OFF TO THE USA!

We were surprised by friends from the Vinde a Mim orphanage.  They came to the airport to see us off!  We arrived safely in Shreveport, met by Alana’s parents.  We will be in Little Rock until Thanksgiving.  The first week, we will be participating in a Global Impact Celebration at Immanuel Baptist Church.  Then we will spend a few days with Ron’s family before heading to Texas to be with our daughter, Jana, and help with wedding preparations!

Volunteers from CANADA – For We Care Society

Twelve volunteers from Alberta are spending two weeks building a new dormitory at the Men’s Drug Rehab Center in Estiva. Because of the constant heavy rains we have experienced here, work was delayed a little on raising the walls of the new building. Today was the first day of sunshine, so everyone was hard at work pouring the concrete on the floor of the new dorm. However, the team didn’t waste any time the first part of the week waiting around for the rain to stop. They painted the inside of an existing dorm and the second and third floors of the Vinde a Mim orphanage dorm. One of the team members, Jeff Brown, also did a presentation on SODIS (Solar Disinfection) in Frei Damião. This is a solar method of providing clean drinking water. What a great group!

A happy moment – the sun came out!

Wilfried Kopp – the team leader

Painting the outside of the dorm

Painting the inside of the dorm

Some of the team members pictured with Artur (the executivce director of the Drug Rehab Center and Vinde a Mim Orphanage

Ron, Artur, Wilf and Pastor Jaci (pastor of Ipiranga Baptist Church)

PINHEIRA – ENGLISH CLASS GRADUATION AND FAREWELL PARTY

Loretta’s English students did a great job of showing what they learned during their 13-week class based on the Jesus film. They sang “Come, Now is the Time to Worship”, “God is Good All the Time” and “The Lord is My Shepherd”. Then they discussed whether Jesus was a Liar, a Lunatic or Lord. After receiving their certificates and a Bible, the students and church members surprised Loretta with gifts and farewell wishes. Then they also surprised us. We each received a t-shirt with a picture of Pinheira beach and a personal message.

PINHEIRA/KOBRASOL BAPTISMS

Each one of the candidates for baptism gave a brief personal testimony before the church.

Elisângela and Paula are from Pinheira

Honoring Loretta for eight years of ministry in Brazil

The children presented a missions song


A puppet show depicted some of Loretta’s special characteristics

The adults sang “Carry the Light”

A “sweet” surprise prepared for Loretta

Loretta pictured with the puppets and the pupeeteers

Loretta pictured with Jair, Ana, Luiz and Geny

FBC Oviedo, FL – Women’s Ministry Team

October 17 – 24, nine wonderful women from FBC Oviedo, FL ministered to our people in São José and Palhoça. These ladies came ready to do “whatever”, “whenever”, “however the Lord leads!” They touched many lives, made many friends, and made an impact for Christ. It was wonderful to see how the Lord had prepared just the right team to minister to the people we met! The testimonies were just the ones needed to touch the hearts of women in each place.

SATURDAY – FORQUILHINHAS

After a morning prayerwalk in the neighborhood, the team hosted a tea for the local women. Even though it was pouring down, over 50 women showed up! Everyone had a wonderful time! The team is pictured here with Rute, the women’s ministry leader at the church in Forquilhinhas.

The women enjoyed decorating their flip flops.

Tea Time!

Part of the group that attended the tea – showing the cross necklaces they received.

The women from Forquilhinhas church were terrific hostesses!

SUNDAY MORNING – OUTING WITH SOME OF THE GIRLS FROM VINDE A MIM ORPHANAGE.

Visit to the sand dunes

SUNDAY EVENING – Worship service at Forquilhinhas Church

Group singing “How Great Thou Art” during the worship service

That night Odila made a decision to return to the church after a year and a half away.

MONDAY MORNING – NURREVI – Women’s Drug Rehab Center

The original plan was to plant flowers and do some work in the garden, but the rain made it impossible. So we painted the bedrooms of the residents at NURREVI instead.

MONDAY EVENING – PIZZA WITH THE KIDS AT VINDE A MIM ORPHANAGE

While we waited for the pizza to arrive, the kids decorated flip flops with the help of the Oviedo ladies.

The finished product!

After pizza, we played games and just enjoyed being together.

TUESDAY – PINHEIRA

After a morning prayerwalk through the neighborhood, the team hosted another ladies’ tea – this time for the women of Pinheira

There were over 60 women present! We ran out of flip flops, so the late comers made bracelets.

We had a style show at the end so that everyone could show off their creations.

TUESDAY EVENING

Luzia invited everyone to her house for dinner and to teach the Oviedo ladies a Brazilian craft.

WEDNESDAY – FINISHING UP THE ROOMS AT NURREVI

Time out for a baby shower

Getting ready to go out for churrasco Wednesday evening

THURSDAY

Visit to the CETE orphanage

Visit to the Daycare at the CADI
Conversation with Loretta’s English students

Terezinha invited all of us to her home for a delicious fish dinner. With Terezinha and Kathie, there was never a dull moment! Afterward we had a precious time of praying and sharing.
FRIDAY – SIGHTSEEING IN RIO – A GREAT WAY TO END A WONDERFUL WEEK!

FAMILY DAY – IPIRANGA BAPTISMS

Sunday morning, October 12th, the Ipiranga church gathered in Estiva at the Drug Rehab Center for a worship service with the residents of the Center and their families who had come to visit. After the worship service, 5 people were baptized – including Daiane and Kétlim, two of the girls from the orphanage who I have been mentoring. Afterward we all had lunch together and some of the kids rode horses. What a wonderful day!

CHILDREN’S DAY

Children’s Day is a BIG DEAL in Brazil! The actual day is October 12th, but there are celebrations during the entire month of October. In addition to all of the special activities and events for children, it is customary to give presents to the children who are special to you. We thought you might enjoy seeing some of the things we were involved with this Children’s Day weekend.

Jeff Sims, a friend from Park Hill Baptist Church in North Little Rock, AR, arrived here for a visit just in time to help us with the activities of the weekend.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10 – PONTA DO PAPAGAIO SCHOOL


We took the trampoline and ball tent to a small public school at Ponta do Papagaio (near Pinheira), and had an afternoon of activities for the students there. Vanessa told a Bible story and the children enjoyed crafts, games and refreshments. The kids had a great time even though it rained shortly after we got everything set up!

Precious smiling faces!

On the way home traffic was completely stopped on the highway so we just went to a restaurant, had a hamburger, and Ron and Jeff played a game of chess while we waited for traffic to clear up.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11 – PINHEIRA

Everyone worked hard to decorate the room

Face Painting

Fábio made a “ball shower” every few minutes to keep things lively in the ball tent!

Even the trampoline was set up inside because of the constant rain. Kids were always lined up to jump!

There were different kinds of craft activities available

Puppet Show

There were over 80 children present!

Snack time!

Each child received a gift bag before leaving

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12 – PINHEIRA CHURCH

The Sunday evening service was all geared for the children



The story of the Feeding of the 5,000 – The Boy Who Gave His Lunch Away

After the Bible story, we made fish

Forquilhinhas has a new pastor

Pastor Fernando Mota was officially installed as the new pastor of Forquilhinhas church tonight. Please pray for him as he leads the church and for the church as they work together to reach their neighborhood.

Pastor Altamiro, Pastor of the Campinas Baptist Church and his wife, Roseli, pictured with Pastor Fernando and his wife, Carmem.

We have more pictures of the service posted on our photo website. If you are interested in seeing them, please write us for the password.

Gabe and Caleb meet their little sister

Gabe – a proud big brother!

Now Caleb gets to be a BIG brother too!

Madelyn Alana – blessed with two sweet big brothers

First family picture with Madelyn Alana

Caleb loves her cheeks