SOUTH AMERICAN FOREIGN MISSIONS
Rev Raul and Janice Alvear
PO Box 797, Jonesville, LA 71343 – Phone 318-339-8628
CP 204, Maceio, Alagoas, Brazil, South America 57020-970
Phone: 011558233222075 – E-mail:
JanAlvear@AOL.com
Dear homeland supporters: February, 2009
We greet you in that only saving name: Jesus!
We have just returned from trip of nearly 4,000 miles to extreme northeast Brazil - all the way to Belem, Para – which is at the mouth of the Amazon River and is as far north as you can go. We traveled with Bro Marc and Sis Lori Schreckhise who feel a burden for that area of Brazil. Northeast Brazil is populated with millions who wait to hear this great gospel message.
Many years ago I walked into a little city in the far interior of north Brazil and on that particular day the little town was bustling with Indians from two tribes…I was there to look at some property that had been offered to me through a contact with a retired Baptist missionary.
The Indians there were angry and there was strife between the two tribes. The Brazilian Indian Foundation was at their wits end how to solve problems with Indians at war with each other and the village people were scared of both tribes. Somehow in the midst of it all, I was able to make friends with both tribes and the village people. [In fact the Brazilian government offered me a job working with these Indian tribes, which of course, I declined]. However, I prayed that someday we could have a voice for Christ in that dark area of Brazil…
I remember standing on the bridge that overlooks the Corda River and watching an Indian in a canoe paddle out of sight. I could not tell from the distance if he was from the Canela or Guajajara tribe…I wondered if he would ever hear the life-changing story of Jesus. I wondered if he would fill a Christless grave because no one had chosen to take truth to his tribe. The thoughts were so deep I suddenly could not see - all was blurry…then I realized that tears and sweat mixed together on that hot steaming day and had fogged my glasses… I was young and vigorous then…
A few days ago, I crossed that same bridge and marveled that our son Arlei had answered the call to go to that very same remote area…God answered a prayer that was prayed so many years ago… The burden today is just as strong as it was that day.
I was in a service with them and watched the first generation of Jesus name people glorying God…They were all babes in Christ…I rejoice to see what God is doing.
The jungle work is so deserving of your prayers and financial support. I think many people think the cost of living is cheaper for foreign missionaries living in 3rd world countries. In some regards it is true but in more ways it is not true.
Many families are very large. In the backlands the majority of the people are illiterate and they live without the basic conditions for living such as water, electricity, sewer and paved streets. As missionaries much of the work we do requires funds to go into the remote areas.
There’s need fuel for the truck we are buying for that area and food to feed the folks who go there. Remote means it's harder to get there. It requires more resources. Our son Arlei and his wife Gilene are special people…and it takes that kind to work in the far backlands. It is because they are not living for themselves, but for God and others. And if you should feel led to help, Arlei desperately needs new tires for his truck…We wanted to help him while we were there, but we just could not.
On the mission field, you give of yourself over and over again. Our Maceio church sent two young workers up there for a short stay to help them out. Both will be returning next week. We are thankful that our national church also carries a burden for its own people also.
From the state of Maranhao we went to visit our work in Belen in the state of Para. We were thrilled to be in service with Pastor John and Sister Raimunda. They were so happy to see us. We baptized Bro John some twenty-six years ago in a jungle stream in the dark of the night. They told us there were alligators in the water, so it didn’t take long to do the baptizing!
We also visited Pastor Milton and Sister Jane in the state of Ceara. They too are national missionaries in our work. They pastor in what has become known as the ‘dream city” because that’s the city that Raul Jr had a dream about a few years ago,
We stopped over for a visit some people we know in a little city in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. We are praying for God to send a national missionary to that state.
More good news! Our son Ednei baptized a Baptist preacher and his wife and we have another baptismal service marked for Sunday.
God is doing so much… Thank you for being a part of His eternal plan.
Rev Raul, Sis Janice and all the Alvear Family
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Monies to help us may be sent to P.O. Box 797, Jonesville, La 71343.
If it is for one of our direct needs please mark it on the check.
Visit our site:
http://safm-cathedralofpraise.org/default.htm
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