"Except for Grace"

Next

As God continues to direct and provide, we hope to spend the remainder of this year on our pre-field ministry. Our desire and prayer, submitted to the sovereignty of God, is to be on the field in Brasil by early next year. That would enable us to learn Portuguese throughout 2008, and then become immersed in ministry in 2009. While this seems a bit overwhelming at times, we know that God is certainly able to do this and much more. His timing is best and we delight in the opportunity to submit ourselves to Him. Thank you for praying for us as we pursue this goal.

We were personally touched by each of the places we were able to visit in Brasil and know that any one of them would be a valuable ministry and a time of growth in our lives. As much as we were challenged by these ministry opportunities, we would also love to work with and learn from the missionaries who are carrying on those ministries.

One place we did not get to visit that continues to be a place of interest to us is the new field our mission is opening in South Brasil; specifically, the city of Porto Alegre. Here in the fifth largest city in Brasil (a city of 5.5 million people) lies a surprisingly ‘untouched’ region of South America. While most of the other parts of Brasil have been blessed with the preaching of the gospel, the South continues to be overlooked or understaffed for a number of reasons. Lord willing, a team will be moving to Porto Alegre in 2009. If God would continue to provide and direct this way, we would also like to be a part of that team.

Thank you for praying with us as we seek God’s direction in this decision and all future decisions. Our hearts remain open to whatever ministry God has for us in the future as well as today and burdened for those parts of Brasil that are still in desperate need of the Truth.