THE GILPIN FAMILY

Endure…

2008-04-27T16:31:00.001-03:00

As so often happens, during my (Matthew) quiet time with the Lord, a verse struck me as speaking to my situation at that moment. For you see, it is so easy to want lose heart and focus here in Equatorial Brazil. The culture is different. The language is difficult. The service at church is different and long. A trip to the store is, to some extent, different. These things are not sinful in and of themselves but it is so easy to allow yourself to focus only on these things. I am sure these are tools in the hand of the evil one too, used to divert us from our task and unfortunately I am at times easily diverted.

Nevertheless, our family was called to the mission field for a season and we should be focus on the task at hand for is a privilege to serve our Lord here, in this place and at this time. So, on one of those days when the heat was almost unbearable, the culture frustrating and one just wanted retreat to an English speaking television program and an expensive-to-run air-condition room, this verse confront me “… let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith… (Hebrews 12:1b-2a).” It is amazing how the Holy Spirit can bring to bear on us the weight of Scripture. Those words “lay aside,” “ensnares,” “run,” “endurance,” and “keeping” all seem to speak to me and say that I must again remember to treat this time of service to Lord as if it truly meant something…for you see it does. God did not bring the Gilpin family here for no reason. Rather, our sovereign Lord brought us here to reach the lost. So, on those days when it is hot (wait, it is always hot) and on those day when I am frustrated, I hope to remember to put on my running shoes, set my sights on the Christ and run!

Therefore, no matter where you are today, remember that you need to lay aside all those things that turn your attention from God and focus on the one that truly matters, Jesus Christ. Who endured even to the point of death for your sake and for mine.

Motivated By Love…

2008-04-05T18:34:00.002-03:00

I think that a human is made to love… either a person loves themselves, loves others, or he/she loves God. Now, these are not mutually exclusive, rather our God-given ability to love often encompasses all of these types of love. The battle for many, and of course for me (Matthew), is to make sure that the love for God is given first place. This is against human nature, for we too often want our way even if we know it is not God’s way.

So, there are those days when Tara and I want to leave Brazil. It is not that we hate it here or that life in this place is as difficult as other places. We are blessed to live in a wonderful apartment, to have a S-10 4-Door pick-up, and to have only one current job which is to learn the language. However, some days we just want to pack up all we have and leave… then, as often happens, God speaks. Whether it is through a song, a scripture verse, an e-mail from a friend or prayer-partner, or though my little girl.

Now, you have heard me repeatedly speak of Lydia’s heart for the lost. Today, I was again amazed by her desire for those who need the Lord. Lydia, Samuel and I were at a stop light waiting to turn and as usual several people came up to our windows begging for money and selling everything under the sun. We seldom patronize these vendors nor do we give to those who beg. However, this day I told Lydia to give 50 centavos (about 0.30) to an old beggar who was missing one leg. As we pulled away, Lydia said, “Daddy, I did not tell him about Jesus.” After some discussion about learning language and about meeting people’s physical needs, she said, “Do you think Jesus is proud of me?”

What a beautiful reminder of the reason we are here, LOVE. For Christ loved us and His love for us makes us long to tell others of His love. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, “For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” So, on those days when I want to go home, do I die to self and live for Him? On those days when life is good, do I die to self and focus not on self but on the lost?

If you are child of God, I pray that you and I might have a heart for the lost like Lydia! If you are not, then know you are loved by a God and a little missionary girl whose heart is as big as her God.

I Want to Know You More…

2008-03-25T22:29:00.001-03:00

Church is difficult. Each church service is at least two and one-half hours. Tara understands a good deal and I little. But, at times, even when I understand little, God speaks…

I sat in church recently, listening to the praise chorus I Want to Know You More being sung in Portuguese. I was singing it in English. During this time, when I again understood little, God spoke through the language barrier directly to my heart. I realized this night two important things…

First and foremost it has been my heart’s prayer for so long… to know my Savior more. As I sat in church calling out to God in song, I realized for the first time how my faithful Lord and Savior has answered this often unspoken prayer. For, he has allowed me to see his heart for people. Thank you Lord. Through the heat, the homesickness, the language learning, the cultural adjustment, just through all that is part of this mission experience God has given me a glimpse of His love for me by showing the love He has for others. Now, know this everyone, that this doesn’t magically make the day to day life easier but, if it brings me closer to Him, then all the hard days are worth their weight in gold. I hope that I can stand through the bad days and rejoice in the good ones, knowing that these experiences are teaching me to know Him more.

The other significant realization I took away was that I have often sung wonderful old hymns and fantastic contemporary praise choruses, truly meaning every word of what I was singing without ever knowing that my prayers would be answered in this place. The other night I was praying and singing in private… the chorus from the hymn Where He Leads I Will Follow came to my mind. It goes, “… where He leads I will follow, where He leads I will follow, where He leads I will follow, I go with Him, with Him, all the way.” How much more does this song speak to me today and in this place? I have sung the tune dozens of times not knowing what it might cost to see the words of this hymn worked out in the life of my family and me. Life in Brazil is wonderful but difficult, amazing but hard, but it is in this place that God has led us to follow Him. God is at work, will I follow? Am I willing? My prayer is that I will be true to His calling and that He will give me the strength to live up to the words of this hymn.

So, as you sit in church singing… as you look at a hymnal… as you listen to the next praise song on a CD or Christian radio... listen to the words. Let them speak to you. Sing them with a new perspective. Sing them as a prayer to God. Sing, Where He Leads I Will Follow, and mean every word. For, you see, we serve a wonderful God and He will answer your heart-felt, God-honoring prayers.

A Brazilian Oddity

2008-03-19T14:05:00.004-03:00

Before the installation

One of the things that we found odd when we first moved to Brazil was the lack of amenities in our new apartment. When Brazilians move out of a home or apartment they take everything with them, and I do mean everything. I don't think that we even had light bulbs when we first moved in. The incredible oddity was that they pull all of their cabinets and counter tops out of the wall and take them along. Thus, the problem. In our kitchen I was preparing meals on the table, but fortunately the IMB agreed to pay for us to have custom cabinets and counter tops installed.

The day that these were installed was a happy one as it provides for much more convenience, and just makes the day to day business of living a little bit easier. When you give to the missions offerings you are doing a great service to those of us serving on the field. Not only does it give us the resources that we need to more effectively spread the gospel, but it also gives us the daily conveniences that are often lacking in developing nations. Thank you for all you do to support us, to pray for us, to encourage us, and to give to our efforts here.

After the installation

the city and beyond...

2008-03-04T22:10:00.006-03:00

A short video of Belém, the river, the islands,
and those to whom God has sent us to minister…

Opening the Door...

2008-02-26T16:40:00.006-03:00

Matthew had the distinct privilege of ministering this month to a small island community about three hours up river from the city of Belém. A team consisting of members of the Equatorial Baptist Theological Seminary (EBTS) and the Brazilian Bible Society (BBS), along with three I.M.B. missionaries participated in the first of several trips in a church planting project. These groups hope to plant a church in this small river community with no evangelical presence.

This island community is made up of fifteen families totaling about 240 people. However, being that many communities like this are closed to outsiders we decided to use this trip to open the door for further evangelism. For this reason, the team used two boats owned by BBS called the “Luz da Amazonia” (Light of the Amazon) to bring medical and dental care to the community. In addition, we used the boats to power a projector for the purpose of showing the Jesus film as well as feed the community a small meal.

This may not sound like much but it seems to touch the hearts and lives of those living in this community. The people of the community see our Lord's love in a tangible way and this helps counteract the influence of the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church in Brazils, like in most of Latin America, is so thoroughly intermixed with pagan, mystical, animistic beliefs that Jesus is relegated to second place behind Mary or even statues of Mary. An example can be seen here in Belem where a yearly festival known as Cirio de Nazaré has been celebrated in about 1793. During this festival the image of the Virgin of Nazareth, an ancient statue of Mary, is brought from a rural chapel to the Basilica of Our Lady of Nazareth. This involves a great street procession through the city towards the city's main cathedral. During this procession, a symbolic ‘’cord’’ about 487 yards long and weighs about 1,500 pounds pulls an ornate cart carrying this statue. It is a great honor and desire for devotees to touch or hold the cord. Many sweating bodies, in the tropical heat, push and pull and are often crushed in their desire to express their faith in the procession. Many go barefoot and often faint along the way. Other devotees carry life-size replicas of body parts made of wax requesting Mary to cure them. Some carry replicas of houses or boats that they would like or are thanking Mary for blessing them in the past year. Some, to show their devotion go on their knees and one year, a man with 150 live crabs covering him paid his homage. Often along the way, songs of adoration to Mary are sung with tears and show of emotion. This festival just shows how far from Christ the people have strayed. Evangelical Christianity is the only hope the people of this island and many others may have of knowing the true Jesus who loves them and freely offers the gift of salvation.

This Saturday, a door was opened and the light of Christ began to shine in a dark place. Please pray that future trips will continue to open the door for the planting of a God-honoring, evangelical church.

A Priceless Gift...

2008-02-13T14:00:00.007-03:00

Valentines Day 2008

Imported Campbell’s Tomato Soup...
R$7,71 per can ($4.42 USD per can)

Imported Portuguese Chocolates...
R$17,52 ($10.03. USD)

My wife being able to have her favorite American meal...
PRICELESS!

Today I am thankful for my wife. She is truly a gift from my Lord and Savior. He has shown His love for me by giving me Tara. Her love for me is what has helped me grow closer to God... who has given me the precious gift of His Son. So, to provide her something to make her smile is priceless.

Psalm 37:4 (NIV) “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

A Road Called Doque...

2008-02-11T17:06:00.001-03:00

As our family begins to learn a new language, so many words and phrases make laugh. It seems that the word sounds like another work in English or that the phrase if translated literally makes no sense. Now, this is not something that happen only as a English speaker learns Portuguese, I am sure it something that takes place as anyone learns a new language. So, without further ado, here is our list:

~Fartar

In Brazilian Portuguese, a verb meaning to gorge or to become feed up with.

In English, well do I need to tell you what this sounds like?

~Ruth

In English, a common name.

In Brazilian Portuguese this name would be pronounced… hoo-chee. This for an English speaker would not be a good translation of the name.

~Boca do Fagão

In Brazilian Portuguese, a phrase used for the burner on a stove.

In English, well, literally translated means ‘mouth of the stove.’

~A toalha de mesa

In Brazilian Portuguese, a phrase used for the tablecloth.

In English, well, literally translated means ‘towel of the table.’

~Dia Da Mentira

In Brazilian Portuguese, a holiday on April 1^st.

In English, well, literally translated means ‘day of lying.’ We have the same holiday but like to call it April Fools Day.

~Dirija-se a outro Caixa (a sign at the post office)

In Brazilian Portuguese, a phrase used to ask you to move to the next window for service.

In English, well, literally translated means ‘drive to the next box.’

~Duque (a sign for a main road in the city)

In Brazilian Portuguese, pronounced 'doo-kee'.

In English, well, sounds like a slang name for something.

~Eu ando no meu carro

In Brazilian Portuguese, a phrase that means I am driving my car.

In English, in a way, if you did not know Portuguese, it could literally mean 'I am walking my car'... for you not only walk yourself but you walk your bike, motorcyle, car, and you even walk the public bus.

A Few Hard Days...

2008-02-11T16:48:00.001-03:00

As we continue to learn a new language and deal with the things in Brazilian culture which seem strange and weird, we have good days and bad days. In the past week, the Gilpin Family has been fighting the common cold. This makes life that much more difficult. However, it is great to know that when one is frustrated, the family of God is willing to lift them up to the Father. Please continue to pray for our family and that we would be faithful to our calling. If you would like to be part of our email list please let us know by sending a note to matthew@thegilpinfamily.com

Another Holiday Corrupted By Sin...

2008-02-02T22:33:00.000-03:00

Many people world wide are getting ready to celebrate Carnival. This festival season is associated with the Roman Catholic faith and is often celebrated with costumes, parades, and a circus like atmosphere. Brazil holds claim to the largest carnival celebration in the world, which is held in Rio de Janeiro. This celebration is theoretically a social event for all but truly is a celebration of the immoral. The gala is known for hedonism and indulgence of immoral human desires. Those who are seeking pleasure and gratification of their sinful nature can be found celebrating along side families and communities. Like its sister celebration in the United States, known as Mardi Gras, Carnival is a celebration which is held 40 days before Easter and marks the beginning of Lent. Why hold a celebration to start of the time of year? Well, during Lent, Roman Catholics are supposed to abstain from all bodily pleasures, including the consumption of meat. The carnival is considered an act of farewell to the pleasures of the flesh.

Like too many in scripture, this is a celebration of the individual and of sinful nature. Like the Israelites of old, the people love to celebrate what their hands have made (Acts 7:41b / Exodus 32:1) and what their sinful nature desires. Please pray that we will be a clear example of Godly character during this period. Also pray for the lost people of Brazil, those who do not care to know God as well as those who follow a false God and false teaching, that they may experience the love of God for the first time.

Our Little Missionary Girl...

2008-01-31T23:01:00.000-03:00

Tara and I have been so blessed to watch our four-year-old little girl become an instrument in our Savior’s hand. In an earlier post, Tara told a story of

Lydia

braving the heat, the mosquitoes, and the language/culture barriers to hand out gospel tracts.

Lydia

said, "Even though I can't speak Portuguese, I can still tell people about Jesus."

On another day, while taking a walk with her father, Lydia saw a man walking down the street. She stopped her father and said, “Daddy, maybe he does not know Jesus.” It so touches the heart of a parent to know that God has burdened this small child’s heart for the lost.

From the mouth of small child, we have been reminded of the reasons that we have left the comforts of the United States to come to Brazil. We, the Gilpin family, have been blessed to be called to bring the greatest gift in history to lost peoples. At times it is easy to feel sorry for ourselves and to allow the difficulties of living in foreign country to cause us to fall into Satan’s traps. However, the words of our little girl sent a clear message to us that God desires that all may know the good news. We hope that we never forget that we our no longer our own. For Christ’s death on the cross released these pitiful sinners from our prison cell of sin. Whether, we live in Brazil or in the United States a four year old little girl has shown us again the love of our Savior.

The rules of the road are mere suggestions...

2008-01-22T22:22:00.000-03:00

Many of you know that in Latin America the rules of the road are mere suggestions. Let me give you idea of what it is like to drive in Belém, Pará, Brazil a city of about two million people.

We leave our apartment in the mornings to head to school. Now this is no small feat, for people here will park almost anywhere. In our parking garage alone, which is about the size of a basketball court, you will find five cars and our S-10 four-door five speed (yes, almost all vehicles are standard not automatic) pick-up. On the side street (about 50 feet long) on the way out to the main street, you will find another five to six cars parked anywhere possible.

So, we finally make it to Ave. Almirante Barroso, a eight-lane surface street. However, we must be careful when entering the street for several ton buses are barreling down on us since a bus stop is almost in front of our building. With the squeal of tires we make it out and the race begins.

For the next several miles until we get to our destination, we must weave in and out of traffic to stay safe and to make it to our destination safely. During this trip, most vehicles ignore the lane lines on the road, if they even exist, and drive wherever. Yes, often at a stoplight (for which most vehicles stop) you will find four-five car wide traffic on a three lane road. The use of your horn is a must and being an aggressive driver is not rude, it is actually expected.

Motorcycles are another interesting addition to the fray. For, you see, they are taught in traffic school to drive between vehicles. Not only this but you will find every sort of delivery driver possible on a motorcycles… yes, water, food, beer, and even portable gas tanks (for cooking). I have even seen a FrED-EX delivery man on a motorcycle (and no this is not spelled incorrectly, no trademark infringement here).

However, we are thankful for our vehicle which our mission kindly provides and we enjoy the challenge of the road most day.

Ave. Almirante Barroso

Yes, the water is heated in the showerhead...

2008-01-19T09:11:00.000-03:00

The product Tara calls the "widow-maker."

So, another oddity for us here in Brazil is the building practices of those in a developing country.

For example, we live in a city of roughly two million people. In this city we have numerous buildings that rise from the city more than fifteen stories with some as high as fifty stories plus. However, no matter how high the buildings, the builders do not use steel beams. Rather, they use concrete beams made on location and bricks to make the exterior walls. I do not know that I have seen a building built in the United States that high without the use of steel girders.

Also, our electrical system is not what we are use to. The system is like that in the United States, in that it uses a similar voltage (127 volts here versus 110 volts in the U.S.). However, it seems that Northern Brazilians do not know what it is to ground a house. You know that third plug that many products have in the United States, well, you can find it on products here but it is of no use for houses and apartments are not grounded. Why you can buy and use three prong outlets and produces is beyond us when they guard against nothing.

Finally, the electrical work in the bathroom is quite different. In the United States, it is required that you have plug-ins in the kitchen and bathroom which have a breaker system that shut off the electricity to protect you since you are close to water (a great conductor of electricity). Not only are these unheard of in Belém we actually have an electrical product, a showerhead, which heats the water which runs through it in our bathroom. Yes, that is what I said, our water is heated in the showerhead. No, we do not have a hot water tank. Some extremely rich people may have one (the same people who have central air-conditioning which is unheard of in homes here). We have only hot water in the bathroom with the special showerheads installed. The strange thing about these showerheads is that you regulate the temperature two ways, one by turning a switch from off to warm to hot and the other is by how high you turn on the water pressure. To take a truly hot shower, you must turn the switch to hot and turn the water on really low but then again, who wants to take a hot shower in an equatorial climate.

yes, since this picture we have had the electrician put an outlet and plug to make the shower safer.

No cereal or candy for the weary …

2008-01-14T20:37:00.000-03:00

Life is different here for the Gilpin family…

For those of you who know Matthew, you know that two of his favorite things are snack foods and breakfast cereal. The lack of adequate items in both of these categories has been difficult. How can one start a good day without ‘Captain Crunch’ or ‘Apple Jacks’ is beyond us? Below are some of the oddities when it comes to food and shopping which the Gilpin family has experienced.

1. The cereal isle consists of corn flakes and frosted flake like cereal only and is only a small section.

2. No breakfast isle exists in the supermarcados (supermarkets).

3. The candy isle consists of different types of chocolate bars and halls cough drops (and yes they are candy).

4. The soda isle is missing Pepsi products (especially Mountain Dew) and has more generic than name brand sodas.

5. You can buy a whole fish (head and all) or some fresh, stinky shrimp in the open market.

6. One can of Pringles in the grocery store costs about $8.00 American. (I got one can in my Christmas stocking – it was exciting!!!)

7. If you put groceries on your credit card you can decide how many payments to divide it up into – that goes for most anything that you buy here.

8. The rice and bean isle is huge, and the variety is mind-boggling.

9. The eggs here are not refrigerated, but they taste okay.

10. Yogurt is drinkable – you really need a straw because a spoon just won’t work – Lydia and Sammy love it.

11. You take your fruit to a person in the fruit section and get it bagged and priced by him or her before checking out.

12. When buying a light bulb you must test it before buying (if you do not they will send someone to do it for you).

13. When buying gas you are not allowed to pump it for yourself (and for those of you who wonder, gas is about $6:50 in U.S. Currency).

These are just some differences – all in all the food is really good, and besides the fact that you can’t buy anything pre-packaged, it’s not bad. We have not suffered in our eating habits – like all good things, they just have to change a bit. Lydia and Sam have transitioned well, and they really like Brazilian food. However, if you were thinking of sending a care package, we won’t turn it away:)

The Best Missionary We've Seen Yet...

2008-01-09T19:59:00.000-03:00

This past Saturday the four of us were able to embark on our first real ministry trip together. We traveled about an hour outside of the city with a group from our new church, Igreja Batista de Pedreida. We went to a community that we would call a shanty town, houses constructed from cardboard, plywood, and tin, but here in Brasil they are referred to as favelas, and unfortunately they are everywhere. We went the the central location in their community which was more or less a shelter house, and we passed out toys to the children and basic food packages to the families there.

Though our Portuguese is extremely limited at this point we did our best to communicate the love of Christ by passing out these gifts to the members of this community. You may think that because Matthew has extensive seminary training that he was at the forefront of the distribution, preaching the gospel. Or you may think that because Tara has been on the mission field before that she was the one communicating effectively to this group, but you would be wrong. Lydia was out in the middle of the heat and the mosquitoes handing out toys, food, and most importantly gospel tracts. She said, "Even though I can't speak Portuguese, I can still tell people about Jesus." She walked up and down the "road" of the community passing out gospel tracts to everyone - absolutely everyone - that she saw (even some of the church members that came with us.)

At times, it is very easy to fall into the trap of self pity because it is incredibly hot here, and the mosquito is the national bird I am sure. Things are very inconvenient here and the pace of life is, at times, way too slow for us impatient Americans. However, at times God chooses a four year old little girl to remind us, again, why we are here. She was, indeed, the best missionary we've seen yet.

A Blessed Holiday Season in Brazil...

2008-01-01T17:09:00.000-03:00

So, here we are…the Gilpin family… living in Belém, Pará, Brazil. Tara and Matthew are currently on a short break from language school and the two little Gilpin’s are getting ready to start a new school year on January 15th. We had a wonderful holiday season. We were able to spend time with friends and mission family for Christmas and New Years, each of these days being both enjoyable and somewhat sad because we miss so many friends and family.

On New Years, we were finally able to have the whole mission family (19 counting the Gilpin clan) over to our apartment for it was finally in order. Those who did not have church commitments stayed till after midnight and watch fireworks from the roof of our building (one of the best site for viewing in the city). Even little Lydia Jane stayed up for the new years. Samuel on the other hand did not make it to all the fanfare. He actually slept through all the commotion. For those of you who have not been in Latin America during a holiday (especially New Years) the fireworks and celebration make the neighborhood sound as if it is in the middle of a warzone. So, the fact that Samuel did not wake was a blessing.

As we begin a new year, we look forward to how the Lord will work in each of your lives and how He will use us to work in the life of others. We expect great things from Him for He is our wonderful Savior who has already given us so much. We are blessed to be called into His service. We have watched our family grows closer to each other and to the Lord. We have been in the presence of many godly men and women who serve our Lord daily. We live in a wonderful mission supplied apartment, drive a wonderful mission supplied truck, and live comfortably in a developing country and for this we thank our Lord and Savior and those who he prompted to give so generously.

Finally, we know that the question has rose in your mind of what has been our experience so far. How does life differ from life in the States? Over the next few weeks, while things are still new to us, we will attempt to clearly communicate what it has been like to transition into a new culture.

Sam crawed into bed with his sister

in the middle of the night...

Have a blessed Christmas...

2007-12-21T08:24:00.000-03:00

We have arrived...

2007-11-16T16:34:00.000-03:00

The Gilpin family is now in Brazil. It has been hot, frustrating, wonderful days. We arrived safe and sound with fourteen suitcases, eight carry-on items, two car seats, a stroller, two wonderful children, and two tired adults on a tuesday less than three weeks ago. After spending a few days in a guest house, we moved in to our spacious apartment. The apartment is in a great location and extremely safe but also noisy due to a main road. With the purchase of a few air conditioners, a number of ceiling fans, and other items, we have made a home for ourselves. The two little ones have settled into a wonderful private Brazilian school and are doing well. The adults start language class on Monday and are anticipating long hours of study.

The past few weeks have been good but hard for the Gilpin Family. Transitioning to a new culture has been difficult, espicailly for Matthew. Continue to pray for good days and for God's peace to be on whole family. Pray in particular for Matthew.

And the Journey begins…

2007-10-19T23:54:00.000-03:00

Packing for a move to Brazil

Our Lord and God is good. As of today, the Gilpin family has been officially ticketed for a one-way trip to Belém, Pará, Brazil. On the morning of 29th of October, the family will load up themselves along with more than a dozen suitcases and carry-on bags as well as passports with visas for a trip to Charlotte, North Carolina to load a plane bound for Belém via Miami and Manaus. Upon arrival, the family will either have temporary housing or will have the home which they will be living in for years to come. Other then this, we know little else to tell you…more to come… but next time from Brazil. As we leave, please pray for a save trip, for culture shock that will take place, and for language and cultural acquisition.

A Conclusion In Sight

2007-10-09T23:42:00.000-03:00

Honor and Glory be given to the One who deserves it. Though our visas are not in our hands, we have as of tonight received good news. A short but long sought after email from the Washington, D.C. Brazilian Consulate office arrived at one minute till eight. It simply said, " Very dear Missionary Gilpin , This is to inform you that your Missionary Visa applications have been approved and we will issue your visa during this week." The granting of the visa is a work of our Father in heaven and to Him we give all the glory! Long ago he gave us a heart for the people of Latin America. He narrowed that focus a year ago for the people of northern Brazil. Now, in this moment he has shown His faithfulness and brought us the final piece of paper which will allow us to minister to His people. We are so humbled by His continued faithfulness as well as for His love for us and the people of Brazil.

The Visa Trilogy (our saga continues to continue)

2007-09-15T08:54:00.000-03:00

The saga of visas continues. After a discussion with Brazilian Consulate, Tara and I need to provide a authenticated will-not-evangelize the indigenous population letter (which we were told did not need authentication) along with authenticated proof of one-year Kentucky residence (also provided but not authenticated). For this reason, on Monday for we must travel again to D.C. (two hour plus trip) to get three document notarized, then the notary authenticated, then to the U.S. Department of State for federal authentication, and finally to the Brazilian Consulate to drop off the documents all by 12:30pm. However, we were told if done with proper payment the passports with visas could be sent out on Wednesday or Thursday of next week. Please Pray! The visa process has been long and taxing on Tara and I for this next trip will be our third to D.C. for visa in the last month. Hopefully, I can email you need week to say visas are in hand. However, as we both know, all this is in the hand of one who knows best and He will provide them at the right time. Thank your for your intercession before our Father in Heaven and for your thoughts.

The Saga of the Visas

2007-08-29T22:26:00.000-03:00

For the past 2 days we have driven from Richmond, VA to Washington, DC to hand deliever our Visa paperwork to the Brazilian Consulate. The first day that we went, we got there 1 minute late so we had to come back again today. After we submitted all of our paperwork the consulate worker told us that since our visas were "special" that we should expect to wait 60 days, and then there may be a possibility that we would have to return to Washington, DC to complete more paperwork at some point during that 60 days. This creates a problem for us because our regional office will not purchase plane tickets for us until we have visas in hand. We understand that the 60 day policy is pretty much the company line, and that it could take less or more time than that. This Visa paperwork is a process that we have been working on for approximately 6 months, and the requirements for Brazilian Visas are incredible. This is a way that Satan has used to discourage us in the past, but we KNOW that there is a big work in Brazil that God desires to accomplish through us. We have claimed the verse Habakkuk 1:5 which says, "Look to the nations, watch and be utterly amazed for I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe even if you were told." We KNOW that GOD is in control of this Visa situation, and that He knows the absolute right time that we are to arrive in Brazil. We need your prayers to be for the following things:
1) We have to go to Washington, D.C. in 2 weeks. Please pray that this will be the last trip that we will have to make, and that we will be able to meet with the consular officials at that time.
2) Please pray that GOD will show Himself mightly through this situation, and that the visa applications will be processed quickly.
Thank you for all that you all mean to us - we are uplifted through your support and love.

One-Half way through FPO at the ILC on MLC Lane in VA for an ISC family with the IMB...

2007-08-24T16:59:00.000-03:00

The Gilpin family is current in Rockville, VA (right outside Richmond). We are at a place known as the International Learning Center (ILC) which is located on Missionary Learning Center Lane (MLC Lane). For those of you who may not know, we are International Mission Board (IMB) personel who serve in the International Service Corp (ISC) status. Currently we have numerous singles and families training with us for mission work all over the world. We are almost one half the way through a two months of intense training known as Field Personnel Orientation (FPO). This training will assist us in crossing cultures as well as growing closer to Christ. Our time here will end at the beginning of October. In mid-October (the current tentative date set is the 17th) we will be leaving for Brazil for about 36 months.

As we begin this journey, our family can truly say that we have felt God presence and heard His voice speak to our hearts. This has been in part because of the prayers of the faithful who are bringing intercessions before the Fatherl. Thank you so much for those of you whom have said prayers on our behalf.