September - October 2023
Greetings, Pastor and Fellow Laborers in Christ,
Each time we initiate a prayer letter, Donna and I reflect on God's abundant blessings through all of you, inspiring us to express our profound gratitude. We are thankful to God for placing us in your thoughts and hearts. Your unwavering prayers and financial support on our behalf are sincerely cherished. Thank you for praying and giving to the Lord’s work here in Joinville, Brazil.
We've been experiencing the rainy season for quite some time now. This period brings to mind the divine design of "Blessings for Obedience" from Deuteronomy chapter 28, where it's mentioned, “The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand:...” (Dt. 28:12). Much like the Lord's treasures of snow and hail mentioned in Job 38:22, we are recipients of His bountiful gift of rain, one of "His good treasures."
Drying clothes at home can be challenging during the rainy season, especially without a dryer. The rain persists for days on end. However, we hold on to our faith in God's promise "to bless all the work of thine hand." God is unwavering in His presence, faithfully fulfilling His role. Nonetheless, our commitment to remain faithful is essential.
A while back, we requested your prayers regarding a couple we've been counseling through life's challenges. The turbulence in their marriage had become so severe that it led to their son resorting to self-harm, putting his life in danger. We are overjoyed and thank the Lord for His intervention and for doing what “only” He can do. The marital discord has somewhat abated, and their son's health is improving. We sincerely appreciate your previous prayers in this regard, and we kindly request that you continue to keep Oseias, Sonia, and their son, Paulo David, in your prayers.
We are filled with joy and gratitude as we see our prayers answered in the case of one of our long-standing members, José (Joseph), who had strayed from our congregation. José is one of our founding members who, like many, faced significant challenges in life, leading him to discontinue attending our church services during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over time, we consistently sought support from others in praying for José while making various efforts to reconnect with him. We reached out, contacted, visited, extended invitations, and included him in special gatherings. Today, we rejoice in the Lord's grace because, for the past month, José has faithfully returned to our Sunday night and mid-week services. This is a testament to the power of prayer and the faithfulness of God. We want to express our gratitude to all those who prayed alongside us for José. As the scriptures say, God continues “to bless all the work of thine hand..." (Deuteronomy 28:12).
November marks the "Thanksgiving" season in the United States. In Brazil, while there isn't an officially designated Thanksgiving day, we make it a tradition to come together with nearby missionaries for fellowship and to express our gratitude in the American traditional style, complete with a bountiful feast. Amen!
Thank you all for your faithful giving and praying on our behalf
Scott & Donna Allen
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