April Prayer Letter - Arrudas in Brazil

 

Dear Loved Ones,

We trust you had a wonderful Easter, a special day to remind us of our God’s unconditional love and the blessed hope we have for the future, when we will be in His presence for all eternity - (2 Cor. 5:15)

We are happy to report that our computer and modem are finally working again. Wow!! We never imagined how much work they do for us and how limited we are without them.  We would have to go back to handwriting!

 

We are all doing well as a family and in ministry.  The school year, which in Brazil begins after Carnival, has started up now, and I (Marilda) am back to teaching at the village on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and also giving Bible studies to the women in the churches.  Onesimo is teaching Bible to the leadership here in town, using the Dallas course, and he also continues at the Newspaper. They are studying the book of 1 John and seem to be very interested in the truths of God’s Word.  We would love to see conversions in that group.  

Onesimo’s classes at the Bible institute will also be starting up soon and in the first week of April there will the annual UNIEDAS (Terena) conference there.  This event involves much planning and goal-setting, and we greatly appreciate your prayers on our behalf.  We have been involved with the UNIEDAS church here in town and believe us, there is much to be accomplished there.  We have come to the conclusion that this church needs to study and know God’s Word more before any real change can take place.  This church has a big youth group with many children, and we pray that all that energy and potential will be used to accomplish much for God’s glory!

 

We praise God that our family is well.  Ana Irene’s graduation ceremony from Word of Life Bible Institute will be on April 5, and some of us hope to attend.  Meanwhile, she has already begun her studies at the university in Campo Grande and is enjoying her teachers and friends.  Our son, Raphael, is thriving in his last year of high school.  He studies diligently at school in the morning, then takes extra classes in the afternoon to help him pass the test to get into college.  He still has hopes to get into the military Air Force.  Onesimo has finally had a dream come true and is also back in school, going for his Masters in Theology.  Once a month he attends university in Campo Grande, then studies all weekend.  He is enjoying it and doing very well. (I’m sure glad our kids took after him in this regard!!)

 

Next month Onesimo will be going to Roraima, where we were missionaries for many years, to arrange shipment of our belongings that still remain there.  He will also visit the Wai-wai village where we used to work to see how they are doing and to encourage them in their faith.  We are praying for a safe trip for him and for our things, which will be shipped to us separately by truck and may take up to a month to get here.

 

Finally, we thank you for praying for us regarding our visas.  The Lord graciously answered and we were granted a five-year visa.  If possible, we would like to return to the U.S. next year to visit churches and friends and also to raise the 60% of our support that we lack.  We pray that the Lord would lead in all the planning for our trip, and that He would open new doors for us. 

 

Once again, thank you for your faithful participation in the Lord’s work here in Brazil.  May He continue blessing as He has.

 

In His service,

 

Onesimo and Marilda Arruda