for the various camps held during the month of July. Pray for Sandy’s asthma to Praise for the impact that our Leadership Training Course is having in all three of our locations. Pray for Richard and Yohanna Oliveira’s further education and the funds needed for this project. Praise for our children and the blessing that they are to our family and ministry. Pray for additional staff to take the place of the many
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“Jararaca” We are praising God for His provision as we are well aware that this could have been much more serious. Thank you for |
How Can You Help? One of the most important You can join our monthly Word of Life specifying on the memo line: Gary Parker Monthly Support Make checks payable to Word of Life. You will receive a tax deductable receipt and an envelope for future donations or the option to change to direct deposit. In this way you become a part of the day to day ministry of Word of Life Northern Brasil as we can’t be here without the monthly support of many If you wish to make a one-time donation to help the Oliveira family, please specify on the memo line “G. Parker Special |
Home | About Us | Contact | News Letter Winter 07-08 Summer, 2007 | |