Quarterly 4, 2011

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Dear Supporters and Praying Friends,

It is probably one of the greatest compliments a Brazilian national can give.  Our family has been forging many new relationships with Brazilians living around us.  The other night, our family was having coffee with a neighboring family as we were discussing houses and they said something which both surprised and blessed us at the same time.  “To us, your family is Brazilian!”  God has been greatly blessing and giving us favor in the eyes of the Brazilians.  We have also been making inroads into the lives of Brazilians through teaching English.  My wife was witnessing to one of our students and found that she had never owned a Bible.  It was such a blessing for my wife to be the person God used to get His word into this young lady’s hands.
Our church plant in Agua Espraiada is continuing to grow and experience the hand of God.  Plans are continuing forward with preparations for the first official building for the church.  We have been working to tear down the existing buildings and clear the area for the foundation.  God has laid it on the heart of a gentleman in the area to provide 1,000 cement blocks for the commencement of the construction.  We also have had the providence of a truck-load of rock and sand as well.  We have been having regular visitors for both Sunday and mid-week services.  We are praying that we will be able to begin construction very soon because we have been running out of space for the visitors that have been attending.  We consistently have 30+ people in attendance with about 5-10 children.  In the month of October, Brazil has a holiday called “The Day of the Child.”  By the Lord’s help, we were able to organize a one-day youth outreach in the local area.  It was a tremendous opportunity to introduce the church to the community.  To the Glory of the Lord, we had about 50 children with over 80 community people in all!  A tremendous turnout for the church’s first outreach.
Our church plant in Mirante is beginning the initial steps toward the next phase of building.  We are beginning to remove portions of the old auditorium and taking apart some of the walls.  As we continue to make preparations for the constructions of the final auditorium, we are praying about the removal of the debris from the torn-down part of the building.  There is the possibility that the local city may be interested in the fill and rubble.  We are praying that they will remove it for us.  It will save the church a lot of money and work.
We want to thank you all for you continued support and prayers for our family.  We have received various Christmas love offerings and birthday cards for our family.  Thank you for remembering our family on these special occasions.  The cards truly make the family feel remembered and missed.  We wanted to also express our great appreciation for the extra Christmas love offerings.  They have been such a tremendous blessing.  Thank you as well, and even more-so, for your continued, faithful prayer for our family.  On the other side of our neighborhood road, across from our house, is our local padaria ( bakery ).  A few weeks ago, we had three men rob the padaria at gunpoint.  Sometimes, having something of that nature happen no more than 50 feet from your front gate reminds one of the protection of God upon their life and the many prayers offered on their behalf.  Again, we thank you!
Please continue to uphold our family in your prayers.  We were notified that our landlord wants to tear down our house and build apartments.  Essentially, we need to find another house soon.  Because of the many new friendships we have been forming in our local neighborhood, we would desire to find a reasonably priced home in this area.  We have had other housing opportunities present themselves, but fall through.  It is our desire to make the move before the rainy season in is full-swing.   Please pray as well in regards to our residency cards.  It seems like we just received them…oh…wait…we did.  Anyway, they expire this coming January and we need turn in the old card and apply for a new one.  There are many considerations, ie., timing, appointments, and finances. 
One new area we have been exploring and testing in order to reach into the community is that of teaching English.  It seems to be very well received.  Right now, we have about 14 students who want to begin.  One of the students is the young lady Ashley had the privilege of giving the Bible too.  We have already had the opportunity through these classes of witnessing to students.  It has also opened the door into the lives of a neighboring family.  They ended up inviting our family over for a cookout where their in-laws and friends were in attendance as well.  We have since been able to establish relationships with these other families.  In fact, the Lord laid it upon the heart of one of the mothers to show up at our doorstep with a box full of rice, beans, sugar, and other staples!  God has truly given our family favor in the eyes of the Brazilians.
So much has transpired and God has worked in so many ways.  With the Thanksgiving season upon us, I had thought about opening with the thought “taste and see that the Lord is good!”  We have had a lot of negative things happen such as having our computer go down for a couple of months or another of our supporting churches close, thus knocking our promised support down to 61%.  But with every attack of Satan, was a follow-up blessing from God and oftentimes, it was a double blessing.  These blessings have ranged from anonymous love offerings to strangers bring food to our house.  And then there has been the blessing of God upon the church plants in progress and the physical and spiritual growth within our churches!  God has been so good!  It has been so good to simply “be about my Father’s business” and let Him take care of the finances. 

For those of you who hold us in prayer,
For those of you who hold us in prayer,
1. Praise the Lord for the growth of the church in Agua Espraiada.
2. Praise the Lord for the beginning of construction of the Agua Esraiada church building.
3. Praise the Lord for His continued protection over our family.
4. Pray for our residency cards as we apply for new ones.
5. Please pray concerning our support level and that the Lord will provide additional monthly supporting churches so we may continue serving in Brazil.
6. Pray for the Lord’s direction and providence in looking for a new house.

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Your Fellow-Laborers,
The Kovachs