We are so thankful for all who are praying for us and with us. Thank-you.
Here are some important things we are asking the Lord about now.
- We are praying for Deanna’s “clean bill of health.” She has been doing medical tests.
- Annika still struggles with difficult headaches. We are asking God for complete healing.
- We need more financial support. It has been slowly dwindling, even as results and responsibilities have been increasing.
- Personal monthly compensation. We have fallen behind over the years, as costs and responsibilities increase. With our support, we take some out each month for our living costs, the rest goes to invest in this pioneer outreach. That’s how it works.
- Travel tickets home for furlough are at an all-time high (approximately $10,000.00).
- We work with very poor people. They are unable to contribute much in the weekly church offerings. One day this will be a prosperous church, as the churches in Altamira are starting to become. For now, we help a lot. It’s kind of like throwing gasoline on green firewood. Once it gets going, it burns really hot. But it takes a lot of gasoline to get it going.
- Our electricity bill at the church/mission is about $1,000 per month.
- We pay Ivanildo and Monica over $1,000 a month to support their family, by the time we factor in the taxes and other legal stuff. We also help them in other ways.
- We pay another laborer over $500 a month to help with maintenance.
- Note: Eventually the church will pick up these costs. But we are not even close to being there yet.
- Note: These are some of our monthly commitments, not including vehicle costs, office, telephone and other expenses. Our internet cost $400/mo., for .6 mps. These do not count any building or construction or leadership training expenses.
- Large church events always cost us several thousand dollars per event, as we invest in these youth. Even though everyone has to pay to sign up, and we help them raise their money, it always falls way short. Our long-term plan is for the church to pick up these short-falls, as it starts to prosper.
- Our new church building is almost at “lock-up”. We are out of money, and praying for another $20-40,000, to really make it functional for Ivanildo and Monica when we are home on furlough.
- We are praying for more “scholarship” type money, to invest in our young leaders, to go to conferences in Altamira and places beyond Marabá, to raise their hopes, faith and vision.
Please pray for strength for me (Rick). God has always been faithful. I have no sense that He is now short.
Respectfully,
Rick.
Rick, read your blog with interest. There is a lot on your plate, Be encouraged, there is not such a thing as all mountain tops. Thanks for sharing these areas. GB