Apostolic Friends Forum - Holy Ghost news...

BRAZIL IN FLAMES
APOSTOLIC MISSIONS

Dear friends in the Homeland

I walk into their cold dark world once every two weeks. It still gives me an eerie feeling as I hear the doors click behind me. Yet in this cold dark world (prison) lives over ……700………. prisoners. We now have over 51 of those hardened men that have repented of their sins. It should not be long until we baptize some of them. Of course we must request special permission as these men according to the police are very dangerous…yet it is about this world that Jesus spoke and said, I was in prison and ye visited me not…” He cares about these men even though they have committed horrendous crimes and like David of long ago I have seen tears of repentance flowing down their cheeks…Only the drawing power of the Holy Ghost could do such a work.
All my life I have been a Christian yet it never ceases to amaze me how the spirit of the Lord can reach out and touch the vilest sinner and wash him white as snow.
Our month has been filled with both blessings and trials. We have baptized 12 this month at my church besides many others throughout Brazil. My brother in Maceio reports victories and so does my brother in the jungle work.
My wife and I have visited…CASA BRANCA, VARGEM GRANDE DO SUL, PASSOS ,ITAU DE MINAS , SAO JOAO BATISTA DO GLORIA, ETC. This has been a month that we have not stopped.
And in each place we found a great move of God. In Itobi we attended their 34 th anniversary service. The pastor is the son of the first converts my mother won to the Lord over 40 years ago.
A new group joined our work from the city of Vargen Grande do Sul this month. In fact some of them are sons and daughters of people daddy and mother baptized long ago.
Another new group joined our work in northeast Brazil. They had been struggling alone for some time.
It is good to see God’s true children coming together.
Most of you may know this but let me share it once again as it is so precious to my wife and I. Our little daughter Julia received the Holy Ghost this month at 4 years old! That is how old I was when I received the holy Ghost.
I would like to thank Elder Picklersymer for his valuable help on the campground project. Also would like to thank Brother Joshua Lewis and family for helping us so much.
Thanks Brother Bow for your faithfulness and others that send every month without monthly supporters it would be hard to carry on such a large work. We have been able to send out Bible studies all over Brazil. We know Bibles studies are so important. One recent happening a lady that was Baptist for 30 years begin receiving our studies and last month we baptized her and she received the Holy Ghost.
This month we had quite a tragedy to strike us as our house flooded and we must replace our roof, ceiling and floors plus other things. Our church also received some damage. We have had torrential rains here in Campinas area. Several areas of our state are flooded and thousands people are suffering, a number have died in the mudslides others have lost their homes and many are without food. Meantime we still stay busy it just takes us longer to get to the different areas we need to go to. The roads are full of potholes slippery and muddy but the angel of the Lord is always standing by to help us out. Since angels cannot preach, they s ure like to help those that do!
Hot steaming battles are not won by earthly pleasures but on the battle field where we find ourselves fighting with all we have. My wife and I felt so discouraged and then I thought of something I read that said No place is so deep, that He is not deeper still…and F. B. Meyer said, “He never puts His sheep forth without going before them…No ascent so steep that we cannot see His form in advance: no stones so sharp that are not flecked with His blood: no fire so intense that One does not go beside us, whose form is like the son of God: no waters so deep that Emmanuel does not go beside us.”
In the city of Paulina we just dedicated a new rented building to the Lord and His work. In Guaxupe 31 young people were renewed at a recent church camp.
On June we are having our minister’s retreat on our Camp. Please help us pray for funds to finish several needed things there before June.
Thanks for praying and for giving both toward our support and for the needs of our families. We are constantly aware that without those of you helping us on that end we wouldn't be able to help our people and live and work here in Brazil. We are very indebted to you homeland supporters. We treasure your partnership in missions.
Because you care:

Bro. and Sister Raul Jr Alvear and Julia