Coming to the states
 

Brother Michael (son) and I will be leaving tomorrow for the states to be with Brother Alvear. If anyone needs to touch base with me I can PM a phone number to you. I will be in Ga. Michael or myself may be able to do a few meetings to help on expenses. I had a pastor from North Carolina call me yesterday and asked if possible to come speak for him one night. At this point my main concern is Brother Alvear but of course bills have to be met and our whole life is built around sacrificing to help others.
Thanks for your prayers and deep concern. Please continue praying for Brother Troy and Brother Alvear.

Sis. Alvear,

This is just curiosity on my part, none of my business if you don't want to respond:

Are you a missionary under UPCI? I thought you were. I know Bro. Baker in Brazil is now independent and our church sponsors him. I was just curious to know where you PIM's are? Are they aware of your needs? Is Bro. Alvear here on PMI tour to raise finances? Do they need to raise your budget costs?

The reason I ask is that I am wondering where your support system is? If you are independent then I can understand your frustration and your consistent concern with finances. It is much more difficult to raise funds with no support system, which in that case...this forum has a great many people that are able to help.

I guess I just need clarification because we [our local church] support many independent missionaries and if you need to raise other funds maybe we can help.

Finances is a sore subject with me. I do believe Luke 6:38 and know we cannot outgive God. I believe in giving of tithes and offerings, and missions - absolutely. I do not believe in the prosperity doctrine of giving so God will increase your financial debits & credits, but I believe good stewardship and consistent giving benefit everyone, as in the parable of the stewards.

There are times I feel very uncomfortable with people on this forum always needing money and appealing for it. I am not being critical of you per se because I know that missionaries have many needs. I also have known many UPCI sponsored missionaries that have had more in the field than they would ever have had in the states.

There are many who think these things and don't say them, but I am concerned when there is so much trajedy and so many appeals for financial aid when I thought there was an organization that backs their missionaries up. If they don't then it is time to switch organizations or go independent. I am just trying to understand.

Prayers & Blessings, Rhoni

Rhoni, if I understand right, the Alvears have always been independent. She is originally out of the church in Arkansas where Bro. Holmes pastors.
Sis.Jan, if I'm wrong, please correct me!

Sherri,

Thank-you for that clarification...If the Alvear's are independent then we can do our own AFF monthly pledges to help them. I just haven't understood. I thought they were UPCI.

Sherri is right. Many years ago because of Brazil laws I held a PAJC card but haven´t renewed it in years although some of them are still around. The work here is independent.
My husbands brothers are ACI and his nephew was but do not know if they are now or not.
We have been invited to join many groups over the years but it was always my burden and it is Brother Raul´s burden to have a strong Brazilian church.

Working this way is sometimes more difficult BUT we can choose our friends...however even independent circles sometimes have problems trying to tell you who to be friends with. I shy away from some cultish ideas some people have.

I grew up in a mission church in Jacksonville Arkansas that was an out reach at one time of Brother AO Holmes church where Brother Joel Holmes is now. I grew up in the Jacksonville church and Brother Taylor was the pastor there at that time. I went to school at the Holmes school. After Brother Taylor left Arkansas my folks (now deceased) went on over to the mother church.

My son Raul Jr is preaching a UPC camp right now in Az. at least I think they are UPC they were...so much is changing. However he is with good people the Connors from Tuson.

My husband had come to the states to try to raise money for the jungle work and far south Brazil work where we are building several churches. We know all things work together for the good...so something good will come out of all these dark clouds.

I always post our letters and in monthly letters we mention needs. That is quite common for missionaries to mention needs. I proably mention too many..ha...however when you live around people that need help and I am always thinking how much is wasted in the states I guess I am that type mother that wants people to see how blessed they are.

Last night at one of our little churches one of the sisters in her testimony mentined my precious mother that lived among us and left for glory right here. She told how that during mother´s suffering she learned many spiritual lessons...
When I got up to speak I told them there was something I wanted to tell them about that old saint of God that happened during mothers last 10 months on earth. She had one thing about her she needed to change...she needed to learn how to trust others and share. She gave her offerings and tithes...but another type sharing. She could not drink after anyone not even her kids, she was toooooooooooo clean....she wanted rewash every dish every cup before she drank from it...rewash bed linens before she slept on them...and just all kinds of things that come with being extra clean...HOWEVER when she had her stroke I saw something and I don´t know if this even makes sense to you readers but She became a little child...she wanted everybody to drink from her glass to share her plate...all those little kids from our community would come to see her and if she was sipping from a straw coke or whatever they all lined up to get a sip...I would sit and weep...I saw Jesus there giving drink to the little ones...every preacher that would come pray for her she would ask me, Janice, do they have a car? I would say, No, mother they don´t have a car. Even though she didn´t have the money she thought she did she would say, "well just write them out a check from my account and tell them to go buy a blue car..." She would ask me about all the kids without shoes and I would remind her she was in Brazil and she would say, "call the pastors in the states to buy shoes for the children..."

more in a few minutes...

Sharing without looking for return has been my burden for the mission field...I did not want to be a part of a machine (no offence to anyone) but I wanted to give to the Brazilian people...Today the churches are theirs, the work is theirs...I really beg for them and their needs but in reality they can march on with or without me. Whatever I do through help from the states blesses them and takes a load off them.

I deeply love them( the Brazilian people) enough to be misunderstood by many that say join this or that but I don´t want some group of Americans coming over here and selling their buildings after I am gone...it is theirs...to carry on.
People that are naive (no one that is writing on this board) but in the general sense do not know what happens on many mission fields. Many Americans don´t know how to back away and put the nationals in the drivers seat...

Since the past two years I have worked a lot in office work and have a laptop with me most of the time I have felt a special call to share on this forum the heartbeat of a missionary. Other than over at Goodnews I seldom write on any other forums even though I have invitations. I feel a special burden for AFF. Why the burden I do not really understand...maybe it has helped others look deep into the heart of a missionary.

Rhoni: You are so sweet and I am glad you asked. I forget many here are UPC or once UPC and have a different way of raising money. (PIMS) Please anyone feel free to ask any questions about the work. We are a part of YOUR family for we have been washed by the same blood. Blessings to you.

Brother Holmes money has nothing to do with me. He is a precious friend and is good to missionaries that come by his church but that does not mean he has any obligation to me.

I almost said something I shouldn´t have...thank the Lord the Holy Spirit quickened me and I didn´t.