"Come As You Are .... Leave Better!"

June, 2005


Birthdays are big in Brazil. It is very rude and insensitive to forget someone’s special day. Interestingly enough, the most important ones are the first and the fifteenth. Brazilians go all out, and their “party animal” nature is clearly manifested. We’ll never forget our first experience of a one-year-old celebration. One day, mid-afternoon, we suddenly heard a hoard of children laughing and screaming, horns blowing and music playing. We look outside our balcony, and there we saw oodles of people, all sizes and ages. Besides the mass of humanity, there were a rented clown and 3 carts: hot dogs, popcorn, and of course, cotton candy! We thought the mayor surely must be coming, but to our surprise, it was not the mayor. It was a 1-year-old baby who lived in our building. That was the beginning of learning a new culture.

We couldn’t count the number of parties we have attended these 24 years in Brazil, but probably the most meaningful one happened on May 29th this year. It was our baby church’s 1 year old birthday, and we did it totally Brazilian style. We passed out 5,000 invitations in our neighborhood, prepared 3,000 typical finger foods, and had enough “Guarana” (the national soft drink) and cake to serve 500 people. We were prepared. God abundantly blessed with 320 persons present, yes, 320 heard the Gospel message! We thank the Lord for His countless blessings upon this new work. We literally have visitors every Sunday, and thankfully many have been saved. We covet your prayers concerning our building and the lot next door. Recently, we learned of a man who wants to buy both lots for business purposes. Presently, we are renting them, but now we sense the urgent need to buy them. We don’t want to loose this strategic location. Please pray God will supply the resources. What we pay in rent would make a sizable mortgage payment. Please pray for God’s perfect will.

“The New Tomorrow” project also celebrated its 3 months of life. When we think of a 3-month-old baby, that’s usually the stage they are getting over the colic and starting to sleep through the night. The parents start to feel some relief and begin to really enjoy their new baby. We find ourselves sensing these same feelings as we see some major progress in our 39 children. They definitely have calmed down and have learned to eat with a knife and fork, they have learned to use the bathroom correctly and be cleaner. Best of all they are arguing over who is going to say grace before the meals, and they have memorized 3 Scripture verses. Undoubtedly, the love, instruction, and affirmation given them by our wonderful staff are being manifested in their changed behavior. We can sense their more open and loving attitudes. Yes, it is working and is worth all the effort. We still need over 50% more sponsorship for these precious ones. Please ask God what He would have you do.

Most of us want to stop having birthdays, but that would mean no more life. I suppose we best thank God for the heart that is beating and use our beings to give life and hope to the hopeless. Why don’t you try celebrating the next one “Brazilian Style”?

Yours for Brazil,

Russ and Diane Dean
 

Russ & Diane Dean

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