December Update

 

Hello friends,

I pray you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  Every year I am not in the US at Thanksgiving I get so hungry for the traditional feast with turkey, mash potatoes and gravy along with green bean casserole with crescent rolls and who can forget the incredible desserts!  Okay, I will stop!  I do hope you had a great time with family and friends!

Boy, the heat has started up early here and the rain has been a little absent.  Put on the sun screen!

We are busy getting ready for some church events, a quick trip to Belo Horizonte, and a party to close out the year.

 ·       Our English Project is putting on our first Coffee House here in Nova Viçosa.  This will be this Thursday night (14^th).  The students will order their food and drinks (in English of course) along with paying with our fake US money.  Some English speaking friends will help with the food prep, and one will provide music for our Coffee House.  It will be a fun way to end the year with this class.

 ·       Our church will come together on Saturday (16^th) for a time of barbecue (churrasco), fellowship and swimming.  This will be at a local Pousada (like a hotel).  This is the first time we have done this.  Hopefully all will go well.

 ·       On Wednesday, December 20^th, we will have our Christmas Service.  Our children will sing, we will have a special dance presentation and our English Project Class will sing “Mary Did You Know”.  We will have a Christmas message from Nayara.

 ·       We will be going to Belo Horizonte to celebrate Christmas with Nayara’s family.  We will leave on Thursday 21^st and return on the 26^th.

 ·       We will have service together on Wednesday the 27^th and on Sunday night 31^st with a party to follow to bring in the new year of 2024!

 ·       Our online classes with AME will continue until the end of December and will resume in February.

One unique thing we experience here in Nova Viçosa is that tourist season gets in full swing by the end of the year and goes through February.  This has some impact on our church.  Some people end up having 2+ jobs during that season to make as much money as possible and unfortunately that means we don’t see them at the services.  So, we try to go where they are working (usually at a restaurant or a cabana at the beach) and have something to eat to see them and support them.  At the same time, we also get to meet some tourists who seek out a church.  We have met some very interesting people!  

During this time in December, I pray that you have a blessed holiday time with your family and friends.  Thank you for your prayer and financial support for this ministry in southern Bahia.  God is working and you are a vital part of the team!!!  God Bless you my friends!

 

Lisa