Greetings Everyone from the Alcance in NE Brazil,
Pastor Greg here. Thank you for your prayers for safe
travel. Garrett, Jesse and I arrived last Thursday
(July 12) without incident. We made it through
airport lines and even customs as though we had a
personal escort. We were glad to see a bed after the
long flight and a meal that didn't have to be unwrapped.

Since arriving, Steve Turner and Tele have kept us
hooping with a to-do list. We have done a variety of
things including: making Alcance an Internet Wireless
hotspot, making cabinets for under the frontdesk,
stripping paint from an iron gate and paving a strip
of roadway out in front. Our days are still loaded
with things to accomplish, it has been a joy to work
along side our Brazilian friends/believers. We marvel
at their creativity, work ethic and devotion to God.
It comes through in there work. Please continue your
prayers for our physical strength as none of us have
experience paving a road!

Sunday was an absolute homerun! We attended three
church services beginning at 10:00am and ending
around 8:30pm. I cannot describe the joy, excitment
and humility we experienced worshipping with our
friends in these community churches. My eyes well up
with tears as I think of the people and their
devotion to God as they gather in these local
congregations. Some walking over a mile in the back
hills here on dirt roads which are very steep. It was
a privilege to be a part of the team that
participated in these services. Steve Turner preached
twice that day and God used him to bring eight new
people into His kingdom. We praise the Lord as He
continues to work in and through us.

Garrett says: "I'm having a great time and looking
forward to seeing everyone back home."

Jesse says: "It's great to be working for the Lord
down here. Keep praying us through and we'll see you
soon."

We do covet your prayers as we will have more
opportunities to share the gospel and encourage the
beleivers here in this great ministry of NE Brazil.

You are all in our thoughts and prayers,
Pastor Greg

Written July 8th

Today is Sunday and we are still talking about and thinking about the Big Dump. Cathy says she awakened multiple times during the night flailing away at the flies, only to realize she was back at Alcance with not a fly in sight. The picture above is of Josie trying to put her feelings down on paper. Hopefully her thoughts will be included here. I had to include one more picture from the Big Dump.
The people here at Alcance Brazil are simply amazing. You can sense the power of God in their lives as they live simply and work very hard to serve the Lord. Here are pictures of Pastor Assuerio, Tele, Heather and their one-year old Christopher, and more to come. Johnnie is a little fire ball. Full of joy and fun!
Chuck Taylor

After arriving in Carpina, Brazil about 24 hours after leaving Indianapolis, We had a wonderful lunch at a local steakhouse, and then set about the tasking of packing the medicines. They have to be counted out in 30's or whatever is appropriate for the particular medicine. Labels have to be written in Portuguese explaining the contents of the snack-size baggy, and the instructions for taking it.By 10:30PM all the adrenaline was spent and we hit the sack HARD. What a thrill to see God's protecting and guiding hand at work in our lives!
On Saturday, we left for our first clinic at 9AM. This was at the "Big Dump." (The literal translation of the Portuguese name for this community). This is a village of people who live on the huge garbage mountains outside of Carpina. They search through the garbage looking for food and anything usable for their shacks or clothing. As you can imagine, these people have unimaginably poor hygiene. The mayor of Carpina again this year made the mobile health units available to us, so that we would have some shelter to work from. He is a believer, and a good friend of Tele. This year a husband and wife team of dentists who attend the community church of Acacias here at the Alcance also came, so the mayor also made the mobile dental unit available to us. They pulled 16 teeth in about 110 degree heat! These units don't have air conditioning--nor ventilation unless you want flies buzzing in your sour surgical field.
The pictures above show Josie Forrest, and Paul greeting the patients and taking their vital signs. They put up with the stink heat and flies with hardly a comment. Second is Dr. Flink examining a family in one of the mobile units. The chief problems were worms, lice, respiratory infections, untreated severe hypertension, and fungal infections. The two year old boy in the picture above (mother in a red top) has a protruding abdomen. His mother brought him to the clinic because of a cough. He had a belly full of worms, and was coughing up worms. (The worms travel through the blood to the lungs, are coughed up and swallowed, re-infecting the gut again). He also had a thick crop of lice, as did his mother and siblings.
The final picture shows the last few patients waiting to pick up their medicines at the pharmacy. As you can see, There are lots mangy dogs running around. What you can't see is how thick the flies are. This is the most immediate sensation you feel while at the dump. They just don't leave you alone. It's almost exhausting trying to swat the flies away, and it's almost useless. It's understandable why the people who live here seem to let the flies have their way, sometimes with dozens of flies crawling on them and making no effort to brush them away. We were torn between keeping the doors of the trailers closed to keep the flies out, and opening them to let some air in.
Despite the heat, humidity, stench, flies, and disease, we all cam away knowing that we had somehow been changed. We certainly will have a hard time complaining about our petty problems for a good long time. We're still discussing what exactly it all means. The long-term influence on this community's health has been tiny. They will return to the same lifestyle that produced their diseases. So what did we accomplish? We told them about the love of God in Jesus, and we showed them. We healed their discomfort if only for a time. And we followed Jesus' example. Only He knows what the eternal significance may be.

Medical Trip Begins

Well, we made it! Months of frustrations trying to prepare for this medical mission as responsibly as possible are finally behind us. Trouble with visas. Absolutely no cooperation with Brazilian officials in guaranteeing safe passage of our medicines. (even a request to split the medicines half and half with one gov't official in return for assuring safe passage!). We had bought $2000 worth of medicine and vitamins, and $24,000 worth of medicine had been given to us by MAP International (a division of Christian Medical and Dental Association). Last year a crate of tylenol and vitamins had been confiscated at customs as we entered Brazil. What would happen this time? We finally gave up worrying about and prayed, "God we've done every reasonable thing we know how to do. This is your problem, not ours."
Then we began to see the hand of God at work. First, all seven of us (Steve Turner, Josie Potter Forrest Craig, Paul & Chuck Taylor, and Steve & Cathy Flink) were able to get exit row seats in a PACKED out jet to Rio de Janeiro. This is a 9-hour flight, so the extra space was a God-send! In Rio, we prayed as we approached Customs, "please blind the eyes of the agents." Josie Potter went first with her crate full of toys and school materials for children, and a few large bottles of vitamins and Tylenol mixed in. The agent's eye was caught by something on the Xray and he pulled her over and searched her first crate. When he saw all the toys and school supplies, he waved the entire group through! Thank you Jesus! And thanks to all for praying for us! Picture: a small part of the excellent supply of medicines we have for clinics this trip. This is the best selection I've ever had on a medical mission!

More to follow, Chuck Taylor

Summer Trips

The Medical summer trip team will arrive in Brazil today. Please be praying for them as they are trying to get in two crates full of medicine into the country. Without the medicine the medical clinics will have a hard time helping the sick.

More news to come!!

Today

We just talked to Tele and he was on his way to the Ministry of Labor to give them all of Jeff's documentation. ( A+ certificate, Resume, and transripts.)

Please pray that they give us a work permit so that we can apply for the work visa!

Pray for finances!

The Value of the US Dollar has dropped to a $1.83 to R$1. ( last year it was $2.20 to R$1 ) This is the lowest the Dollar has been in 7 years and it is putting a financial burden upon the Brazil Ministry right now.
It is like getting a pay cut even though everybody in the US is still giving the same.

Please pray this month about giving a little extra to World Renewal Brazil!

Exciting Things Taking Place

We just finished our sixth week at the International School. It is beautiful to see the kids progressing, not only intellectually and socially, but spiritually as well. Of course, those students who were with us last year are far more advanced than the ones who just started, but it is amazing to see how well the new students are doing with just a few weeks of English and Bible teaching. During our daily opening session, we drill them with the weekly Bible verse that goes with the Character trait of the week. They are all so eager, as they raise their hands to recite the verses in both languages. Of course, our main goal is not only for the kids to know those Bible passages by heart, but to take the opportunity we have to coach them along as they can practice those truths on a daily basis.

The word is going around and interest is growing among the parents, not only in Carpina, but in the towns around us. Jumping from 13 students last year to 38 this semester has been an answer to prayer. We thank all of you who have been praying with us in this matter. The other day, we had a couple of parents visiting our premises. They were asking our receptionist what in the world we were doing that makes the whole town talk about the International School. We truly believe God is the One giving all of us the strength and wisdom to put the program into place. And that is why it is making a difference, not only in the kid’s lives, but in their family members as well. We have a couple families who have kids in the school visiting the Acacias Community Church for our Sunday morning services, so it is good to see how the Lord is using the school to reach people with the gospel.

Since Pastor Assuario and his family moved to Amexias, the Holy Spirit is really using them to reach new people in the community. They have seen new believers growing in their faith, as they take their discipleship training, are plugged into small groups, and participate in the Saturday night worship service. Our World Renewal Brazil band is going there every Saturday afternoon to help out with the service, as well as teaching music lessons to some locals. January 2008 is the time when Amexias is going to receive a missionary group from the Baptist church of Macae. They will come in a bus with 45 people to help us build a church building. During the whole month personal evangelism, discipleship with the new believers, and Vacation Bible School will take place. From bricklayers to cooks, from architects to school teachers, they will all be working together to see God’s kingdom being expanded in Northeast Brazil. This church will be providing the labor, and the Community churches will provide the material. The amount we need to raise by the end of the year is $25,000.

Send any gifts to World Renewal International P.O. Box 399 Greenfield Indiana 46140, with a note “Building Fund- Brazil”.

36 Students

Felipe with Tele

The school has just started its second school year in February. We have a total of 36 kids enrolled. We are still harvesting the results from last year's hard work…Felipe, who came to our school after being "invited to leave" from a neighboring town school because of aggressive behavior has become the "protector" of a very shy and scared new kid in the class.. No one dares to mess with him…he's as strong as an ox and as gentle as a teddy bear.. His mother came to pick him up yesterday. She's moving to town to be close to the school and she was in tears as she thanked me for the change the school had made in her son's life…he turned a new leaf… but we all know that Jesus is the one who made the difference in his heart! Isn't it wonderful? Praise the Lord! Please pray for him and his catholic mother, Michelle and aunt Ednalda, who is our new geography teacher, one of the 3 non-born-again Christians in our staff, and who are very open to the gospel.

All the kids, even the parents are excited about the new enlarged school (we are now teaching K3-5^th grade). The new playground was a BIG hit. Kenny Smith, a custom cabinet maker from Kansas made a gorgeous wood playground Fort, which was enlarged with a castle keep with slides and sandbox; and Heather's father (a retired Salvation Army missionary) painted English toy soldiers as sentries at the Castle gate.

One father was so excited about the school that he really wanted to help remodel the building and paid this year's and NEXT YEAR'S tuition in advance to buy new (safer)flooring for the entrance, meeting hall, library, dining room and hallways. Other changes are in progress, turning more of the rooms into classrooms, and putting up a gate around the front of the Alcance, including security cameras."

Another good story is Heitor, who came to school today with his coveted 3 merits. He's been having a lot of demerits lately. So he came and gave his demerits to Tele and asked "Sir, I am giving these back to you--can I can have a fresh start?"

Thank God for fresh starts.

When I was 6 year old my father died, He was the only kind and loving person I knew. My mother went to live with another man who did not like me or my two brothers. He was a mean man who often beat us. He told my mother that he could not live in the same house as us. We were sent to live with my uncle who was very poor and drank a lot. My aunt was made to care for us and she would beat us and yell at us. We could not look at her face when she spoke to us. She was drunk most of the time. She told us if we were disrespectful to her she would put us on the street to live. During those years I was always afraid I would have to live on the street. When my brother was 15, he stole from my aunt so he was kicked out of the house. When that happened I took all the anger from my aunt and uncle. They had no one else to beat, just me.

When I was 18 I started to work as a house servant so I could give money to my aunt for my room and board. I did not finish high school because I needed to work. She was always complaining that I cost her money for my food. I earned 20 reais a month. I gave her 15 and keep 5 to live on. After a year I lost this job and started to work for Ginelson as a carpenter. It was great for the first year then he lost his business but asked me to be his house servant, so I did. He was a nice man but could not pay me each week. He did pay me when he could do so.

One day I came home from work late and my aunt started yelling at me as she always did. This time she told my uncle it was me or her and that he needed to choose who would live in the house. She could not stand for me to live in her house. I left with my things crying and went to my boss. After talking to him he let me stay at his home and paid me with food, board and clean clothes.

His wife was a Christian and started a small Bible study group in her home. I was invited to be a part of that group. She knew I needed Jesus in my life so wanted me to hear about Him. One night Laercio came to speak and ask who wanted to ask Jesus into their heart. Mrs. Lia, my boss’s wife, poked me to raise my hand so I did to please her. But I was not saved that night. A week later Tele arrived back from the US and wanted to start a Church. This is the first time I meat Tele. He told Laercio that he wanted to start a church in Carpina so was invited to speak to out small group. Tele gave me a Bible and told me to read John. As I was reading John something started to change inside of me. Three months later Tele's father-in-law who was a missionary with the Salvation Army came to preach at the church. He preached on Matthew 11:28-30. Come unto me all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. That night I went down to the front crying and laughing. For the first time since my father had died I felt free from all my struggles and hurts buried in my heart.

After that things began to happen fast in my life and the church in Carpina started to grow. I went to live with Tele’s family and started to train to be a pastor. Brookville Road Community Church sponsored me in my studies; I still have the letter Pastor Hubert sent me. I felt so important because it was the first letter I received in English. In 1996 after my first year in Bible study Heather, Tele’s wife and I started a youth program at Carpina Church. That was at a time the Church was growing. Some of the youth that were saved then are now pastors and leaders in the Community Churches in Brazil. In 1997 a second church was started at Paudalho.

One day in 1998 as I drove in a small poor community called Guadalajara I thought this would be a good place to start another church. So after talking with Heather who sent me to John Snow, an American missionary, we started to pray for the city. Because I was so desperate to start a church a week later I said let’s do it. So we started to visit with people and asking them about Jesus. We invited them to a meeting in the middle of the street. This is the only place we had to meet. The meeting place was under the only street light in the city. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it did not work. The first night 85 people came and we invited them to a musical the next Saturday night. The Work of Life band came to play and 115 people came to that meeting. After I preached some were saved and the church was started. I spent a year with the church, meeting in the middle of the road. In the summer of 1999 BRCC sent money to buy an old garage that we remodeled to have a place to worship. The church people met every morning at 5am. to pray for God’s blessings. This is when the church really started to grow. The Living Stones program and church planting came out of this prayer time.

In the next seven years this church started two new churches, one in Ameixas a town 2 hours away. I was going Friday night to the town and having services on Saturday night so I could get to Guadalajara on Sunday night. Youth from the church always came with me, but I could only take 5 of them at a time. Because of this the youth wanted to start a church closer to their home so all of them could be a part of a church plant. The youth started to go door to door in the town of Lagoa de Itaenga. They led people to Jesus and a new church was started. I have left the church in Guadalajara to a new pastor and the church to another pastor in Ameixas. I am now full time pastor at Lagoa de Itenga.

All the churches were started with three things in mind. First, to be missionary minded and support other missionaries. Second, to seek God’s direction in starting another church in one of the 440 city without an evangelical church. Three, for the church to become self supported, paying for the church expenses and pastor. By God’s grace we have seen many lives change and hope given to people just like me.

Today I have a family of my own. God has given a wonderful wife, Kattia, and a baby, Rebecca. God is so good, I have family here and in the US who love me and care for me. I am looking forward to the next step God has for me. So thank you all for the support you give me through your finances and love.

Ricardo da Silva

Tele's House

The Acacias Community Church celebrated it’s first anniversary Sunday Feb 11. They will also had there first Mission conference that Sunday. Please pray for this new church that they get involved with missions and seek to start another church. There small groups are growing as new people are getting saved and joining

Tele and family is moving into the new house this week. Pray for them as them move and get the house in order. Any one who has moved will know how to pray for the family.

The international school is official. The government of Brazil has given Tele all the paper work to be an official school in Brazil. Praise the Lord this is great a low tax rate and Jeff and Lindsey Turner can start on there Visa. Again pray that the visa will go fast as the Turner’s need to be in Brazil as soon as possible.

There has been a lot of ongoing construction happening around the Alcance to prepare for the school year.The December trip helped build the new playground and the Brazilians have been working on the wall around the playground. Check out a video of the playground at David Moraes's blog.

Then there is the new security fence and booth that have been put in. They also put in cameras.

Summer Trip Meeting

If you are interested in the summer short-term trip please come on February 11 at 3:00pm to 4:30pm to Brookville Road Community Church. For directions call Steven Turner at 317-840-1270.

What are you doing this summer?

Summer is coming! That means it’s time to sign up for the summer Brazil mission trip. The medical team needs volunteers for the trip, June 30^th through July 7^th, to reach the physical and spiritual needs of people. There will also be an English camp/ construction trip July 11^th through July 25^th. Come join with others on both or one of the trips this summer. You will be glad you did. Call Steven Turner for more information at (317) 840-1270. The tickets will need to be purchased by April 15. If you have a desire to go and be used by God give us a call as soon as possible.

We’re looking forward to what God will do this summer.

2007 News

_{A total of 30 students are currently enrolled in the International School.}

_{Among the 30 students we have:}

_{a catholic nun’s adopted daughter enrolled.}

_{Jaciel’s brother (a very wealthy Cattle owner) is sending his child.}

_{The owner of the local construction store his sending his children.}

_{When people with a Catholic background come to visit the school now and ask about there religious viewpoints, Tele likes to point out that they have a Catholic nun’s adopted daughter enrolled. The nun took her daughter out of the Catholic school to enroll her in the International School.}

_{The city government of Trancuenahem gave the Community Church there really good Land near the city Government building.}

_{The community Church of Paudalho has been having standing room only church services for the last month.}

_{The Baptist Church in southern Brazil that sponsored the Word of Life Emme group to come to the Northeast is now planning a Short-term missions trip in Jan 08 to build a church. The church that they will be building is The Community Church of Ameixas located in the interior of Northeast Brazil.}

_{Please continue to Pray for the Pastors and staff or World Renewal Brazil as God is truly doing a great work in this region.}

The Lord is at work in Brazil! I want to share with you the ways I saw God at work that you couldn’t get from the other blog spot (if you would like more details on what we did in Brazil on a day to day bases you can go to http://glorybrazil06.blogspot.com/ ) I had 4 main prayer requests when I was preparing for this trip. First was that I could get all of my school work done before I left and that when I got back, I could catch up what I had missed while I was gone. I finished my research paper just before I left, which was one of my main concerns. When I returned from the trip, all of my teachers were extremely helpful and merciful while I attempted to get all of my homework turned in. My finals were in less than a week when I got back, but praise God, I passed all of my classes. The second prayer request I had was that our team would work well together, especially since a lot of us on the team had never meet, and wouldn’t until we arrived in Brazil. Everyone on the team worked so well together. The team couldn’t have been better. We had just the right number of people, with just the right skills needed on the trip. Thirdly, I prayed that God would be able to use me in the way in which he wanted. The first several days I helped Kenny with building the jungle gym. This was an area that I wasn’t expecting to help in, but I was able to be used, and I praise God for that. I then spent my time helping out and participating in the conference. This was the first music conference they have had and it couldn’t have gone better. Not only did I get to see the Lord working through me, but through everyone on the entire team. We had exactly the right number of people with the right skills.

My last prayer request I had for the trip was that God could really reaffirm my call to missions as well as show me the possibilities that would be available to me through playing my saxophone. I got the privilege of playing with the worship team on 2 Sundays, during the 7 times we meet for the conference, before a school play (for background music), at one of the churches for a “special” music, and just jamming with the guys before and after the services. My lip was so tired! But the joy of getting to play with all of them was worth it. During the trip I gave my testimony of struggling with going the Barclay College in Haviland, Kansas to study missions, or going to study music elsewhere. I have chosen to go to Barclay next year knowing that God has called me there and there is no place better to be than where God wants you. After giving my testimony Frank had all of the pastors and those I had played with to pray for me. This was a really powerful moment for me on the trip. It reaffirmed my choice to go to Barclay, to go on the trip, and my call to missions. All of the pastors in Brazil are great leaders and men of God. It was encouraging to get to spend time with and get to know many of the pastors during the conference as well as get to see some of them pastor their church. Tele served as our host and interpreter (for most of the time) during the trip. He is a strong leader and a man of God. It was a great joy to get to know him and his family. Thank you for all of your prayers and support. The trip couldn’t have gone better. I was greatly encouraged by the trip and cannot wait to go back, the Lord willing.

Post by Seth Binford

I'm you're basic homebody. However, God, had different plans for me this December. He sent me on a short term mission trip to Brazil and used the trip to enlarge my world-view. In our first team meeting, we were told that flexibility would be our friend. I went to Carpina Brazil planning to play the piano on a music team and ended up sewing bags with 12-15 beautiful women. Women who love Jesus and are serving Him. As I watched the Brazilian young men and women lead in worship and felt God's presence even though I couldn't understand the language, I was blessed. I was enthralled as I heard Wes Davis and Gary Wright preach and heard Tele interpret. I was blessed and completely overwhelmed (and still continue to be)as I watched about 150 children open bags of Christmas gifts; probably their only Christmas gift. My appreciation grew daily for each team member, their talents and their willingness to serve God. I thank God for my experience, and I know that He put the right team together for the right time and in the right place. I encourage you to think about doing a short-term mission and remind you to pray for those who serve God in Brazil and other fields.

Post by Sue Brawner from Arvada, Colorado