Ivanildo and the team in Marabá have been really busy these last weeks. They have works bees, when the church people come to help with construction. One challenge is the 8-12 year old boys. They are starved for attention, and often travel around in groups. Slingshots are cheap, and light bulbs make  tempting targets. Other mischief also is very attractive to this age group. Ivanildo hopes closing in our building more will help.

We work in a really low-income neighbourhood. Because of this we are still subsidizing this church’s offerings. We fully expect that God will turn turn the curse of poverty to blessings, and in time this church will have tithes and offerings to fully support Ivanildo and Monica, to train their own leaders and plant other churches in the interior and across town.

Thank you for all who pray and give, making this work possible.

We are living in the raspberry capital of Canada.

God has certainly created an incredibly diverse and beautiful world.

 

Dad and Mom, George and Margaret Bergen, celebrated 52 years of marriage this week!

We celebrated as a family by going out for supper at the Spaghetti Factory. Then Dad and Mom went for a drive over the mountains to Kamloops, visiting some friends and family along the way.

PS This photo was taken at the Spaghetti Factory, on the day of their 52nd anniversary. This is how they actually look after being married to each other for 52 years. To say we feel very blessed by our parents and our children’s grandparents would be the understatement of the year.

Rick.

*** Please note: I have a new cell phone number. ***

Deanna: (778) 982-1543

Rick: (604) 768-8728

Home phone: (604) 854-6262

The girls dressed up for “Retro Day” at school today.

Our friends gave us a ’99 Volvo last week. This is one solid car. Everyone (Anni, Via, Deanna and myself) all love to drive it.

Our friends were trying to sell this car on Craigslist, but they are not good salespeople. It was not a convenient time to meet. Or the buyer wanted too big a discount. Or… In September of this year they finally decided, “Let’s just sell the car for whatever we can get, for a quick sale, and then send the money to Rick and Deanna.” Then they found out we were home on furlough. “Hey. Maybe they can use the car?”

In August, we had been really needing another vehicle. I started to look for what I could buy. But I was also preparing to return to Brazil for a month.

Within my first week back we had it all signed over.  Thank you Lord! And thank you Eric and Jessica.