The Lady in "Waiting"

We are in the midst of a very blessed and unusual time of "waiting". We left CA, house, belongings, what was left after liquidating and giving away all but some remaining boxes of our earthly belongings, on the 27th of June. We set out for the east by way of Aurora, CO and stopped at our Daughter and son-in-law's house, Debbie & Damian and the grandchildren, Naomi & Declan! It was our delight to have some hours with them and to eat a lovingly prepared "42nd Wedding Anniversary" breakfast at their table.

Next, we headed to Decatur, IL, where we spent a few quick days with many dear life-long friends there and had some dental work done. Our dentist and his wife have lovingly hosted us many times as we have crossed this nation in these past 15 years. They are dear lifelong friends. :)

Now we headed into our 2nd all night drive to Bridgewater, MA where we are graciously and lovingly hosted by dear friends and fellow believers. They are "washing our feet" and we pray that we are "washing" theirs also. Our first Sunday here we had the joy of ministering in the Bedford, NH Foursquare Church, where dear friends pastor a wonderful church full of the grace of the Lord. It was an unforgettable experience!

I spoke to a group of Portuguese speaking women on the following Saturday night, and since there was one English speaking lady present, I did my own interpreting; something, I realized, I would not like to have to do on a regular basis. :) This session was followed by a "Prayer Vigil" until 1: am with their entire congregation. They are Pastors Eduardo & Livania Marques whom we have known nearly 30 years. We remember when they started dating in Brazil when we were there previously as missionary representatives. :)

Our second Sunday we enjoyed a service in Norwell, MA with dear friends who pastor there and it was a great blessing to see how God is using and blessing them in that community. Then a time of fellowship and lunch afterward with some dear friends from our past history in New England. What a blessing to see what God is doing in the lives of those who faithfully grow and nurture others on their way through life!

What does this all feel like? I haven't talked a lot on this blog about my feelings; it has been more informative and not so much a look into the personal journey I am on. Recently I felt led to formulate a teaching around the fruit-bearing in our lives and how it is nurtured and cultivated. May I encourage any of you who read this, by sharing that the most difficult times of our lives can become, if recognized and turned over to God, the most meaningful times of our lives.

This time of uprooting and accepting the challenge to return to Brazil has been, it seems, far more difficult and character-building than was the first time with 4 children in hand and all the luggage involved in moving your whole family. There is the aspect of leaving that family behind, in a manner of speaking; a scriptural concept, I might add, even though not an easy one. There are more in the family now, counting in-laws and grandchildren. And we have wonderful enriching relationships with our adult children as they continue to navigate their way through life; all of them in some form of military life. They are growing at different rates and in different ways in their spiritual lives as we accompany them in prayer. We entrust them to God and know that in His time we will have together "family" times, yet in our future.

We will be in New England for the months of July and August. If our FMI approved budget is not yet met we will spend the remaining time with our children in Virginia and Colorado making ourselves available to serve and share in the churches in those respective areas, until we reach the goal that has been set. In a recent meeting with a member of our FMI deployment team, we were encouraged as to the fact that, this process usually takes at least two years and that we are currently ahead of the norm, which we owe to many of you who have stepped forward during your own financially difficult times and stood with us.

One marvelous answer to prayer has been the on-going help, on the other end, in Brazil, of a dear life-long couple, fellow missionaries, of over 40 years, who have stepped forward to handle the preparation of the FMI owned apartment we will use while there. They have lovingly repaired, refurbished and cleaned the apartment in anticipation of our arrival. We will of course reimburse them financially out of our start-up funds but we can never repay the labor and time that these dear people have sacrificed to "prepare a place" for us. :)

As we have traveled throughout the US and visited our Foursquare churches we have been blessed to see how God is moving and directing so many pastors and churches in the same direction. There seems to be a universal "prompting" from the Spirit of God to prepare "the Bride" for her "Groom". We see many making their way back to God, and currently growing believers taking more seriously the day and time in which we find ourselves. Even though we grieve over the defiant and rebellious ways we see the world citizens resisting the message of their need, and the only answer, we continue to faithfully spread the table and invite the guests!

Please remember us as we prayerfully visit churches and invite them to stand with us in what, we believe, the Lord of the Church is calling us to do in this new epoch of our life and ministry. We are open to do anything He wants and this, so far, is all He has indicated to us. So we move forward in faith and obedience. It is our desire to be a great blessing to our state-side churches even though our target ultimately, will be to bless our Brazilian pastoral families with spiritual and emotional care, as well as, support as they wage the battle in these final days of history.

I do not doubt for one minute that we are in the final days of history as we know it and I want to be found faithful regardless of the cost, until the end....or the beginning...depending how you look at it. :) God bless you all,

Patti (for Dale & Patti)

Prayer Needs:

The sale of our home
Continued health and strength
Acute spiritual hearing
Continued provision as we raise the needed support
The Brazilian Church and leaders: Marriages and family
Our children and grandchildren

Thanks so much for prayer...without it nothing happens. :)

Setting Ourselves to Return to Brazil for God's Season

To family, this sight is very familiar, but to many of you it is unknown. This is one small swath of the enormous, third largest city on the planet, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. It is approximately the land size of the LA Basin with a population of approximately 25 million inhabitants. This was home to us for 9+ years between 1982 and 1991. Our children learned to love it and its citizens. Dale and I learned to navigate it (Dale better than I) but I did learn how to get lost in it and then to get found, more times than I care to remember. :)

We are on the brink of returning to this city and this wonderful country; our hearts are full of excitement and wonder about what God has planned for us in these coming days and years. Our Portuguese is coming back and our Spanish is diminishing...I wish there were a way to keep them both on the tip of the tongue but alas they are so "alike" and yet so "un-alike" that you have to suppress one to speak the other. So we are making the switch and I have to say, for both of us there is an inner joy at reclaiming our Portuguese. It is such a fun and delightful tongue, that one just enjoys it way too much!

In the event that any of you have missed the news of our approval, we are finally fully approved and have begun the serious work of mounting a "support team" both prayer and resource. Would you add us to your prayer list and remember us as often as you can. There are 15,000 churches and meeting places in Brazil and 2,000 in the state of São Paulo where we will be, serving the church, the majority of our time. There are 27,484 licensed workers in the nation-wide church. Last year alone nearly 1/2 of the converts reported in our Foursquare yearly reports took place in the country of Brazil; 1.4 million world-wide and 731,821 of those were in Brazil. There are 60 Bible Colleges and 150 Bible Institutes. Last year alone they planted 331 new works all thriving.

You might ask yourself, "What in the world do they need you for?" In the burgeoning rapidly growing miracle of a church, there are many great men and women who are working day and night to see their communities reached; pastors are stretched and their families are burdened and fragile from the strain of the labor. It is into this venue that we go bearing encouragement and care for the hearts, marriages and families of our workers there. Obviously we will not be able to carry a load of that magnitude by ourselves but we can, by the grace of God, begin a system of care-giving that, it is our prayer, will rapidly multiply and catch the all-to-frequent fall-out of tireless workers in the harvest.

In our wonderful Foursquare world-wide family there are all kinds of ministries going on simultaneously and this is one that will join with them to help our brothers and sisters "finish well". It is our prayer that if the Lord places us on your hearts you will pray with fidelity for our strength, wisdom, resource, national cooperation and the trust of those hearts that stand in need. It is our prayer to be "Jesus" with skin on for our laborers and workers in the Brazilian field; that they may have respite and renewal in the battle and be resourced by our American Church with "ministry gifts" that will come and share in the encouragement of these men and women of God.

Thank you for following our journey and lifting us up in prayer, as well as, with resource; we could do nothing without this backing by our American Church. We also realize that here in the USA we are in a season of tremendous financial uncertainty; much like some of the churches in the New Testament who gave out of their clear and apparent need, in order to see their brethren encouraged and fortified spiritually. Brazil does not need our financial resource, but they need our spiritual support and care and the Lord has seen fit to call us back to the harvest field to stand in the gap and urge and encourage (Heb. 3:13-14) "one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14) For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end..." It is for this purpose we set ourselves to return for a season and we desperately need your prayer and intercession for this task.

We are in our home, which is for sale, and actively saving resources for the upcoming mission. While waiting, we are working. Dale is this week serving in security for the Tennis Tournament in our community; I am available for substitute teaching and have applied for Census work, as well. We are speaking during the week-ends in our wonderful Foursquare Churches in the So. California area. I need to say that each Sunday is an absolute delight as we are gathered in by our loving and gracious pastors and their flocks; shown hospitality and renewed in heart and spirit as we worship together and share the word God has placed on our hearts.

Thank you for all your love and support in so many ways!
May the Grace of God visit you in these unique days when all that matters is HIM and His purpose.

Dale & Patti :)

God's Journey Back to Gilgal for Healing

Dear Family & Friends,

Freezing cold wind, cozy car and a beautiful scenic highway; there we were on our way from Woodbridge, VA to Decatur, IL. This would be our first visit back together to the Decatur Foursquare Church since our farewell in June of 1997. We were so looking forward to seeing and experiencing what God has been doing, as well as, seeing many life-long and very dear friends. Excitement vibrating in our hearts and minds we pulled over in Cambridge, OH to take a call from the FMI office. Immediately following the call we headed back onto I-70 East, when a warning chime went off and signaled for us to check the heat gauge, which was in the red zone by then. Getting off at the very next exit we headed to a near-by truck garage. They checked the engine, and by now the car could not move without being towed. It was towed to the Jeep dealer in that city and the bad news was that the engine was gone and would need to be replaced. The estimate was nearly $7000. We were stunned! I could just see Dale sinking further and further into his chair. We stopped and prayed asking God to intervene.

After a few calls to check with friends for any other options it was decided to tow the car to Decatur where a very dear man who is a mechanic in the church checked the engine out and gave us his version of the situation. Just a side note: the owner, himself, of the tow company, took the day off, and drove us (Dale & me) in the cab with him, as he towed the car. It was a divine appointment and for 8 hours we were able to minister to this dear man.

The Decatur mechanic shop owner, also a member of the church, checked out our situation and gave us an estimate of 1/2 of the estimate we had received in Ohio. (No offense Ohioans) PTL. That very Sunday we were to be guests in the Decatur Church and share about the plan to return to Brazil and what we would be doing this ministry season there. The kindness and generosity of this church and its loving members covered all of the cost of the replaced engine. This was a huge miracle for us. We have much for which to give thanks! We are now awaiting the engine to be completed and then we will head for Aurora, CO to dedicate our new grandson, Declan Rhys, Debbie & Damian's son.

During our short sojourn here in Decatur we have been so lovingly received and hosted by dear life-long friends. We had the joy of being received by Pastors David & Lori Catron in the two Sunday morning services; it was a wonderful and unforgettable experience. The building and ministry of this church has so grown and is effectively touching so many dimensions of this area that we cannot help but be very blessed that we were able to be a very small part of their honorable history. We were blessed to see Mrs. Erickson, Lori's mother, who for all intents and purposes, was a mentor for us, at the very commencement of our public ministry. We have been very privileged in our lifetime to have had so many incredibly rich relationships and to have received so much from servants of the Lord, such as Mrs. Erickson.

Tuesday morning I (Patti) had the joy of sharing with a women's Bible study hosted by the church and again was able to renew so many life-long friendships, as well as, make some new ones. It was a very special time of sharing about the hope we have in Christ in the midst of what seems to be hopeless times.

On Wednesday evening we were just amazed as we entered the Monticello, IL Foursquare Church known as, "Open Hearts Foursquare Church", pastored by Dave & Ellen Stogsdill. This amazing church has literally "opened their hearts" to hundreds of teens to see their lives changed and discipled. That night there were approximately a hundred kids present. Pastor Rod & Sam Burris (a couple who were kids in the Decatur church when we pastored there) have taken these kids under wing and are growing them up in Christ. Wow! They gathered around us and prayed for us. It was an awesome moment. :) Very dear life-long friends, Ken & Polly Schnipp have helped in the formation and progress of this body of believers. Isn't it amazing how God knits his gifts together to do a work for His Glory. What a joy to see Bill & Brenda Tolly whom we have know so long that neither of us care to count. :)

We also had a very special reunion with Rev. Jim & Loni Newcome, remembering some of the unique times we shared at the very beginning of both of our ministries together in the Decatur church 40 years ago. Part of the joy was catching up on the lives of our children and grandchildren together.

I must draw all this to a close...what a week we have had. Thanks to all of you who lift us up in prayer and maintain our cause before the Lord. Oh yes! In the midst of all of this excitement we got word that Jonathan Hall had received the long awaited letter that we have been praying for to enable our re-entry into Brazil; he literally had it in his hand. That was just icing on the cake.

Our most earnest prayer request is for Denise, our youngest daughter; she is being checked out this coming Tues., Feb. 9th, due to the results of a biopsy she had; part of which was pre-cancerous. We would so appreciate your prayer for her. She is serving in the Air force in Guam.

God bless dear family and friends,

Dale & Patti :)

God's timing is so often a mystery to our way of thinking; we have to quiet our hearts and wait on Him and His plan to unfold. That is where we find ourselves in these days as we travel the nation and share with our precious churches and pastors the intent of our hearts and our plans to return to Brazil, should the Lord of the Church continue to open the door in that direction.

We spent most of December and some of January in the Northeast visiting the Portuguese speaking Foursquare Churches and sharing with them the words of encouragement God had place on our hearts for them. My heart went out to so many of them as I realized anew the incredible trials and difficulties that they have faced and that each immigrant faces in their new country of habitation.

I have been with dear and precious people who, after establishing a career and family in one nation have been prompted by the Holy Spirit to uproot and leave all to go to a new country and do it all over again. So often they are not received with open arms; they cannot enter into the same career path they had established in their country of origin and are forced to do menial and low paying jobs that "hack" away at their self-image and self-worth in their own eyes. They suffer miserable humiliation at the hands of governments or communities where they find themselves; and some find themselves doubting the call of God.

While visiting these dear and undaunted Portuguese speaking pastors and congregations we have been challenged anew about, "What really is important in this life?" They have laid it all aside and believing God and His promises, they have come and given all to plant churches in our nation, in order to reach not only their own "transplanted" nationals, but to be a blessing to our country. "A blessing to our country?" You may ask; yes! They are entering into the community where God directs them, finding work that most of our citizens prefer not to do, and they begin to intercede for our nation and its spiritual condition and use their strength and resources to open churches to minister to the spiritual needs of their expatriates.

I have seen that they have adopted us whether we have adopted them or not. I personally, can see how that as we join together in communities we can share resources and even facilities; helping us both in so many ways. God is on the front and cutting edge, "OF COURSE", of this plan, and only wants our humble cooperation. I fully believe that the more we partner with every "immigrating" people to help them reach their "transplanted" citizens the greater God is going to heal our hearts as a people and cause us to flourish in a time when "flourishing" is not the norm. I'm a candidate for that!

A quick update regarding our timetable: We are awaiting official invitation from the Foursquare Church in the country of Brazil and we understand that this is forthcoming. If this should be God's plan for us, please agree in prayer that this step will also be completed. After 9/11 all foreign travel, immigration, and obtaining visas of any kind has been noticeably complicated. Hurdles exist that never were a problem before but are now looming hugely before all, including God's people, with a mind and heart to do His will and be a blessing in the receiving nation. This is where God's people come in and must stand in the gap in intercession. Join us as we do this very thing.

Every country, including and especially ours, at this needy hour, needs missionaries. Why? Because the missionary is a voice that speaks to a nation, not of his origin, the Word of the Lord and it is more closely listened to and meditated on in the process. We as Americans listen and meditate more closely on the word and message of those we hear from other countries, No Eh? (Isn't that true?) We didn't devise this system but the Lord of the Church has devised it. Isn't it only in another country that the "prophet" is thoroughly heard and his words regarded? It is true here also. God is amazing!!!

God bless all of you, dear family and friends, as we commit to do our best to keep you updated on the things that God places on our hearts and the progress of His plans for our remaining years of service.

Greeting all of you with a Holy kiss and embrace!

Dale & Patti

Romans 15:13 (Our prayer for you!)

Dear Family & Friends,

Wow has the time passed by and here we are in December already! We are presently in the New England area visiting dear friends from the English, Portuguese and French speaking churches. They have all received us with great love and hospitality. We are being hosted in the home of Russ & Chris Ventura, very dear friends that have made us feel so at home! Their input, prayer and encouragement is beyond value to us at this very important juncture of our life and ministry.

Our first Sunday here Dale and I tag-team shared in the Hanover, MA Foursquare Church pastored by John & Lori Hatcher; It is a lovely church and the people were so receptive. It was a tremendous blessing. John & Lori are not only our former Supervisors but very dear and precious friends. Their church is flourishing and fruit-bearing. It was nourishing just being there.

That very afternoon we were guests at the Haitian (French speaking) Brockton, MA Church. Pastor Andre Paul and his congregation were a great blessing to see and share with. They took us to dinner and their church board shared and interacted with us until time to head for our evening service.

That same Sunday night Dale and I spoke in two different Portuguese speaking Foursquare Churches; Dale spoke in the Malden, MA church and I spoke to the Brockton, MA church. Pastors Cairo & Iracy Marques and their son & daughter-in-law, Roberto & Marcia, Leo & Mariangela, were our host pastors. God ministered to all of our lives and hearts with special prayer for teens, couples and any who were specifically in the midst of deep trials of their faith.

A very unique and interesting experience followed on Thurs evening at the Plymouth, MA Portuguese speaking Foursquare church; Pastors Elvis & Daniele were our host pastors and their incredibly exuberant 30's something (age-wise) congregation of about 40+ members could not have been any more loving and receptive than they were! What a fun time!

On Saturday night we braved our first "snowstorm" (remember we are Californians) in order to go to Lynn, MA; north of Boston and join in with between 50-60 Portuguese speaking leaders in their divisional Christmas dinner. It was just marvelous. A delicious and irresistible Brazilian Christmas extravaganza! This was hosted by Pastors John & Eliana Runyon of Lynn. It was catered by Pastor Ozmar & Iara Godoy de Oliviera (a never to be forgotten menu!) I will only mention one mouthwatering delicacy: mousse of passion fruit, (maracuja) in Portuguese! Oh was it ever delicious.

Supervisors Jim & Melinda Scott were there and shared stimulating and encouraging Christmas greetings. They are very dear and long time friends. We had much to catch up on. It was a great evening and every seat was taken in spite of the "snowstorm". What faithful and courageous folks live here in the NE. :)

This past Sunday we were in the Foxboro, MA Foursquare Church with pastor's Mike & Mary Bave. It was such a precious and Spirit-anointed time! They are very sensitive and humble leaders and God is in their midst. We joined them and 3 other families for a wonderful and outstanding lunch and time of fellowship around the Pats vs Dolphins game; needless to say the opening of game created an electrifying atmosphere but by the end...rather sad :( to say the least. Remember that New Englanders really, really, really take sports very seriously. May they all recuperate before next Sunday. :)

Sunday night was the joyous experience of being in Pastor Eduardo & Livania's Portuguese Speaking Foursquare church in Weymouth, MA. The presence of the Lord was so manifest that I could not hold back the tears. We shared the Lord's Supper together and God by His Spirit was ministering richly to all of our lives. One precious lady had just very recently been healed completely of a serious kidney ailment which was going to require surgery. We all joined her as she shared her testimony in praising the Lord for this miraculous answer. To our utter amazement Cairinho (the pastor's son of 13) played the keyboard with the worship team and just blew us away. We remember him as a little kid. We had the joy of seeing the great work the Lord is doing in their little son Venisios' (Vinnie's) life, and body, as he receives ongoing healing from some physical needs that stem from his difficult birth.

We were able to visit with some very dear friends last night here in Bridgewater and enjoy the good report of all that God is doing in their lives. I forgot to mention that I brought my color analysis equipment with me, at my daughter's request, and have been able to utilize it in the consignment shop of a friend, to do "colors" for some ladies who desired that service. I always have a great deal of FUN doing color-analysis for folks! By the way I have been able to update my website if you would like to check it out. You will find it at: www.yourpersonalpalette.homestead.com

That is all for now, Christmas blessing to all of you and all of yours from us! You are dear and precious to us and we pray for the most meaningful Christmas you have ever had; not centered in what you might be receiving but in what you might be able to share with others. Isn't this the present day challenge for all of us. Don't forget the needy in your family, church or area during this time. Doing anything for them is, in essence, doing it for Christ.

Much love,
Dale & Patti Downs :) :)

Dear Family & Friends,

We find ourselves in Woodbridge, VA at the home of our daughter, Dawn and her husband Ray; We also have two precious grandchildren here, Quinn & Quincy. We finished our FMI training last Friday, headed home to Indio, washed clothes repacked, spoke in Hemet, CA, at our wonderful Foursquare Church there on Sunday morning and Cliff & Vickie Ingle accompanied us. We had a great time! We were hosted by Pastors Ron & Denise Hernandez; they are very dear and their church is a precious community of believers of all ages.

We set out, all packed-up, on Monday morning, after breakfast with Carlos & Tammy Pena; Carlos will be taking our church plant and moving forward with it. We know God has a real call on his life for pastoring. He has a heart for people and loves discipling them; just what is really needed.

We stopped our first night in Denver to see Debbie, Naomi & Declan; then on to Decatur, Ill. where we were hosted by Dr. Warren & Linda Jesek, very dear friends from our epoch in Decatur. We left after a few hours (literally) of sleep and headed for Woodbridge and Dawn & Ray, where we are now.

We have more work to complete on our status with FMI. We must receive the formal letter of invitation from the Brazilian church; we understand that it is forthcoming. Then we must formalize our job description and have it authorized by the receiving church. We are working on all of these things at once. Next, we must submit two budgets to the FMI financial department showing our budget for set-up costs and our budget for yearly support for living expenses and for ministry expenses.

As soon as the above things are in order and we receive approval for fund-raising we will begin that aspect of our process. We will be traveling around to visit churches, meeting with District Mission's Reps and contacting all who would like to partner with us in this new chapter of our ministry to the Brazilian Foursquare Church.

Right at this very moment we are a little nostalgic as we have bid Denise farewell for we don't know how long. She was home from Guam on a TDY with the Air force. After her course and duty in FL she came up to Dawn's for a few days to be with us. Please remember her in prayer as she heads back to Guam during these next few days. We already miss her much.

I need to bring this to a close right now; but I will be back sooner this time, to give you some words of encouragement that the Lord has been dropping into my heart. You are all very loved and we pray that all is well with you as you head into the wonderful Thanksgiving season. May we all recognize how very much we have to be thankful for. God is so good and He never leaves us nor forsakes us. :) I'm so glad to remember that!

God bless dear, dear ones,
Our love,
Dale & Patti

Exciting Weeks Ahead!

Dear Family & Friends,

We are preparing for our departure to FMI's Missions Training this coming Tuesday, Oct. 27th. We will be in training venues daily until Nov. 6th. The books we have had to read have been wonderful. We have especially enjoyed John Amstutz's book "Disciples of All Nations". This is so well written and so challenging. I wish I had read this book 40 years ago and then re-read it yearly, but it was just written this year. There is a study guide, present in the book, created by Gary Matsdorf and it is excellent for doing in a class with others. It is not information that I have not known, but it is formulated and shared in a unique and anointed manner that prompts the heart and spirit to process it all anew, and draws you up to a new level of understanding The Great Commission of Christ for all of us. I just really recommend this book for every church and every leader.

We want all of you to be able to follow our "adventure", so I'm going to share a tentative itinerary for the months of Nov. & Dec. As the Training venue closes on Friday, Nov. 6th we will head back home to Indio, wash cloths, check mail and re-pack to leave for the east coast. We will be re-uniting with our daughter Denise, who will be here on the mainland for a TDY with the Air force. She will have a few days in Virginia at Dawn (our oldest daughter), Ray and their children, Quinn & Quincy's home. We will be there until Denise's departure back to Guam where she is stationed. We will also be visiting the Mt. Vernon Foursquare Church, where our children attend. We look forward to seeing many dear and long-time friends while there.

Near the end of November we will be heading north to New England to visit the Portuguese-speaking Foursquare Churches in the NE area. They have all been very supportive of our plan to accept FMI's invitation to return to Brazil for a season of mentoring and supportive serving.
We will be blessed to accept several other invitations to share in our English-speaking churches that desire to reconnect with us, and give prayer support to what is happening in our lives and the Brazilian church.

We want to thank Dr. Cairo Marques & his very dear wife, Iracy, who have been 100% with us in this project and been so encouraging. They share oversight of the Portuguese-speaking churches under the leadership of Jim & Melinda Scott, the New England Supervisors.

Those of you who are prayer-partners, please continue to hold us up in this respect. We are in a "applicant/candidate" status in the sending process, even though we were approached by our director, Jonathan Hall of FMI, and we must complete the entire process. It is a wonderful and enriching training and we are benefiting greatly. Just please continue to pray with us, as this is totally a "faith" venture on our part and we are completely reliant on God for this season of the journey.

We especially want to thank so many of you who made great sacrifices in your budgets for our "Missionary Trip" to investigate the demographics and the"climate" of receptivity in Brazil; it was really overwhelming and we have had so many pastors and leaders share their desire to receive us back into the Brazilian Church for this season of ministry. We also share this great burden in our own hearts. We thank you for making that 3 months of ministry possible; we could not have gone without all the kindness and generosity of each one of you, as God prompted your hearts. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

As soon as we move from "applicant/candidate" status to "appointed" status we can formally do deputation to undergird our permanent return to Brazil. We desire your prayer for us as we complete all that is required. God will have to do the rest. Thank you dear family and friends for your loving prayers and support as we walk this path of faith. It is definitely a new level of trust for us and may God be glorified by our obedience and steadfastness in staying the course.

God bless until the next update,

Much love,
Dale & Patti