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Greetings from northeast Brazil
I'm writing from the Federal Police station while Michele renews her ID card and we get the boys' Brazilian passports
for our upcoming furlough. The day is fast approaching and there is much to do and many "bases" to cover
before we leave.
Many of you prayed for our free children's retreat. We were very happy with the way things turned out. The boat
trips went smoothly and the normally strong seasonal winds were unseasonably calm allowing for nicer trips and
more enjoyable lake activities. Though we took almost exclusively the "bad" kids there was very little
trouble. They listened and participated well and even lights-out went well with only a few minutes of giggles
before the snores. Of course with the zip line, kayaks, shooting, horses, trails, games, volley ball, soccer,
tetherball and lots of good food, they were pretty tired by the end of the day. The boys surprised me by learning
more verses than the girls and won the prizes. Most activities were segregated.
The theme was the Wordless Book with an invitation after each lesson. With kids it would be easy to get them all
"saved" on the first day so invitations were low key. There were 5 decisions manifested during the retreat,
and at least 2 more have been discovered since. In spite of our efforts, the retreat has not translated into
increased church attendance. Even when we gave a video presentation at the church of pictures from the retreat,
few came. Recently we began visiting the campers in their homes and offering a Bible correspondence course to
them and to some friends and relatives. All the campers have participated. That wasn't much of a surprise. It
was a surprise when I returned a week or so later and found almost all the campers had completed the lesson. Of
the first 17, only one appears unlikely to complete a lesson. Pray that the Holy Spirit of God will work in their
hearts and that the Seed will not be snatched away.
I'm no longer at the Police. I'm now waiting by the banks of the river for a horse. One of the horses on the
island has a sore that needs medical attention. He's coming here by boat and then I'll take him to the vet tomorrow.
It'll cost more than he's worth but I can neither see him suffer nor put him down unnecessarily and it won't get
better without treatment.
Our elections here are October 5, but only for local officials. In small towns like ours, corruption is the norm.
As there is no local radio or TV. Campaigns are by cars and trucks with speakers all over them. They drive through
the neighborhoods competing to see whose jingle can be loudest and most irritating. I don't know which candidate
is winning, but the voters are definitely losing. As you pray for the elections there, pray, too, for the ones
here.
In the good news department, the Dollar has improved some. There has been a lot of talk lately about a "weak"
dollar which may not make sense to some readers. Probably the easiest way to understand it is to think of your
missionaries buying foreign money. I can't go to the grocery
store with US dollars. First I must go to a bank and buy Brazilian money. I get more Brazilian money when the
dollar is strong, and less when it is weak. When we arrived this term, one Brazilian "money" (Real,
pronounced "Hey, Al") cost about $0.29 cents. Last month it cost about $0.63 cents. That is just to
buy the money. Prices in Brazilian money have also increased. That's not to say that everything here is expensive
compared to the US. Some things are still cheaper (gas not being among them). However, if you have a fixed amount
available and budgeted and then the price doubles, it doesn't matter how cheap it is compared to elsewhere, you're
still in trouble.
Though we're near the end of our term, we still need your prayers in this area. I have avoided writing about this
so that it doesn't look like I'm hinting at a "raise". That is not my intent. In fact, the support
that comes in for us is sufficient. The 40% that actually makes it to me is a bit tougher. Even at that we are
holding on. However, no matter how much we cut back on personal expenses, some ministry cuts are inevitable.
It is interesting and enlightening to read Paul's prison comments. I don't recall him ever asking for prayer to
be released. He did ask to be an effective witness where he was. Likewise I don't ask that you give us more support,
but that you pray that we would use wisely what is given, recognizing our full burden before Him for all that is
in our responsibility.
Well, the horse came in just as it was getting dark. I was talked into taking a shortcut. They said "you
can’t go wrong" - which is the first indication that you probably will. Sure enough, as I idled along the
sandy trails through cactus and brush, I suddenly noticed that the last fleeting rays of the setting sun were coming
through the wrong window! Anyone with a little horse sense could find his way. Maybe I should have let the horse
drive. He’s certainly old enough. With the bad roads it took over 2 hours to drive 23 miles. How we got him
through the quarantine zones to the doctor is another story for another letter. It looks like he’ll be OK.
This letter has rambled more than those trails I got lost on. I’m looking forward to getting old so I’ll finally
have a good excuse for my senility.
One last quick item. A glitch at the printer’s jumbled the word spacing of out last letter. If you couldn’t read
it or would like a more legible copy it is on-line at www.theathas.org. I’m sorry.
We cherish your prayers and await your contact on the furlough schedule.
The Athas in Brazil
Byron, Michele, William, Dalton, and Greyson
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