January 28, 2012
PRAISE
1. Last weekend Gary got to
travel out to the river communities in order to speak at the first
graduation for the floating seminary. What a blessing it was to see these
28 leaders from the river communities take this step forward.
2.
We had 202 campers for our teen week of camp. It was an exciting week and
we praise God for the many decisions that were made for Christ.
3.
Out Christian grade school has started up classes once again. Last year we
had 230 students, this year we have 350. We praise God for this growth and
believe this will help the school to be much more financially stable.
PRAY
1. We have just commissioned the construction of a new
aluminum boat for the river ministry. We will need to do this in phases as
aluminum is very expensive, but it is much more economical and requires
almost no maintenance. Pray construction will go well and for the funds to
finish.
2. Next week Joshua and Mackenzie will be going to a
spiritual emphasis retreat with their school. Sandy and I are going to
take a few days off to go to the beach to celebrate our anniversary. Pray
for spiritual and physical refreshment.
3. We continue to work very
hard on several different construction and maintenance projects as we
prepare for the arrival of our new and continuing students. Pray that the
work will progress efficiently, be done well, safely and that the weather
will cooperate.
Thanks for your consistent prayers,
Gary,
Sandy, Mishaela, Joshua and Mackenzie
January 7, 2012
PRAISE – Happy New Year!
1. We had a
wonderful Christmas and New Years and have enjoyed having Mishaela home
with us so much.
2. This last week we had about 120 children for
our first week of camp. We have a great staff. We praise God for the
safety of all and the decisions that were made.
3. This time last
year we had to borrow a significant amount of money to be able to pay off
our end of year bills. We are so thankful that this year we were able to
close the books without any debt. Thank you for your faithfulness in
giving and praying and we thank God for His provision.
PRAY
1. This next week we should have well over 150 teens here for teen camp.
Gary will be speaking a couple times as well as at another area youth
conference.
2. Mishaela will be traveling back to the US on
Tuesday. We appreciate your prayers for a safe trip and that the Lord will
give her a great second semester. She will be helping to prepare a
ministry team to go to India this summer for eight weeks so it will be a
busy time for her.
3. We will have a very busy month between the
end of camp in January (14th)and our week of camp during the Carnival
period in February. We want to finish another section of the roof of the
girl’s dorm, prepare all of the apartments for the new married students
that will be coming as well as do regular maintenance on the dorms and
classroom buildings. Pray for good weather and safe productive work.
Thanks for your faithful prayers,
Gary, Sandy, Mishaela, Joshua
and Mackenzie
December 17, 2011
PRAISE
1.
We have concluded another year of school at both the Missionary
Training Institute as well as the grade school.
Gary was invited to be the speaker at graduation so that was a
special honor and we are so thankful for the students the Lord has sent
us.
2.
We have been able to make good progress on the roof replacement for
the girl’s dorm. We are over half way done but
will have to take some time off of this project now in order to have as
many rooms open for camps as possible.
3.
On Dec. 20th, Sandy and I will celebrate 25 years of
marriage. We are so thankful for each year the
Lord gives us together and for the wonderful family and ministry with
which God has blessed us.
PRAY
1.
Mishaela will be traveling back to Brazil on Tuesday of this week
and arriving on Wednesday. Please pray that
she will have a safe trip and a wonderful time back home.
This will be her first visit to Brazil in two and a half years so
we are all very excited.
2.
We are getting closer to closing on the sale of the property behind
the grade school. It would be a relief to have
this land sold as we are not using it and there is a risk that it could be
invaded by squatters, plus the proceeds would help
us be able to move forward on some much needed projects.
Please pray for God’s will and wisdom.
3.
The day after Christmas our camp staff arrives and then we will be
holding three weeks of camp over the school break.
Please pray with us for the staff training and that the Lord will
send us a great group of campers and above all that lives will be
challenged and changed.
May
God bless each of you with a Christmas of
worshiping our Lord!
Gary,
Sandy, Mishaela, Joshua and Mackenzie
October 24, 2011
PRAISE
1. We have had some fantastic
ministry opportunities in the last few weeks. Last weekend we had about
1,000 people come for a festival/talent show at our grade school, we
hosted a couple’s retreat where Gary spoke and we held leadership training
classes all day Saturday. We have been busy but blessed by these
ministries.
2. Our first year students had a great time of
witnessing to the people who were walking to the religious festival. They
also went to observe the event and were greatly impacted by the
hopelessness of the millions of people trusting in an idol.
3. The
final corrections on Gary’s thesis have been made and it has been turned
in for the college to publish. This concludes what has been a very long
and rewarding process.
PRAY
1. We have had another
potential buyer show very real interest in purchasing a small portion of
property that we are not using. The value of the property has been going
up so we are not sure that this is the best time to sell. Please pray that
we will have wisdom in this evaluation and negotiation process.
2.
This week will be our annual mission’s conference for our students, staff
and visitors from local churches. Pray that the Lord will use the
messages, presentations and small groups to challenge and impact all of
our lives.
3. We will be scheduling Sandy’s first MRI in Brazil
sometime in the next couple of weeks. Pray that this will go smoothly and
that there will be no surprises with the results.
Thank you for
your faithful prayers,
Gary, Sandy, Mishaela, Joshua and Mackenzie
Visit gary's blog:
www.garygleans.blogspot.com
Mishaela's blog:
www.simplyshaela.blogspot.com