The Whirlwind

Dear Friends and Family,

What an amazing and crazy month we've had! Thank you so much for praying for us and for the team from Dardenne Presbyterian Church. Thank you also for praying for our move and transition, for the children and all that's going on here.

The team was wonderful! We've been praising the Lord for no sickness and no safety problems during the whole trip. They did have their flight to Brazil delayed by half a day, which was difficult for them, and that made for a busy few days trying to catch up on all the planned activities, but the Lord helped us! They were able to get the water purification system installed and it went pretty smoothly--there are always issues--fittings that they brought from the States that didn't work here--but the system worked well and it's going to be very helpful!

Then we had three children's programs in three different cities. We were so surprised at how many children came and how well it went. Each person in the team had their responsibilities and it went so smoothly. In the first town of Pires Ferreira, there were 69+ children. The Pastor there said that it has since helped bring more children into their weekly children's program. In Guaraciaba they have a small work with children and there were 29 children which they will be able to start another children's Bible study with the new ones that came.

When we got to Croata we didn't know what to expect. We didn't know very many people, having only lived there for a week, and we didn't know many children at all. We printed invitations to give to children an hour before the program started at 4:00. We didn't even hand out 80 invitations. At four o'clock there were 5 children there. We started with them, then about 20 minutes later a whole handful of children arrived. By 4:40 there were so many children that Todd couldn't keep up with writing their names down. He stopped with 89 names and it looks like there were at least 15 more children that arrived. It was amazing and exciting! We felt it validated us--we have a reason to be living there since we very much get the feeling that people don't trust us yet. And it also made our faces known to the community--the children and parents that brought them. We told the children we'd be back to live there after the team left and we'd start a weekly children's meeting in two weeks. Well, last Saturday we had 9 children come to our house for children's Bible club, the Gospel was shared again, and they seemed to really enjoy it.

Each member of the team did a wonderful job, and we pray that the trip was a blessing to them. Each activity we did, the water purification and the children's programs, took the team to the location where each of our missionaries in the Northeast Field of Brazil lives and works. We didn't have much down time--it was a very fast paced trip--so they all had to go home to rest. One morning we had rest planned though, and they decided they wanted to paint our living room, instead! That shows the wonderful spirit of the team. On the last day here, we took them to the beach at sunrise and then downtown to shop for souvenirs. It was a really fun time for all of us and the kids enjoyed having so many uncles and aunts around.

Todd's parents also came with the team and were highly involved. They stayed 3 more days and we had a wonderful time talking and the kids playing with them. This was a big step for them to come down here and they enjoyed it more than they expected, I think. It also gave them first hand experience with meeting all the missionaries on our field and the different works, and also to see how we live and work. They really enjoyed catching up with the grandchildren, most of all.

Since then, we went back to Croata for this last week. We are getting things together even more. I, Julie, have been setting up homeschool for the kids to start on the 30th. Todd's been getting iron gates put on the windows, screens for the windows, electrical wiring, etc. But more importantly, we have been building relationships. We have been sitting out on the sidewalk in the evening talking with our neighbors. We've been going into town and getting our faces more accepted in this community. Michaela has a new little friend, which has been a real blessing in her little heart. We have a young man who is watching our dog while we had to come into the capital for mission business meeting this week.

So things are coming together-we are so excited as we see God working already in Croata and having the opportunity to share the Gospel very clearly with the children God has brought in our path. He has also given us a little rented house to settle into. Please pray as we continue to get things settled and try to get good internet service in our city. We had to wait until we were in town (Fortaleza) to be able to send this out because our internet is so limited in Croata.

Thank you, each one, for praying and encouraging us. We received several very nice messages from people and that encourages us greatly! We have officially lived in Croata for 6 weeks, but have only been there for 2 weeks, so we are looking forward to being "home" for awhile now. Thanks for everything you have done for us.

Serving together,

Todd and Julie Hendry