ISSAQUAH CHRISTIAN CffilRCHP.O. BOX kOOISSAQUAH, VvA 9802?

JAN 30 1984V

W E MCGILOREYP.O. BOX 2427KNOXVILLE TN 379(31

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NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONU.S. POSTAGE PAID

ISSAQUAH, WAPermit No.

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DECEMBER 1983

News Item; Sue Ford, personal secretaiy to the Bunches, is moving to Denver inPlease pray for someone for this jadnistry.

NEWS FROM THE FIELD FROM AN AUGUST LETTER;

Dear Friends,I am involved with five ladies, and they are excited about applying what they areleamingj and, therefore, teaching it to others?plus they have to memorize sciiptureseach week and read the passage that we will be studying. One of the five is not alady hit a teenage gal going on 19. A week from Sat. we are going to have a birthday party for her after our meeting; she says that she has never had a bipthday partyin her whole life. She grew up with parents that didn't want her or her brothersand sisters; but now that she is getting spiritual help and love, she is reallyblossoming. She works as a maid during the week and studies at night;' but duringthe weekend, we take her in. She is really growing in the Lord, and many have seena change in her.

In addition, we are still helping the young man that has been living with us forsome time. He is involved in Jim's discipleship program, and sometimes it is prettyrough on him when he Is disciplined and begins to feel that ho wants more freedom.Because of his past, we have to be pretty hard on him at times. Many times he talks-about moving out, but he's still with us because deep down he really wants to growin the Lord. He knows that we really love him and want the best for him. I toldhim the^ other night that if we agreed to his leaving that it would be like we wouldbe killing him because he isn't ready or strong enough to handle his spiritual walkalone.

Besides the two mentioned above that have become a part of our family, we have ayoung couple with the cutest little five-month old baty living with us at present.They have taken, over Mistie's room. Mistie never eon^lains anymore when she needsto give up her room. They came to us from the South where we met the husband inCa^o Grande during our last trip there. They showed up a couple of weeks ago without any place to stay while Freltas, the husband, looked for work and a place tofive. He did find a job but hasn't found a place to live yet, but we're not in any

hurry to see them move out because they are very opai to the Gospel and we are^scipling them. The husband is gone all day, but the sweet wife is very energetic;besides keeping care of her baby and her things, she helps with aH the houseworkwhich she was not asked to do. The first night she pitched right in when I knew shewas exhausted. Both of them had it pretty rough as youngsters. Freitas startedtaMng care of himself when he was 11. We gave him a little birthday party theother night, and he told us yesterday that he had never been treated like that beforeand had never had a party in his honor. The wife attends all of my discipleshipmeetings and is a real whiz at memorizing scriptures. I thought that I was prettygood at it until she came along I

We are now holding regular meetings in our home on Wednesday nights; Saturday openhouse after three in the afternoon until late at times; Friday prayer and thenevangelism in the city at night until late; Sunday morning communion with ourdisciples we have been having close to 20. Sunday nights we have been visitingother churches as a group usually a couple of carloads full. Normally, as a group,we share some songs or special music. Besides the ones mentioned above,, we areworking with others, but the ones mentioned above have the heavier needs and problems. We are wanting to take a carload to Campe Grande (around S hrs. south bycar) the weekend of September 9. There is going to be a special training camp fornew Christians with a group that is just getting started, and they invited us tojoin them. Our people are excited about it, and we're praying that they can getaway for the weekend which means leaving work and classes on Friday, but we'llbe back by Sunday evening.

We re all healthy at the present time, except Mistie has been complaining about:different aches and pains here and there. We're not sure if it is just growingpains or what. She and I will have exams next week—general going over. Jim isback to normal, PTL! Infection whipped, but it sure set him back.

Love, Sandy

NEWS FROM A NOVEMBER LETTER;

Dear Friends,"We went through a. siclLspell with the family except for Jonatas, He seems to be ourhealthy one except he likes to pretend that It hurts where others are hurting—syii5)athy pains I Corey was missing school (off & on) for several days because offever, headaches, and other pains so through a blood exam we discovered that he hadhad some type of flu which was basically running him down. He, therefore, caught abad cold; but with rest and medication, he is doing better. Mstie for some timewas complaining of different aches and pains;; and through a different type of bloodtest, the doctor was able to find out the cause of her difficulties which was a typeof blood infection. With medication^her aches and pains are gone, and she's nowfeeling great. She and I are taking a gymnastic dass which I feal will help get herlimbered up some? she wasn't getting much exercise. Some of her pains were naturalbecause she is growing so fast.

After Jim's leg episode (which is perfect now), he sprained his finger badly playingvolleyball. Because he didn't take care of it at the time, the doctor says thathe^ai always have problems with it. It is still swollen after several weeks, and ithurts if it Is bumped. The doctor says that he needs to. exercise it to try and keepit limbered up. I don't know if it will ever be the same size as the others again.I think he must be an accident looking for a place to happen1 The finger doesn'tkeep him from doing his regular activities, tut he does protect it some.

I've been doing pretty good, too, except for infections. Basically this, was broughton because of fasting two times a week and taking the gymnastics dass withoutdrinking lots of water. So now I've learned ray lesson, and I'm really chucking downthe waterjplus the medication has got me back on ray feet again. Lately I've beenfeeling rundown, but the doctor said that it was more because of nervous tensionthan tired blood...and I believe he is right. Our doctor was really surprised to seeus after so long because it had been almost four years since any of us had beien tosee him. I pray now that we can stay healthy. It's good to feel good, plus it hurtsthe ole pocketbook to feel bad—a few extra expenses on doctor calls and medication.

Vie are,feeling good about our meetings in oilr home, and many that are participatingare growing in the Lord. I'm really excited about my disdpleship program with theladies. They still continue to" memorize their scriptures with enthusiasm and arefaithfully attending each week. Including myself, I have six strong participants;plus we normally have extras that have been invited by the faithful-six. These sixare sharing their faith and the discipleship, lessons with others. The Lord is alsosending other young people our way, and they are showing interest in growing in theLord.

The young man that was living with us has moved out because he doesn't want to abideby our house rules and has shown that he is more interested in worldly matters thanspiritual matters. We pray that he will wake up befoi*e it is too late. Jim spentmany councellng'hours with him,-but he was just playing at being a Christian. Wereally feel badly about him,

Curkids will be finishing up school the last part of November or first part of Dec.^nd th«n enjoying their summer break until February. As I mentioned in Chrissie's

. .letter, Mistie and Corey are really having to hit the books to pass--Corey becausehe is a slow leamer and Mistie because she was lazy. Corey may never make it outof:third gradet The school system is such that you have to make- certain requirements, and there is no "giving" for the slower student. He just keeps repeating theyear until it sinks in, or he drops, out of school. The law does not require kids togo to school. '

We will be taking a jeep load of people to a conference in Uberlandia the 11-16. It-should be real good. We will be leaving the boys and the dog here.

It is amazing how fast the year is flying by; I haven't even gotten used to writing1983 yst. We feel that great things are about to happen, and the Lord is sending ussome people that are truly wanting to grow in ffl.m. We are still few in numbers, butHis spirit is moving in us and in our people; and we feel that things are just, aboutto burst open for His Kingdom here, in Cuiaba-r..and most of all He is teaching uspatiehce and love in'all things regai-ding family, friends, and the work. Thanksagain for your help' nnd for your love. Love, Sandy

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A NOTE FROM THE ISSAQCAH ELDERS

Bunch Annual Representative Meeting - February ^, 198^ at 11 A.M. at•South Lakeshore Christian Church, 1740 S. 84th St., Tacoma, WA

Each quarter representatives of those churches and individuals supporting the HinchMission are invited to participate in a meeting designed to bring eveiyone up to dateon the mission work. The first meeting of the year we plan to increase interest andinvolvement in all concerned with a special program followed by a potluck.