We have asked you to pray about our need for teachers for next school year and we still covet your prayers. We now have two teachers who hope to raise the support to come teach at Greater Lisbon Christian Academy next year and we are praising the Lord for this. One would be a returning teacher and she is not at all sure that her churches can afford to take her on for another year. Please pray for Heather and Cathy as they work at support raising. Even as God has given two young ladies this desire, two others may not be able to teach as they had hoped. Gretchen Carter has taught at the academy for some where around 15 years despite many health problems. Recently she flew back to Pennsylvania to be with her family because her father was diagnosed with three brain tumors. Gretchen does not know if she will be able to return or if she will need to stay in the United States to take care of aging parents. In addition, the teacher that left us in March due to her husband’s health needs will not be able to return for the beginning of next school year. The earliest they can return if his health improves is September 19 and school starts on September 6. So, God has given us two teacher possibilities but we could very well lose two teachers. We know He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. Please continue to pray. May He receive all the glory for the miraculous way that He provides.

(April 18, 2004) Charity, our daughter has been involved in a café outreach event that is a combined effort of several Association of Baptists for World Evangelism churches and our school. They have been praying and planning for some time. Charity is involved in singing with the worship band and she is in a signing choir. Each choir member wears black clothes and white gloves. When a black light is shone on them, only the gloves can be seen moving beautifully and simultaneously through the air portraying the message of the song. These cafes held every few months are designed to reach young people who might not come to a normal church service.

Currently we have a great need for teachers to commit to teaching at the school for next year. Do you know of someone that might be interested in committing to come teach missionary children in Portugal for a year or two? Pray for us too, as time speeds on, that we won't panic over this need but will fix our eyes on Christ. It is His work and He will do it.

Are you looking for a place for a small group of your church members to go and minister for a few weeks? Our newest Association of Baptist for World Evangelism church building project in Arruda is in need of more workers to come help them finish their church building. As we pray with them about the advancement of this work, we thought we would also make the need known in case there are people in our supporting churches who would like to help with volunteer labor. Tile layers, plumbers, false ceiling hangers and painters could be used. If you have any interest in helping out, please let us know.

On April 1 our high school students participated in a festa or celebration at the local public school in town. We were invited to go and decorate a room on any theme we desired. Our students did a great job of working around the theme of "Why are we here, anyway?" WAWA for short. The main goal was to help interested students from the other school know why we are in Portugal, to share Christ and make Him known. We believe God used this day to create a hunger and thirst in some young people's lives. Thanks for faithfully praying and giving. You are a blessing and we thank God for you.

(Feb. 8, 2004) You may remember that our Portuguese pastor sends his two daughters to our school. The youngest daughter is in kindergarten. She has heard the gospel presented time and time again in Portuguese and now hears it regularly at school in English. On January 23 the high school students presented a special chapel for the elementary students, using music and puppets. Cal wrapped things up by challenging all of our students with the need to reach the world for Christ. He emphasized the fact that God can even use kids and teens to do His work and share His message around His world. That night, after school and before our church's Friday night prayer meeting, Tamara Marques came out of her room and told her mother that she had accepted Jesus as her Savior. As her mother quizzed her, it became apparent that Tamara did understand that she is a sinner and that she needed to seek God's forgiveness in order to become His child.

Joyce had the opportunity to share her faith with the man who was waiting in line behind her that morning. After two years here ministering mostly in English, this was one of the first opportunities she has had to challenge a stranger with the truths of God's Word in the Portuguese language. Charity was there and helped translate a couple of times. We sure thank God for her language ability.

The month of January has been a difficult month for us as we have faced financial difficulty due to the decline of the dollar. There were even times when we wondered if we would be able to stay and continue ministering here. Though God has not yet changed the economic situation, He encouraged us by showing us that He is using us here to touch lives for eternity. Thank you for your faithful partnership in this great work. God is working in the hearts and lives here in Portugal. Praise Him and rejoice with us.

(Dec. 14, 2003) On December 4 was the annual Greater Lisbon Christian Academy Christmas program. Our students and staff worked hard and the program went well. The parents enjoyed seeing their children present the Christmas message through humor, drama, and music. It was a special joy to see the students recite their parts in English. For the grand finale, the Christmas story from Luke 2 was read alternately in German, Korean, Portuguese, and English. These languages represented the first languages of our students. We were reminded that his is God’s world. His Word is powerful and true in every tongue.

Monday through Friday of Thanksgiving week was spent in southern Portugal for a missionary family retreat. Our speaker was Pastor Rich Van Heukelum from Waterloo, Iowa. His messages challenged and encouraged our hearts and our missionary team came home energized for the various ministries here that God has called us to. We shared a traditional Thanksgiving dinner together.

Three people gave their lives to Christ last week at one of our churches after Pastor Rich Van Heukelum preached through an interpreter. We wish that we could show our country and our ministry here to each of those who pray and give to keep us here. We know that the lives of each of our supporting pastors and individuals would benefit from seeing God at work in another part of his world.

Please pray with us for all of our churches as they seek to reach their communities for Christ during the holiday season. Pray too for fruitful teacher contacts for next school year. Rejoice with us that three couples plan to attend next year’s candidate class in preparation for future ministries in Portugal. Feliz Natal! May each of you have a wonderful Christmas worshiping Christ and making Him known to others.

On Tuesday, April 22 we arrived in Chicago. It felt very good to be on US soil once again. It has been wonderful to see family and close friends and to get to know our precious grandchildren.

Attending worship services in English was a special treat. I wonder if I ever before really appreciated the privilege to worshiping the Savior in my native tongue on padded seats in a beautiful sanctuary. What a special joy to listen to the thirty voice choir, piano, organ, cello, violin and guitars that accompanied the congregation and created the atmosphere for reflection and worship. I needed Pastor Smith's reminder that worship is not about the music but about our Savior.

I reflected on our first Sunday in Portugal. After Sunday school I was approached by a church member who asked me if I would please play the keyboard during the service. No one else in the little congregation could play but surely the American missionary could? Wrong! We have come to love our little congregation and our pastor there in Portugal. I also remembered that it is not our role in Portugal to instruct the people there on how they should "do church." We are the foreigners and they need to be free to worship the Savior in ways that are culturally appropriate.

On Sunday, May 4th we have our first scheduled time to present the work in Portugal to a church very close to home. In the weeks ahead we will be able to see many of you and to share with you what God is doing in Portugal. There are many wonderful things we appreciate about America but we must be faithful to His call for us to minister in Portugal. Please pray for us as we minister here and challenge believers to serve Him whole heartedly wherever God leads them. The same God who took us by the hand and went to Portugal with us is here with us, still holding our hand through all of the adjustments, travels, and needs. "For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." (Isaiah 41:13)