Thanks for taking the time to read our report.  Please let me know if you have any prayer requests for us to remember.

Dear Praying and Supporting Churches,

I trust our latest report finds you well and prospering in the Lord.  We continue to press forward in the work in Belém.  I appreciate your faithful support that allows us to share the Gospel with the lost in this city.

The work is going steadily with a few notable developments.  The English-based Bible study that meets in the snack area of one of the supermarkets in town is going well.  We have seen some more visitors since the last report, and after one of the studies we were considering moving the venue because of not having enough room to accommodate all the students.  Several of the visitors did not return the next week, so we have left things as they are.  One of the new students is a gentleman in his late fifties. He has studied English for several years and is still an eager student.  He came knowing that we are studying the Bible.  He came prepared with a new Bible.  He introduced himself as a Catholic that had not read the Bible as he should have.  It has been rewarding to see him understand the truths presented in the first few chapters of Romans.  He has many questions.  Please pray for him to come to a saving knowledge of Christ.  He is currently traveling.  Please pray that when he returns, he will continue meeting with us to study the Bible.

The Bible study at our home is also moving forward.  I am praying for spiritual growth, or perhaps spiritual life to be evident in our student.  He remains very interested in studying and understanding the Bible but is somewhat slow to put the truth into practice.  One week this past month he was so eager to continue our study in John 3, that he requested that we meet twice instead of the usual once per week.  Please continue to pray for God’s work in his life.

Last month I mentioned that we had started the visa renewal process for the Mendoza family.  We are still in the preparation stage and are starting to feel a little behind.  We needed to update the paperwork for the association that we use to sponsor Aaron as a missionary.  The updates have taken longer than we expected, and we have run into a couple of issues.  These issues are close to being resolved, and we expect that we will be moving forward this week or next.  Please continue to pray that we will be able to submit the paperwork soon and that all will move forward without any more complications. 

It has been nice to hear from some of our supporting churches this past month.  We continue to hold you up in prayer as you labor to reach the mission field God has placed you in.  May God richly bless you.

For the Glory of God,

Chris Bell

Brenda’s Bailiwick

Thankfully, on the Equator, March never comes in like a lion, but it has come in like a wet dog—enjoyable, even endearing, but a bit funky. With rain every day, and frequently ALL day, even one’s clean clothing acquires an aroma. On the plus side, the temperatures are cooler, the days are great for napping (wait, every day is great for napping…), and the greenery all across Belém is practically glowing.

Elijah seems to be thoroughly enjoying the study of sound production and has been able to apply some of his learning to his role in the music ministry at our church. Please pray for his girlfriend’s dad, who has some very serious health challenges right now.

Sarah and Caleb are taking their third quarter exams this week, which means we have only 9 more weeks of school, a reality both exciting and alarming. I forgot to mention it in the last Bailiwick, but both of them received two stripes in jiu-jitsu last month. Sarah has been able to attend more in recent weeks, for which we are thankful. Unfortunately, one of her friends there has had to stop training to focus on the college entrance exam, which works a bit differently here and is taken very seriously. It’s common to begin preparing intensively a year in advance. I am hoping we can make a way for them to stay in touch, but the logistics are challenging.

Since our last report, we’ve had the pleasure of hosting the primary student from the Saturday Bible study, and his mom for dinner, along with the Mendozas. Amanda and I hadn’t met “Mary” (a truly inspired pseudonym for a Brazilian woman of middle years) before. It was a blessing to hear how she came to know the Lord several years ago, impelled by a series of losses, and what He’s been doing in her life since. She does not come to the Bible study, since she does not speak English. She does attend a nondenominational church and evidence some knowledge of Scripture. Please pray that we can be a blessing to her and build on our initial encounter. Brazilians are such warm, sociable people that it can be difficult to know how serious they really are about getting together (I feel like that statement describes some other geographic group, too—I’ll let y’all know when it comes to me…). In the same vein, I am meeting M’s wife for coffee and cake (Never let it be said that I am not willing to suffer for the sake of ministry!) this Saturday. Thank you for your prayers for her; I feel like her taking this initiative is in answer. Please continue!

Thanks for reading and especially for praying!

In Christ,

Brenda

Prayer Requests:– Preparation of hearts in Belém to receive the Gospel – Following up with Contacts– Language Acquisition – Outreach Efforts – Bell Academy