Wrapping Up 2017 Ministry In Brazil

Praise the Lord. I will extol the Lord with all my heart in the council of the upright,,, Great are the works of the Lord.

Hi everyone,

It has been some weeks since I last wrote to you. Seems like yesterday but the weeks keep “flying along”.

We had a good Thanksgiving with Jess and Mary as they came down for a couple weeks. We have been having some very hot days down here, so they will feel the cold when they get back, I am sure. Then Rebeca and family will be here for Christmas, so we will have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Years and be blessed.

There has been a number of church activities this end of the year that we have been able to take part in, and have been able to take Skip out more. He did not go to our all region church get together as there is much moving around and walking to be done. Our last activity was the 3rd of Dec when two churches got together and had Sunday School here at the church and then went out to a farm for dinner and fellowship afternoon.

Our Annual Ladies’ retreat was the last weekend in October and we had two churches represented with sixteen women present. Our speaker, UDA preacher’s wife, sells Mary Kay. We had an afternoon learning how to apply makeup. Our theme was the Godly Beautiful Women, inside and out. I missed the first night as I caught a virus and could not go. I had my sermon notes all written out so the gal who took my place stayed on the theme. We studied around Prov. 31. Then on Nov. 28th we wrapped up our studies for the year with a secret sister party and exchanged chocolates. Now to start planning next year’s activities.

I am still helping in the church as much as I can with the music. I am still teaching a Sunday School class and will be helping with VBS in January. We will have a five-day school this year for which I am glad but have not got what the theme is yet, and working with the ladies.

This year we had a number of different projects and one of them was sewing. We hope to finish that project in the near future. We did some visitation also. We did finish the book on Prayer and many have said what a help it was for them.

We are seeing new faces in the church recently. One man was saved on the 26th of November. He had been coming for some time and wanted to change his way of life and he came forward. He lives 35 kilometers from here and is wanting to move closer to town so he can bring his family. He rides a motorcycle so is difficult to bring his wife and kids. Another family has been coming regularly and we are praying for their salvation. We have an elderly couple coming who live in SP but have a farm out this way and they like our church and so are coming when they are out this way.

Skip is doing well and enjoying having Jess and Mary here. He fell about a month ago. He went to the bath room at 5 a.m. and I went back to bed and told him to call when done. Well, when he called he had fallen. He scraped the top of his head and bruised his knees along with a small cut on the shin bone. I don’t know how he fell in the shower. He had taken his night shirt off. But I figure he was probably messing around with a towel or some such. I figure he did not break a bone because he probably hung on the bar in the shower and went down slowly. Anyway, I am so thankful he did not break a bone or bruise badly. He did not complain about pain. His speech still amazes us as he is much easier to understand and he even is getting to speak some Portuguese now. Jess brought down a massager and he has been using it on his arm and ankle and it seems to be helping. It stimulates the muscles. Easy to use and works (I use it on my legs also). A pastor shook his hand the other day and was surprised at how firm his grip is in his good hand.

We are so thankful for your faithfulness in praying for us. Thankful for your faithfulness in giving also.
I am so thankful that I can help take care of Skip. I just have to watch the blood sugar and blood pressure which is fairly well controlled. People are amazed at how well I get around at my age of 18, ha! I tell everybody I am not ready to sit down in a rocking chair and watch the world go by.

We wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM OUR HOUSE TO YOURS.
We wait in hope for the Lord:
He is our help and our shield
In Him our hearts rejoice
For we trust His holy name.
May your unfailing love rest upon us o Lord even as we put our hope in you.

Pray for our year-end activities
Pray for the country of Brazil. It is in a financial crises and moral crises – so much corruption in the government.

Thanks once again for your faithfulness in giving and praying and sending cards of encouragement.

Yours for Brazil,

Skip and Betty