August 26, 2004
Dear Friends and Family,
We have just started the second semester at the Missionary Training
Center in Florianópolis. In March, when students arrived
and tried to rent apartments, all they could find was too expensive.
Then our secretary, Cinira, remembered a family that had recently
come to our church. She called them and they let the students
have their home (two bedrooms) for the year, rent-free. They had
just moved out of this little wooden house and it was going to
be demolished the next day, so we contacted them just in time.
Later, they found out that a new law would have prevented them
from rebuilding, had they demolished the house. So, by their generous
giving they were actually rewarded. This brings me to one of the
lessons that I have been impressed with recently: You cannot surpass
God’s giving (Psalm 112)! It is amazing how many times I
have given to someone I thought needed help only to receive more
from God in different and unexpected ways.
This semester we have two new students at the CTM: Admilson and
Matthew. It is winter here now and Admilson was terribly sick
when he arrived. He missed about a week of classes, had to be
taken to the hospital a couple of times, the last time during
one of Tim’s classes. He was coughing up some blood and
we were all concerned. Fortunately, it was not anything serious
and he’s much better now. Other students have caught colds
and today I have a bad cold too. So I ask you to pray for our
health. |
