THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE WITH US WHILE WE WAIT TO GET INTERNET IN OUR HOME. FOR RIGHT NOW, WE ARE PAYING A SMALL FEE TO GET ON THE INTERNET AT A VIDEO RENTAL BUSINESS ABOUT 4 MILES FROM WHERE WE LIVE. WE WROTE THIS ON MONDAY THINKING THAT WE WOULD GET IT SENT RIGHT AWAY, BUT IT WAS ONLY POSSIBLE RIGHT NOW. KEEP PRAYING!!
We praise the Lord for the way He has blessed our ministry here in Brazil. Saturday evening we were able to do a visit at the home of one of the families that has been attending our services and it was a blessing. Our “made in U.S.A.” aluminum ramp has come in very handy over and over again, and is being used for the Lord to do visits and get into the homes of the Brazilians. The time of communion with Lourdes and Orlando was enjoyable (she plays the guitar, and sang a special number for us!!), and on the way out the door, John was able speak with Lourdes’ brother, David, who is not a Christian. He asked him if he had ever accepted Christ as His personal Savior. His response was that he calls upon the Lord every day, and since the Bible says that “whosoever shall call upon the Lord shall be saved” he felt he would go to heaven when he died. He doesn’t attend church regularly, but promised John that he would come to the meeting last night to hear him preach. We are thankful that not only David came to the service,
but also many other visitors! There were a total of 62 in attendance, and after John finished the message, one of the couples raised their hands and then went forward! John was able to deal with Adam, who came forward for salvation. When Adam was asked why he came, he said that his life was not good and that he was a terrible sinner, but yet he wanted to go to heaven.
He said, “This is my situation, Pastor, and I just wanted to know if there was any way that I would be able to go to heaven.” John was just soo happy to let him know that it didn’t matter how awful or terrible the situation was, God still loves him and wants him to have a home in heaven. Adam was just thrilled to find out that he actually had even a chance to be saved!!
How exciting to hear him pray and accept Christ as his personal Savior. His wife Alzira came forward for assurance of salvation, and we are grateful that the Lord is working in this couple’s lives. Continue to pray for Adam and Alzira to grow in their walk with the Lord and also for David, who attended the service, but needs to be saved.
Health-wise, John is doing very well. We were able to meet his doctor this past Wednesday, and Dr. Thomas seems to be very competent and not hesitant to refer John to other specialists should needs arise. Getting into his elevator to go to his office on the third floor was very tricky, since the elevator was the smallest we have ever been on. We found out that if we did it “catty-cornered” and at a certain point I crossed his feet, it would work! Whew!! There have been so many times down here that we have had to get “creative” to make things happen, but of course that comes quite naturally to John—he sees it as a challenge and it makes life quite
interesting!! Besides preaching, teaching, witnessing, and visitation, John has been able to help out with the construction of the church building right here on the property. He enjoys that immensely and the workers here have already gained a high respect for his knowledge and experience in this area. Praise the Lord together with us for the way the Lord has used John already here in Brazil, and continue to pray for good health and strength to carry on the work.
Jonna and Jeanne have amazed us. We were quite concerned about feeling the loss of Jerrod’s help with John and also around the house. However, the girls have really done a great job at trying to help out more with John. Jerrod always did his “range of motion” therapy on his legs each night before bedtime, and had a time of “training” with the girls before he left Brazil. What was decided is that each girl would do one leg every night. It has worked out well, although we do miss Jerrod a lot. The getting in and out of the van has been a challenge, since we have a ramp that needs to be manually taken out of the van and unfolded every time we get in and out.
The “tie-downs” are ones that we have “rigged,” so they take awhile to figure out. But the girls have done really well at helping John get in and out. So far only one near “mishap” as John’s chair went off the edge of the ramp, but it was right near the bottom, so between the three of us, we were able to get John and the chair “unstuck.” Brazil is sooo different from the U.S., but of course the girls were expecting it, and we think they have surprised themselves as to how easy it has been. They are also helping out a lot around the house, and things are going pretty well so far. Pray for Jonna and Jeanne and their walk with the Lord, and also for their continued
adjustment to life here in Brazil.
Our home is very simple, but nice. Things are pretty well organized now, and we are feeling like we are settling in. There are still some items that we have not found, but each day we take a little time to slowly go through our barrels. When we finally discover something we have been looking for in awhile, we get all excited!! Party time!!! When my 13 year old Kitchen Aid
mixer (it is still in great shape) was found, I suddenly became a new person. Who cares if I have to balance it on a small wooden stool and plug it into a transformer each time I use it!!!! Hey, it works and it is a “wife-saver” down here in Brazil! The girls also found their aquarium and
now bugging us to buy some fish. What makes John happiest is the finding of his tools. Even though he can’t actually use them now, God has provided a couple of workers to be his “hands” and it is great to see his face light up when he sees progress in the construction going on here at the church.
Thank you again for your prayers for our family and ministry. Our adjustment time has gone extremely smoothly, and we are confident that it is because the prayers of our support team!!
May the Lord continue to bless each one of you!
Sincerely in Christ,
John and Bev Leonard
We praise the Lord for the way He has blessed our ministry here in Brazil. Saturday evening we were able to do a visit at the home of one of the families that has been attending our services and it was a blessing. Our “made in U.S.A.” aluminum ramp has come in very handy over and over again, and is being used for the Lord to do visits and get into the homes of the Brazilians. The time of communion with Lourdes and Orlando was enjoyable (she plays the guitar, and sang a special number for us!!), and on the way out the door, John was able speak with Lourdes’ brother, David, who is not a Christian. He asked him if he had ever accepted Christ as His personal Savior. His response was that he calls upon the Lord every day, and since the Bible says that “whosoever shall call upon the Lord shall be saved” he felt he would go to heaven when he died. He doesn’t attend church regularly, but promised John that he would come to the meeting last night to hear him preach. We are thankful that not only David came to the service,
but also many other visitors! There were a total of 62 in attendance, and after John finished the message, one of the couples raised their hands and then went forward! John was able to deal with Adam, who came forward for salvation. When Adam was asked why he came, he said that his life was not good and that he was a terrible sinner, but yet he wanted to go to heaven.
He said, “This is my situation, Pastor, and I just wanted to know if there was any way that I would be able to go to heaven.” John was just soo happy to let him know that it didn’t matter how awful or terrible the situation was, God still loves him and wants him to have a home in heaven. Adam was just thrilled to find out that he actually had even a chance to be saved!!
How exciting to hear him pray and accept Christ as his personal Savior. His wife Alzira came forward for assurance of salvation, and we are grateful that the Lord is working in this couple’s lives. Continue to pray for Adam and Alzira to grow in their walk with the Lord and also for David, who attended the service, but needs to be saved.
Health-wise, John is doing very well. We were able to meet his doctor this past Wednesday, and Dr. Thomas seems to be very competent and not hesitant to refer John to other specialists should needs arise. Getting into his elevator to go to his office on the third floor was very tricky, since the elevator was the smallest we have ever been on. We found out that if we did it “catty-cornered” and at a certain point I crossed his feet, it would work! Whew!! There have been so many times down here that we have had to get “creative” to make things happen, but of course that comes quite naturally to John—he sees it as a challenge and it makes life quite
interesting!! Besides preaching, teaching, witnessing, and visitation, John has been able to help out with the construction of the church building right here on the property. He enjoys that immensely and the workers here have already gained a high respect for his knowledge and experience in this area. Praise the Lord together with us for the way the Lord has used John already here in Brazil, and continue to pray for good health and strength to carry on the work.
Jonna and Jeanne have amazed us. We were quite concerned about feeling the loss of Jerrod’s help with John and also around the house. However, the girls have really done a great job at trying to help out more with John. Jerrod always did his “range of motion” therapy on his legs each night before bedtime, and had a time of “training” with the girls before he left Brazil. What was decided is that each girl would do one leg every night. It has worked out well, although we do miss Jerrod a lot. The getting in and out of the van has been a challenge, since we have a ramp that needs to be manually taken out of the van and unfolded every time we get in and out.
The “tie-downs” are ones that we have “rigged,” so they take awhile to figure out. But the girls have done really well at helping John get in and out. So far only one near “mishap” as John’s chair went off the edge of the ramp, but it was right near the bottom, so between the three of us, we were able to get John and the chair “unstuck.” Brazil is sooo different from the U.S., but of course the girls were expecting it, and we think they have surprised themselves as to how easy it has been. They are also helping out a lot around the house, and things are going pretty well so far. Pray for Jonna and Jeanne and their walk with the Lord, and also for their continued
adjustment to life here in Brazil.
Our home is very simple, but nice. Things are pretty well organized now, and we are feeling like we are settling in. There are still some items that we have not found, but each day we take a little time to slowly go through our barrels. When we finally discover something we have been looking for in awhile, we get all excited!! Party time!!! When my 13 year old Kitchen Aid
mixer (it is still in great shape) was found, I suddenly became a new person. Who cares if I have to balance it on a small wooden stool and plug it into a transformer each time I use it!!!! Hey, it works and it is a “wife-saver” down here in Brazil! The girls also found their aquarium and
now bugging us to buy some fish. What makes John happiest is the finding of his tools. Even though he can’t actually use them now, God has provided a couple of workers to be his “hands” and it is great to see his face light up when he sees progress in the construction going on here at the church.
Thank you again for your prayers for our family and ministry. Our adjustment time has gone extremely smoothly, and we are confident that it is because the prayers of our support team!!
May the Lord continue to bless each one of you!
Sincerely in Christ,
John and Bev Leonard
posted by Douglas Porter @ 6/21/2007 03:28:00 PM
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