Merry CHRISTmas and Happy New Year!
Hello,
“For unto us a Child is born a Son is given” Isaiah 9:6. May your heart be lifted in praise this Christmas for the wonderful gift of Jesus and the joy He brings to our lives. We are very grateful for all your prayers and support. Thanks! Have a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.
Today, December 15th marks my 20 years as being on the field as a missionary in Brazil. Wow. What an incredible adventure the Lord has led us on throughout this time.
I am looking forward to many, many more. Thank you for walking this journey with us.
We will be leaving to start over again in Belém to plant churches at the beginning of the year. We were able to rent a house that should help in building relationships with our neighbors. We rented in an area where the homes do not have walls in front of their houses. We hope that this will promote more interaction. We are excited about this transition. Please continue to pray for us.
At the church, we had a baptism filled with joy and excitement. Two parents got to baptize their daughters, which was very special. During the baptism, the church sang and worshiped God. Everyone in the church gets so excited that they want a front-row seat. As I have shared in previous updates, the symbolism of letting the person be wholly immersed in water, being baptized into Jesus’ death on the cross, and no longer being slaves to self or sin. When they are raised out of the water, they are raised into a new life in Christ and are with Him forever. Praise the Lord, and may His transforming power be upon them and us daily.
This month we also had the great opportunity to be with our missionaries. We do not live close to one another, so it is rare to see one another. Connecting and hanging out with each other for our three-day retreat is so good, energizing, and refreshing. Craig and Linda Heselton came to share and minister to us all. Another HUGE blessing was that my sister Lynn came and helped with child care.
The church has gotten behind to help this family of three. The mother of these two beautiful girls abandoned them and left the father responsible for raising them. The father is a hard-working farmer that makes ends meet. They live in a dirt floor, 1-room home. The church has been raising funds to build a more appropriate house for them. It is coming along. We hope they will have a roof before the rainy season. Thanks for your prayers.
May the Lord bless you and keep you. Merry CHRISTmas and Happy new year!
Much love, Steve, Elba, Camilly, and Alyssa
We appreciate your continued prayers:
· Please pray that we will identify the new senior pastor of the Belém church plant.
· Please pray that the Lord will continue to reveal His plans to the church and us.
· Please pray for our church, leadership, and congregation to help people draw close to God as we navigate this time and leadership transition.
· Please pray for the rejection of this virus from your loved ones and its eradication.
· Please pray for our family, especially our girls, in this next phase of our lives.
· Please pray for our spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, and financial health.
Much love, Steve, Elba, Camilly, and Alyssa
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