We´re Parents!

Our son is on the way! Ana is now four months along. She and the baby are doing so well. All tests and ultrasounds up to this point have come back showing only good health- this is only from the Lord! His steadfast love is new every morning! Here are the images from the last ultrasound. In the upper left image he is putting his right hand up to his mouth! Ana has moved out of the morning sickness phase and into an insomnia phase, so please pray that she will return to getting a good night’s sleep, or at least a night’s sleep. Also, pray for our son that he continues to grow as the Lords so desires. Also for us as parents- that we will be the parents the Lord wants and calls us to be. Also pray for Ana´s tourist visa process as we plan to go to the States in October of this year!

New Friends

We have been reaching out to some of Ana´s college friends Jefferson and Grasiela. We had them over for dinner and got on the subject of American sports. I tried my best to explain the rules of baseball. Please pray that the Lord will transform these precious hearts into Kingdom hearts.

Theology Course for Church Members

We have concluded the first semester in the two semester theology course for church members. In an attempt to now God more fully we read his Word and discuss topics such as hermeneutics, anthropology, sin, redemption, and history of the church.

Community Therapy and Theology Course

Every Tuesday at the halfway house we have a time of community therapy for those guys to share what is on their heart- strengths, weaknesses, hardships and happiness. After the community therapy I teach a theology course to those who have been there for more than three months. The recommended stay for complete recuperation is 9 months.

Father´s Day 09

August 8th was Father´s Day in Brazil. So we had a cookout for the dads in our house church and invited the Wehrplotz house church to join us.

Westover Campaign 09

Our sponsoring church, Westover Hills, came to Porto Alegre to visit us, our work and to put on a VBS for a local school, as well as complete a paint project for a local day-care. Following are just a few shots from their encouraging stay with us.

Westover Campaign 09

Drama- The Prodigal Son (Modern Day Version)

Westover Campaign 09

VBS- Bible Story, David and Goliath

Westover Campaign 09

VBS- Games

Westover Campaign 09

VBS- The Father Abraham Song

Westover Campaign 09

Daycare Paint Project

Westover Campaign 09

Daycare Paint Project

Westover Campaign 09

Daycare Paint Project.

Westover Campaign 09

Recess- soccer of course!

Westover Campaign 09

Arts and Crafts.

Westover Campaign 09

Arts and Crafts with some green tea. I really like Jeff´s motto- ``I´ll try anything once!´´

Westover Campaign 09

Bountiful food from above!

Westover Campaign 09

Puppets!

Westover Campaign 09

In the midst of all the work we had an opportunity to see the World Champion Sport Club Internacional play São Paulo in Porto Alegre at Beira-Rio Stadium. No that´s not a beer in Isaac´s hand. One, the legal drinking age is 18 in Brazil and two, alcohol was banned from being sold inside the soccer stadiums in 2008. This rule has helped to keep folks calm during the games.

New Wehrplotz House Church

A new house church was inaugurated in May at Ana´s parents´ house. Ana´s family has been a part of our house church since January 2007. In December 2008 we challenged our house church members to begin a house church in their own homes after having experienced it for two years. Ana´s family answered the call to begin a new house church in May, and that´s exactly what they did. Please be in prayer for this new church.

New Wehrplotz House Church

We presented a new Study Bible was presented to this new house church as well as prayed over them.

House Church at Lima Home

Here is a movie clip of a house church worship that was hosted in the home of Lauro and Lorena Lima. This family has been involved in our house church since we went to house churches in January of 2007 and have been with our church family since we inaugurated the church in 2003. This family is a step of faith family. For years Lauro made and sold small packets of honey to local markets. But his conscience was not at ease since these markets sold the packets of honey to the Umbanda spiritist religion to be used in their religious activities. Though he was able to sustain his family through these sales he knew he needed to give it up to honor God. So without the security of another job he ceased honey production, having faith that God would provide. At first he mowed lawns and then moved to a sales job selling sports equipment. But these two jobs were very inconsistent and struggled to provide for his family. Just in the last two months he was offered a job at a pizza buffet which is full-time and has a fixed income now! Isn´t that awesome?! He´ll be the first to tell you that God is awesome! And this is just another proof that when we step out on faith God is there to provide what we need. In the clip Lauro is in the blue shirt and Lorena in red. Please join us in praying that the Lima family will host a regular house church in the near future.

House Church at Lima Home

At the Lima´s house there is always good fellowship and good food!

House Church At Lima Home

Here is the Soares family at the Lima´s house.

Raquel Birthday

Raquel, Ana´s sister, celebrated her 16th birthday in July.

Christmas Day 2003

I can´t believe how much Raquel has grown. Here is a picture of the Wehrplotz family on Christmas Day 2003. Raquel was 10 in this picture!

Wedding Bells- Vitor and Loiva

On April 17th, Vitor (Ana´s brother) and Loiva were married at the Mont Serrat Baptist Church (this is the same church Ana and I were married in). It was the first wedding I have performed, but went quite smoothly. As always the bride and groom were stunning and happy as could be! Praise the Lord for this union. Please pray for their lives together!

Wedding Bells- Vitor and Loiva

At the reception.

Easter Retreat

Our 2nd Annual Easter Retreat took place at the St. Louis Farm in Novo Hamburgo, just outside of Porto Alegre. What a wonderful time of family worship and fun.

Easter Retreat

Lord´s Supper.

Easter Retreat

As a sweet addition to the spiritual teaching of the retreat, we always try to pass down some of our own traditions like American football. Their improvement is astonishing!

Easter Retreat

Easter Retreat

Well, I was really wanting a Dr Pepper, so I thought I might ask the Brazilian Mustang if he had some. To no avail, he was all out. But he did let me take a picture with him.

Easter Retreat

Meditation Time.

Easter Retreat

Nocturnal Easter Egg Hunt with plenty of chocolate prizes.

Easter Retreat

Young Adult Study Group.

Easter Retreat

Young Adult Study Group.

Easter Retreat

Young Adult Study Group.

Easter Retreat

Young Adult Study Group.

Easter Retreat

Kid´s Bible Study Group.

Easter Retreat

Women´s Bible study group.

Easter Retreat

Men´s Bible Study Group.

Easter Retreat

Preaching the Word about spreading the Message!

Easter Retreat

Can you take the heat for campfire smores?

Easter Retreat

All tuckered out after playing soccer.

Paul Birthday Celebration

Yep, I turned 31 on April 11! To commemorate the glorious event, contrary to the ever-so-popular traditional finger food birthday parties, I requested a bar-b-cue bounty. The tradition here is that the birthday boy or girl makes and serves the food! So here we are next to the bar-b-cue pit.

Paul Birthday Celebration

Paul Birthday Celebration

Paul Birthday Celebration

Cake with fireworks!

New Brother in Christ

On the left is our new brother Elinton who was baptized by a local minister, Isaias, who volunteers his time at a recuperation center for young men coming out of drug-dependency. Elinton has enrolled in the Theology Course we started this year. Please pray for him in his new walk.

2nd March Celebration

At this Celebration we were coming out of a two week focus: Knowing the Message and entering into a new two-week focus: Living the Message. Each day was accompanied by a Bible verse and time of meditation. The whole six-week focus will culminate at the Easter Retreat.