And a door has opened...

For Thou are great, and doest wondrous things: though art God alone.

Psalm 86:10

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

JOSEPH

We have seen the Lord do some great things in past several weeks! Our theme for the February/summer VBS this year was “Joseph: From Prison to Palace.” Though our workers were few in number, we had a great VBS teaching through the life of Joseph.  It was a big help and special blessing to see the young ladies Sunday school class get involved by acting out a daily skit that went with each day’s theme. 

“God, do I love you?

Right on the heels of VBS we had summer camp organized by Brazilian youth pastors and leaders from several local churches.  I was asked to help assist as a counselor and in organizing the music for the week.  We had a GREAT week with a strong spiritual focus building on the theme: God, do I love you? (Mt. 22:37).  Several teens made decisions ranging from faithfulness to church to removing certain sins in their life to glorify God.  We saw one teen boy share his salvation testimony—having received the Lord that week! Our prayer and yours can also be that God would rise up more youth to serve Him whole-heartedly and respond to His call towards ministry.

“Back to School...”

My focus has been more recently directed to my participation in the public school.  Students here in Brazil recently started their new school year and have been underway now for about three weeks. A little over a week ago I met with the principal of the school in Ponta Grossa and discussed two project ideas.  The first project was to teach the recorder to one class, once a week, during class time.  We had discussed this before and now I agreed to teach on a volunteer basis. The second project idea is a Bible club.  Since schools in Brazil are half days and the public schools in this area have adopted a government program to keep the kids in school all day through supplement activities, there was a possibility to incorporate this activity into the day.

Cristina, the principal, has received me so well—she seems genuinely glad to have someone volunteer time to invest in the kids. In our discussions, she has shown that she is definitely open to the kids being taught about God.  Her belief is that any teaching about God will do them good.

This past Wednesday the Lord gave me the “door” for which I have been praying. I have been given permission to have the kids for one hour on Thursdays.  After asking some questions, I discovered I would possibly have around 50 students ranging in ages from 10-15.  Are you following that I could use your prayers? One of the seminary’s bible college students will be assisting and the school has offered a monitor.  I am currently working on putting together an activity /game for each session and revamping what I had planned on teaching since the age group is older than I expected.  If you want to share your top youth group games, send them to me!  Lord-willing this will be a dynamic time of activity and teaching.

One last thing

I find it a great joy and blessing to live in the bible college building.  This year the school has received new students of which two I will be teaching lessons (one piano the other violin).  I humbled by the Lord’s goodness in allowing me to have a part in training others to help glorify His name through godly music.

Your servant and friend in Christ,

Tati Cordeiro