We want to send heartfelt thanks for praying for us and our ministry time in Brazil. God was so very faithful and we felt the impact of your prayers! It is always a privilege to get to meet our sisters and brothers in Christ in another country (because after all, being all part of God’s family, we’ll spend eternity together and we got to meet them ahead of time) and Brazil was no exception! It was great to partner with the team and volunteers of Propositos—the Purpose Driven Church of Brazil, First Baptist Church of San Jose dos Campos to equip and encourage children’s ministry leaders and volunteers, to share with mothers and fathers about the power of praying for their children and families, and for Holmes and I to get to encourage couples on marriage and prayer in the Sunday morning sermon. The Brazilian people were so warm, friendly, and open to the messages brought for “Conferencia Catavento 2007.” Holmes and I wrote down some ways we saw God work and answer prayers and we wanted to share them with you:

*We got the guest visas for Brazil (necessary to travel) and my passport arrived just in time to apply to the Brazilian consulate in Houston for the visas and receive them. Else we couldn’t have gone on this trip!

*Our flight was delayed a few hours from Dallas due to recurring thunder storms instead of being canceled altogether but we arrived safely in Sao Paulo in plenty of time for that evening’s event for women.

*Scheduling went well although Pastor Carlito and his wife Leila who had been our contact were out of the country until Friday when the conference was already underway. Things would come together at the last minute, like the world globe they supplied for a presentation or fixing a glitch in the Power Point.

*Sabrina and Daniella, two wonderful young women who were my translators for the first few sessions and in the midst of very few who spoke English at the conference were kind to take us around and translate not only my messages but conversations around tables and during the breaks. We had some rich conversations and such good heart connection with the people at the conference despite language differences—by God’s grace and our translators’ help. I loved being with the young women, in their 20’s and 30’s who served with us, questions they asked, getting to pray with them and visit with them about their hopes and dreams for life.

*A terrific turnout country wide of children's ministry workers, from every state in Brazil and many, many cities

*Leila's superb translations on Friday night, Saturday and Sunday.

*One highlight for me (Cheri) was seeing how God had used my book Opening Your Child’s Spiritual Windows, which had not had great sales in the U.S., but yet has impacted many churches and children’s ministries in Brazil. First Baptist of San Jose dos Campos has shaped their children’s ministry approach based on the concepts of the book, and have shared their creative model for ministry with hundreds of other leaders around their country. It’s quite encouraging to me that what looks like poor results in the eyes of the world (sales-wise) God has used for good (more than we could have asked or imagined—Ephesians 3:20) in His purposes.

*The two of us having a chance to share together in the Sunday morning sermon (with Leila translating) was fun, and God's grace was very present in giving us a fresh and seemingly timely message on marriage to meet the heartfelt needs of the many husbands and wives who heard in the service. Holmes was wonderful to be with me all week, to pray continuously while I was on the podium, to prepare for the Sunday sermon—and be patient with his wife when I was tired (and we had good unity & harmony between us most of the time). So thanks to those who prayed for that!

*Good health! We are grateful for that. The Brazilian people who hosted us were so gracious to provide good food, wonderful fresh fruit—some of the best fruit we’d ever tasted. A lovely couple about our age, Ana Lee and Gershon, took us on an outing so we could see a bit of the huge country of Brazil. One day to the mountain village and the other to see the ocean (although it was rainy, it was great to see their coast) and get to visit with them.  I had energy for each event although it was a time-intensive, packed week of events and the conference, up early, to bed late by necessity most days there. And we were grateful for a safe flight back to DFW with no delays even though the Sao Paulo airport had been in chaos over the weekend.   Two weeks later there was a tragic plane crash at the same airport we flew in and out of with all aboard killed.

*Regarding the request that God would bless and multiply the “bread” I brought each session, He was super faithful because so many people spoke of how different sessions or ideas had met their needs as a parent or children’s minister. I sensed the Lord’s guidance in what to share in each session, a story to add or something to leave out.

*The leaders of the conference felt their hopes for each of the following were marvelously met, which were:

     -- imparting a sense of calling and purpose to the children’s ministry   
        leaders (many said they’d been weary from working with the kids
        and got new inspiration and vision)

     --encourage them and bring healing to wounded hearts. After sharing
        about reconnecting with the Father’s heart, several hundred people
        came up afterward for prayer, desiring a closer relationship with  
        God, and He was truly working.

     --demonstrating that the secret to strong ministries was intimacy
        with God

So we are thankful and God is so gracious and faithful. It’s very apparent to me in a week of conference and events like this that it’s more about God’s love for the people we’re going to and how He meets their needs and speaks to them, than it is about us or me! He takes our little offerings and does grand things. We felt His love for these marvelous Brazilian people and were happy to be with them.

We will share with you a few comments which people at the conference and Sunday services shared with us which Leila translated and sent:

“From the messages you brought on Tuesday night at the women’s meeting, the conference and today’s message with your husband, God has restored our marriage and restored my love for my husband.”

Cheri,

After the service yesterday evening, when I went to the front, to receive the prayer with the purpose of my heart and relationship with God being healed, I sincerely believe I received from God a new anointing and vision for my ministry.

Thank you for your word, the “bread” you shared with us.

I am also beginning to write books (thing I never thought I was going to do) of stories for kids, and during the weekend, God gave me a “group” of characters to impact the life of the children, and also all who are around them.

It was very important to know we can always go further we imagine.

God bless our ministries, may we be vessels of honor, for the Lord’s glory and honor of Jesus Christ.

Serving with you, Thereza (Nova Iguaçu, RJ)

Cheri,

Thank you for being a great instrument of the Lord to bless my life during these days. I am leader of a children ministry, and your words were as a renovating balsam of our Lord Jesus Christ, to my ministry. God bless you! Many kisses and hugs, Valeria Machado

Dear Cheri,

My husband and I are here in this National Congress, and we are pastors in Maringa, a city in Paraná state. We loved your word because it touched in a fragile point of our church, that is praying for and with the children. You awakened us to the urgency in turning to that matter. We are leaving here inspired for your words, they are echoing in our ears and making our heart to beat strongly.

Something also good that is also happened is that, starting of your ideas, we started to have some other ideas too.

Our local church receives about 600 children per week, in our ministry, and we have a little more than 200 volunteers. I would like for you to make a contact with us to see if it is possible to have you in Maringa.

May the Lord concede you many years of fruitful ministry, hugs!

Marinez, Pr. Sandro M. Candido

Pra. Marinez Candido

Central Missionary Church

Rua Santos Dumont, 2001

87013-050 – Maringá, PR

Thank you again for all the ways you prayed—We appreciate you so much!!!

Much love,

Cheri and Holmes