“Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works
to the children of men!” (Psalm 107:8, 15, 21, & 31)
Since returning “home” on Wednesday, September 16, 2020, we have many reasons for praising the LORD. At the midweek service on that same day that we arrived home, we met Benedito Braz, who was visiting for the third time. Later that evening, he understood his need to put his trust in Jesus.
The following Saturday and Sunday, September 19-20, New Life Baptist Church (Igreja Batista Nova Vida) celebrated its fifth anniversary with Dr. Mark Bosje, the FBMI Missions Director, preaching. What a TRUE BLESSING it is for Dawn and me and our son Zachary to serve our Saviour as a family in this church.
The children from the walk route, which our daughter Karlene helped start, were able to return on Sunday, October 11, after not being able to come since March due to COVID-19. The church services are just not the same without these 18–20 children, along with the other 10–15 children who come with their families for Sunday school on Sunday mornings, Junior Church on Sunday evenings, and children’s choir on Wednesdays.
Just before returning to Brazil, we finished a video in which we asked you to pray with us for 50 new families to be saved and or added to our church. From that list, God performed a miracle to open a door to share the Gospel with a young man named Ezilson and his father Erci. On Saturday morning, October 24, while walking home from the church, Ezilson yelled out from his car that he needed to talk! We had never had any type of conversation before, but after about a 2½-hour conversation that day, he began to understand that Jesus was his only hope for Heaven. The next day he came to church, and on Sunday morning, November 29, he was obedient in baptism. On Monday, November 2, Erci trust Christ for salvation. Please continue praying for their spiritual growth and for the other 49 families to be saved! Many are spiritually hungry and looking for the truth.
On Sunday, November 8, we drove four hours to preach at another church. While waiting for someone to get the church keys, I started talking with Edson, who was visiting for the second time. He said he was looking for something different but was not sure what he needed. Praise the LORD, the Holy Spirit prepared his heart for salvation.
Dawn and I are enjoying helping Alberto and Keila Rutina, a Brazilian couple, in the teen Sunday school class. Presently, the class is for young people from the age of 12 to 25. The Holy Spirit is using Dawn and Keila’s time on Saturdays visiting the young ladies and their families. Pray with us for wisdom as we grow the class and help each member grow spiritually. Dawn is also in charge of the children’s choir time on Wednesday evenings.
Here are three results from time invested in people since arriving in Taubaté: (1) Mislene and her son Gregorio visited our church for about a month over five years ago. On November 27, Mislene sent a note that her son, who is now 13, woke up thinking about me. The next day we were able to visit the family, and both trusted Jesus and have been faithfully attending the Sunday morning and evening services. (2) In a prayer letter four years ago, I posted a picture of four different men and asked you to pray for them to be saved and/or come to church. Ivan, one of those men, came to church for the first time on Wednesday, December 2. (3) On Wednesday, August 29, 2018, while visiting my friend Nicolas for the last time before he moved to Heaven, his oldest sister Joice accepted Jesus as her Saviour. This week, through the encouragement of a godly lady, Joice, her mother, and her third child, baby Nicolas, came to church. It pays to serve our Saviour!
Dave + Dawn and Zachary
