God Answers Prayer

Dear Friends and Family,

We are overwhelmed by your show of support in prayer over the weekend!  It was a such an awesome time!  Thank you for praying for strength, for resolution of some problems, and for the people that came to the retreat!  We ended up having 67 people come!  What a wonderful turnout!

The first big problem was housing and food for so many people.  Thursday night, right after I sent out the e-mail update, our pastor friend from the Baptist church called and asked how we were doing. (Coincidence?  I think not!)   We told him that we had been looking all day for a place to house people and couldn't find anywhere.  He offered his house which would hold 20 people.  That was quite enough, so on Friday at 6 p.m. (people were arriving already), Todd was able to get the key for the Agricultural School right outside of town and they gave us a room that had bunk beds, mattresses and some hammock hooks.  We were able to purchase the extra food needed on Thursday night. 

Another problem was having enough water for so many baths (Brazilians take lots of baths--several per day) and bathroom needs, plus cooking, etc.  Todd was able to borrow an extra water box from the local construction store.  Then we needed a pump to pump the water from the borrowed water box on the ground to the water box on top of the house.  Our friend James Goossen has one, so we got that in Guaraciaba on Thursday night, only to find out it was broken.  Todd spent several hours on Thursday night trying to fix it, but it never worked.  Thankfully our friend Elwyn found one in Nova Russas (where the Radio station is) and brought it.  That solved the water issue. 

I'm going to share some pictures now of the wonderful time we all had. 


Prayer Torch was lit for the entire retreat called "36 Hours of Prayer"

People signed up for prayer times all through the night.

Great Devotional and Prayer Times as a Group Led by the AICEN Leadership and Pastors

 

We had quite a full house.  We found space wherever there was shade.

We had a wonderful time of fellowship with friends from all the different churches present



These were the bags used to hold everyone's plates and utensils.

Prayer Time at the "Pedra da Rede" (Hammock Rock) up on the mountain overlooking Croata

They presented the "Hosts" of this Prayer Retreat and thanked us, then decided on the where and when the next prayer retreat will be (November in Ararenda).



Part of the goal of the Prayer Retreat is to raise money for AICEN missionaries or church planters.  Here they are counting the money they were able to raise through churches and the attendees.



This year 5 different missionaries (including our co-worker Neuma) received the donation split 5 ways.

 Though Todd spent most of the time running around taking care of things, and I spent most of the time cooking, we were still able to have a good time of fellowship.  Lilyanne really had a hard time with all the commotion on Friday but seemed to calm down some on Saturday and was enjoying things by Sunday.  Michaela did a great job taking care of Lily for the most part, though she got quite stressed out on Friday when Lily wouldn't stop crying.  Michaela even had a break a couple times to be able to make some new friends.  And Sammy got to play with his MK friend, Jacob, almost the whole time. 

Thank you for praying.  There was also an evangelistic time and a prayer walk through the town that I don't have pictures of.  Please continue to pray for our little town and for lives to be transformed.  We appreciate so much for all who prayed and know that the Lord is working through the prayers of His people. 

Thank you!

Todd and Julie Hendry

1 Easter Program, 2 Birthdays and 3 Conferences

Dear Friends and Family,
 

We pray that you were reminded of God's gracious love in dying and raising again for our good. 

Romans 4:25 "He was handed over to die because of our sins, and He was raised to life to make us right with God." 

This is the message with shared at our little Easter Presentation which you see a picture of above.  The kids sang the songs we've learned that go along with our Sunday School lessons and tied right in with Easter.  Besides the 14 children that participated and our family, we had 6 other adults come.  Three people left in the middle of their daughter's solo, which was discouraging for her and us, but we pray that the seed of the truth has been planted in their hearts. 
 
One of the people that came to our presentation was a young man that we just recently met.  He accepted the Lord at a sister church in the big city of Sobral about 2 hours away, where he works.  Martins is from an outlying village of Croata and came to meet us with his pastor from Sobral a couple weeks ago.  We had a wonderful time getting to know him better and meeting his family (who have not yet accepted Christ). 
 
He invited Todd and the kids on a mountain climb behind their house.  And Neuma and I, with Lilyanne, spent time with his family at the house. We had a wonderful time getting to know him better and meeting his parents and brothers and sisters (who have not yet accepted Christ).  He is very excited to start a work with children and Bible studies there in his little town and asked for our help.  We don't yet know what this will look like since he only comes home for visits irregularly, but please pray for the Lord to direct and provide open doors.



Our little Lilyanne turned one year old last Wednesday.  Looking back, we see how the Lord protected this little one and her mommy many times.  God has a wonderful plan for her life and we are excited to be the ones chosen by God to help her grow in the knowledge and service of her Savior.  What a privilege! 

We had a little get together on her birthday, where she was the show of the party.  She ate her first piece of cake in high style with every one loving to watch her and she loved the attention.  We took it as an opportunity to share God's miraculous provision of this little one and how He protected her through mommy having 3 surgeries during the pregnancy and plenty of bed rest, then coming 5 weeks early.  Not to mention that we had been told by two different doctors that we would never have another baby.  God doesn't like it when humans say never, I think. :)

 Samuel turns 8 years old this month as well.  He is growing like a weed!  We  are having him tested for some constant pains he is experiencing.  So please pray for the results.  It's very possible it could be "just" growing pains, but he is having a really hard time with them.  But besides that, he is a happy boy who loves school and loves his sisters.  Anything they do, he wants to be right in the middle of it. 

And this month we have three conferences.  Todd participated in our church associations pastors' conference this past weekend.  In two weeks (April 19-21) we will be hosting a prayer retreat, called 36 Hours of Prayer, here in Croata with anywhere between 30 and 60 people.  We're not sure how many to expect.  Todd has been busy trying to get things ready for this: buying food (that Neuma and I will be preparing), installing hammock hooks in every possible location, and trying to figure out how to get enough water for everyone to take baths!  And at the end of the month we will be going to Fortaleza for our regional Field Conference.  It's a busy time, but we enjoy being busy!

We are asking you all to pray for some very specific things:
1.  Three Families:  We ask you to pray with us for Three Families (Father, Mother and Children) to come to know the Lord before we go on furlough.  With this group we pray there would be continuity and leadership to continue the work while we are gone, while giving accountability and encouragement to one another. 
2.  Some one to live in our home while we are gone:  This would be someone to provide the leadership for the work alongside of Neuma.  She doesn't feel ready to stay here alone while we are gone.  It would also give us peace of mind to know someone is staying here as well. 
3.  Todd's permanent visa and God's timing for our furlough:  This has been an issue for so long.  But we pray that we are near the end of this long battle.  The last time we went in to the Federal Police we were told that it should be here in June.  If it is, then we will be able to set a date for our home assignment for the end of the year and be able to start making appointments with our churches and supporters in the U.S.  And the grandparents and relatives can meet Lilyanne for the first time.  But we are willing to accept God's timing for our furlough might be a little later.  Though truthfully, we will be in Brazil for 5 years in December and have only had 3 months in the U.S. during this time.   We are looking forward to going back.  But in the meantime, we do not want to "grow weary in doing good".

If you would be willing to commit with us to daily prayer over these three requests, would you please e-mail us at tjhendry@avmi.org and let us know.  We would so appreciate to know that we are surrounded with prayer and God says that we do not receive many times because we do not ask!  So let us ask together!

Thank you for all you do for us.  We are forever indebted to you.


Serving together with you,

Todd and Julie Hendry 

Check out the blog Julie is trying to resurrect at http://graceleaning.blogspot.com.br/