BZeal Weekly http://randalmatheny.com/doku.php?id=brazil HOME, BUT GOING AGAIN by J. Randal Matheny During our time in the US, we reported to all our supporting churches. At many of them, we used a visual presentation that you can download here: http://www.randal.fastmail.fm/sjc/ See especially the files report2006, report2006prazeres, and report2006seminar, in several available formats. Homeward Bound Our return home was safe, in spite of several delays. As we waited in Atlanta for our flight to Sao Paulo, we were advised the pilot had gotten sick, so we waited an hour and a half for a replacement to arrive. As we entered the plane, a storm with heavy rains and gusty winds closed the airport, so we sat in the plane for a half-hour until cleared for landing. After a normal flight, we caught our ride from the Guarulhos-Sao Paulo airport for the hour's ride home to SJCampos. But an accident on the Via Dutra highway closed the lane for an hour, so we sat there in the wee hours of the morning until firemen and police cleared the way. Finally, we drove up to our house at 3 a.m. local time (11 p.m. Central time), with 3 1/2 hours delay. But the day flight was a blessing, since we were able to sleep well after arrival. Sunday at Area Churches Our first Sunday back, I led singing at the SJCampos congregation. Otavio Carvalho preached for me. January are slow months here, since most people vacation or visit families in other cities. Few residents of SJCampos are actually from here. But we had a good number, considering the time of year. In the afternoon, at the Taubate church, I led singing and preached, using the Genesis 3:8 text I often expounded during our US trip. (I promised Leila I'd shelve it for a while, since she's heard it so many times.) It was good to be back again with our Brazilian brothers and sisters and worship again in Portuguese. Going Again Tomorrow, the 10th, the whole family goes to the Northeastern Christian Lectureship in Recife, on the northeastern coast. I'll be speaking twice on "Speaking Where the Bible Speaks, Being Silent Where the Bible is Silent." I ask your prayers for my participation in the event. I speak on Friday and Saturday. Pray also for Vicki: when I phoned one of the lectureship organizers yesterday, he mentioned one of the classes for women had yet to be assigned to a teacher and asked if Vicki would be willing to teach Friday. She accepted, but public speaking is still a bit new to her, especially on the spur of the moment. Also speaking at the lectureship are Howard Norton and Don Vinzant, members of the original 1961 Sao Paulo mission team. It will be good to see them again. Not Going for the Dogs Leila said she's glad to be back home, but misses her dogs. They'll stay with two sisters in Christ who've been keeping them since our travel to the US. We'll pick them up Wednesday week, when we return from Recife. No more trips are planned for 2007, but some people have already sounded me out about traveling to their cities to teach. For now, we'll just think about tomorrow's flight. For the Kingdom, Randal Matheny