Dear fellow labourers and friends in Christ, Nov/Dec 2020
This year certainly has been momentous! We have eye-witnessed the transitioning into a new era! But, “fret not.” The Bible-believing “heir of the earth” (Ps. 37:11; Mk. 5:5) need not worry themselves. We know where it all is leading toward. Christ, “Emmanuel,” the gift we now celebrate, is coming again! Oh, what a day that will be! Amen!
Brazil doesn’t celebrate Thanksgiving. So our usual routine during this time is to visit with other missionaries in our region. This year we got together with another missionary couple who work in a city about forty-five minutes away from us. Our hearts were filled with gratitude to God for a beautiful day of feasting, fun-games, and fellowship. (Donna and I were introduced to a game we were not familiar with. Qwix. Very entertaining!)
The Christmas season for us here in Brazil is quite different. As far as the climate goes, that is. Donna, who is from Pennsylvania, remarks, “it doesn’t ‘feel’ like Christmas.” It doesn’t snow! You know?
We’re excited about having our daughter, Elizabeth, with us this month. Please pray with us about her permanent residence visa. It’s called “permanent,” but if you go out of the country, you have to return before two years from your departure date for it to remain valid. She attends college in the US, and due to the pandemic closing the borders, she couldn’t return to Brazil in time. We’ve turned in a letter of explanation to the Federal Police, and we’re awaiting their decision to validate her “permanency” or not.
Our Vacation Bible School picnic went well. God held back the rain, provided a great shelter in the perfect spot, and brought us the children. The children enjoyed swimming in the river and playing in the playground on the edge of the mountain. (One nearly managed to sneak away into the woods. Praise the Lord with us that his mother caught him in time!) We adults thoroughly enjoyed feasting on the barbecue, relaxing, and fellowshipping. I tried my best to form a human train with a song with the children. Elizabeth then brought a lesson proclaiming the gospel message of salvation.
We believe Christ’s second coming is imminent! But there are still many who have yet to grasp the true meaning of His first coming. Every track we handed out lately seems to have landed in the hands of someone with a lot of knowledge of the “reason” for the season. Everyone “knows” baby Jesus and the crucified Jesus. But they refuse to “receive” the “reason.” That is, the gift of salvation!
Thank you for your love, prayers, and financial support throughout this past year. And for your “over and above” thoughts, cards, and gifts for our birthdays, anniversary, and Christmas too. We are so grateful to God for putting us in your hearts. We love you all and pray God tends to and meets your heart’s desires as well.
Sincerely yours,
Scott and Donna Allen and our daughter, Elizabeth
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