February 28, 2005

News from the Leonards

It has been some time since we posted a letter from Jim and Julie Leonard. Here are excerpts from their most recent one:

It has been a while since we have written and there are many reasons for the delay. To sum them all up in one word, it would have to be "overwhelming". As we returned to Brazil, Jim hit the ground running and hasn't stopped yet. He has had responsibilities with our BMM of Brazil conference, preaching at a Carnival Retreat in São Paulo, new student orientation at the college, the beginning of Seminary classes, dealing with Seminary financial challenges, teaching Doctrine at the night classes, administrating Christian Service assignments, organizing an evangelistic outreach in our neighborhood, and working on some church construction projects. Let me touch on a few of these so that you can join us in prayer.

We have a great group of students this year, our largest enrollment ever. Things are running smoothly and we praise the Lord for the competent people He's sent to help us. Betânia is doing a great job as the college secretary. Please continue to pray for her two teenage sons as they make the many adjustments that have come with the death of their father and this move. Our men's dorm supervisor André, a married student, is keeping the guys in line. This has always been a difficult position to adequately fill. Some of our students' wives have work scholarships and are proving themselves extremely productive in their jobs, which makes Jim's more stress-free!

Until the end of April, Jim will be teaching Doctrine Survey on Thursday evenings. For these first weeks, it has taken up both Tuesday and Thursday nights. He is enjoying the teaching, but it is tiring. He taught this same course at the Seminary Extension in Petrolina a few years ago. As a side note, Petrolina is about 5 hours to the south of Crato. Our professors taught all-day Saturday classes over two years, during 2002-2003. A good group of students graduated in the one-year Bible course. This year seven former students from the Petrolina extension have come to continue their studies on campus. Praise the Lord!

Jim is overseeing the Christian Service Department again this year. He has 76 students working in 31 different churches and congregations. Most of them are in the Cariri Valley but one couple goes to Petrolina to help at the Deaf Church there. Jim has the responsibility to oversee these works and make sure the requirements are being fulfilled. We praise that Lord for the growth He has given to the work here through our students and the growth in their lives as well! This practical experience is a great opportunity for them to learn. We are looking forward to the arrival of Andrew and Itacyara Comings. Andrew will be assuming this position during their first term of missionary service. They are currently at about 60%. Please pray for God's provision, as it would be wonderful if they could take this ministry when we go on furlough in May. With God, ALL things are possible!

The evangelism in our neighborhood began yesterday. We changed the Kid's Club to the afternoon, from 2:00 -3:30. We were concerned that we would lose some because of the catechism at the Catholic church in the afternoons. But yesterday, when catechism was cancelled, we had parents bringing the children to our Bible Club instead. Please keep praying! Our family was very active last year, but with Jim's many activities and the kids having to study on Saturdays to get done before our furlough, our presence will be more limited. Doka and Karine, a capable senior couple, are leading a team of five students who will care for this ministry. The other three students, Tony, Junior, and Edileuza are all first year students. After club time, they lead Bible studies in various homes, come back to our home for supper and showers, then leave again to hold an evangelistic service in one of the homes. Over 20 homes have invited them to have Bible studies. The people seem to be open to these visits, yet quite resistant to change. The liberal Convention Baptist church tried to get a work started a few years ago but gave up. Many parents appreciate what we are doing. Please pray for this work. We believe that God can raise up a church here.

We have been fighting "home" intruders since December. These little gray mice have done some major damage to our little car that is usually parked by the back door and have also caused havoc in the pantry. This is mentioned because we have spent hours trying to get rid of the critters and constantly cleaning up the damage. Last night, Jim and Josiah saw two huge rats in the garage. Fun, fun. Our Akita puppy, Kika, went after them but didn't succeed. We're now trying poison and are praying that it doesn't kill the dogs if they get a hold of a contaminated rodent. Besides not caring to live with the pesky critters, we don't want to close up our home as we go on furlough with the mice inside.

To help us search for and fill out financial aid forms to help with Josiah's college bills we started the process of installing broadband internet access in our home. This has turned into another major headache that has consumed many hours. It is still not straightened out and we really need to begin the application processes. Josiah is planning on attending Faith Baptist Bible College this fall. We are preparing ourselves to leave Brazil with three teens and come back with only two.

So, as you can see, Jim is really running hard and fast. Julie, on the other hand, is functioning much like a sloth J. She can basically get through school with the kids, put one decent meal on the table, take a power nap, with no energy for much else. Her doctor and another AN patient have told her that this is normal. As we look back, we are certain that the spectacular recovery in Minnesota was God's way of simply preparing her to return to Brazil. With the primary goal of getting the kids through school and the family to the States for furlough in May, she has had to decline speaking opportunities and give over her Pastor's Wife class. She is planning a tea for all of the ladies connected with the Seminary for Monday, March 7th. Please pray for this! We are expecting about 65 women. Under normal circumstances, this would be a relatively easy task for her to organize. Now it seems enormous. "In our weakness, He is strong!" Praise the Lord for colleagues who are willing to pitch in and help. We want it to be an edifying time for all who attend.

Please be assured that we are not discouraged; just overwhelmed. We know that you are praying and that the Lord is answering. Lord willing, we will be in the States in less than three months. He has already provided a furlough vehicle and allowed us to schedule many meetings during the time we were in MN. Our biggest challenge is to relate to you exactly what the Lord is accomplishing here in the Cariri Valley. May all the Praise be to Him.

Posted by Andrew on February 28, 2005 4:27 PM.