Dear ministry partners,
The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. Psalm 126:3
We serve a mighty God Who is WORTHY of our love and worship!
Back in January we were contacted by a fellow BIMI missionary in Jundiaí, a city about 90 minutes from our home. He asked if we taught sign language to church groups, and if we would be willing to drive out to their church for the class. We set aside six Saturdays in June and July to go and teach a basic sign language course for three hours each Saturday for six weeks. On the first Saturday, we were shocked to see that practically the whole church had signed up to take the course. It was very moving to see the whole congregation singing and signing hymns and choruses that we taught in our class. There was even a man there named Santiago who only had one hand! He told me that, even though he could not become an interpreter or very proficient in sign language, he was doing it so that his family would see his example. What a blessing to meet a man with such a commitment to God and his family! After six Saturdays, we had a special graduation ceremony on Sunday morning, July 21st. We were thrilled to be able to hand out 101 diplomas to those that satisfactorily completed the course. They are praying that God would raise up a couple that would head up this ministry.
On July 29th, Dan returned to language school, not because he needs a refresher course in Portuguese, but to interpret for a missionary deaf couple that has moved to São Paulo to learn Portuguese. This is a one-year course that will be two hours each day, Monday through Friday. Pray for Michael and Ruth Douglas as they learn Portuguese, and for Dan as he interprets and attempts to explain in Brazilian sign language the complicated verb conjugations of the Portuguese language. Michael and Ruth have learned a good bit of the Brazilian sign language, and now they will be learning the spoken language to be able to read and understand Portuguese, and that Michael can study and prepare properly for preaching. They could use your prayers, as well. Becky will be babysitting the Douglas’ two little girls while the parents go to language school.
The new church plant in Arujá is going well. Our co-workers, Jon and Hannah Speights, keep us informed as to what is going on in the church there. There have been some tremendous blessings, as well as some incredible difficulties, but through it all we sit back and say, “Praise God for what He is doing in Arujá!”
Thank you for being a part of souls being saved among the deaf and hearing in São Paulo, Brazil!
That all may “hear,”
Dan and Becky Bennett