Just like that…

…she was pregnant for 3 months before anyone knew about it

This is how Audrey described a young girl who just gave birth to a child.

She literally just dropped the child right out onto the floor. She gave birth at home and, since she’d never given birth before, didn’t realize she was going into labor. Obviously it wasn’t too difficult because the child slid right out and hit the dirt floor with a ‘thud.’ The thing that astounds me is the filth on the floor. I was born in a shack with dirt floors, but my mom always kept the dirt well swept and as clean as dirt can be. But in this shack… well, it wasn’t clean.

The new mother lives in Paxólas, the slum in Ubaúna. Both mother and child are doing well. Her siblings and mother attend church where Audrey pastors.

While the lack of water is affecting all of us, it made no real difference for the girl. They never have water anyway…

Such lack of convenience always causes me to wonder how they do it.

The water scenario here has really deteriorated. While it is raining close by, it still hasn’t rained here in Ubaúna. The one well the government drilled isn’t really helping that much because it is so far away and is always full of people. We are hoping that the rains that typically come in March will be strong this year. We need rain desperately.

And so he concluded with a request that we pray for rain and for the health of the new baby.

Throwdown

The Urban Dictionary translates “throwdown” as:

“about to kick some ass like there’s no tomorrow”

Please pardon the language. I purposefully didn’t put the little stars (a**); I don’t mean to be vulgar but I do mean to be forceful.

We’re on the verge of some serious throwdown in Ubaúna and I want to ask your participation.

I need folks who will be willing to do some serious praying, giving and volunteering.

Without the power we have residing in us that raised Jesus from the dead being brought to bear on the kingdom of the Evil One, we will not see the incredible events that are about to happen.

As we kick off this new year in Ubaúna, we see drought conditions wrecking havoc in the village, we have tightening financial conditions making the poor even needier and are facing an urgent need for strategic, on-site planning.

My primary request at this time is prayer. Prayer that God will open doors that need to be opened, prayer that we can understand the direction he wants us to take, prayer that the church can address the real needs of the comunity and become the focal point of spiritual activity, prayer that the Evil One will be thorougly and convincingly defeated, prayer that Áudrey and Andréia will be used mightly by the Spirit.

We ARE on the verge of some serious throwdown. Pray.

The children will lead them…

This just in from Áudrey:

The kids are really giving us encouragement. It wasn’t something we could have ever imagined, but they are leading the way into the heart of the community. Please be praying for us and for the children!

Áudrey always refers to you as his “American prayer warriors;” let’s show him we mean business and lift them up this week.

July Mission Trip

We’ve got a lot of folks excited…

The deadline for making a final decision to go is creeping up quickly (February 2) and we’ve got people chomping at the bits to head to Ubaúna in July.

This trip will be breaking new ground for the work there and you don’t want to miss it if you are the least bit interested in going.

New sponsor

I’m excited to announce that we have a new, active partner in the work in Ubaúna.

Actually they have been a major player for almost two years, but they’ve now upped the stakes to an even higher level.

Lifepoint Church in Wilmington, NC has taken the lion’s share of Áudrey and Andréia’s support and have made the success of the work there a major component of their outreach program.

Jeff Kapusta, lead pastor, stated: “We are excited to partner with Gospel for Brazil. We have been tracking with them for some time and are commited to the success of the work in Ubaúna.”

This is a red-letter day! God is good!

GFB’s B.O.D.

I’m pumped!

God so knows what he is doing.

Last year the GFB Board of Directors underwent a radical transformation. Folks who had been on the board have served an extremely useful role and I am sincerely grateful to them for what they have done. In the Fall of last year, God let it be known that a change was in order as we move into a new phase.

After much prayer, five men were indicated and invited to become the Board. All accepted. Now, not four months later, it is obvious that the Board has moved into its role and confirmed, for me, that they are indeed the ones God had chosen.

We had a board meeting on Saturday and they blew me away! Their insight, enthusiasm and desire to see God’s plan unfold charged me up. I’m so proud, and excited, I could spit. In fact, I did! 🙂

You are going to be seeing some incredible plans unfolding in the next few months and it is going to make for some exciting times in Ubaúna and the surrounding area.

Please be praying for the GFB board and their guidance of our direction.

The “gel-ing” process

Every time I have one of these initial meetings for a trip to Brasil I get excited.

I see the “fresh meat” sitting there, not having a clue what is going to happen to them, full of expectation and nervousness. I know that they will be forever transformed and it is exciting to watch the process.

Saturday marked yet another “first meeting” for a trip to Ubaúna. It looks like we’ll have another good group that will be formed.

It is still not too late to be a part of it! Reply to this blog or go to the web site and respond there for additional information.

Sweet!

This is just so cool!

I’ve got folks in three states telling me they want to go to Ubaúna with us this July. I’ve also had folks who knew nothing about GFB and Ubaúna until just two weeks ago when they walked into the office and saw our Angel Tree for the kids in Ubaúna — now they want to go and help out in July!

I am astounded!

Which also brings up a good point… if you are wanting to go with us in July, you must RSVP immediately! We are having our first meeting next Saturday, Jaunary 12. If you want to go, you must show (or at least let me know).

For more info, go here now and send us your reservation.