End of Furlough 2012-13

The Van Lohs in Curitiba, Brazil

January 2013

17, 16, 15, 14, 13 . . .

The count-down has begun … 17 days until we return home to Brazil.  Since August 2012 we have reported to supporting churches and individuals, renewed friendships, spent time with our family, and had time to be refreshed and challenged for our return to ministries.  Now we ask you to pray for our re-emergence into the day-to-day ministries that await us in Curitiba.  The date for our departure is Sunday afternoon, January 20^th, arriving in Curitiba on the following day.

NEW HOPE BATIST CHURCH

During our furlough, our Brazilian co-pastor, Rodrigo, has had full responsibility of leading the flock.  There have been ups and downs for him in the last months.  The “down” happened at a business meeting in early December.  Several of the church members were seemingly disgruntled with his leadership.  Others rallied behind the pastor recognizing the lack of commitment on the part of the discontented.  Pr. Rodrigo was quite discouraged at that point.  On that very Sunday evening a big windstorm came and took out our big front church window.  Remember the windows that were always getting stones thrown at them … the whole frame came down!  When the church met that night, all the attention was on the destruction from the mighty wind storm rather than the destruction from the storm that took place during the business meeting that morning.  Was God’s voice in the wind??  Regardless of the answer to that question, the church has once again united and seems to be moving forward.  Souls have been saved, others have begun the “John” Bible studies, the Christmas program was a success.  We are thankful for God’s care over His church.

WHAT’S NEXT?

The answer to that question is easy!!  We don’t know!  We ask for your prayers as we return and assess the church under Pr. Rodrigo’s leadership.  Is it time to begin a new church plant?  Is it necessary to stay a bit longer and firm up the membership at New Hope?  We will need God’s leading as we return from this furlough.  We do need to make some decisions on the church building front window.  It is now just boarded up from the wind storm.  It will cost a good amount of money to make the repairs and find a solution that will be attractive, yet secure.  If you can help with this project, you can send funds to our “Building” account at BMM.  I am assuming that it will cost at least $1,000.00.

          

THANK YOU!

We so appreciate YOUR part in our ministry.  Your prayers and financial support keep us going.  We become more convinced the longer we are in the ministry that the former is more important than the latter!  Thank you for both.

Paul & Susan Van Loh - Serving with Baptist Mid-Missons in Curitiba, Brazil