Thursday, June 5, 2008

Hello Dear Friends,

God is blessing us to adjust to new conditions and to make friends here.

Please check out our new photo gallery to get the rest of the story. A caption is at the bottom of each picture. The link to the pictures is on the top right hand margin or go to http://photos.beatoday.org/index.htm Also note our mailing address here.

I, Daniel, have been having some good conversations and relationship building times with a Christian here. Antonio is a "king" of his small clan (about 87 people). He is one of the night guards the previous missionary's established for this property we live on that has 2 other houses. Most kings have 50 - 300 people they're in charge of. They are not officially recognized by the government but they are by the people, as they typically lead the ceremonies of satanic origin in funerals, births, etc. making sacrifices to appease the departed spirits. He, of course, no longer does this as a Christian even though 95% of professing Christians participate in these. As a king he has the respect of other kings and is in a place of much influence. He has led in planting two churches, which is a great story in itself and due to the work of God through our fellow missionary Shawn Gardner. Relationships of trust take a loooonnng time to establish here so we praise God that we already have a good start.

Please pray for...
* Our container to arrive safely sometime around the end of June.
* God to show Elijah and Esther the unique ways they can serve while they are here.
* Melissa and the kids continuing to learn Portuguese.

We praise God for...
* How great a help our fellow team members Dan and Robin Been have been to us!
* Our home here on a large mission's property with a spacious yard we're all enjoying.
* You - our prayer partners in the U.S. and Brazil - engaged in the battle for Truth.

Love you,
Daniel & Melissa
with Elijah and Esther