Dear Friends.  

Acts 10:32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.

The reason we are where we are, is because God has put us in the position to preach and teach many people about Christ. They will not believe until God’s plan for their salvation is fulfilled, and that plan always includes a man, a preacher, someone who will “SPEAK” unto them!  The man in bright clothing Cornelius saw in a vision could not tell him what Simon Peter would tell him, because he was not chosen for that means. That is where you and I fit in! I am sure glad that God decided to use me in a small way to speak the truth to these lost souls.

Just a quick update before the month ends and we travel. I will be without a computer and email while in the US, so will probably not be in contact with everyone during this time. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

A snail mail prayer letter has gone out, but I am going to send it with this also. Thank you for your continued prayers and support, we appreciate every one of you folks.  

Dear Friends and Loved ones.                                                        April and May 2005

 “…according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,” 2 Tim 1:1

How deeply and profoundly death reigns in our world! It is filled with death and dying, and yet the promise of abundant grace continues, and the promise of life everlasting is still real!  

APRIL

We had a wonderful resurrection Sunday at Campos Sales, with over 50 in Sunday morning services. We took advantage of their presence there, to show them a resurrected Savior and the everlasting hope we have because of Him. We pray that the Lord will use His Word to further convict them.  

The adolescents have tripled since our last letter. I have no idea where they have come from! We just started having more and more of them come, and we number around twenty five now. They are a lively bunch and require a lot of attention, but Lord willing out of that bunch will come some future leaders, and what a blessing they would be to the church as young believers!  

We began our Thursday night services this month also and have had a good turn out. It has been raining so much this year, which has not helped our attendance, and mud is everywhere, but it has not stopped the people from coming.  

About a month ago the busses stopped coming into the bairro, and the road is getting almost impassible. Pray with us that the city will soon decide to asphalt our side of town!

MAY

Graduation for the Bible Institute will be on the 28^th of the month. There will be four graduates this semester, three from the city, and one from the interior. It is always interesting to see who the Lord calls, and how they are so different! Different cultures, different languages and different thought patterns and all of them from different places in the Amazon. We thank the Lord for the part we have here with them.  

We will be in the States for two months this summer. Our furlough is not scheduled to begin until May of 2007 after Daniel graduates from high school. This will give us some time to visit our two boys who are there, and give Daniel our youngest, another glimpse of American life and ways. We apologize for not being able to come back on a normal furlough at this time.  

We have prepared national leadership in the church at Campos Sales. They are a little anxious about having us gone, but I am confident that they will be just fine. I have some fine men taking my place and believe the Lord will bless them.  

Thank you for your continued prayers, support and love to us and the people we minister to. We thank the Lord for you.

                                                                        His for Brazil
                                                            John, Rebecca and Daniel Hawkins