BZeal http://www.randalmatheny.com/ February 2005 report Dear Friends, It seems that just as I get something written, a mountain of events occur and leave me behind again. Here are some notable moments recently, by date. ==== January 2005 ==== Jan. 2 - I baptized 12-year-old daughter Leila, after she and Vicki had studied for some weeks. You can see some pictures of her baptism in the church building (first) at http://randalmatheny.com Jan. 9 - Son Micah preached in SJCampos while visiting us during the holidays. Jan. 16 - The Atibaia church began. We participated in the first worship, and the main brother there asked me to give the welcome to the assembly. I have served as something of a consultant to him for starting the new work. Jan. 22-29 - I directed the third week of youth camp, with 35 young people ages 14-17. I also served as the teacher, with my Total Transformation course. One young lady was baptized on Friday. Jan. 28 - Micah had an appendectomy in Jackson, Tenn., while we were at camp. He's doing well, but didn't have insurance, so we're studying options. ==== February 2005 ==== Feb. 19 and 26 - I gave the Total Transformation course here in SJCampos, eight hours each Saturday. A total of 25 people participated. Since Vicki, Joel, Leila, and Wagner had the course at camp, they cared for the participants' children at our house. Feb. 21 and 24 - Evangelistic Bible studies with our neighbors Edson and Denise resulted from an hour-and-a-half conversation with Edson at a birthday party on the 20th. Feb. 27 - Another evangelistic study with Anibal and Ana Paula. They know the truth, but just haven't taken the plunge yet. ==== Ongoing and ancient efforts ==== Vicki, Leila, and I are going to the new Guaratinguetá church on Wednesdays, a hour away from us, to teach new converts and interested non-Christians. We also continue our group study in our home on Tuesdays, as well as help (with Joel's assistance) the new Taubaté church on Sunday afternoons, where I preach and lead singing. Sunday mornings, we continue working with the SJCampos congregation. Sr. Benedito and I, along with two other brothers, studied with Wellington at the end of 2004. I baptized him, but he has not remained faithful. Way back in December 3-6 of 2004, I went to the Taugatinga church, in the Federal District, to encourage the brethren there. In my absence, Joel preached his first sermon at SJCampos. (His first sermon ever was last year in Taubaté, when I was traveling.) ==== Internet ministry ==== I also helped a missionary couple in India put up a page about the tsunami in southeast Asia. It has resulted in good contacts and offers of aid to the victims there. http://www.randalmatheny.com/doku.php?id=tsunami We also moved Forthright Magazine to its own site at http://www.forthright.net . These are a few of the happenings in recent months. We invite you to rejoice with us and pray that the Lord may continue to bless our labors. In Him, Randal Matheny