Rosalie and I (Ruth) worked together about 8 years ago to develop a Literacy Manual as an aid to teach missionaries how to set up a literacy program for tribal people.  So when Rosalie needed someone to do a final read of her book, she asked me.  

One day when she called about the book, she asked if I’d been to Maine lately. (She is also from Maine, and so that is another of our connections.)  Well, just that day I’d been looking at flights to Maine as my mom had some physical setbacks.  My sister and I wanted to go and spend some time with her.  The cost of flights shocked me. So my response to Rosalie’s question was that I wanted to go to see my mom, but the cost was prohibitive.

The next day, Rosalie talked extensively with Dave.  She had decided to give me the $400 fee for the round trip flight to Maine.  And the reason was because she grew up without a mother and she wanted me to be able to see mine. 

Thanks, Rosalie.  I had a great time with Mom and my sister. Got to see lots of family. And I was so encouraged at the progress that my mom made, even during that week we were with her.

By the way, Rosalie’s autobiography is charming. I highly recommend it.

Praise the Lord for the salvaged computer equipment rescued from the new building. And praise the Lord that Jan is back up and running.  May this printer last as long as her other one did.

By the way, for those of you who know the history of our family, Jan has been a big part of our lives.  She taught Nathan kindergarten, and Joy loved to go to her class while Ruth taught art.  In addition, Jan is the widow of Art – and Art worked with Dave for many years as the head of the Computer Department. It meant a lot to Dave to provide this small service for her.

Praise the Lord that he is improving. Pray that he will quickly regain his strength and be able to resume his work with Ruth on revision.

He loved many aspects of the trip, like:

• • Working with VBS in the Brazilian towns.
• • Having devotions on the roof of the boat on the River
• • Leading worship songs for the evening meetings in the towns.
• • Hearing how his testimony touched the heart of the Brazilian lady who translated for him.
• • Helping in the clinic on the boat.

He says that Brazil will always be in his heart.  And, thinking of his heart, one of the things that touched him the most was when one of the Brazilian team members told him that she could see he had a missionary heart.

Enjoy these few pictures:

Ministered in 5 towns

One-day VBS in every town

Handed out soccar balls

Nathan’s team of 18, along with two other short-term missions teams, were commissioned on Sunday, July 24th. 

His team leaves Northland Church by bus at 11:59 pm tonight (Friday).  They fly from Miami to Manaus, Brazil on Saturday morning.

Thanks to all who gave toward his trip expenses.  Interestingly, the total cost of the trip per team member ended up being $124 over the initial fee. Thanks to your generosity, there was overage in Nathan’s account of $125.  Is that cool, or what? 

A special thanks as well to those who gave towards Nathan’s out-of-pocket expenses.  That covered:

• • Shots  (over $200)
• • Tee-shirts and shorts (most  of which Nathan will leave for new Brazilian friends)
• • A guitar (Nathan found a lovely-sounding Yamaha on Craig’s List, very inexpensive.)
• • A journal to record his journey and what he learns
• • Spending money

Pray for good travel, for bonding with the team, and for wonderful ministry opportunities on the boat and in villages along the river.

We’d appreciate your prayers for him.  

Continue reading to check out the letter he wrote about the trip and why he wants to go.

April, 2011

Dear Friends and Family,

God provides opportunities to further His kingdom for His glory. I count myself blessed to be called to go on a missions trip to Manaus, Brazil, this summer. I will be going with Northland Church to serve the local people on the Amazon River. We will be on a boat, visiting the local tribes and providing medical care, painting houses, having Vacation Bible School for children, and above all evangelizing.

Being born into a family of missionaries means you grow up around missions and evangelism all your life. From the time I was young, I remember stories of people in faraway places, people that had never heard of Jesus, people who were living in spiritual darkness. From the time I was 8 years old, I wanted to be a missionary, because I realized that is what God wanted to do with my life. I couldn’t go to faraway places when I was 8 though; I had to wait till I was old enough to go. Well, this year, the time came. I heard God say, “Go to Brazil.” So I signed up.

Part of what I want to do as a missionary is to provide medical care for the people who are too far away from a hospital to get it. That’s why I am in the Academy of Health Careers at Seminole High School. On this trip, I’ll be able to shadow the nurses on the boat who provide medical care to the people along the river.  This is a great opportunity – a way for God to prepare me for His work in His kingdom.

In order for me to go to Brazil, I need to develop a ministry team – a group of people that will support me with prayer, a group of people that will send me their encouragements, a group that will support me financially and ultimately send me to Brazil. I need to raise a total of $2,450 for this missions trip, which  covers the flights, the visa, transportation, and lodging. I’ve already seen God provide the money for my application fee, and for my passport, and I’m excited to be learning what it means to have faith that God will provide.

Would you please prayerfully consider helping to send me and our team to Brazil? Any amount will go a long way, and be really encouraging. Please use the enclosed envelope, and make your checks payable to Northland Church. In the memo field, you should put my name and “Brazil trip,” but do not make the check out to me. You can also donate on-line if you would prefer. Go to http://donate.northlandchurch.net/nathan-brendle, complete the required information and submit. Your credit card will be charged. Please remember that should you choose to make a contribution, it is tax deductible and non refundable.Thank you so much for considering this. Above all, I would love prayer for this trip, not only for me, but for Brazil, for the people who are going with me, and the people I will be working with. This is a God -given opportunity and I would love to have you as part of my ministry team.

Love,
Nathan Brendle

I’m hoping to raise half the necessary support by April 15^th, which is the deadline for purchasing the airline tickets!

•         • 100 cans of Arizona Sweet Tea
•         • Groceries for a week �
  • •         • Gas for a few days

A few months ago, Nathan heard a call from the Lord.  Our church here in Florida has a short-term missions program with the theme, “Someday is  Today.”  Nathan believes his “Someday” has come!  He wants to go on Northland’s missions trip to Brazil this summer. The trip starts June 4, just one day after school lets out for vacation.

At an information meeting this week, we learned that Nathan still needed to fill out an application form and that half of the money for the trip needs to be turned in April 15th.   Some serious panic set up in my heart.  I actually turned to Nathan and exclaimed “We don’t have enough time!”  Felipe, the coordinator of the Brazil trips, challenged my faith.  “Why not?” he said, “There’s 20 days – plenty of time for God to work it out.”

As I read over the application form, I saw that Nathan needed $100 as an application fee.  We’ve been living on an extremely tight budget since August, and literally don’t have that kind of money.  So I prayed, asking God for $100.  But my prayer was much more - it was more pleading with God to give me faith, to give assurance that He wanted Nathan to go on this trip, to supply the money needed by the deadlines. 

Nathan has been planning to have a fund raising yard sale this weekend.  (Providentially, our neighborhood is hosting a multi-family sale, so the timing was perfect.)  Neighbors across the street are moving, so yesterday, I sent Nathan over to check if they might have anything they didn’t want to move that they might want to donate to his yard sale.  The husband said to Nathan, “Hold on a minute.”  He went inside, came back out, and pressed a $100 bill into Nathan’s hand.  Not what we expected for a donation! 

What can $100 buy? 

• • Absolute peace that:
  • (1) God is in control.
  • (2) God answers prayer.
  • (3) God wants Nathan to go on this trip. 

Pray with us for the remaining money to come in – half of it by April 15th.