HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING!
Many of you, my friends in the Lord, live busy lives with full schedules. We have places, activities, and people that fill our days and our moments. When we go through transitions in life however; it seems there is not simply enough time in our day to complete all that needs to be done! I feel as if I have been in “transition mode” for the past three months as I was finishing meetings, preparing to come back to Brazil, and now settling back into life and ministry in Brazil!
IT JUST TAKES A LITTLE LONGER
You have to mentally switch gears when you switch countries/culture. I felt it when I went home last Christmas—my best description being—“everything is so….American. “ If you have ever left the US for any length of time, perhaps you can understand that culture shock description! Coming back to Brazil, I know that it is different and I just embrace the totality of the culture. Whether that involves document processing that takes longer to complete or sitting with one of the church ladies for “afternoon coffee,” all of each everyday activity is an opportunity to be a light to those who observe your life and behavior.
CUSTOMS
I was hugely blessed to have my mom and dad with me for ten days. They flew down with me and helped bring extra things since we had their baggage to work with. Among the luggage were two full sized keyboards and a guitar. One keyboard was for me to use in traveling to different outreaches/ministries and the other was for the church in Ponta Grossa that had saved money to purchase it. [The same keyboard would cost more than twice as much in Brazil.] Some of you were praying for no trouble at customs—thank you for praying. I think you learn something with each major trip you make—and I learned that without an original receipt (I had a receipt that the store printed for me when I realized that I had misplaced the original) you can’t expect to not pay a tax. The LORD was good and gracious though. The price I paid when I purchased the keyboard was $450. Not having the correct receipt, the man at customs went online and looked up the keyboard and he found it valued for at least $700. For the keyboard to pass, I was asked to change the amount on the customs paper to the higher amount and pay $100. My praise is that he did not charge the tax he had the authority to charge—half of the value of the object!
CAR UPDATE
Part of the reason my parents came down was to help with looking, searching, and hopefully purchasing a car! We were surely blessed to have friends here who were able to take us to car lots and car lots….and more care lots. To make quite a long story short, we found a great car only to realize from a team of mechanics that it wasn’t so great at all! The sellers had agreed to meet me at the mechanic and the team there found numerous problems that had not been exposed by the sellers. Seeing the information compiled on paper, my sellers excused themselves and made the fastest get-away!
The car I was looking at was a 2001 automatic Citroen, Xsara. In researching and talking with many people about different makes and models, this particular make is considered very good though parts will run higher because it isn’t a national car. My mechanic friends, as well as other Brazilian friends, have strongly encouraged me to look for a national car……..and learn to drive stick shift.
My experience at the mechanic gave me the last, needed nudge to just go to the auto-school and like the majority of all Brazilians, learn to drive stick shift. I think the biggest intimidation factor are hills; I am hoping though, that I won’t have any stories to share. :) I have two lessons scheduled thus far—November 12 and November 16. By learning to drive stick, I “win” in: finding a newer car, receiving better gas mileage, being able to find cheaper prices for any needed part and on occasion when needed, drive the seminary van to take groups to different outreaches. However, if the Lord were to provide an automatic, I won't say no!
I am also looking forward to receiving my Brazilian driver’s license, Lord-willing, in six months. That process is a story in itself! Some things just take a little longer. :)
IMMEDIATE PLANS/ PRAYER REQUESTS
*I will be starting music lessons next week. *Please pray for the continuing car search/ stick shift lessons.
*I will be visiting a school near Ponta Grossa to offer volunteer help once a week to students who are struggling in school or to assist teachers. Please pray for this; it is something I believe the Lord would have me to do—and simply leave the rest to Him; perhaps even opening other doors.
*I am spending individual time with our ladies asking the Lord to show what area of Bible study would encourage and minister to them either individually or collectively
THANK YOU!
IN CHRIST,
TATI CORDEIRO
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Reaching Thousands in One Week
Update from a co-worker in Brazil! This is a great one-week outreach--needs your prayers and mine.
Bah (Hey) Gaúcho !!! Where will you spend Eternity?
Two hundred thousand tracts have already been printed and are ready to be distributed at the largest international agricultural exposition in South America, “Expo Inter,” which begins Saturday, August 28 and ends on Sunday, September 5. It is expected that more than 500,000 people will attend this event. The ministry, “Gaúchos Para Cristo” (Gaúchos For Christ) has rented a booth in Expo Inter from which we hope to reach a significant number of those people. Over 15 fundamental Baptist churches will be cooperating during those 9 days to give out as many of the tracts as possible. Last year, our first time to participate in Expo Inter, about 90,000 tracts were distributed. We need you to pray that the Lord will give us much fruit during those days.
During the last year, our web site www.GaúchosParaCristo.com.br has been visited by almost 5,000 people, with over 3,000 being first time hits. Including Brazil, 16 different countries were represented by those hits. Only eternity will reveal the ones that have been saved by their access to our site. We do know that a Brazilian man, Carlos Pain, living in Australia accessed the site, made contact with me and expressed a desire to visit. He was saved and called to preach some time ago, not as a result of our site, and plans to return to Brazil and minister here in the south. He will be here to participate with us in Expo Inter. We also know of some that have been saved as a direct result of our web site and are part of our churches. The Lord has definitely blessed the ministry of Gaúchos Para Cristo.
Expo Inter ends on September 5 and our 22nd anniversary Bible Conference begins on the 8th and will end on the 12th. We will have a preacher from São Paulo as our special guest preacher. Please pray for the Lord to be exalted and that He will bless us by working in the hearts of those who come.
Thank you for praying for these very special outreach ministries. We’re grateful for your part with us.
‘Till He comes or calls,
Roger & Sharon Crowder
Bah (Hey) Gaúcho !!! Where will you spend Eternity?
Two hundred thousand tracts have already been printed and are ready to be distributed at the largest international agricultural exposition in South America, “Expo Inter,” which begins Saturday, August 28 and ends on Sunday, September 5. It is expected that more than 500,000 people will attend this event. The ministry, “Gaúchos Para Cristo” (Gaúchos For Christ) has rented a booth in Expo Inter from which we hope to reach a significant number of those people. Over 15 fundamental Baptist churches will be cooperating during those 9 days to give out as many of the tracts as possible. Last year, our first time to participate in Expo Inter, about 90,000 tracts were distributed. We need you to pray that the Lord will give us much fruit during those days.
During the last year, our web site www.GaúchosParaCristo.com.br has been visited by almost 5,000 people, with over 3,000 being first time hits. Including Brazil, 16 different countries were represented by those hits. Only eternity will reveal the ones that have been saved by their access to our site. We do know that a Brazilian man, Carlos Pain, living in Australia accessed the site, made contact with me and expressed a desire to visit. He was saved and called to preach some time ago, not as a result of our site, and plans to return to Brazil and minister here in the south. He will be here to participate with us in Expo Inter. We also know of some that have been saved as a direct result of our web site and are part of our churches. The Lord has definitely blessed the ministry of Gaúchos Para Cristo.
Expo Inter ends on September 5 and our 22nd anniversary Bible Conference begins on the 8th and will end on the 12th. We will have a preacher from São Paulo as our special guest preacher. Please pray for the Lord to be exalted and that He will bless us by working in the hearts of those who come.
Thank you for praying for these very special outreach ministries. We’re grateful for your part with us.
‘Till He comes or calls,
Roger & Sharon Crowder
Thursday, August 12, 2010
At the Doorstep of Eternity
Why do we live in the hurry of the temporal? Why is everything else important—where I am going, what I am doing—instead of the people around us? Life is so short. And really, as the “saying” goes, only what is done for eternity is what counts.
I was at the grocery store tonight and got in line to check out. The lady behind me had her hands full as I was beginning to put my items on the runner.
“Would you like to go ahead, ma’am?”
“Oh yes! Thank you!” She thanked me three times before leaving.
After some small talk with the cashier, I offered him a tract to which he accepted but then in defense he stated, “I have my own church.” Hey, no problem. Who was actually becoming a quickly, growing burden on my heart was the man behind me in line. I had seen him around the store getting his groceries. That man has cancer. His skin, his hair, --his eyes—all told this unavoidable fact. I looked to see what he was buying and it was all bright fruits and vegetables. Interesting how at a point like this in life no one has to persuade you to eat right. Offering the tract to the man, he looked at me and gave a genuine, sincere, “thank you”. Thank you's are hardly my goal; it’s the state of the soul that pleads for our compassion, for my compassion. I keep replaying his eyes, his look when he thanked me; …and I have been pleading with the Lord that He would have mercy on his life. May that man read the tract and know Jesus Christ as his Saviour!
I was at the grocery store tonight and got in line to check out. The lady behind me had her hands full as I was beginning to put my items on the runner.
“Would you like to go ahead, ma’am?”
“Oh yes! Thank you!” She thanked me three times before leaving.
After some small talk with the cashier, I offered him a tract to which he accepted but then in defense he stated, “I have my own church.” Hey, no problem. Who was actually becoming a quickly, growing burden on my heart was the man behind me in line. I had seen him around the store getting his groceries. That man has cancer. His skin, his hair, --his eyes—all told this unavoidable fact. I looked to see what he was buying and it was all bright fruits and vegetables. Interesting how at a point like this in life no one has to persuade you to eat right. Offering the tract to the man, he looked at me and gave a genuine, sincere, “thank you”. Thank you's are hardly my goal; it’s the state of the soul that pleads for our compassion, for my compassion. I keep replaying his eyes, his look when he thanked me; …and I have been pleading with the Lord that He would have mercy on his life. May that man read the tract and know Jesus Christ as his Saviour!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
"Isa 42:6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness,
and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee...."
FRIDAY AFTERNOON
And so it is that I thank my God for his protection over me. I am writing to share with you that I was in a car accident this past Friday afternoon, driving from South Carolina to North Carolina, where I was on my way to spend the evening with my brother and his family before heading to Virginia Saturday morning.
Still unclear to all involved was why two cars had stopped in the right hand lane and not on the shoulder; yet the car in front of me had managed to stop behind them. However, in the few seconds I had to either get off on the shoulder or go into the moving left lane, the delay brought the impact and the accident
was not able to be avoided.
NO ONE INJURED
With much thankfulness to the protection of the Lord, no one was hurt. The first two cars quickly left and I managed to get out of the car through the window. The driver of the car in front of me exchanged information with me and within a few minutes of the accident there were officers on the scene. I was able to contact my brother and he came out to assist me.
I did go to the emergency room on Saturday to have an x-ray done to affirm there were no internal problems. The x-ray showed that everything looked good and I was prescribed pain medication.
EVALUATE THE DAMAGE
On Monday, someone from my insurance company will come out to evaluate the damage on the car and discern whether it is worth repairing. As it is not necessary for me to be there, my brother will represent me instead. My parents have come down to South Carolina (Saturday) and we will go back up together to Virginia today. My meeting scheduled for today (August 8th) has been cancelled but I have been asked reschedule to a later date.
CONTINUED PRAYERS!
I am feeling pretty well and am greatly grateful for how the Lord protected all involved. Thank you for praying for me. Please continue to do so and I seek to pursue this path of service for our Lord.
In Christ,
Tatiana Cordeiro
Taking the Light of the Gospel to the People of BRAZIL
and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee...."
FRIDAY AFTERNOON
And so it is that I thank my God for his protection over me. I am writing to share with you that I was in a car accident this past Friday afternoon, driving from South Carolina to North Carolina, where I was on my way to spend the evening with my brother and his family before heading to Virginia Saturday morning.
Still unclear to all involved was why two cars had stopped in the right hand lane and not on the shoulder; yet the car in front of me had managed to stop behind them. However, in the few seconds I had to either get off on the shoulder or go into the moving left lane, the delay brought the impact and the accident
was not able to be avoided.
NO ONE INJURED
With much thankfulness to the protection of the Lord, no one was hurt. The first two cars quickly left and I managed to get out of the car through the window. The driver of the car in front of me exchanged information with me and within a few minutes of the accident there were officers on the scene. I was able to contact my brother and he came out to assist me.
I did go to the emergency room on Saturday to have an x-ray done to affirm there were no internal problems. The x-ray showed that everything looked good and I was prescribed pain medication.
EVALUATE THE DAMAGE
On Monday, someone from my insurance company will come out to evaluate the damage on the car and discern whether it is worth repairing. As it is not necessary for me to be there, my brother will represent me instead. My parents have come down to South Carolina (Saturday) and we will go back up together to Virginia today. My meeting scheduled for today (August 8th) has been cancelled but I have been asked reschedule to a later date.
CONTINUED PRAYERS!
I am feeling pretty well and am greatly grateful for how the Lord protected all involved. Thank you for praying for me. Please continue to do so and I seek to pursue this path of service for our Lord.
In Christ,
Tatiana Cordeiro
Taking the Light of the Gospel to the People of BRAZIL
Friday, July 30, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Satuday Visitation
This past weekend I had the great privilege of going soul-winning with my parents. As we got in the car to head out, I thought— “Wow, so this is what it feels like to have your father lead in a spiritual activity.”
We went to our assigned area and all agreed to take turns speaking at the door (I thought of Mrs. Hosaflook, a dear lady in my home church who just loves to be the one to speak at the door). Although we didn’t have too many actually come to their door, we were able to speak to a handful of people. Thus, I had the privilege to hear my dad speak. Wow! Who taught him?! He caught the attention of his listener and made sure to mention the importance of reading the tract to know if they were in fact going to heaven. Dad has a true heart for the lost and a burden for missions. I just praise the Lord for these great blessings in my life.
We went to our assigned area and all agreed to take turns speaking at the door (I thought of Mrs. Hosaflook, a dear lady in my home church who just loves to be the one to speak at the door). Although we didn’t have too many actually come to their door, we were able to speak to a handful of people. Thus, I had the privilege to hear my dad speak. Wow! Who taught him?! He caught the attention of his listener and made sure to mention the importance of reading the tract to know if they were in fact going to heaven. Dad has a true heart for the lost and a burden for missions. I just praise the Lord for these great blessings in my life.
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