May Prayer Letter - Onesimo and Marilda de Arruda

May 2008

Dear Loved Ones,

One more month has gone by and we continue the Lord’s work, by His grace. We have done a lot of traveling this past month and we are thankful for God’s protection throughout that time. Onesimo took Larry and Fay to the airport in Sao Paulo and then we returned to Sao Paulo a week later for Ana Irene’s graduation at Word of Life. Then Onesimo made yet another trip to the north of Brazil, where we were missionaries for many years, to get our things shipped and visit the brothers with whom we worked there. They were very happy to see Onesimo and served him all kinds of typical foods and drinks and also spent lots of time talking to him. It sure wasn’t easy getting there since the car broke down on the way and the last part of the trip had to be completed by motorcycle. It’s the rainy season there now, and by the time Onesimo and others reached their destination, they had mud up to their hair! But we were very encouraged to find our brothers doing well and keeping the Word of God. Onesimo was also able to see friends from town and from the church we attended. The church has grown a lot and that cheered our hearts as well. Lastly, he was able to visit with members of our previous mission board over dinner and share how the Lord is working in our new ministry. We hope that some day we can go back as a family to visit our friends in the village because those people are still very much in our hearts. Thank you so much for your prayers for us during these trips.

We are now back in full swing since the Bible school has started up again. Onesimo is teaching twice a week, giving classes in Bible Doctrine and Transcultural Missions. We have one new student. Please pray that all these students would have a clear understanding of God’s word in spite of the language limitations. On Mondays and Thursdays Onesimo is also teaching Bible doctrine to a group of six leaders, and the meetings at the newspaper office continue, though we are still praying for conversions.

I (Marilda) have been teaching at the school in the village, and it has been encouraging to see how the students there are becoming friendlier and more receptive. I’m also thankful for the opportunity to teach Proverbs during chapel on Tuesdays. The students have been very interested and are even memorizing verses, which makes me happy. Please ask the Lord to help me make the most of this precious time since I only have 15 minutes each week to teach the kids the value of fearing the Lord and giving ear to wisdom.

This past Saturday we were able to participate in a farewell service to missionary Elizabeth Ekdahl who gave more than fifty years of her life to translating the Bible into the Terena language. May the Lord continue to bless her as she returns to the U.S.

At the church, we are now helping to put in a new floor and paint the building for its 19th anniversary. Even the young people are happy to get involved in this project when they come home from school. On Sunday we will have a special dinner at the church to commemorate the event.

We can’t thank you enough for your faithful prayers that the Lord will continue to bless this work by giving us wisdom, health, and the right perspectives of what needs to be done. We are also thankful for your generous gifts and contributions which have blessed us and others so greatly, and make it possible for us to be here. May the Lord bless you.

In His Service,

Onesimo and Marilda de Arruda

Some Pictures

The de Arruda’s daughter’s graduation at Word of Life Seminary

Onesimo’s trip to the Wai-wai village up North of Brazil

Phanarruwi, the leader of the Wai-wai village and his family

The missionary’s house Onesimo stayed in. No beds to sleep in.

UNIEDAS church anniversary (Typical barbecue)