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

Dear Praying Friends and Supporting Churches,

Thank you for participating in the work here.  Your faithful support is a great encouragement.

The past month has included our regular Bible studies, our literature outreach, Friday dinners, preaching services in our home in English and Portuguese, and a special Thanksgiving meal.

We continue to see the people who participate in the Bible studies showing interest in understanding the truth . I notice slow progress in internalizing and applying Biblical truth and slow progress is still progress. I am thankful to be part of the Lord’s work here.  We have recently seen a bit of an uptick in people contacting us about studying the Bible.  So far no one has been interested enough to actually schedule a Bible study but please continue to pray.  I know there are people here that are searching for answers that only God can provide through His Word.

The special Thanksgiving meal was a great opportunity to acknowledge the many blessings we enjoy and to give God the glory.  I invited the people that have attended the English Bible study as well as the man that studies with me at the house and his wife.  Some extra family came as well.  We did not serve a traditional meal, but we did observe a traditional time of thanking God for his blessings.  Everyone participated.  Several people testified of their faith in Christ and their thankfulness for God’s salvation.  Some of the people present have not come to faith in Christ, and they listened intently.  One of the men that I have asked you to pray for came to the meal.  He was excited to participate in the celebration of the holiday because of his interest in American culture.  This was a significant step for him.  He has not been attending the Bible study regularly because he is often out of town on the day that we meet.

Your prayers for the work are appreciated as we head toward the end of the year.  May God bless you and use you for His glory.

For the Glory of God,

Chris Bell

Brenda’s Bailiwick

Thank you for making it possible for us to spend another beautiful day in Belém; it’s five-thirty and the light is already softening. I just heard a flock of parakeets overhead (I’ve concluded we must be under the Avian Highway). The Bell Academy is keeping late hours today because a viral illness swept through our ranks this week (As is de rigueur in such cases, faculty and staff blame the students) and we are trying to recoup. 
I trust you all had a good Thanksgiving! As noted above, your faithful prayers and support are high on our very long list of blessings. The Bell Academy took the week off for this worthiest of holidays. Although we missed our Stateside family, my nieces were able to share our festal board, which was a blessing. The culinary crown of the day was three pies, one each from Chris, Caleb, and Sarah. Considering that it was the guys’ first foray into the making side of pies (their expertise being on the eating side), they did well, with a bit of help from Sarah, who is our resident specialist. I can never be reminded too often of how much I have to be thankful for!

As Chris mentioned, we had a good turnout and a good time at the Thanksgiving Edition of our Friday night cookout.  Because Brazilians no less than Americans form their ideas of other cultures based on cinema, we forewarned our guests that despite all the movie scenes showing an enormous turkey coming out of the oven, chicken would be served (not only clearly more Baptistic, but also much easier to grill).  Thankfully, they still came and it was a blessing to hear each one express something for which he or she was thankful to God. 
Elijah is well and officially done with his second year of school! I am much more shocked about that milestone than he is. Please pray for him as he seeks God’s leadership for the future. 

My Bible study with the English teacher was interrupted by illness, but we hope to resume on Monday. She is currently looking for a full-time teaching job and would appreciate your prayers. I would also ask that you pray for her specifically as the lessons begin to broach topics which will challenge some of what she’s grown up believing. 

Thanks for reading and for praying! May your days this season be filled with grace, peace, and the mental and physical margin to actually ponder God’s unspeakable gift.

In Christ,
Brenda