SOUTH AMERICAN FOREIGN MISSIONS
Rev Raul and Janice Alvear
HOME ADDRESS
PO Box 797, Jonesville, LA 71343
FOREIGN ADDRESS
CP 204, Maceio, Alagoas, Brazil, South America 57020-970
Phone: 011558233222075 – E-mail:
Janalvear@AOL.com ,
bisporaul@uol.com.br
August - 2010
Dear Precious Friends in the Homeland:
Greetings in that lovely Name of Jesus
I wondered what the two bats were thinking as they flew in and out the bedroom. I could see the stars from my bed as several tiles were missing and I was hoping they would decide to be astronauts and fly toward the moon, but they seemed content to stop and hang from a board not to far above my head. I sure hoped their radar was working so they would not make a nose drive right into me. They say bats are blind and fly by radar…anyway, there were other important things getting my attention.
My daughter-in-law brought some bug spray and was fixing to spray when I said: “spraying only brings the bugs and spiders out running, maybe we should let them keep sleeping”…after all we were invading where they lived …I was more concerned about the mosquitoes since we have both malaria and dengue fever in this area of Brazil. I was glad I had some OFF in my little backpack.
My granddaughter went and laid down in the hammock and the rest of us laid down in some beds. The mattresses were lumpy and old, so it took a few minutes for our old bodies to get comfortable, but I was so glad for a place to sleep. I turned over and closed my eyes and asked the One that gave the Go Ye orders, to please watch over us, for we could not have returned at night to where our son Arlei lives. No one travels after four in the evening because of robbers.
Being tired is your best friend in the backlands…we all soon drifted to sleep. Morning came far too soon… It must have been five o’clock and the people of the home were already chasing a poor old chicken to kill for our lunch…later I would learn that the chicken must have been advanced in age because not even the pressure cooker helped tenderize it! They were so happy we were there…and we were happy to be there too. Building relationships are very important in helping people. After all we were strange to them and serve a God they knew so little about. Another family some ninety miles from Arlei is pleading for a work in their area…Oh! The harvest is white…if we only could have faith for more funds to send out workers.
He was the reason we were there and the reason that Brother Alvear and I have traveled almost non-stop since returning to Brazil. We have visited eight states and the federal district in the last two months preaching and helping our people. . We want to thank those of you who helped us pay down on the used car that bought after returning back from the states. We have enjoyed it so much. We have literally been running the wheels off! We need new tires on it and they cost $600.00 each! We had then retreaded and and now we are told that that that is dangerous!
We have dedicated four new churches, and have seen people filled with the Holy Ghost. We have baptized people, gave Bible studies, and have seen people healed. We have given out Bibles, ordained new preachers, distributed food and things to the flood-ravaged areas of northeast Brazil and helped make plans to reach into new areas with the gospel. We were privileged not only to preach in the cities and villages but also to the Indians in the state of Maranhao. We are in need of an accordion for the work in Maranhao. If anyone would have one to donate please let us know.
Our sons, Arlei and Ednei, recently made trips to the state of Rio Grande do Sul in south Brazil where they have relatives that are Trinitarians. They were able to make friends and Brother Alvear and I have been invited to visit and preach for them. We are praying for the right time. They are precious folks and we feel certain the spirit of the Lord is brooding over that area. We also sent a pastor on a mission trip to the state of Parana to visit a family there. Brother Alvear and I conducted services in Goias state and they are begging us for a church. Doors are opening on every side. People are ripe for the gospel to be preached.
Our youngest son Dirlei is feeling the call to step out into the harvest field. Up until now, he has been mostly involved in music ministry of the church. He feels led to go to the jungle land for a time to help Missionary Arlei and later step out in another backland area on his own. He will need funds to make the trip - 200 dollars and we are hoping that some churches will take him on their hearts to help monthly. With him stepping out that will mean that all three of sister Petrolia’s sons we raised are now active in ministry. {For those of you who do not know, she is the sister who volunteered to go to the state of Paraguay with her children to take this gospel message and was poisoned by some who did not want her there.} She did not die in vain!
Brother Alvear and I will continue traveling here so I ask for your prayers for our health and strength and funds for these trips. We willingly sleep anywhere and eat anything so that others may hear this life-changing story
In October, we plan be in the state of Louisiana, as I will be doing a ladies meeting there. So if you are in and around that state, please let us know very soon and we will be glad to try to come by for a missionary service.
Next Sunday we plan to have a large baptismal service for a group of trinity folks that testified that while reading the Bible they received a revelation of Jesus name baptism! The harvest field here is great and the workers are so few. Even though difficulties involve conflicts, they make possible glorious triumphs. There are serious perils and pressing needs, but this means that there are also inexhaustible resources and overwhelming victories.
Being here, looking on the harvest field, we feel some of the burden that the Lord Jesus must have felt when He looked upon the hungry, lost, and confused multitudes. His agonizing caused Him to utter the prayer so often repeated, but so seldom heeded: "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers unto His harvest." And looking up, He said unto the disciples, "Go your ways."
Thank you for helping share the burden.
Your Missionaries to Brazil:
Bishop Raul and Janice Alvear and all the Alvear family
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