Dear Brothers and Sisters,
FURLOUGH BLESSINGS
Cynthia baptized November 14
safety on the road/mild weather
old friendships renewed/new friendships begun
visits with many family members
U.S. travel expenses generously being met by churches
U.S. - Brazil travel expenses nearly paid for
special on return tickets will save $1200-$1500
teacher training video footage shot
laptop and other multi-media equipment purchased
faith, love and commitment to missions shown by all of you as we visited you
MANY more
We truly are very grateful for the very positive experience this furlough has been for our entire family. Our kids have formed ties with grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles which will be precious to them for the rest of their lives. Rodney and Ann have been continually blessed and encouraged by the loving, supportive attitude we have consistently encountered in visiting our churches. We have been impressed and humbled to see how many churches and individuals have a deep love for Jesus which overflows in a profound commitment to missions. May God bless all of you as you have blessed our family!
Without doubt, the greatest blessing our family has experienced has been to see our children walking in the Lord and growing in Him. As you know, Eliot (9) was baptized about a week before we left Brazil. Last Sunday, Cynthia (8) was also baptized into Christ. We rejoice and we know that many of you are rejoicing with us.
On January 17, we will begin our return journey to Brazil. The biggest part of our ticket debt had already been paid by your generous offerings when we purchased our return tickets. We have received so many generous gifts that we are hopeful that we may be able to return to Brazil with no travel debt at all. That would be a first for us! Thank you all!
We still have some traveling to do before we return. Following is the schedule for our remaining time in the U.S.:
November 21 Diamond Community Church (Ft Scott, Ks)
28 Seneca Christian Church (Seneca, Mo)
December 04 Council Hill Christian Church Womens Breakfast (Peck, Ks)
05 Sedalia Christian Church (Sedalia, Mo)
10 - ??? trip to visit family members in Colorado
26 First Baptist Church (Palisade, Co)
January 10-17 last minute packing - Fly to Brazil on the 17th
Just as God has blessed our family during this time, He has been blessing the church in Araguaina. In the past three months, there have been seven baptisms there, and both elders who remain there are working hard to shepherd the church. Lacerda and Ester, our Bible college students, are currently having evangelistic Bible studies with twelve families, besides making excellent grades in their classes. Keep on praying for all of them!
One of things we have worked hard to do is to make furlough a joyful time for our family as a whole. Following are the top ten of what the Anderson kids enjoy about being in the United States:
10. Snow ??? (they are still hoping)
09. McDonalds
08. Great Toys
07. Sonic
06. Wal-Mart
05. McDonalds
04. Cousins
03. McDonalds
02. Grandma and Grandpa
01. McDonalds
Do you notice a Mctrend?
We wish you all a joyous Thanksgiving and Christmas season. People who know Jesus have more to be thankful for and more to celebrate than all the other people on the planet combined, for we have salvation and abundant life. Lets keep on sharing the blessing of Jesus with our neighbors, friends, family members, and lets keep on sending His message unto the uttermost ends of the earth.
