Planting & Growing Churches God's Way
in Northeast Brazil
Our HOPE is in the Power of God
working through the hearts of people.
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DAN & LINDA ANDERSON Planting & Growing Churches God's Way in Northeast Brazil Our HOPE is in the Power of God working through the hearts of people. |
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July 14, 2008 Prayer Update Our family reunion is about to be interrupted. I am preparing to take my first of many bus trips from Maceió to Fortaleza. What, you might ask, could prompt a trip this soon after getting our family back together? The answer is multi-faceted, but I will only bore you with two of them. A Container – Our household goods, school books and some items for eleven missionary families and three national pastors have all arrived safely with our container at the port in Fortaleza. Now it must be unloaded, unpacked, pass through customs and be repacked for a trip to Maceió. Pray for God's protection and grace in each step. A Strike – Many documents have to be presented to secure the release of the container. I have a broker to help with this process, but cannot get our documents to him because of a national strike by the Post Office. BUMMER. There are some other options but not within our needed time frame, so I will make a bus trip! Pray for Linda and the kids in my absence. They are all adjusting very well. Also pray for the youth retreat that I need to return for next weekend. I am preaching about God's grace from the book of Jonah and would appreciate your prayers that my tongue will get a little less stiff with the Portuguese. Francisco and three of his children studied the Bible with us on Thursday night. Pray for Mateus, Mirian, Moíses and their parents to trust Christ. Well I need to run, as my bus leaves in a few hours. This update is early as I won't be back by Wednesday. Thanks for partnering with us through prayer. His servants and your co-laborers
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 Typical roads are narrow, curvy and full of holes.  Our container made it safely this far!  Striking postal workers have paralyzed Brazil.  Bethany and Mirian playing before our study. |
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July 9, 2008 Prayer Update We feel like we hit the ground running and that our feet are barely touching the ground. Life has been chaotic, but very good. It has in fact been great now that Linda and Josiah are with us again. Thank you for all who prayed for documents and safe travel. I have a Bible Study with Francisco, a guard from our condominium, tomorrow night. He is eager to begin and is ready for us to start services. Pray that he will trust Christ and that his wife, children, mother and siblings will also believe. Dr. Rui and I will begin our English Bible study Monday. I was with him yesterday. He reminds me of the rich young ruler who came to Jesus. Pray that he will be able to see his need of Christ despite his busy and outwardly successful life. Dinho's father and step mom have agreed to begin a discipleship study with me. Adeildo made a decision for Christ over a year ago but I am not sure of his wife, Isabel's salvation. Pray for their spiritual needs and also for physical healing. Adeildo had something like angioplasty today. The fellowship at the hospital was great and their response to spiritual things was excellent. We have been praying for the salvation of Dinho's mother and brother for nearly eight years. They were down from Recife to visit Dinho and family last week. Their background is in the Catholic Church. Pray that the study from Sunday would be used in their lives and also that they would read the Daily Bread that were given to them. Please pray for the arrival of our container. We heard it would be delayed, then that it was already here. Now they say it should be here next Friday. Document work is stressful, but God's grace is sufficient. His servants and you co-laborers, OUR SCHEDULE July 18 – projected arrival of container July ?? – Dan travels to Fortaleza for container and Executive Committee meeting. July 18-20 – joint youth retreat with Clima Bom, Village Campestre and Vila Rica |
 Josiah seemed to recognize me despite a scraggly beard.  Our return to this brutal climate has been plagued with repairs – van, washing machine, electrical… We praise the Lord that we are finally HOME!  Dinho & Fabiana with Dinho’s mom, Lizete and brother, Anderson and his wife Karine. |
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July 2, 2008 Prayer Update Greetings from Brazil! Most of our family is in Brazil with two more joining us in the next 24 hours. We thank God for the partners that He has given us. Your prayers and letters of encouragement have been a tremendous blessing. Let me fill you in on the last couple of weeks.  Trip PhaseI – Dan and six kids embarked on their journey on June 24th. After saying goodbyes to Anderson and Henderson grandparents, Linda and Josiah, we boarded our plane. Twenty minutes later the flight was cancelled. I wanted to apologize to the other passengers, as every step of this journey has had its challenges. I wasn’t even surprised. God provided a Delta worker that rerouted our family before I even got to the desk.  Four of the kids even rode firstclass. While checking in at Miami International, we were able to check our carryon bags all the way to Maceio. PTL.  A Wedding – Saturday night I went to a wedding for a dear friend. Sylvester helped us in the early stages of the Vila Rica church plant. He has not attended church for the last couple of years though, so please pray that I might be able to get close again and encourage him and his wife. Pray for her salvation. Sunday – We spent Sunday with our brothers in Christ at Villa Rica. What a great time of fellowship. We had lunch at Enoch and Vanalda’s home where laughter was only interrupted by the fullness of mouths. A possible camp was visited and then the Pierschbachers were dropped off to catch their bus. I rushed home to make it to church with my friend Dr. Rui joining us. There was a good group at church including five visitors and a new convert. 
Dinho’s message from Luke 23 was fantastic. The reason for Christ’s death was clearly presented. Pray that Dr. Rui, Brenda, Michaele and Carlos would trust Christ as Savior. |
 The trip was tiring, but good. After nearly 36 hours we were in our home!  Company – Four hours after entering our house, company arrived. Four visitors that soon after arrival was a challenge, but Uncle Al and Aunt Nadine Pierschbacher are more like family than visitors.   Josiah’s visa – We received word Monday morning that Josiah’s visa was finally in Linda’s hands. It has been incredible the obstacles that have had to be negotiated and the loops that needed to be jumped through, but thanks be to God for His perfectly timed provision. Linda and Josiah had an extra week with Mom and Dad Henderson, for which she is grateful.  Reunion with other MKs has been great.  Reunion with Dinho, David and their families has also been a blessing. |
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June 19, 2008 Prayer Update After many hours and more than a few tears, it appears that Josiah will not be able to join us in our return to Brazil. I bet that got your attention. We have applied, resent documents, pleaded for answers and not been satisfied. We found out two weeks ago that the consulate was not willing to accept our application, no explanations given. We then applied with new and improved versions of all documents to find out that the process was near to "beginning" and that it would still be a couple of months for approval from Brazil. All applications were retrieved and a new application for a Tourist Visa was submitted. It is all ready to be approved, and could be today if the consulate worker chose to. Please pray that God would change the heart of this worker, or give us grace to deal with the temporary separation. If the visa is not approved by Friday, we will not have it in hand to travel early next Tuesday morning. Linda or Dan will stay in the US waiting for the visa (six – ten days since yesterday) and then rejoin the family with Josiah in tote. We did find out that the whole permanent visa process could be handled in Brazil, so no return to the US should be necessary. Please pray that God's will would be done. And that we will accept it with grateful and trusting hearts. Also pray for young people at camp to respond to God's call toward service. His servants and you co-laborers, |
 Our family vacation at Aspen Canyon ranch was a thrill despite news of Visa Woes. Josiah’s tears were because of a much needed nap, not the VISA. OUR SCHEDULE June 16-21 – Whispering Winds Bible Camp June 22-23 – Frantic packing June 24 – Departure for Brazil |
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June 12, 2008 Prayer Update Please pray for Josiah's visa situation. All of the paperwork is turned in after having been rejected and returned to us. We are less than two weeks from departure if the Lord is willing. Pray that He will work this out in His time and for His glory. |
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May 14, 2008 Prayer Update It doesn't seem possible that we will be flying for Brazil in less than six weeks. SSSSOOOOOOOO MUCH to do! Josiah's application is in the consulate's hands. Please pray for quick resolution. My grandfather passed away ten days ago. My mom was there for the last days and had special visits. I am grateful to God that we were able to be there just before his home going. I was unable to attend the funeral partly because of schedule but mostly because of a sinus infection that has made this mostly worthless man completely worthless. We praise God for Grandpa's testimony in this life. We are ordering the container and feverishly packing and organizing. A good friend helped Linda go through school books today. There were enough boxes to fill every spot but the driver seat in our Cavalier. We still need: We are anxious to return and begin the work in Jardim Petropolis. Pray for open doors for the gospel. Oh, yeah! I almost forgot to mention that Dinho and Fabiana have a baby on the way. I am so excited. It is almost as good as having another one of our own, since they let me spoil their kids. His servants and you co-laborers, |
 It is good to see teens staying faithful in Vila Rica. But growth is SLOW! Pray that new teens will trust Christ. WATCH NEXT WEEK Pictures of the pile for the container! OUR SCHEDULE May 18 – Springfield Bible – Missouri May 18 pm – Mountain Home Bible - send off May 24 – Linda’s 20th reunion in Sabetha, KS May 27-30 – packing container in Mtn. Hm. June 1 – Branson Bible Church – Missouri June 2-7 – Aspen Canyon Ranch - Colorado June 8 – churches in Colorado June 15 am – Rock Creek Bible Church, KS June 15 pm – Rose Hill Bible Church, KS June 16-21 – Whispering Winds Bible Camp June 24 – Departure for Brazil |
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April 30, 2008 Prayer Update We are working like mad to prepare boxes for the container that will take appliances, school books and clothes to Brazil. We are taking a great deal of furniture for our Brazilian co-workers. We also have a utility trailer full of items for missionary friends; some of these are heading to Brazil as new missionaries with BGFM. We praise the Lord for the new missionaries that BGFM has been blessed with recently. Continue to pray with us that God will send forth laborers into His harvest. Who knows, maybe He will send YOU! Speaking of HARVEST… the bees must be having a hay day. Pollen count is really high, and one of ours is feeling the effect. Eyes are swollen and life is miserable. Elisabeth even stayed home from the picnic because of her allergies. Please pray for her endurance. Please pray for Josiah's visa from the Brazilian consulate. It would seem to be a "no-brainer" that this one year old needs to be with his parents and siblings who are permanent residents of Brazil, but beurocracy often goes above and beyond the obvious. Dan is traveling to Burden, Kansas to stay with friends from college and share at their church. Pray for safety. The family is staying home this trip, but Dave Day is joining Dan on the trip. I asked prayer for Dave a couple of weeks ago after his son's tragic death. Please continue to pray for healing. Our support need is just under $600 per month. Hearing of the huge increase in the cost of living in Brazil makes this shortfall especially BIG in our minds. Pray that we will "hope and quietly wait on the Lord" as Jeremiah 3 encourages us. Four years of school books for five students and soon six has been a major blow. Pray with us that we will be good stewards as we finish purchases for the container. His servants and you co-laborers, OUR SCHEDULE May 4 – Burden, KS May 11 – Sherwood Bible – KCMO May 18 – Springfield Bible – Missouri June 1 – Branson Bible Church – Missouri June 2-7 – Aspen Canyon Ranch - Colorado June 16-21 – Whispering Winds Bible Camp June 24 – Departure for Brazil |
 This might be the first & only picture of Josiah without a smile. He took it seriously when the photo lady mentioned to the client before him that you shouldn’t smile for passport pictures!  A highlight of the week was a picnic with Mike & Julie Koster and their family. Mike & I were co-presidents of FCA in high school. The fellowship was great. 
Thanks, Mike & Julie, for making the effort to come & see us!
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April 23, 2008 Prayer Update  What do you call a ball bearing with no metal balls? It is either a breakdown or the grace of God. We traveled over 2100 miles between Friday noon and last night at 2 AM when we finally got home. In Chicago I smelled a burning belt, but did not see any problem under the hood, so we continued our trip. Further investigation after dinner, five hours later showed a couple metal rings where a four inch wheel and a bearing used to be. God allowed us to get to an AutoZone that had our part and the one tool that was not in Dan's tool box. Less than an hour later, we were back on the road. There could have been many other endings to this trip if not for the GRACE OF GOD.We shared God's work in Brazil with the church my brother Chris pastors in Ohio. What a great time of fellowship and worship we had with them. My mother was there, so the fellowship with Chris & Lori's family did not include any childish fighting between brothers! My Grandpa Comden is in the hospital and was not doing very well, so a quick trip to Michigan to see him before we leave for Brazil was in order. We stayed with my Aunt Margaret, who served in Zambia with her husband Michael. They were both influential in my decision to be a missionary. Grandpa, now 94 years old, had snapped back some, in fact Dan found him witnessing to one of his nurses when he returned to read from the Bible. Thank you for praying for our continued travels, support need, and preparation for return to Brazil. I leave in two hours to share at an AWANA club at Prairie Flower Bible Church, long time partners in taking the Gospel to Brazil. His servants and you co-laborers,
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 The Ohio Andersons, Brazil Andersons & Grandma Anderson to keep order  Aunt Margaret and Bob after a short visit which included great food as always  This picture of Grandpa and Josiah was taken last July  Leadership in Maceió sent this picture today. They are praying for our return. |
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April 5, 2008 Prayer Update Thank you being our partners through prayer for our recent travels and for the work in Vila Rica. We traveled much farther than is advisable between oil changes in a period of about ten days. Two all niters and another very late niter were necessary to arrive at our commitments on time. We squeezed in a family wedding, a visit to a supporting church, Easter with Dan's family, a day skiing, a visit with college friends, our mission's board meeting and annual banquet in Illinois, a visit to another church and of course fellowship all along the way. We relish these times with family and friends as our return to Brazil is only two months away! We received word during our travels that a young boy from Vila Rica finally trusted Christ as Savior. Diogo has come to children's meetings, Sunday School and church for the last four years. His aunt, Jadriene, trusted Christ long ago. But not until recently has anyone from her family followed her in receiving Christ's free gift of eternal life. Pray for growth as Diogo and Jadriene are discipled. Also pray for the rest of their family's salvation. We praise the Lord for a couple that joined us as financial partners. We thank Him for His provision in the past and know that He will provide for our current needs. Please pray with us concerning the additional monthly support that is needed before we return to Brazil. His servants and you co-laborers, OUR SCHEDULE April 11-13 – Grace Bible – Stillwell, KS April 20 – Tri-County Bible – Ohio April 27 – Cotter, AR May 4 – Burden, KS (GO JAYHAWKS!) May 11 – Sherwood Bible – KCMO May 18 – Springfield Bible – Missouri June 1 – Branson Bible Church – Missouri June 2-7 – Aspen Canyon Ranch - Colorado June 16-21 – Whispering Winds Bible Camp June 24 – Departure for Brazil |
 Carlos, Diogo, Micah & Andrey sit together at church  Jadriene was the first in her family to accept Christ. Pray that God will continue the work He began in her four years ago.  One of the advantages of being a foreign missionary is that you can root for whichever team wins. |
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March 19, 2008 Prayer Update Well, this appears to be AWANA week. I had a few encounters with AWANA clubbers that I want to share with you! Early in the week, I got news that a dear friend lost his son in an auto accident. I was amazed to see how Christ was made known and God glorified through this horrible loss. At the funeral Davey's AWANA uniforms were displayed. He loved AWANA as do our kids, and probably your kids or grandkids. Davey recently expressed his certainty that he was saved through faith in Christ. PTL! Pray for Dave, that He will know the sufficiency of our God in this hard time. I met another clubber this morning at Calvary Bible Church in Nixa. Willie was thrilled to meet a "real missionary". I was honored to talk to him and hear that he has been praying for us. His generous gift was given from the heart, and will be sent to the developing AWANA club in Vila Rica. Pray that God might touch the heart of this grand young man. The AWANA club in Branson asked if they could help us to begin the OANSE club in Brazil. We are amazed at God's continual provision for needs that are beyond the "adolescent" national church. We hope to visit these young clubbers before our departure in June. Pray that many of them would surrender their lives to whatever God might ask of them. OANSE the Brazilian name for AWANA has not officially begun in Vila Rica. There is a club in our first church plant in Clima Bom. Right now, a regular kids club is the beginning of what we hope will one day be an AWANA club. Pray that kids will be impacted by the living and powerful Word of God. I know that my life was eternally changed through AWANA and trust that God will do the same in Brazil. His servants and you co-laborers, |
  Davey will be missed by family, friends & clubbers.  Willie’s enthusiasm was an encouragement.   Sand instead of wood floors, but still the same AWANA. Great games & Scripture memory. |
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Mar 5, 2008 Prayer Update Thank you for praying concerning the tornado. The kids are back in school. They have teachers and classmates that lost everything. It has been great to see how God has protected and provided. I was able to communicate with Dinho this morning. He asked prayer for two families that are grieving the loss of loved ones in Vila Rica. Many of you prayed for Alan, a young teen with cancer, last year. Pray that his family will turn to Christ in this difficult time. A neighbor of the church, José Vieira, recently died. Pray for Dinho as he shares with these families their need of Christ. Dinho is praying that the time until our return will pass quickly. He mentioned his need to continue to learn how to respond in situations like those brought on by these deaths. Pray that Dinho will lean on the Lord and be bold in his testimony for Christ. We purchased tickets last week for our return to Brazil. Pray for us as we prepare. Linda and I did some shopping while on a weekend get-away. The job of buying four years worth of clothes for nine people is overwhelming. If you have used summer clothes please contact us. Please continue to pray with us about our support need. We found out recently that our need was greater than we had thought. It is vital that we have this, as the exchange rate is really hurting us in Brazil. We are in churches every Sunday until departure. Pray that God will provide and that we will rest in Him. His servants and you co-laborers, OUR SCHEDULE March 9 – Mountain Home Bible Church March 16 – Calvary Bible Church – Nixa March 23 – McCarrol Bible Church – Denver March 29 – BGFM banquet – Springfield IL March 30 – Liberty Bible – Eureka, IL April 6 – Parker Road Bible – Chicago April 11-13 – Grace Bible – Stillwell, KS April 20 – Tri-County Bible – Ohio April 27 – Cotter, AR |
 PTL, Val continues to grow. Two things to get to know from Vila Rica’s Carnaval Retreat, Val & jaca fruit.  Mountain Home Bible Members help with relief efforts after the tornado.  Progressive Dinner with Sunday School class that Dan is teaching. This is the rowdy half of the class.  Renewing friendships! Gaars from our days at Branson Bible Church. |
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Feb 6, 2008 Prayer Update What a STORM! The unusual winter storm that pelted us with heavy rains and a fantastic lightning show was the same one that destroyed a small town that we travel through daily taking the kids to school. A call went out for people with chainsaws to come and help clear the area, as emergency workers could not get to the injured. By the time I got there, the roads were closed with only emergency workers entering. I was amazed to see the outpouring of help, as large trucks, backhoes and heavy machinery were arriving from local businesses to help clear the carnage. School is cancelled today, as the gym and cafeteria are being used as a shelter for families displaced by the storm. It was traumatic for the kids to think of friends and teachers who live in the devastated area. Pray especially for Abigail's friend Erica and her mother. And also for friends of Bethany and Hannay, Jordan and Joshua and their newborn baby sister who also live in Gassville. Late this afternoon we learned that the kids will not be back in school until next week. Recent word from Brazil has been good. Vila Rica continues to be very violent, but my Brazilian co-worker, Dinho, summed it up by saying that bad guys are killing eachother. Dinho recently began an evangelistic with a young man named Quinho (keen-you). Pray for his salvation and the other men that play volley ball together. Dinho is delivering yearly devotional books to neighbors in Jardim Petropolis where we plan to work upon our return. Pray that God will use His Word to change lives. Plans continue toward our departure in June. Please pray for us as we get passports and visas straightened out especially for our little Josiah. His servants and you co-laborers,  
Dan’s favorite Mexican restaurant
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 Many homes & business were completely destroyed  This is the practice gym where Dan helped coach Abigail’s basketball team 
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Jan 11, 2008 Prayer Update Quick Update: Thank the Lord with us for his answer concerning Linda's lump. The lump was successfully removed and identified as a harmless, though painful sebaceous cyst. I may even get to pull the stitches for her. I was going to send a picture of the cyst, but it is a little gross. Sorry. Watch for a letter next week with our 2008 ministry goals as we prepare to return to Brazil. I read in Matthew last night about the lepor that told the Lord, "if you are willing, you can make me well" and also the centurion who believed that Jesus had authority to heal even from a distance. We talked about lessons we could learn from this passage on the way to school with the kids before the appointment with the doctor. Their insight was beautiful. Take a look at it if you are able. Also read Psalm 4 recently "I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety." |
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Jan 11, 2008 Prayer Update While at the doctor's office with one of our children, Linda showed the doctor a lump that appeared on her inner bicep recently. The doctor requested that we return ASAP to have it removed and a biopsy performed. We will be returning tomorrow. He even called me to make sure that we would come in for this immediately. Pray for Linda's health and quick recovery from this invasive procedure. Also pray that we will have the peace of Christ in this and trust completely in God's plan. Linda said jokingly last night that she wishes that Dr. Afshar would hurry and get saved so we could quit having these health issues that interject us into his life. Thanks for your concern and prayers. |
Dan & Linda Anderson
C.P. 2095, Maceió, Alagoas,BRAZIL 57.061-970  daniel.kenneth.anderson@gmail.com 011-55-82-3241-0743  (55)82-9117-4884 SKYPE: daniel.kenneth.anderson
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Send all Contributions to: Brazil Gospel Fellowship Mission P.O. Box 355 Springfield, IL 62705-0355 Identify your support for Dan Anderson or a specific project identified above. |
