BZeal Weekly
http://randalmatheny.com/doku.php?id=brazil:weekly

END OF FURLOUGH
by J. Randal Matheny

Vicki, Leila, and I return to Brazil on Friday. I will report to the
Center Hill church in Paragould, Ark., but we have been to all the
supporting churches in Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Mississippi.

We spent a good portion of New Year's Eve eating and singing with the
Acton church in Michie, Tenn., with friends that go as far back as the
70s and 80s. Then we came back to Iuka, Miss., at my mother-in-law's, in
time to usher in the new year with family.

Leila enjoyed her first-ever Christmas in the USA, even if she didn't
get her wish for snow. This is the first time in some 16 years we have
been in the USA for the holiday period. Vicki and Leila came a week
ahead of me to the USA, to spend more time with family. Sons Micah and
Joel, Freed-Hardeman University students, were able to have a good bit
of time with us as well.

The Forthright Fellowship* Dec. 29 in Florence, Ala., was a great
blessing, as we met new friends and enjoyed the company of old ones,
especially in the home of Mike and Brenda Brooks. Mike preached
1980-1992 at Center Hill and we've kept up with them since then. He
works some six months each year in Nepal and Bangladesh.

Next week, our family travels from SJCampos to Recife, where I will
share two lessons at the Northeastern Christian Lectureship. Please pray
for our safe travels to Brazil and to Recife. Vicki and Leila will
accompany me on this trip, and we'll also return to Brazil together.

Joel begins a short course Jan. 2, so we'll drive him up to campus
today. Micah is in Alabama until next week, with his girlfriend's
family, whom we met Dec. 30.

As usual, though we're ready to return home to Brazil, our visits to
family, friends, and churches in the USA have provided a time of
renewal, encouragement, and thanksgiving for the fellowship, support,
and strength received over the past 22 years of service to our Lord in
Brazil.

Our prayer for you this year is that you might know the Lord, and walk
with him every day.
_______
* See http://forthrightpress.com for details.