|
|
CP 52791
60151 FORTALEZA, CE
BRAZIL
Dear Folks,
A 6 foot snake, 3 1/2 inch roach, and scorpions - what a vacation!! Over the holidays we decided to take a couple
of days off and go to the mountains. The nighttime coolness, quiet remoteness, and scenery were refreshing. Michele
was glad to get back to "civilization" until she found a snake in our shower at home. Oh, well. This
IS Brazil!
A visit from my Mother was also a welcome event and a wonderful Christmas present. I’m still not sure if she came
to see us or William. Church and school responsibilities prevented me from going with her to São Miguel
(where they worked) this trip, though I would have liked to have seen the people there again.
Our congregation continues on. The Holidays and new jobs have hurt us some on attendance, unfortunately with some
of the most faithful. It has become evident that the "new" has worn off at the school where we meet.
It is certainly less than perfect for both parties. Even though I really didn’t think the time was right, a move
was necessary. To rent made no sense, even if something were available. We had been looking for land for some time,
but hadn’t found anything to our liking. Prices are high and the area is well filled in, so the search was not
easy. Eventually an empty plot was found. It is 12 x 33 meters (39 x 107 feet) and the owner wanted $10,000. He
came down a whole $500, but since options were few we bit. Though relatively poor, the congregation has saved up
about $4500. While on deputation we lived in a church mission home for the last 2 years. As Michele was teaching
for part of that time and I was working on cars and other odd jobs, all support and gifts were saved up for future
use. The future came last month.
We actually agreed to buy before Christmas. Because the measurements are wrong on the deed and it also showed a
non-existent house, I requested an inspector to come out. Actually, it wasn’t I. The process is so complicated
that you almost can’t do it yourself. The city said it would take 10 days (Ha!). Well, first New Years, then the
change to the new mayor then blah blah blah and a month later (after my break from school was over) I get word
that the inspector went and that for a $35 "tip" he’d do his job and amend the documents. Oh well, I’ll
just have to pay the tax on the higher amount. $280 for someone to type our name in the blanks on the computer,
back taxes, transfer taxes, dispatcher fees, $470 for someone else to write our name on an "official"
card and file it somewhere. Transfer cost 11% of the purchase price. I’ve never bought land in the States, but
I can’t imagine it being like this. I still haven’t succeeded in getting the Brasilia (car) transferred to our
name. (You know, the one I bought in June.) What a mess.
Really the property is limited if the congregation grows. The land beside ours is available but the owner doesn’t
have a deed so transfer would be an even bigger mess. I would like to buy it if I had the courage and the money
-- right now I’m not sure which would be the harder to come by . . .
The school’s director will be on furlough this next year. We originally hoped to be, too, but the congregation
won’t be ready to be left by then. The search for a director was difficult because the church planters didn’t want
to take time from church to run the school and bringing someone from another city didn’t make much sense, either.
I suggested the work be divided, perhaps making it possible for all to continue their ministries, though slightly
reduced. Like the mice in the fairy tale, it was a good idea, but who’s going to tie the bell on the cat. The mouse
with the idea got the "vote" (me).
Our home church is without a pastor, but I discussed it with a supporting pastor who was here for our conference.
It’s not the optimum, but school is a necessary part of mission field ministry. A full time teacher is now in language
school who, incidentally teaches all the areas that I would be able to teach. So after furlough our time should
be less divided. Meanwhile, this next year an important part of our ministry here will be assisting the director,
mostly in the financial / maintenance realm. In compensation, we are hoping to live closer to the church. Our rent
and travel expenses will likely go up, but the result should make it worthwhile.
Thank you for your prayers while we are
In His Service,
Byron, Michele and William Atha
|
|
