Greetings from Brazil!

(Today is Farroupilha Day, an important state holiday.)

The good news is that on September 15, 2001, the Presbytery of Rio Grande do Sul named a commission to examine the Sapiranga Congregation to determine if we meet the requirements to be organized as a church. On December 14 and 15, this commission is to report back to the presbytery at their annual meeting. "If the way be clear" they will set the date to organize the church, probably in the spring of 2002. Our church now has 53 adult members and 28 baptized children. We are worshiping in the new building, which still needs to be painted, have a ceiling installed, and purchase curtains or blinds for the windows. Please pray!

More good news began on a beautiful sunshiny day when Lottie and I drove about 50 miles up into the mountains to a city called Canela. I was going there to examine a man named Erilson for baptism. He had completed a 13-lesson course for new disciples taught by one of our laymen. We were not only able to approve him for baptism, but we scheduled a worship service to be held in his new home two days later. Erilson wanted to invite his friends and neighbors to his baptism. (Over 40 adults plus children and babies were at that service!)

While we were in Canela we also made pastoral visits to two Presbyterian families who had recently moved there from other states. But this was Tuesday, September 11, 2001! It was hard for Lottie and me to keep our minds on the good things that God was doing! For while we were eating lunch we watched in horror on a very small TV as reports of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon came in. At that time the fourth plane was still in the air and according to reports it was being escorted by U.S. fighter planes. Needless to say, all the theological and philosophical questions filled our minds. But we decided that the most helpful thing we could do was to faithfully continue our work that day.

Over a week later we still have no clear answers to all those questions, but we are in almost constant prayer for the United States and President Bush and his advisors. We fear that there is much suffering and many difficult decisions ahead for the United States and the whole world. May God lead each of us to true repentance and faithful obedience to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

With conflicts of global proportions vying for our attention, it would be easy to forget the conflicts inside the PC(USA). But they are still with us. As missionaries working to call people to faith in Jesus Christ, we have been encouraged by the Confessing Church Movement. We are happy to learn of the growing number of church sessions affirming in one way or another their commitment to:

• Jesus Christ as the only Lord and Savior.
  
• The Scriptures of the Old/ New Testament as the Church’s only rule of faith and practice.
  
• That God calls us all to holy living in every area of our life.

When Lottie and I learned of the Confessing Church Movement in April, we signed the guest book. We made our views known to our moderator, Dr. Jack Rogers, on July 12th. We believe that our supporters have the right to know where we stand on these issues. We realize that this may mean that some of you will want to request the Worldwide Ministries Division to designate your mission giving to another mission project. Others, who share with us their support of these three tenets of the Christian faith are encouraged to make your position known through your session. Let us stand together for the faith "once delivered to the saints" whether we are in Brazil or in the U.S.

As recent events have shown, we are all at the front of the conflict! May we each one find our true security in knowing and loving our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and faithfully serving him in whatever way we are called and wherever we are sent.

In the service of our risen Lord,

Henry M. Haswell, Jr.

Please note our new email: haswell@uol.com.br

The 2001 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 258