By way of update, I was able to welcome our last JEMS summer mission worker, Loren, to Guarulhos International Airport in São Paulo on Saturday morning. He arrived with an eager heart and a willingness to serve in whatever way he could. His enthusiasm will mean blessings for the churches in which he will serve.
Please pray for Loren as he serves in three churches during his stay here. He will work with children's social service agencies in the cities of Suzano and Itaquera. He will also share and serve at a church retreat this coming weekend and minister to youth of the church in São Bernardo do Campo, a city which is a part of greater São Paulo.
On a broader note, looking ahead for South America missions, please also pray about possible participation in ministries in 2013. A tangible result of my ministry this July and August has been the opening of many new doors in new cities and possibly new countries.
Specifically, I am looking to put together a study team to travel with me to Buenos Aires in the second half of January to confirm a ministry project for next July. The team will be composed of four to six members and should be fluent in Spanish. Please pray with me about this. I still need to talk with the JEMS executive team about this open door.
Thank you for your prayers for my health. There has been some concern about the state of my kidneys in the last year or so. But God has been faithful to sustain me during this trip. Please pray for good results as I return to the US for further testing in the fall.
Normally, I wouldn't do this, but I want to especially thank God for friends in São Paulo who really assisted me both materially and in their emotional support of my ministry. Sometimes I forget that I'm not such a young guy anymore. But these folks have done much to help me keep a youthful outlook. A very special thank you to these dear friends:
And for their incredible assistance in Argentina, major thanks to Paty and Sebastian!
More to come after I return to the USA on Tuesday, September 4th.
Blessings to you and thank you for your prayers and financial support!
Pr John
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