July 2004

Dear Friends.

We pray that this note reaches you under the Lord’s blessings, and involved in the work he has given you to do. The Lord is good, and has been good to us these last two months. We thank him for His provision and blessings also.

Oak Trail Baptist Church (my sending church) sent us the funds to buy the lot of land directly behind the church lot. This will provide us with a place to build the parsonage. We are hoping to be able to start building our auditorium yet this year as the Lord provides, and then begin the parsonage. Building materials are not too high right now, but we have too many irons in the fire to start at this moment, and not enough funds for this big project.

The bairro we are in is changing from day to day. There are literally thousands moving into this part of the city. With this change has come some bad also. We were held up at the church some weeks ago, and went through some scary moments, but the Lord delivered us from harm. It has become very common place for thugs and thieves to openly persecute people everywhere. The police don’t even know our address, much less patrol the area, so we are on our own, thankfully we know that the Lord is with us wherever we go.

Remember to pray for your missionaries when you think of them. I was driving down from the state of Roraima (800 kilometer trip) on nothing more that a one lane strip of half asphalt, dirt and holes winding through the jungle. I thought to myself how many things could go wrong between Manaus and Boa Vista, how long it would be before some one else came along, and I wondered out loud to Rebecca if anyone was praying for us this day. We are thankful for your prayers on a daily basis, and know that God answers prayer!

We are having a special program with the children that are on vacation from school starting this Tuesday through Saturday. We should have a big group, and we will keep you up dated on the results. We need to start something with the adolescents also, but at this time do have the personnel. Pray that the Lord will give us some one with the heart to reach them. We have our work cut out for us.

The humidity finally got to my digital camera, so I cannot send anything these days. I will send a picture or two as soon as I can borrow one.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support. We love and appreciate you all.

His for Brasil

John and Rebecca Hawkins