Brazil Team 2009

As we sit here in southern California and think about Christmas I was overjoyed to receive an email from Phil and Rita Warkentien. As a member of the Brazil Team, I was lucky enough to work on cleaning and restoration of the Operation Christmas Child boxes that Phil refers to in his email (included below). It is an overwhelming blessing to find that now some months later they are still being used in presenting the Good news to people in Brazil.

As we stop and focus on the birth of our Savior and what he means to us, let us all give thanks for the missionaries. Phil and Rita are still working in Brazil, living and loving the people there in the name of Jesus Christ.

Please think of them, pray for them and support them if you can.

God bless you all,

Mike

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Email from Phil and Rita Warkentien

Dear Partners with Us in Missions:
December 21, 2009

Following is an update on how we are doing the distributions for Operation Christmas Child:

We gave shoe boxes Friday at the 3rd Presbyterian Church in Caruaru. They had 70 kids there and the majority of them were not Christians who come regularly to the Church for a project that the Church offers. By God's Grace 60 kids prayed receiving Christ.

On Wednesday we had 12 decisions at the CASEM - Youth Prison where Severino, a man from our church, works. 12 of the 14 kids there prayed receiving Christ after Phil shared the Gospel.

On Sunday we had 4 decisions in Church.

Last week we went to Bonito and gave boxes there as well. The Mayor of Bonito came and was with us throughout the complete program. 250 kids came and over 150 prayed receiving Christ.

Today we gave boxes at a Public School here in Caruaru that has a special program in the afternoon for extremely needy children. The parents of many of these kids are in prison and the Government started this program to get these kids out of the streets. 239 kids came and by Gods Grace 61 girls, 58 boys and 14 adults prayed receiving Christ as Savior.

This evening we went to a Ministry called “Palavra que Cura” and shared the Good News of Jesus Christ and gave Samaritan’s Shoeboxes their as well and 51 kids prayed to receive Christ.

Please do cover us in your prayers as tomorrow will have a long day giving shoeboxes, we go back to the city of Bonito to minister to another 400 plus kids that don’t know Christ as Lord and Savior and to a town by the name of Barra de Guabiraba about 8 kilometers from Bonito. This is an hour’s drive from Caruaru. They are expecting us to share to 2,000 kids.

Please pray that as Phil shares the Gospel we can see many more come to a saving knowledge of the Lord and that the local Churches in those cities will take on the responsibility to disciple these kids.

On Wednesday we will be celebrating our Christmas Banquet and 138 people have signed up to come. This is the largest group we have ever signed to come to one of our Banquets and knowing that many here only let you know they are coming on the last moment, so we have to prepare for around 150 people. Please do pray with us that it will all work out and be a blessing for those inviting their unsaved relatives.

Manoelita and Marina are planning to spend Christmas with Grandpa and Grandma Warkentien in Wichita, Ks and Philip II is coming from Recife to celebrate with us here in Caruaru. They have all passed their tests in College and we enjoying their deserved vacation, are proud parents for them being so dedicated to their Studies and most of all dedicated to the Lord.

As you can see we have a full agenda this week and next with Church activities, distributions, etc. Please have people pray for us.

P. S. Thanks for your prayerful support at this busy time of year! We pray you have a wonderful Christmas full of the presence of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Love in Christ,
Phil and Rita Warkentien