8/21/08
Hi Everyone!
The team and I have all arrived home safely yesterday afternoon after about 32 hours of travel time. It is good to be home again. I will say that my own bed felt mighty nice last night!
The day before the team left we did a final program for the neighbors who had been asking us to. The team 2 years ago had done a program for them at the request of an 8 year old girl and the neighbors remembered us and asked us to come again! As we did our program it went about the same as last time - people seeing something happening and stopping by to watch. At one point we had at least 105 people!! It was a great way to end the trip!
We all appreicated your prayers for us while we were in Brazil. Please continue to pray as we now adjust back into life here. Several of the team are starting school in the next few days. Also several of the team, including me, ended up with colds.
Thank you so much for your prayers over the past 2 weeks! God answered in many special ways!
In HIM,
JoAnne
8/16/08
Hi Everyone!
I wanted to thank you for all your prayers for our open air meeting last night! God answered and blessed in a tremendous way! There were a number of attacks to try and disrupt the meeting. For example, toward the beginning of the meeting a drunk man came in and was a real distraction. This upset one of the team members to the point of her having a panic attack and asthma attack. She was able to recover enough to continue and do her part of the drama which takes a lot of strength and energy! As I began my sketchboard message I felt my throat starting to go completely dry. I was able to get my bottle of water in time to keep it from causing a real problem. Of course there were also the typical open air distractions such as dogs, cars, and people talking on the outskirts if the meeting area.
However, God did a mighty work last night! We saw Alex, the boy I mentioned for prayer, go forward to trust Christ as well as about 14 others! I don't think any team member had dry eyes at this point! Even though our team will be leaving Brazil in a few short days, it was great to know that we will not be leaving these new Christians on their own. The church and missionaries here are very committed to doing the follow up with these folks. Some has already started!
Tonight and Sunday night we have open air meetings as well. Please pray for these meetings that God will continue to use us to impact the Brazilian people in attendance toward trusting Christ and walking with Him.
Once again, thank you for your prayers!
In Brazil for HIM,
JoAnne
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8/16/08
Hi Everyone,
I just have a quick yet important prayer request to pass along to you. Please pray with us here for the salvation of Pasqual, our van driver. He has been with us nearly every day of our trip and has heard the gospel in our presentations nearly 40 times at this point. The american missionaries have been talking with him along with the Brazilian missionary we are working with. I believe that God is working in his heart but please pray that he will make that decision to trust Christ before we leave on Tuesday.
Thanks for praying!
In Brazil for HIM,
JoAnne
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8/14/08
Hi Everyone!
We have had a great morning in the schools today! We have a nice break now until we head out this afternoon. At our second meeting this morning it was elementary age so we used Katie. After she introduced herself she sang God is So Good for them but she sang it in Portuguese. I had learned it a few days ago. As Katie sang a little girl in the front row started singing right out along with her. When Katie finished she asked the little girl if she would come up and sing with her which she did. I've attached a photo of it!
The team is doing well. We have had a little bit of sickness; a few cuts and bruises etc. but nothing major. We are tired, but excited at what God is doing. Please continue to pray for us as we finish our time here.
Thank you for the vital part you are having in our ministry.
In Brazil for HIM,
JoAnne
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8/13/08
Hi Everyone!
God is anwering your prayers for our team! Our visit to the school yesterday afternoon went much better than the meeting in the morning. We knew better what to expect so we were more prepared, but God was working and things were much calmer and we felt more at ease at the school. When we got home in the late afternoon we received a phone call. It was from a young lady who had been to our meeting on Saturday night and then came to the school yesterday afternoon. God had been working in her heart and she called to tell us that she had decided to come back to God. She had already been saved, but had become bitter and turned her back on God. As a result of our program she made the decision to return to the Lord! God is doing great things in and through us here in Brazil and I know that your prayers are having a big part in it!
Today's programs went much better but we were constantly rushing from one to the next! It has been a busy and exhausting day but a good day! We have done 6 programs so far today and have one more to do this evening at another school.
Please continue to pray:
that God will speak to hearts here
that the team will have the health, energy and strength to continue our busy schedule
that God will also work in the team's hearts as we watch Him use us
In Brazil for HIM,
JoAnne