November 2002

Dear Friends,

We are completing our first year, working in the Salvador, Bahia, area. It has been a year full of victories and challenging. We have reached a number of people through many of methods. Our three areas of work, Fazenda Grande, Alagoinhas, and Lauro de Freitas, have grown in a variety of manners. We have started many different programs in each location, depending on the people's needs and ways to reach them.

The Fazenda Grande church, our local work, has grown both spiritually and in number this year. Fourteen people joined the church and a number of children were baptized. The children's ministry has enriched their programs and Dorothy began a Friday evening activity for them. The hygiene program, dealing with children's nutrition and dental care, has reached a number of neighborhood children. The adolescents and youth have new age group leaders and are planning their ministries for 2003. The adult ministry had a year of fellowship meetings for couples, and the mature adults met regularly for informative programs and fellowships.

The Fazenda Grande church had a ten-week parenting enrichment program, learning about the importance of open, honest communication in their families and ways to be better parents and spouses. There was also an event for teenagers. It was enriching for all the participants, but especially for those who had never spoken about open communication, recognizing the value of their children and how to demonstrate the value of others. It was a wonderful way to reach out to the whole community and meet their needs.

With help of PC(USA) friends, the Alagoinhas church has rented a building, so that during rainy season they were able to continue their biweekly children's meal program and their weekly evangelism services. The children can come there for food and activities, knowing that they are important to the church folks and the Lord. The adults know that they are welcome there, especially when they have questions and are curious about God. In 2002, they started work in a second neighborhood. They serve bimonthly meals and hold weekly services. In January, the Alagoinhas church will call a pastor, allowing us to devote more time to the Lauro de Freitas work.

Our Lauro de Freitas work, which began in March, has grown. Twenty-five people meet for Sunday school and worship, plus Bible study and prayer meeting during the week. They are also reaching out to folks through an active music program, including many youth who lead worship through singing and playing instruments. The youth often meet for musical events and special activities. In 2003 we plan to devote more of our time to this work.

This has been a year of learning and growth: meeting new folks, beginning new work, creating new programs, discovering our way around the large city of Salvador and more. Thank you for helping make our ministry possible through prayer and monetary support. Please pray that 2003 will be a fruitful year for our ministry and whole family.

In Christ,

Gordon and Dorothy Gartrell

The 2002 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 258