From Sue Pyland, Fri 6/26/2009 10:24 AM

We are finishing up our time in Rio now.   The time has passed very quickly!   The English Bible students that the Lord has provided to us have been wonderful.   We have studied with over 30 different people for a total of about 150 hours.   We have hosted 3 parties and will be assisting with a 4th one tomorrow.   The parties are important to allow our students and their families and friends to meet our church member friends in a casual setting.   At our last party we had 10 students and 19 of their family members and friends!

Many ask what it is like on one of these trips, and it is very hard to put the experience into words.  We experience fatigue like nothing I experience elsewhere, but we receive energy to go beyond our normal selves.   We are on duty for 12 hours per day with pressure from people who would like to come earlier and stay later.   We must tell some that we just don't have time to talk to them about Jesus today!   We are always in a hurry, and always waiting.   Students thrill us with their interest and understanding and bonds quickly form.   We are disappointed when several do not show up in a single afternoon.   It is very hot and very cool.   It is very noisy -- horns honking, dogs barking, people hammering, traffic passing, people singing praises to God, laughing, and studying the Bible in multiple languages.   We walk a mile for lunch and carry groceries and party supplies back each day.  Simple things are difficult -- lighting an oven, ordering lunch, starting a washing machine, making coffee, washing dishes, making a phone call.   Difficult things are simple -- praising God in multiple languages, communicating love with a smile and hug, accepting help when needed, making a child smile who cannot understand a word we say.  

We take time off each week to see the beautiful sights in Rio, but the thing that brings us back is the people.   They bring us back to the basics of understanding why God loves the people of this world so much.  For a few special weeks we have been privileged to look through his eyes and carry his story.  Thank you for making this possible and praying for us.   We will see you soon!

Sue & Joy

  From Sue Pyland, Sat 6/20/2009 8:07 AM:

Dan arrived & hit the ground running.  We have enjoyed hearing about things happening back home & having him experience the many things going on here.  We took the ferry to Niteroi last night & met Nathan & Sara  (Zinck, our missionaries there) for dinner.  Connie, Larry & Jonathan (Zinck, our hosting family) also joined us.   We had a nice visit & went to their home, which is lovely & they appreciated so much after the long search for it.  For those of you that don't know that story, ask me about it when I get home!  It's great to see God working in getting this new team ready to share God.   We have continued to have new Readers signing up, which shows God's hand in bringing people to study his word!   Several have expressed interest in continuing to study when we leave!   May God continue to bless the efforts of all those who share "The GOOD NEWS"around the world.  You're in our thoughts & prayers.  We appreciate you being part of the Rio mission team!  We miss you & look forward to sharing the trip when we get home!

Blessings,
Sue & Joy

From Joy Cook, Wed 6/02/2009 8:29 AM:

We have jumped into our English Bible Studies.   The readers this year are wonderful.   We have several returning from last year and many new ones.   The new ones seem to have even better grasp of English than last year, which allows us to have much more meaningful conversations.   My youngest reader is 15, actually a returning reader from last year.   My oldest is 75, and is a wonderful man who taught himself English.  This man, Osmar, has already signed up for Bible lessons in Portuguese as well as our English Bible lessons.   We pray that others will follow.   We plan a Mexican themed party this weekend to introduce our church friends to our reader friends.   One of my readers is from Columbia and has ties to Mexico.   He is making and bringing authentic guacamole!   

It was thrilling Sunday at church Sunday to meet new Christians since we were here last year, to exchange hugs and kisses with much-loved borthers and sisters, and to worship with Brazilian family.   I will enjoy introducing you to these loved ones some day!

Time is short.   Please pray for us, as we pray for our loved ones far away!   

Blessings!

Joy & Sue

From Sue Pyland, Sun 5/31/2009 8:34 PM:

Just wanted to let you know that we arrived without any problems, excluding the delay leaving LR.  We went to worship with our old friends this AM.  The church here is growing, so we also made new friends.  It's awesome to feel a connection in God's Family, without speaking the language.  Joy does much better at that than I do. HA HA, as I don't speak any!  We had our first orientation meeting tonight & have signed up 11 new readers.  Some are returning from last year as well, in addition to these new ones.  We begin tomorrow & have another meeting to sign up additional Readers.  We appreciate your prayers & support.  May God bless this opportunity to share His Word & open hearts.

In Him,

Sue & Joy

PS  As Wanda is not here to type for me, please disregard all errors!