April 2006

Dear Friends and Loved ones.

Ps 39:4 "LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am."

I am reminded just about every day of this verse as we work in this place. As time goes on we see our parents getting older, and frail, and then we see ourselves following in the same path. I am glad that we have a Bible institute here, and that God has always called men and women to continue in our places, and that His will and His way is never frustrated.

We are seeing the Lord bless His church at Campos Sales with a fresh group of visitors. The new converts seem to be happy and growing. There were three more children in Rebecca's Sunday school class who made professions last Sunday, and we had a baptism on Friday, baptizing seven of our youth. It doesn't get any better than that for us missionaries!

We are preparing to start the first phase of our building program. We will probably use all of the churches money on material, and then slowly begin the actual building process. It is going to be a long, slow process, but hope to be able to meet in part of the building by next May, when Rebecca and I plan to go on furlough. Continue to pray for this!

We are still rejoicing about the electricity in our bairro. This last week two bandits on a motorcycle tried to hold up one of the city busses in front of the church. They shot at the driver, and he swerved and knocked down the light pole right in front of the Church trying to get away. It was almost on the ground Sunday, but they still had the power on, and thankfully did not affect our services.

Daniel was home for the weekend, and he is always a help on those weekends. I am sure that he is glad to get back to boarding school where things are a little calmer though. He is finishing up his junior year. Nick is doing fine in Waukesha, WI, and John is still planning on coming to teach at ACLIA in June. We look forward to him coming also. I just hope he is not sorry later, because I plan on putting him to work also.

We are still facing very low exchange rates in Brazil. The dollar has gone from 3,12 reais to one dollar, to 2.05 reais to one dollar in the last two years. This means that we have lost 34% of our income to the exchange, and then another 20% to inflation, leaving us with less than half of our buying power. Gasoline is $5.17 a gallon and rising. This has added another difficulty in the work, pray for all of your Brazilian missionaries!

Rebecca, Daniel and I thank you for your continued prayers and support. The Lord is good!

His for Basil 

John Hawkins

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