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October 2000
Dear Friends,
Greetings from Fortaleza, Brazil, in the name of Christ!
Let us share with you some of the blessings we have received
from the Lord in the last couple of months. This year has been
a great year for each of us, especially for Richard Ashbel, who
was born into the Green family on March 30. He has been a blessing
in our midst. The Scripture says: "Lo, sons [and daughters]
are a heritage from the Lord!" (Psalm 127:3). Richard is
growing and healthy, very active, and always smiling. Few things
can compare to a baby’s smile.
Many friends have asked us about Richard’s middle name,
Ashbel. Reyna and I decided to give Richard the middle name "Ashbel"
in honor of the first Presbyterian missionary from the United
States to Brazil, Ashbel Green Simonton. He graduated from Princeton
Theological Seminary in 1852, arrived in Brazil in the year of
1859, and died from yellow fever seven years after his arrival.
Despite his short time in Brazil, which he spent mostly in Rio
de Janeiro and São Paulo, Ashbel Green had a great impact
on Christianity here as well as Presbyterianism. In Brazil today
all Presbyterian denominations honor this great man of God.
Last May we had to go to the United States for Reyna to get an
extension from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service
so she could stay longer than two years in Brazil. That problem
was solved, praise the Lord!
During our short time in the Florida area last May we had the
opportunity to visit some Presbyterian churches that are supporting
our ministry here in northeast Brazil. For us to have made such
a direct contact with these churches was a blessing. Though our
time was limited, we managed to introduce ourselves to four churches,
three in Florida and one in Georgia. We just had time to introduce
ourselves and to say thanks, but we meant it. Thanks! in the name
of Christ to all of you who support this ministry, through donations
or prayer or both. These four Presbyterian churches now have an
idea who the Greens are. It was important for us as a family to
make that direct contact with supporting churches. Some members
of these churches expressed to us that they now know where their
mission support goes every Sunday.
During this academic year the seminary of Fortaleza has been
busy. I have taught nine classes in: church growth, Christian
education, theology, New Testament, pastoral theology, missiology,
and spirituality. I taught four classes first semester and now
I’m teaching four classes (plus I taught an intensive course
at the beginning of the semester). How can I handle that? God
gives the strength. Fortunately, my other responsibilities with
the presbytery and the two churches I have been assigned by the
presbytery to work with do not demand too much time of me.
We are now in the middle of the second semester, and things are
going well for me in the seminary as well for the students with
whom I share my experiences about ministry in the life of the
church, theologically and practically speaking. I ask for your
prayers for me, my students, and the seminary.
My family is also doing fine. Kerry is now in third grade. She
likes her new teacher. One day she came home very happy and shared
with us a compliment she’d received from her teacher: "Kerry,
you are the smartest girl in the class." Well, she is the
only student in third grade this year in the American school she’s
attending, but it was nice for her to hear. Kerry turned 8 years
old last August.
Ashley turned five years old last June and also is doing fine.
Since the American school doesn’t have a kindergarten, Ashley
is taking classes at home. And in order for her to enroll next
year she is required to have a background in English. So, she’s
taking English classes with Mom at home. She is doing fine and
hoping that her English will improve by the beginning of the next
school year. Ashley loves to sing the songs of the Spice Girls
in English. That is a great methodology for her to increase her
English vocabulary. Besides the English that Ashley is grasping
she is very fluent in Portuguese and Spanish.
Reyna is doing ministry from home. She is taking care of the
family as well as me. Her support for my ministry in the seminary
and in the churches is amazing. I do admire her courage to be
my companion in this ministry in northeast Brazil. Her faith has
grown and becomes stronger. I praise the Lord for her support,
especially for this missionary experience in a foreign land.
Richard has become the center of attraction in our home. He is
adorable! He is always smiling and that is of great sign of God’s
love in our midst.
To you all, receive our warmest love and sincere expression of
gratitude for your support and concern through your daily prayers,
for your letters, financial support, birthday cards, e-mail messages,
and more.
"For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons and daughters
of God" (Romans 8:14).
Faithfully yours,
Ricardo, Reyna, Kerry, Ashley and Richard Green
The 2000 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 252
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