English classes, couples and Bible Studies

Dear Friends and Family, 
The kids are growing so big, getting adjusted to living here in Brazil and loving it.  They have a weekly Portuguese class and are really growing in their command of the language, especially Michaela. Next week they finish school for the year and will have  7 weeks of summer vacation.  We are all ready for a change of pace.
They have friends here, both Brazilian and American.  The Brazilian kids are not such great examples and we constantly work against the learning of the terrible behavior they see.  But the children we work with have no Christian influence in their lives.  So we work on our kids and pray that they will come out as shining lights here in their behavior and love for the people.  They play well with their Brazilian friends, nonetheless, and we enjoy showing love to the kids here in Croata.  The American kids live far away, so we don’t see them often, but when we do they enjoy it so much and we hardly see them the whole time they are together. 

Lily is starting to walk, slowly, step by step.  She’s a tiny little thing, only weighs about 19lbs at a year and almost 2 months, but she’s feisty and sweet.  We always say she’s either hot or cold, laughing, hugging and snuggling being sweet, or screaming, growling and showing her general displeasure at things. But now that she's starting to say some words and is understanding communication a little better, she seems to be less frustrated. Maybe it is just us finally figuring what she has been trying to tell us. :)  She really is a joy to the whole family, most of the time. 
Todd and I are doing pretty well.  We're participating in an online Love and Respect seminar and are really enjoying.  There is always room for improvement in communication, etc., in marriage.  Since we don't have many outside sources of being fed by the Word (not having Christian radio in our listening range has been a big disappointment to us--our missions Radio Seara just misses us here in the city) we have looked to other means of receiving exhortation--through podcasts,  our personal reading and study, and this Love and Respect class.  
We still get quite discouraged with the lack of repentance and willingness to change in the people here.  The children come but most without consistency.  The adults only come if we are doing a program where they will get something in return.  We’ve learned that the hard way.  We just pray for strength and faithfulness on our part, boldness and love for the people. 
We’re learning cultural things that really bother us, but explain a lot about why people are so accepting and friendly to your face, but many don't really mean what they say.  My understanding (please correct me if I'm wrong or am misguided in my understanding)  is that  you really never say “no” to people in this culture, because you would never want to shame the person by disagreeing with or denying them.  So we have people say all the time that they are coming, responding to invitations, even saying that they want to accept Christ, but then we learn that they were just saying it “da boca pra fora” or “from the mouth out”.  It’s not a heartfelt or conscious decision they want to make, they just say it to please you. 
We've also learned that the people from this area, the "Serra" or mountain range, are known for being idolatrous, superstitious and very closed to change. Just this week a little boy told us that if you change religions, you will have an accident and die.  The people here are imprisoned by Satan and his lies.  And we are determined to be a light boldly displaying Christ who is the only One who can dispel these lies and free them from their slavery to sin. 
But we also hear encouraging stories of children that led their family to Christ through their insistence on listening to the radio, or that come to church despite persecution at home.  One young lady we have talked with said that she never heard that Jesus loves her and died for her and when she heard she just had to believe.  We know that it is God's work and He is the one who convicts of sin, and draws people to Himself, to an understanding of His saving grace and loving sacrifice.  We just want to be used as vessels of communicating and testifying of that truth in our daily lives. 

Princesses of the King

Prayer Requests:

• We asked prayer a while back for Todd as he prepares a "Teaching English with the Bible" class.  The posters have been put out and the class will start this Friday, the 31st.  Please pray for the Lord to bring people that have shown some spiritual interest but are reluctant to do Bible studies or enter a church. 
• We are praying about starting a couples class based off the book "Love and Respect" as well.
•   And Todd wants to develop a Basketball night for boys.  The boys have been asking for something like the Princesses of the King class that I teach on Mondays.  So we're praying about that too. 
• And something exciting happened this afternoon.  A while back I asked for prayer for a friend of mine who seemed so close to accepting Christ.  But then when her sister passed away, she became very closed and cold toward us.  I have just kept reaching out to her and gone to visit her at least weekly. And today SHE ASKED ME IF I WOULD CONTINUE OUR BIBLE STUDY TOGETHER!  Please keep praying for Souzinha to continue to be interested and to accept Christ as her Savior soon!
• We are starting to talk more about our furlough starting in January sometime.  We will be looking for housing in the St. Charles county area of Missouri and will be looking for a van for traveling.  The Lord knows and will provide in His time.

And please continue to pray for our main requests: 

1. 3 families to come to know the Lord this year--we continue to visit and witness
2. Todd's visa to be received before we go to the States in January
3. Someone to live in our home while we travel.  We have some good friends that have told us they can come for about 5 months of that time, and we're praying for another couple to come for part of the other 5 months.  

    Thank you to all who pray and encourage us in so many ways.  We received two packages this month that were such an encouragement.  Thank you for thinking of us!  We have had some real trouble with the post office price gouging us on import tax for the packages, so we have unfortunately decided that we won't be able to receive packages any more if they are bigger than a padded envelope.  But we so appreciate everyone wanting to encourage us and the kids in that way.  We are looking forward to seeing everyone but our hearts are still here with the work the Lord has called us to do.  We are already feeling the tear of separation before it has even occurred!  But we know the Lord is working and we trust in His sovereign guidance and strength.

Serving together with Him,
Todd and Julie Hendry