The Smiths
Missionaries to Londrina, Brazil
Salvation Testimonies
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Current Prayer Letters . . .
May 9, 2005
S. David & Geri Smith
Your Church Planting Missionaries Serving
With Baptist Mid-Missions In Londrina Brazil
Dear Praying Amigos,
Let’s Dunk’em
This Sunday I will start a new class for the new converts that will be getting baptized. Pray for Luiz (age 47) and for Allison (age 14) that will be getting baptized. Also pray for those that have recently been saved but have not followed the Lord in Believer’s Baptism.
The Bus Ministry With no Bus
Two months ago we started a Bus Ministry here at our work. We have been bringing in 10 to 20 kids a week. Through this ministry we have had about 10 to 15 salvation decisions. We have even led some adults to the Lord and are holding Bible studies with them. Many families have also started visiting our church as well. Pray for the bus captains Lica and Dudi, as well as their helpers, as they visit each week and follow up on these contacts.
Sunday School Attendance Increases
One direct result of our Bus ministry is that our Sunday Morning Sunday School attendance has increased. On Sunday evenings we averaged between 50 and 60. On Sunday mornings we had been averaging about 30 to 32. Now our Sunday school attendance for this past month has averaged 50 and our evening services have increased as well.
Mother Daughter Tea 2005
On Saturday May 7th, Geri will be holding our Mother-Daughter Tea at our church. This is the biggest ladies activity of the year at our church. So far this year we have some 83 ladies signed up for this event with about a week left before the big day. Some always sign up at the last minute. As you can tell, Baptists are the same the world over. Pray with us that we will see permanent results from this outreach.
Marriage Conference
On May 21 and 22, I will be holding a marriage conference Seminar at our church. We hold two of these every year to help our families apply Biblical principles to their marriages.
The New Work in Japurá
In January we started helping a new church three hours away in Japurá, Paraná. In mid- May, I will be taking another missionary there to see the folks and the city. Pray that God will burden his heart to build this church.
Change of Plans
We will be returning to the USA for furlough in June of this year. We will be returning nine months earlier than originally planned due to factors out of our control. Since we returned to Brazil in early 2002,we have lost 11 supporting churches and have had some increases with fixed fees in the USA (health insurance and mission fees). All total these add up to $1000.00/month. In addition to that, the US dollar has lost 38% of its value against the Brazilian currency.
We will be staying in Atlanta Georgia where the majority of our support is located. Our plans are to start visiting our churches in August 2005. If your church would like for us to be at your missions conference this fall, please contact us via e-mail at gerilynnbrazil@yahoo.com and I will get in touch with you as soon as possible.
Schedule Us for Fall Meetings
Since we are coming home this summer, we have to wait until we return to enlarge our fellowship hall that we currently use for our church services. When we return to Brazil in 2007, we will resume the construction at this church as well as start building at the new church property that we have purchased for our second church here in Londrina.
Keep on Praying for Londrina
Continue to pray for this work.. Our Pastor, Geremias, and his wife, Dudi, will be continuing the work here at our church. Our members have started coming forward and volunteering to help Pastor Geremias. Pray with us that the church will be able to hold its own during our absence and that we will be able to raise the funds to building the next buildings here in Londrina, Brazil.
Your Missionaries With A Vision,
S. David Smith
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