This update comes a bit behind schedule.  We are all well.  Thanks for praying as we are spending quite a bit of time on the road.  Please let me know if you have any prayer requests you would like us to remember.

September 2023

Dear Praying Friends and Supporting Churches,

Thank you for continuing to read our reports and remember us in your prayers.  I am thankful for each of you. 

I’m writing from northwestern Oregon, among the hills and beside the sea.  We finished September visiting churches in Colorado and had good times renewing friendships and reporting the progress of the work in Belém.  We traveled from Colorado to Oregon and were able to take a small detour to spend a day at Glacier National Park in Montana.  This was a great opportunity for our family to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation together.

Since the last report we have celebrated Brenda’s and Caleb’s, and Elijah’s birthdays is quickly approaching.  This will be his 18^th!  I am finding it difficult to understand where the time has gone.  It is a blessing to mark these milestones together.  I think we are all mindful that it might be a while until we are together again to celebrate.  Speaking of blessings, I thank God for the safety we have enjoyed on the road, the Lord’s provision for meals and shelter, and the good meetings with the Lord’s churches.

We have one more Sunday in the Pacific Northwest and then will travel back to Oklahoma in time for Elijah’s birthday.  We will then start driving East.  Please continue to pray for our travels as we will be experiencing the most intense portion of our furlough travels over the next month and a half.  We need the Lord’s grace for the children and Brenda as they will have more school in the car.  We need safety on the road.  We want opportunities to share the gospel as we are traveling and to be a blessing to the churches that we visit.

The work in Belém is ongoing, continue to pray for the Mendoza family, and for open hearts to receive the Gospel.

May the Lord richly bless you.    

For the Glory of God,

Chris Bell

Brenda’s Bailiwick

Greetings from our home away from Brazil, the lovely mission house at Edmond Road Baptist Church.

 We left beautiful, red Colorado and the “Heritage Hilton” in Pueblo a little more than two weeks ago, stopped briefly to be overtaken by the sheer glory of Glacier National Park in Montana, and then made our way to beautiful, green Oregon and the “Missions Mansion” in Tillamook where I had only to look out the window to be reminded of Rich Mullins’ line from Here in America:

 “And there’s so much beauty around us for just two eyes to see; But everywhere I go I’m looking.”

Now we are back in Oklahoma for a three-day interlude, where the scenery isn’t as spectacular, but the fellowship with family and church is sweet.

I’m thankful to report that Elijah has been accepted at the University of Central Oklahoma for Spring 2024. He was looking at class schedules this morning! Thanks for continuing to pray for him. One reason that we are back in Edmond is so that he can get his driver’s license ON his birthday, which is tomorrow. Caleb’s 13^th birthday was last week. He enjoyed a small celebration on the day, and we are looking forward to hosting our extended family at his and Elijah’s joint celebration on Friday.

 It’s been a challenging week for the Bell Academy, between bumpy roads and malfunctioning equipment, but Sarah and Caleb pressed on.  They are working away as I write. Thanks for your prayers for them, as well.

As always, we have been treated with great kindness everywhere we’ve gone. Thank you!

I try (at least in the Bailiwick!) not to give unsolicited advice, but I am going to break that rule this month:

1)      Visit Glacier National Park if at all possible.

2)      If you listen to Here in America, don’t miss the last, best line: “And the Holy King of Israel loves me here in America.”

Thanks for reading and for praying!

In Christ,

Brenda

Prayer Requests:– Preparation of hearts in Belém to receive the Gospel – Building relationships with neighbors– Language Acquisition – Outreach Efforts – Bell Academy—Furlough Travels