Dear Praying Friends and Supporting Churches,

Your interest in our work as proved through your prayers and support is much appreciated.  

Another month of Bible studies and literature distribution has passed.  We have had some good feedback and pray for more open doors to share the Gospel.  I will finish the Basic Bible Truths study with the young man I mentioned before on Friday.  We are trying to help him get connected with a church that is near to his home.  Please pray the Lord will help him grow.  Please continue to pray for the spiritual growth/ salvation for the people involved in our Bible studies.

We are in the process of winding down and preparing to travel back to the states for a few months.  We will arrive in OKC on July 1st.  Our primary purpose is to help Sarah get settled in.  Please pray with us for her future plans.  Her desire is to study Special Education, but she has not decided where she will pursue her studies.  We are looking forward to spending time with family and our church while we are there. 

The Mendoza family is planning to be back in Belem soon after we leave, so the work will be moving forward while we are gone.  Several of the people we minister to have asked after the Mendozas while they have been away.  They are looking forward to the Mendozas being back.  Please pray for their smooth transition. 

May the Lord guide and direct your lives and use you for His glory.

For the Glory of God,

Chris Bell

Brenda’s Bailiwick

Hello Gentle Readers,

We are 8 days out and while I wouldn’t like to say that holy placidity has gone out the window, it does seem to be drifting toward the door. And yes, I do realize that more holiness would doubtless engender more placidity…

Relatedly, this will be that rarest of Bailiwicks: a succinct one.  All three Bell children are well. Within the past week, Sarah has performed in her final (here, anyway) piano recital, received guests at her graduation party, and been promoted to brown belt in jiu-jitsu. She and Caleb have both begun the dreaded sorting and packing up.  Elijah has finished his summer classes. His girlfriend, Melanie, is coming to Oklahoma for a visit in July, and we’re looking forward to getting to know her better.

My physical therapy ends tomorrow; I have had some decent conversations with Protasio, though asking thought-provoking questions during therapy is (ahem) stretching. Thanks for praying for her—please continue! She had a motorcycle accident this week that was an abrupt reminder of the fragility of life.

In lighter news, as you probably noticed, the World Cup is underway; it’s impossible not to notice here, and it is one of my favorite seasons in Brazil. Brazilians, like Americans, are often harshly critical of their own country and focus on its flaws, but during the Cup, all that is set aside; team jerseys pop up like daffodils in spring, and when Brazil scores, you can literally hear the city roar.

Addendum, June 29: Since I wrote the above, my brother-in-law has been admitted to the hospital with acute pneumonia. This morning, he went from being confused to being unresponsive. The doctor thinks this is due to the infection; please pray for him and for my sisters.

Thanks for reading and for praying!

In Christ,

Brenda