Dear Family & Friends,

We have had a very refreshing, blessed and exciting month in the Northeast! We arrived simultaneously with the home-going of our dear friend and sister in Christ, Pastor Sonja Lartey. We were able to be present for the evening visitation/wake in Jamaica Plains, MA. It was an honor to know and have had time with her during her “earth-side” journey.

The following Sunday we were in the Hyde Park Foursquare Church where the Lartey’s have pastored for over a decade of ministry. We went that morning to be a comfort and support to our dear friends and colleagues in ministry and in reality they were full of hope and spilling out all over those who came. We were exceedingly blessed from the moment we walked through the door until leaving after a wonderful time of fellowship following the morning service.

The next Sunday we had the joy of being with Teri Orwiler in the Gardiner, Maine Foursquare Church. We started our visit on Saturday evening at a church softball game and were hosted by Pastor Teri in her home. It was a wonderful time of fellowship and communion together with this dear friend and sister in Christ. The Sunday morning service was a joyous celebration of the presence of the Lord in their midst; worship, ministry and words of encouragement from the Holy Spirit to our hearts.

The following Monday evening we had a time of fellowship with Pastor Eduardo & Livania Marques. After supper together at their home Dale and Pastor Eduardo headed off to the late night Monday evening prayer time the men of the church have together. It actually begins at 10:30 PM and ends around midnight or later; these dear brothers who work long and hard hours in Boston are only able to get off work (many restaurant workers) around 10 PM or later. God gave Dale a rich word of encouragement for them through the life of the 3 Hebrew children and Daniel as they struggle themselves in a “foreign” land not of their birth.

This past Sunday morning we were with Pastor Joel & Marlene Menezes a downtown Boston Hotel location. It is a new and growing work and is effectively reaching the Brazilians of their area. The majority of all these dear pastors and their wives work tirelessly at full-time jobs and still lovingly care for the sheep God has placed in their care with great love and compassion.

Sunday night was aptly described by Pastor Cairo Marques as one of those "sweet & bitter" occasions at the same time. His son, Roberto, and family; Marcia, Leonardo and Marianna are departing their ten year church plant in Brockton to take an existing Portuguese-speaking Foursquare Church in San Diego, CA. The Brockton, MA Portuguese-speaking church had its inception during our years of pastoring in Brockton. Pastor Roberto and Dale simultaneously felt led to launch this church in our exiting facilities. We were both blessed! Later they found their own facility in downtown Brockton and have grown beyond belief. We were able to be there Sunday night to help in the sending forth of the family to their new assignment from the Holy Spirit. The Brockton Portuguese-speaking Church literally gave birth that night. It is Pastor Roberto & Marcia's goal and mission to plant five new churches in the coming five years. I can't tell you what a great blessing it was to be a part of those who prayed and sent them forth. They will be missed but God has plans for this great work and they will be good.

This week we have been in the state of Maine hosted by dear friends of many years in a lakeside setting. What a refreshing and reinvigorating experience; we have canoed and kayaked, and had time to pray and meditate together. We are preparing for a week-end in our Foxboro, MA church with Pastors Mike & Mary Bave on Sunday morning and Pastors Eduardo & Livania in the Weymouth Foursquare (Portuguese-speaking) Church.

Thank you so much for your prayers and faithful support as we continue to connect with our churches and ministry colleagues to share our ministry plans of returning to Brazil for the purpose of giving pastoral care to many of our former students who are now pastors and leaders in that great work.

We give thanks to God for each one of you;
We regularly pray for many of you.
Our love,
Dale & Patti Downs

Prayer Needs:

1) Strength and health to carry out the will of God for our golden years.
2) Insight and wisdom as we visit with pastors and friends; it is our desire to be an encouragement to them in their place of service.
3) Churches and colleagues with willing hearts to be a part of our support team.
4) Holy Spirit preparation of hearts and churches in Brazil to receive and participate in the care of pastors and leaders through prayer and people resourcing.
5) Continued navigation of our personal needs: the selling of our home in Indio, CA and the closing out of all other financial obligations.

Blessings dear friends and family! D & P