Ps 90:12 "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."

Since Rebecca and I arrived in Manaus, it seems that the days have flown by. They say that the days are the exact same length all year round here on the equator, but I think that they are getting shorter. We have been busy getting back into the swing of things at home and at the church and amongst the people again. I do believe we are going to cut our furloughs short from now on. One year is too long to be gone from the work.

Tomorrow we celebrate our fifth year at the church at Campos Sales. We have special meetings this Saturday and Sunday night. We are expecting a good crowd on both nights. Please pray that we will have the opportunity to reach some new people through the meetings. We have been making a lot of visits and pray that the Lord will bless them. We are working on the youth again and this is a great opportunity to draw them to the meetings.

Rebecca and four other ladies are teaching at the public school again. Every Tuesday they teach from eight a.m. till four p.m. The school principal is worried they are going to quit because of the unruliness in the classes. Some times the kids are almost impossible to control and at the beginning of the school year, the teachers have their hands full. Pray for these ladies! It is a huge challenge for them to not only keep order in the class rooms, but to teach them something during this time.

We seem to be so close to receiving our building permit again, but so far have not received the green light. Continue to pray that city hall will give it to us soon, before the dry season is gone and we have to wait another year. I think that this has been our greatest challenge yet at Campos Sales.

Last Saturday a man came to the church gate and asked to speak to one of our ladies who was teaching the children. His question was “What are you teaching my son that is changing his behavior?” He told the ladies at Bible club that his son has changed tremendously and even tells his brothers and sisters that God does not like it when they swear and say bad words and do bad things. Rebecca and I have seen this happen over and over again! The word of God and the influence of God’s people change the behavior of the unsaved!

Our missionary from Campos Sales called Raimundo Lima and family are returning to Manaus in December. He has an enlarged heart and cannot do heavy physical labor any more and the interior church where he pastors cannot give him enough sustenance to continue with out him working. I am praying that the Church at Campos Sales will call him to help me, and that the Lord will have him stay and maybe pastor the church in the future. We will be praying to find out what the Lord wants. Please pray with us!

We appreciate all of you who have been able to raise our support. The dollar continues to be at historic lows, and prices keep rising. Gasoline actually came down to $ 6.35, it had been up to $ 7.00. We appreciate every one of you who contribute and pray for us and for the Lord’s work. God has been gracious to us. Lord bless.

His for Brasil

John and Rebecca Hawkins

Sending Church:   Oak Trail Baptist Church - 4501 Peppertree Rd. - Granbury, Texas 76048 - 817-279-6430