Bits July

We made it in the building in Tupanatinga before we left for furlough! I originally was hoping by December, then by February, then Easter and alas, we at least had the inauguration before our scheduled furlough. Such is construction; it takes longer and costs more than you expect. But from our building in Arcoverde we understand that in the end the wait will be worth it and it will be hard to remember what it was like before the building. 

We used the building for services starting July 1st and we did an official inauguration service July 15 with Pastor Roger and Marcy Smith present as well as Pastor Claudio and his wife who travelled all the way from Recife to be present. It was really special and emotional. The message was on the gospel as we plan on Koinonia Tupanatinga being a church based on the gospel. We have several attenders who have not yet made a decision to follow Christ, and that is ok. We keep preaching the gospel and do not trumpet salvation as an easy decision. It is easy or simple, but at the same time, truly turning your life over to Christ to follow Him should be something to think through. 

José tells his testimony

In the message we define the gospel as “What the Bible says about God, man, sin and Christ that requires a response of faith and repentance.” A true acceptance to the gospel will change our outlook on life. Praise the Lord there are members who are experiencing transformed lives because of the gospel. 

The girls went to camp this month and had a wonderful time. We had a little retreat with our leaders from Tupanatinga as we leave them for a bit. That went really well. Also Evelyn had a great in person study with her Wednesday night study group. 

In the airport headed out

On July 23 we left Brazil for our furlough. We were able to spend a week in Orlando with David’s family which was a big blessing. In the next couple of weeks we will mainly be prepping the girls for their year at Oakwood Christian Academy. We have school shopping, orientations and other organizing to do. God blessed us with a car through a friend who owns a used car lot in Florida. He is from a missionary family and so understood our needs and wanted to bless us. We were able to sell our car in Brazil to our colleagues Roger and Marcy, which was a huge blessing as far as all the details go. We used the money from that sale to buy the one in the states. 

Our prayer requests for this month have to do with our furlough and the churches while we are gone. Please pray for us to get situated as we live with Sarah’s parents in their barn. (Yes, it is a barn, but it is a cool house in a barn). The church in Arcoverde will have Roger pastoring it for the year and we have asked leaders in the church to step up as well. In Tupanatinga, José, who is looking into ministry, will be helping with preaching, as well as Chico who lives there. We should have some others that go as well to help out. Pray that this will be a time of stepping up and strengthening for our friends there. 

We love you all and hope to see some of you soon! (I still need to resolve some meeting dates, but if you would like to meet up, let me know!)

All for HIS glory,

David, Sarah and our seventh grader Evelyn and fourth grader Anna Claire who are now OCA Eagles

Evelyn is doing a Bible study using the book
"Lies that girls believe."