Now in a spiritual realm we experience the same emotional suffering when “our” spiritual “children” make wrong choices and stray from the Bible’s teachings. Thinking about this one day, this verse in Philippians came to mind and I asked myself if this also might be part of the “fellowship of His sufferings.” Certainly, His heart is hurt and saddened and He suffers with my wrrong actions and attitudes, just as I do for those whom I disciple in the Word.

Having this perspective, helped me to think more compassionately and less condemningly toward these babes in Christ for He never condemns me, but always corrects in lovingkindness.

And, I also thank the Lord for being able to empathize at least to a small degree with His earthly ministry, “sharing in His sufferings.”

This radiant smile does not allow even a hint of the emotional sufferings this couple have known and we have walked through with them. She first began to study the Bible when she was new to our town and had been asked to teach catechism classes. Wanting to know the Bible better before she taught it, she sought out my sister in law and I.

At that time we were team teaching through the Bible, using the chronological method, for ladies in our community. Later, a couples Bible study was begun and her husband came as well. “A.. and I..” came to know the Lord and began to grow in Christ. He worked at a bank here in town and she owned and operated a small children’s clothing store.

As they grew in Christ they also began to face some crises–financial, marital, emotional, spiritual. One evening we went to their home and found all the family crying and the angry husband ready to walk out on everything and everyone. Desperation led her to seriously consider suicide, but God intervened on two different occasions to foil her plans.

They have moved frequently because of his job and we have followed them along their journey. About a year after they left our town, they found an evangelical church in their new town of residence and we saw some very positive things happening in their spiritual lives, praise God. Now yet another five or so years later, they were recently baptized in the church where they are now participating. When I look at these happy faces, having seen wonderful changes come about, I surely praise God for His unfailing love and faithfulness.

Yes, we have known some “sharing in His sufferings,” but also He gives us occasional glimpses of His glory in the lives of these who have come to Christ. It is worth it all to serve Jesus.

Coleen Templeton

(#1)I have been meeting with a group of nine ladies from four different churches to do a Bible study. Breaking Free, written by Beth Moore, is based out of the book of Isaiah and deals with spiritual strongholds or captivities that can keep us from living victorious Christian lives. The book form of the study has been translated into Portuguese, so we read from that, and then I add study questions for homework. The first week, only one of the students was able to finish the homework. Most were totally puzzled as to how to proceed. How do you read a Bible verse and take from it what should be the “obvious” answer to the question before you? So we began to talk about that (the “how to”) as well as began to make applications to our personal lives. Everyone was pretty quiet, not sharing much, not willing to get out of his or her individual comfort/safety zone. Not willing to be vulnerable. As the weeks have progressed, I have been amazed and thrilled to see these ladies grow spiritually right before my eyes, under God’s Holy Spirit tutoring. How I praise Him! (#2) For most of the them the word “stronghold” was even difficult to comprehend, but now they are saying, “I see that fear has me bound.” “Forgiving is just so difficult.” “I see how pride has hindered my walk with God.” And now that we are beginning to see the areas of spiritual strongholds, we can begin to deal with them. That is discipleship.

Miles has begun teaching the book of Acts to two young couples. Both have studied the chronological foundational studies and have professed to know Christ. We were somewhat discouraged that both couples took part to some extent in the recent festivities of “Carnival.” This past week in Bible study, Miles posed a number of questions to them regarding how the enemy tries to work in our lives. First how does he work to keep us from even getting into Bible study? Then, if we do study, what will he do to keep us from coming to salvation? If we do accept God’s gift of grace, what tactics does the enemy use to keep us from growing and maturing in Christ. It was very interesting to hear them talk and see that they do indeed understand a number of the basic principles, but breaking away from the “old traditions and desires of the flesh” to embrace the “new life in Christ” is often quite difficult.

(#3) One day this week Miles spent the whole morning with one of these young men. They went out to a river about an hour away, to get a truckload of sand for construction. They had good conversation over a variety of topics and Miles used these opportunities to continue to disciple. Not long ago, this same young man told Miles, “I don’t know if it is because I am getting older (29) or because I have been studying the Bible, but I don’t seem to enjoy all of the same things that I used to enjoy.” Then this week while working together, he again referred to this saying that his reading of the Word has caused him to leave a lot of things behind that he used to do or like. His wife, however, doesn’t seem to be quite as ready to leave these “old” things to grow as a “new creature in Christ Jesus.” Pray that we will use every opportunity to share God’s truth with these we have come to love in Christ. (#4)

Our Christmas season was quiet without children or grandchildren with us, but we shared special activities with our friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, and that makes us grateful. The day after Christmas we shared Sunday dinner with the three couples that we have evangelized and are now discipling.  Each of them is precious to us.

Many of you no doubt have seen the news reports of much flooding in southeastern Brazil. We live quite a long way from where that is happening. We do get a lot of rain this time of year,  but usually we are most thankful for it. Miles often has clean up of limbs and tree debris after a big storm.  Recently, a very big branch finally rotted through with the excessive rains and fell. Thankfully, it just grazed the edge of the front porch on the boys’ dorm. An interesting fact is that Miles and his brother planted that tree years ago when the property was first being developed. He went ahead and took off another big limb, too, which was rotting and could have fallen on the main part of the house.

Change! Does anyone really like or look forward to it? I know that usually I don’t. But, ready or not, here it comes for us, too. As of May 2011 the school for missionaries’ children at this location and as we know it, will be closing. There are no prospective students for the 2011-2012 school year, so it is a good and appropriate time to re-evaluate our purposes, structure, curriculum, methods and perhaps other areas. SIL has been teaming with us in the school the last two years, but they are ready now to centralize all of their educational facilities in the city where both our business offices and theirs are located. Our field leadership is still much committed to the challenge of an adequate and healthy educational environment and experience for missionary children. By December 2012 there will be a field leadership decision made concerning future schooling and if this property will still be used as a school facility or for a different ministry of the mission.

Meanwhile, what will we be doing?  Until the end of the school year, I am helping one first grade student whose parents work with SIL. Miles continues to work on maintenance. We together take care of guest housing, too.

We are still involved in several Bible study groups. We are doing Phase 2 (a review of Phase 1 of chronological teaching with emphasis for believers) with two couples twice a week. Coleen and eight other missionary ladies are beginning a Bible study on Tuesday evenings. This is the third year they are meeting like this to study and find it to be a great time of growing in Christ together. She also meets with three ladies from town for the Phase 1 chronological teaching on Thursdays in our home. On Fridays we both are going with a young lady from church to her father’s (and step mother’s) home to teach them Phase 1. Naiara is a new believer and she wants this opportunity to share Christ with her father, while also attempting to build the relationship with her father that she never knew as a child. She wants to be baptized soon and has already decided to go to Bible school next year. She was led to the Lord a year ago by another missionary family who now serves at a school for missionary children in northern Brazil. We were also asked to give some Biblical help and encouragement to a couple. Agma is a believer and is from the church we attend. Her husband, Tiago, is not a believer. His quite extensive use of alcohol also enters into this complicated relationship. They have three adolescent children. Pray that we will have the Lord’s wisdom and understanding to help them. Pray for Tiago’s salvation.

Pray for us in this time of change that we will be “Content in our Role” as Jesus displayed contentment by serving others. Mathew 20:28 “…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” I Cor. 4:1 “So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ, and as those entrusted with the secret things of God.” (emphasis mine)

Thanks for being a part of our team through your gifts, prayers and encouragement.

August 6th we left our home for the state captiol, just an hour and half away. Daniel Lucas met us there, driving the car we would deliver to his parents Joao Lucas and Dilma Souza. Our trip was underway.

Our first stop was to visit our friends Alcides and Ivanilsa and their three children. Over ten years ago, we first began studying the Bible with them and had the joy of seeing them come to know Christ. We also shed not a few tears with them when things were not going well in their home and family and personal lives. From financial disaster and threats of divorce to thoughts of suicide, their lives have been turned around by God’s grace. Laughter and joy are now characteristic of their home and the unity we saw blessed our hearts. “When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, …then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing; then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.” Psalm 126 1-3

The next morning we made our way north to the northern most city in our state. We had been here before when Alcides and Ivanilza lived here a few years ago. This time, however, we were visiting another “son/brother” in the faith, Wagner Junior. Wagner worked in the post office in our town for two to three years. Since Miles is responsible for the mission’s mail, he saw Wagner each day and they soon struck up a friendship. Wagner spoke and understood a good bit of English and enjoyed using it with Miles. Then Miles asked him if he would like to study the Bible. He did the whole chronological study with Miles and began to make friends with others in our church. Two of his co-workers in the post office were also Christians. After a few months he affirmed his faith in Christ and later was baptized. He had done a course and test to be able to work in one of the national banking institutions. He was chosen to go and work in this town. It was quite a step of faith for him, leaving his own family as well as his new spiritual family in our town. Miles gave him good pointers on finding new friends and a good Bible teaching church and we sent him on his way.

We have had a few letters from him, and a phone call or two and he seemed to be doing very well. He told us he was dating a young lady and he was sure that we would “approve.” So he was anxious for our visit with him. It was a great time—very special. It was like seeing our own kids once again after they have left home and struck out on their own. As with our own natural children, God has also been faithful in Wagner’s life. It was so encouraging to see how God has led and directed and blessed in amazing ways. We met Raquel and liked her instantly. Her grandfather was the founder of the first Baptist church in this town. Her parents now attend the Presbyterian Church where we had attended before with Alcides and family. Wagner has become involved there and is growing in his faith through his fellowship with these brethren. We praise God. Raquel told us when we left that God had sent us to her. She wanted so badly to know someone who had known Wagner before he moved to her home town. We were certainly blessed to see them walking in truth and light as they grow closer together in the Lord. “For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” 3 John 3-4

 We able to get some adjustments done on the car before we lefton Monday morning, which certainly helped it run a lot better. But, we sure felt the temperature change (much hotter the farther north we drove) and thanked the Lord again for living where we do, where the temperatures are milder. Our next destination always seems to be the hottest place in the nation on the weather forcasts. Our friends who live here are Rogerio and Ivone with their two daughters Isabela and Paula. You may remember a year ago when I wrote about a young man who lost his life in a train accident. (He and some other boys had decided to “train surf” but when he tried to jump from the train, he became entangled.) This is his family. Rogerio owns and manages a brick company where bricks are manufactured and sold. Rogerio and Ivone also studied the Bible with us some years ago when their children were small and they still lived in our town. Unfortunately, they moved away before we saw them come to Christ. Rogerio seems to really be seeking to know the truth of God and His Word, but has seen much false religion which centers on material prosperity and miracles rather than reconciliation to God and relationship with Him. Pray for God to send him Christian friends, and someone to encourage and lead him to the Truth. Jeremiah 29:13 “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” His wife and girls do not seem as open anymore to the Gospel. It seems that since Marcos’s death they have returned more wholeheartedly than ever to their former belief system.

Ivone is still mourning and working through all the emotions that follow such tragic death, but we talked a lot and I can see that she is making progress in the painful journey. I really pray that she will come to Christ and the girls as well. We enjoy being with this family and would love to have more time with them. Both mornings we were there, Miles made them “an American breakfast” and they loved it. We have made waffles for them here in our home a couple of times. Good memories. Luke 24:45 continues to be my prayer for this family: “Then opened He their understanding that they might understand the scriptures.” Will you join us in praying for their salvation?

We stayed an extra day with them and then left for our final destination, Joao Lucas and Dilma’s home. My husband, ever the adventure lover, wanted to take the back roads of which he has memories of visiting tribes, taking in a Summit group of volunteers, and moving one missionary lady out when her work there was completed. Just before noon we arrived at the home of our missionary friends Glen and Shirley Bacon. They are now retired from working with Wycliffe Bible Translators. We had a nice visit with them and shared lunch before we covered the last leg of our journey. The roads are some better than when we first made this journey over twenty years ago, but still leave a lot to be desired. We arrived about four in the afternoon to meet our friends, Joao and Dilma

Let me give you a little background on this faithful couple. Almost thirty years ago, Joao and Dilma began this tribal work. They went with another couple Dennis and Shirley Ficek and Miles made their move for them using the first truck we had here on the field. The “house” they moved into here had two rooms and five doors and a bathroom shared with the neightbors “out back.” Each couple had two young children who would be joined by a younger sibling in the years to come. A resident of the town when he saw Miles’s truck full of the missionaries’ belongings asked when the new furniture store was going to open! The Ficeks stayed a number of years until they moved to a  neighboring tribe of the same language group Joao and Dilma and their three children continued in this location. The first time I ever went there, Joao was just beginning to make friendships and beginning to share from God’s Word. Slowly he has been able to translate a good portion of the Word and many Bible lessons. Today there are a small number of believers. Dilma, besides accompanying her children in school, also studied herself until she was able to get a teaching degree. Now for a number of years she has been teaching literacy in her home in the village, mostly to adults. She has also taught besides literacy, typing and sewing. We have prayed for Joao and Dilma’s family and have supported them as the Lord led for all these years, so feel a part of their work, too. You, also, who have supported us have had a part in this tribal group having the opportunity to hear of salvation in Christ Jesus. Two single ladies, Rachel and Sayonara worked with Joao and Dilma several years. And today another couple Daniel and Maristela as well as a single man Agirson also help in that work.

The day after arrived, we went by motorcycle with Joao and Dilma to the village and spent the day there. We rejoice with them that a bridge made over the river has greatly helped in their commutes back and forth between the town and the village. The first time I went into the village, we had to cross the river on a small (and I mean small) raft and then walk the rest of the way in, about a half hour. Later trips we went in by motorcycle but still had to cross the river first by rowboat before getting the cycles kept on the village side of the river. Now it is a short, less than 30 minute ride all by motorcycle. As a certified teacher, Dilma now also helps in the village school. Joao continues to translate Bible lessons and needed scripture portions to continue the teaching in the village.

As the day drew to a close we walked around the village circle visiting the Indians in their homes and it was encouraging to hear Joao say, “This one is a believer now. And this one is studying with us. This one is learning to teach the Word. etc.” God’s Work is going on among these tribal people and we are blessed to see this. Trust that you will be blessed too, to know that you also have had a part in this effort. Philippians 1:3-5 “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;”

Friday morning, the 13th we left town with Daniel and Maristela and came out to the main north/south highway where we would get the bus back hme. It was a four-hour jeep ride through pretty sandy and bad roads. Miles’s seat in the back was just a 2 x 4 propped up across the width of the jeep.

Not too wide and not comfortable but he was a good sport. I rode up front with our missionary friends. After lunch, they continued their journey and we waited for the 4:30 bus, which came in just after 5:00. After an all night bus ride, then two more busses we were home — tired and a little dusty and disheveled but safely home.

God kept us safe over many miles of travel and we had the opportunity to see what He continues to do in the lives of those whom we (and you) have invested for eternity. In some we already see the results of His hand and His work. Others are still in the ‘birthing” process. Pray with us that these will at last come into His kingdom and share His name and enjoy their place in His family.

Rejoice with us that more gifts have come in, and these will be used in the finishing up work of the church, such as in plastering and painting the walls, to install the plumbing and electrical wiring, and finish up other odds and ends.  Once again we were excited and grateful to see the Lord’s provision!!!

 We’re still very concerned for Henrique, my 13 year old neighbor.  He was taken to Brasilia in an air-taxi flight.  They said the pressure in a larger plane would be bad for his head.  He has pus and water on the brain and was scheduled to have surgery to drain the water yesterday.  Tests have been run at the Sara Kubichek hospital in Brasilia (he’s in the University hospital) and they’ve determined that he does NOT have TB, but his sickness is called CRYPTOCOCCOSIS, which is a fungus that usually invades the meninges (as in his case) and the central nervous system, but may invade other areas of the body, also.  Robert Croc and Henrique’s Mother, Damares, went with him in the plane to Brasilia.  Robert’s blood pressure went real high and he got to feeling bad in the plane, so now they’re treating him for high blood pressure, also!  My dear neighbor, Tereza (Ehjwo) has gone by bus to be with them.  She’s like a Mother to Henrique and he keeps calling for her especially when he’s feeling bad.  This is a real time of testing for many people.  We really appreciate your prayers that God can reach hearts and accomplish His purpose in allowing all this.

Thanks for praising the Lord and praying with  Darlene and her co-workers.

“I hope to save my soul, with the help of God.
My obedience of the Ten Commandments opens the gates of Heaven. ”

These words really struck me as being so final, and eternally condemning. The depth of death struck such a blow, and carried with it a soul unprepared to meet his Maker. All around us the doors of the stores and homes along the road were being closed in honor and respect of the mourners passing by. People were not talking to one another but rather walking in a somber way, slow and methodic. The father , surrounded by loved ones, was leaning on the casket in the open back of the hearse. Once we arrived at the cemetery, the songs echoed off the walls of a small, bare, cement corridor, adding to the somber atmosphere. Inside a small room to the left, the family waited as the casket was once again opened for the family to say their last good bys to their loved one. No words were heard other than the sobbing of the mother and the young man’s wife. Then the casket was closed again and carried by the father, brother, and cousins to the burial plot.  The mourners followed. Once again no speeches, no words of encouragement, and no words of remembrance of the young man who had died. As the casket was lowered into the grave, the crowd erupted into applause. Then the only sound you could hear was the sobbing of the wife.

As I looked around at the shaking shoulders of grown men and women in grief, I was reminded that death will come to us all.  Where will you be at that moment? What state will your soul be in? Will you face the Lord in judgment or as His precious child coming home? I am sure that Carlos did not have time to think of all these things when he collided head on with another car.
Only two days ago,  Andy was speaking with Carlos about his kids, who are 4 years and 6 months old. Only two days ago, he was working on our van, repairing our problems, not looking to the eternal state of his own soul. Only two days ago, we didn’t know there wouldn’t be a tomorrow for this man. Would things have been different? Would our conversation have had more meaning? Would we have been more bold to share the Truth of God’s Word one more time?

Death is so final and often so fast.  Here in Brasil, the family has no time to process the events of the death. No time to think. As soon as the town hears of the death, they sit at the home of the family and mourn with them. For a day and a night they are there to offer silent comfort and support, and the next day the loved one is buried. 

Please pray for Carlos’ wife, Nara, and  the children, Mateus and Ana Luiza, for his father Paulo and mother Maria das Dores, that they would be drawn to Christ through their grief.  Miles and Coleen (Andy’s mom and dad) have had the opportunity to share God’s Word with this family several times and also taught phase one of the chronological Bible teaching to Carlos and his wife. May the Lord use this to draw them to Himself. It isn’t enough to hear the truth; each one must act on that knowledge. Tomorrow may never come for some.

Several years ago when our own children were in school, there were a number of MK’s studying here from other mission organizations. We always found it to be a blessing and an encouragement to work with these children and their missionary families. Now, once again we have been blessed by the work of brothers and sisters of like precious faith.

SIL, known as Wycliff Bible Translators in the USA, is soon closing their school and offices in western Brazil and moving much closer to where we are located. Beginning in the August 2008 term, a good number of them will be sending their children to our school and some of their school staff is now going to become a part of our staff. The transition has already been in the works for a number of months and is going well and according to schedule. Sometime ago a para-organization to Wycliffe Bible Translators known as Wycliffe Associates was scheduled to go to the SIL center and build a playground for the children attending school there. When this re-location was decided upon, the associates were asked if they would be willing to build the playground instead at our MK school where now both NTM and SIL children will be attending school. How blessed were we to have this team agree to come.

The Wycliffe associates had hoped to have a team of fourteen volunteers, but when they actually came, only five were able to make the trip. Roger and Velma Brownson came from Bozeman, Montana; Dave and Marty Jones came from McHenry, Illinois and Kathleen Menke came from Elk Grove, California. None of them had known each other before this trip, though all have made more than one such trip with Wycliffe Associates. The “playground construction crew” as we called them, provided not only their physical labor, but also finances, tools and materials needed for the project. They brought a lot of “hardware” with them and then also purchased materials here. Those were three very busy and productive weeks of work and fellowship with a precious crew of folks.

When we first knew they were coming in January, we kind of held our breath in wonder as that is the height of the rainy season. I guess we all wondered how many days they would be rained out. Their goal was to have the playground completely finished before they left. We watched in amazement as God so efficiently took care of the weather. They had beautiful sunny days for work and often cool, soothing rain at night. Or there were also rainy mornings when the men worked in the shop at welding projects, but the sun burned the clouds and rain away by noon and offered a great afternoon for working. All praise and honor to Him! Even the day of the dedication dawned a rainy Sunday morning! We all went to church expecting it would have to be an indoor dedication service. By three in the afternoon, however, God blessed this culminating event with warm sunshine. As Roger finished the prayer of dedication just a whisper of rain fell to remind us of God’s care over these three weeks’ time.

We have been blessed by these hearts, hands, and helpers who have joined with us in the great task of world evangelization in this creative and much appreciated way. The happy children’s voices from the playground are welcome notes of praise to our God. Thank you, Lord for such a special gift to all the MK’s who will study here. Thank you, Lord for our new friends, Roger and Velma, Dave and Marty, and Kathleen who gave of their time, efforts, and finances to be a part of this project and a part of our lives. We have been blessed by their lives.

“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live (and work) together in unity! …For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.” Psalm 133: 1 and 3 (parenthesis added mine)

‘This verse came to my mind when I received the most recent news from the Gaviao work. Horst and Annette Stute have worked with these people for 43 years and now are retiring and returning to Germany. In spite of all the persecution that they encountered during the beginning of the work, they remained steadfast because they believed in the Lord and believed that their work would not be in vain.

At the ‘going away’ party given for them as they left, one of the leaders of the village, the same one who had shot at Horst when he first arrived there, placed a necklace on Horst’s neck as a symbol of gratitude and acceptance.

At the airport  there were many Indians singing and praying for the missionary couple. Horst gave his last words of counseling to his children in the faith and there was much crying. How marvelous that they were able to see there the fruit of their labors, in which they had continued ‘steadfast and immoveable”’ "

"Not too long ago a little Indian grandma and her family came to visit and have lunch with us. The grandma wasn’t feeling well and was very weak. I helped her to a bed while I worked on finishing up lunch. She wasn’t doing well at all and I kept checking on her and sitting her up so that it was easier for her to breathe. She has tuberculosis and after several bouts of coughing etc…I was really getting worried about her.

I called Steve who was with her grandson at our co-workers house to tell him I thought she needed to get to the hospital. Her grandson said she may just be hungry, so once she got settled down again, I finished up lunch. PTL she was very hungry and after two large platefuls of food, she seemed much better although was still hurting a lot and rested the remainder of the afternoon in bed.

The grandma doesn’t speak hardly any Portuguese, only Javaé and a feeling of hopelessness came over me as I thought she could die here in my home and I can’t even share the Gospel with her because I can’t speak her language. I realized too the hopelessness she faces that she could die anytime, has almost died several times, but doesn’t know our precious Savior.

Please pray that we’ll learn the Javaé language quickly and be able to share the Hope of the Gospel with them."