September 7,2004,

Dear Friends and Supporting Churches,

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

We have now been in Brasilia for almost eight months and are getting used to the rhythm and the lifestyle in this big city, the capital of Brazil. It is not hard to get around this city once you understand the symbols of different sections. We are learning to use a city map, thus we are able to go to places without any problem. Traffic laws in Brasilia tend to be very strictly enforced— radar is installed in many sections of our main highways, and a fine can be very expensive for each ticket!

September 7 is a national holiday in Brazil. There were parades and parties in every state to celebrate Brazil’s independence from Portugal. Everything was closed! But this was a very busy day for all the political parties in Brazil, which were busy promoting their campaigns in local elections set for October 3, 2004. As usual, the party currently in power is criticized by the opposition. They all seem to have good ideas to solve the economic crisis of the country, but nothing seems to work! Gasoline is still about $2.40 per gallon; the minimum salary per month is $89 (a high percentage of Brazilians live on the minimum salary); 2 pounds of rice costs about $3.00. It may not seem that expensive to those who are paid in dollars, but in folks who are paid in the Brazilian currency, reais, have to buy broken rice and other poor-quality food in order to survive.

Corruption in high places is still a big issue in Brazil. Politicians are found guilty but with a little bit help from their friends they are free to go! When things seem to quiet down, new accusations arise. Then new committees are formed —not to solve the problems but to do damage control and try to sweep these problems under the rug.

I have been teaching several courses in pastoral care and missions at the extension this year. Local congregations of the Independent Presbyterian Church have also invited me to speak at Sunday school, worship services, and mission conferences. Irene is preparing to teach a course on Christian education in 2005. In September and October, we will go out to recruit new students for 2005 . It is the goal of the extension to have 10 to 15 students from central-west Brazil every year. Please pray that the Lord will send his workers to study at this extension.

We covet your prayers for our colleague, the Reverend Jean Carlos. He is serving as a coordinator of the extension this year while at the same time taking care of a church in Luziana, Goais. The church is growing fast, and he does not think that he will be able to coordinate the extension next year. He wants to continue to work as a professor, but he doesn’t think will have time to do much besides take care of his congregation. Please pray that the Lord will call a new coordinator.

New address for ECO contributions

We want to thank you all for your prayers, words of encouragement and financial support. It is greatly appreciated. We hope that you will continue to pray and support the needs of this extension. Our goal is to have 100 books per year and scholarships for poor students. Contributions may be sent to: Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Individual Remittance Processing, PO Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700. Write the title (Seminario Antonio Godoy de Sobrinho, Extension Brasilia) and the ECO number on the subject line (047960) of the check and put it on your cover letter, too. Send a copy of the cover letter to the Office of Global Education and International Leadership Development at 100 Witherspoon St. Louisville, KY 40202-1396. Or click on the "give" button below.

Michael and Irene Sivalee

The 2004 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 146