Thanks so much for your faithful love and prayers during this past year. God has helped us through many choices and changes, allowing each of you to be a part of what He has done in our lives and in the lives of each one we have helped in some small way.
God has been, is and will be in control of circumstances we can't explain and for which we have no solution other than turning to God and depending on Him. God has been faithfulness through it all. Your prayers have had a part in making this possible. We appreciate each one of you. We look forward to renewing old friendship, meeting new friends and discovering what God has done in your lives and what He has in store for us during the gift of furlough time.
This past year Pablo's job description expanded. In addition to shepherding the pastors of the church plants out of Manaus both near and far, he has been asked to coordinate the church planting efforts. This would include determining where the next church plants will take place and involving teams from Brazil and the US. While we are on furlough, an energetic leader is looking after three church plants as far as 260 km from Manaus. The work out of Maués, Tapauá and Lábrea is being covered by other dependable leaders.
In our yearly Cell Group Conference, we were ordained as pastors. We will have to push beyond our comfort zones, but we trust God will continue to provide even as He has up until now. During our five months in Lábrea we saw close up the challenges each community has in seeking to bring others to Christ while far from the support of the mother church. We will continue to mentor these leaders by phone and visit them two times per year in each location, or more, as God permits. PTL! we don't have to be always in every location; others are joining in helping to care for the outlying churches so no one feels abandoned by the larger body of believers.
While in Lábrea, Pablo focused on encouraging the believers to spend more time in the Word, listening to what God has for each day and helping others come to know Jesus and grow in their faith. PTL! the first couple Pablo married while we were there has been doing a great job of serving the church and community and has been joined in ministry recently by another couple he married. Each of them have contributed significantly in caring for the church. We continue to be in contact with them from the States using Skype.
You have been good to us, blessing us with prayers, news, finances and many other expressions of love. You have been a part of what God has been doing in Brazil as well as in the community here. May God's mercy extend to each one of you in your many varied needs. As I see the challenges of forgetfulness in our lives as a family, I appreciate more what many of you have been through and are going through presently. PTL! that His grace is sufficient for all of our needs, even when we aren't totally sure how to respond in any given situation.
Thanks for sharing your lives with us. May God grant you a good year of growing in Christ-likeness. PTL! for His provision in your lives individually, as families and as a body. PTL! for the volunteers in so many ministries, help for the elderly, sick, discouraged and needy. May God fill you abundantly with all you need to meet the challenges of each day.
Love and blessings,
Colleen and Pablo
First Mennonite Church
250 S Baltimore Ave
Morton, IL 61550
