John and Neila Yelle
WBF Missionaries  serving 
Christ  in Southern Brazil

November, 2002

Dear friends,

Reflecting upon the happenings and changes since our return to Brazil one year ago, we praise God for His infinite grace, mercy, and care of His church.

In our absence, trouble brewed in some who had somewhat ought against us.  Within months of our return, a purging of the congregation took place.  Actions and words on the part of those who left demonstrated hearts against the work that the Lord has established in Caxias do Sul .  The congregation was diminished to just a handful of faithfuls.  However, our Faithful Lord had not forsaken His work.

About two months later, the congregation was on an upswing.  By August we were averaging 30 in our Sunday and Wednesday evening services, being slightly more than before the purging took place and twice as many than we had in June.  Our average for October was forty for the same services, with an all time high of fifty! The averages were thrown off a bit because of national elections on two of the Sundays.  Some of our people had to travel to vote in their registered precinct.  During the past two months we’ve also had several first time visitors.  Please pray for our follow up with the visitors. 

Please pray also for the construction of our building.  When we had fifty, we were busting at the seams.  We still haven’t got the loan secured, but are expecting it soon.  The Lord knows we need it now, so we believe our prayers will very soon be answered. 

In October we had three professions of faith (Douglas, 11; Richard, 13; and Jamile, 10), and also baptized three (Douglas, 11; Solange, single mom of two; and Sandra, single mom of five).  Just this past Sunday Jamile’s mom, Rosilaine, received Christ as her Savior.  The two plan to be baptized by the end of the month.  Rosilaine’s husband Paulo is very open to hear and learn from the Word.  Please pray for Paulo’s salvation, and the spiritual growth of our new converts.

Two of our families had a scare in October with a landslide behind their homes.  One home was hit, wiping out a third of the house.  Paulo and Terezinha lost several kitchen items in the disaster, including their stove, sink, and table set.  Their daughter and youngest son were in the kitchen when it was hit, and were buried in the mud and debris.  Praise the Lord they were not seriously hurt.  The family has been given several items, but are still lacking their own sink and table set.  They are currently borrowing these items, with the hope of buying their own soon.  It will take quite a while as they are a low income needy family.

Solange (whom we recently baptized) and her dad had their home condemned, as it was in risk of being wiped out with a landslide also.  Praise God it wasn’t hit.  Solange and her son were still sleeping when the disaster took place, and lived next door to Paulo and Terezinha.  The city has given both families temporary housing, and they will receive free land within eight months.  Please pray for these needy families.

As we most likely won’t get another letter out before the end of the year, we wish you all now a very happy Thanksgiving, a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.  May 2003 be full of marvelous blessings and great victories from the Lord for you all.

Awaiting our Savior’s return,

John& Neila and girls

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