December 2024 Update

 

Hello my friends –

Wow, time has flown by, it seems like yesterday we were in the States! Many things have been going on – let me give you a shortened bullet view of life here in Bahia!

·       Our time in the States went by quickly but we loved every minute. As always, visits were too short, but it was great seeing many of you!

·       When we returned, we had an awesome baptism service – our first. We ended up having it in a swimming pool instead of the ocean. That was okay, the water was warmer for sure. We baptized 3 people; it was a special time.

·       We are having another one on January 11th with  4 people. God is blessing!

·       We saw Nayara off as she left for her new ministry chapter in Manaus in the Amazon. She is working for the JMA ministry. I know that she will do very well! Of course, Paty and I miss her and who could replace her? No one. But God has everything in control.

·       One challenging aspect is that Nayara was the driver of our car. Now, I am in the process of finding out how to get a Brazilian Driver's License. It is a complicated process! I may have to take a class, and it is all in Portuguese. I know the Lord will help me! It costs a little over 3,000 Reis which is about $520-$495 depending on the exchange rate. Leoni Abreu is helping me check out some information on the process with a lawyer which might be better, we will see. But for now, I picked up the book that they use in the school, so I can increase my Portuguese vocabulary!!

·       The church is doing well. We have been diligently going through the Chronological Bible Study during our Sunday morning Bible Study. The plan is to do it again next year! Whoo! I love it!

·       We are also ending up our year-long series for our service on Sunday night – Looking at the life of Jesus through the Gospels.

·       Wednesday night we are ending our year with a 4-part study on Worship.
During this year we have covered:

16 of the “I am statements”	5-part Daniel study
4-part Jonah study	6-part Ruth study
4-part Nehemiah study	4-part Elijah study
4-part Samson study	3-part Habakkuk study
4-part   study Elisha	4-part Worship study

           The people seemed to have really enjoyed this format. We have had some good
         discussions and questions!

·       We have also recently had a special service with a Baby Dedication. That was my first one, our second one as a church.

·       Our English Instruction with our in-person class on Thursday night as well as our online instruction has gone well. We teach English on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Although, I do have a class on Wednesday morning.

·       AND, I am having a Portuguese/English class with Nayara on Friday night at 6:30pm.

·       Paty has been training the people that help with our Praise/Worship team. This includes our singers as well as our piano guy and who knows who else will join us! Paty has been doing an excellent job and she practices with them after our Bible Study on Sunday mornings.

·       Paty has also continued to work with the younger girls on Saturday late afternoon. I wish all of you could watch them, it is so much fun. She is currently and will finish a study on Revelation! The girls are loving it.

·       I have been going out on visits with the members of the church. They all just smile (and laugh at me) as I try to communicate in Portuguese! It is amazing how a smile and a hug communicates in a big way.

·       We as a church have continued to help with the new lot (where our new church will be built) to keep it clear and clean. We hope to see the design options soon as well as begin the foundation work at the beginning of next year.

·       During this time in December, January, and February when the tourists are in town, we will be selling some things to help raise money for the church project. My emphasis:  Everyone can do something! Let us do it together!

·       I am making some leather things to sell and some paracord bracelets, keyrings, and such.

Speaking of 2025...

·       I have been doing a lot of preparation work with the calendar as well as some specific things that we know need to be planned.

·       Bible Study on Sunday morning as I said before we will be doing the Chronological Bible Study again. I am hoping to train some new people to lead the class and discussion.

·       We are also going to start a new focus study for the Sunday night services. We are going to do a Bible Survey approach of each book of the Bible. Now, a survey will give a general overview of what is happening in the book and then we will take 1 or 2 things to personally apply in our life. Pastor Ken Wilson, from Fellow Bible Church, in Conway, Arkansas has given me his permission to use his material. (He has fabulous material). Of course, I will be simplifying the material a lot. I am extremely excited about this plan. It will be a challenge for us, and we will be growing a lot as well.

·       On Wednesday night we have a new group of studies:

8 new I am statements	5-part Abraham study
Isaac study	Jacob study
4-part David study	2-part Hannah study
2-part Hezekiah study	Joab study
2-part Jonathan study	2-part Rebekah study
2-part Samuel study	2-part Solomon study
Mary (sister of Martha)	Martha (sister of Mary)
4-part Peter study	3-part Paul study
2-part Barnabas study	2-part Timothy study

 

·       Our study on Sunday night will be on the Books of the Bible, so there is no need to list all of them. This study will start the second week of January 2025 and will end June 14, 2026!

·       I am also doing some preparation work on some special days in 2025: Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Children’s Day, VBS outreach (June/July), Men’s/Women’s Event’s, and Christmas. We will send how the calendar works out.

·       I am also focusing on visiting people – both church folks and visitors.

·       I am also hoping that one of our men will start a visiting our new neighbors around our new lot to start building relationships.

·       At this moment, I am looking to go to the States in September.

Well, that is enough information. I am looking forward to what the Lord has for this new year.

Þ    Please pray that I, along with Paty, will be good managers of our time and that we will have a wonderful time of growth as we minister.

Þ    Please pray that all needed finances will come in for our personal needs.

Þ    Please pray for money to come in that will enable us to begin and continue the construction of the new church. (If you need specifics, send me an email)

Þ    Please pray for health and strong bodies as we work!

Thank you so much for your partnership in the ministry. God is doing some really cool things here in Nova Viçosa, and you are an important partner!

Drop me an email and let me know how I can be praying for you and your family!

 

Love you all!

Lisa