Brenda’s Bulletin

October 12, 2020 Thanksgiving

Posted on October 12, 2020 at 7:44 pm by Brenda Matthews

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WhatsApp Image 2020-09-29 at 10.56.16 AMI should write these reports right after the ladies’ meetings Tuesday mornings – the study followed by a prayer meeting.  That’s when I’m most pumped.   I praise God for the good group of women participating.  WhatsApp Image 2020-10-06 at 11.20.24 AMOne more has been able to connect.  There are still a few with internet problems, another who is babysitting her grandchild during the pandemic, and one whose phone doesn’t have the technological capability (who I sometimes connect by phone at the end of the meeting), but otherwise the group is connected and a couple more ladies have also been meeting with us.  Their enthusiasm to be together (even though on-line) and to pray together is contagious.  I’m also grateful for the four ladies who lead the small groups and enjoy the training meetings with them Monday mornings.

For the Wednesday prayer meetings, one of the young men is now administering the Zoom part.  I still post the invitation and then I’m free to just participate.  I continue to administer the Zoom part of the leaders’ meetings and participate with them, and I’ve now produced 28 Sunday service videos.  It doesn’t look like we’ll be back to meeting in person until next year.  Some of our church people have recovered from COVID, several have had extended family die from it, and the number is higher when including friends and acquaintances.

Jimena, Iván, Evany, Dante, EsdrasI’m grateful for the safe and healthy arrival of Evany.  New people have joined the prayer team, but most of you will remember praying for Iván through his life-threatening battle with a rare cancer.  He was told he wouldn’t be able to father more children due to the treatment or, if it happened, that they’d have severe defects.  God has answered prayers: Evany and the family are doing well.

I’m also grateful for all those who responded so quickly to the financial contribution address change for US supporters, and I’m grateful for each of you who pray and who give.  We are a team and it’s my privilege and honour to serve the Lord here with your backing.  To quote Paul using The Message, “And now I have it all—and keep getting more! The gifts you sent with Epaphroditus were more than enough, like a sweet-smelling sacrifice roasting on the altar, filling the air with fragrance, pleasing God no end. You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus. Our God and Father abounds in glory that just pours out into eternity. Yes.” (Philippians 4:18-20)

I hope you’re able to refer to my last prayer letter for the details of the prayer requests because they are still relevant.  Please pray for me to make wise use of time, for more participation in the Sunday videos, for those suffering in a variety of ways due to the pandemic, for continued healing in the lives of the women of the Ladies’ Group study, and for wisdom for the church leaders.

The last prayer request last month was for rain (not hurricanes) and it is raining nicely as I write.  I also wrote about my stiff arm.  The Lord PL Angel, Balloon, Highhat, Grouper 20answered prayers and I was able to see the doctor the same day!  I have tendinitis in my right shoulder.  PL Gaftopsail Pompano, Box, Jack, Longnose Puffer 20After a long-distance consult with a physio friend, 3 weeks of physio and faithfully doing my PL Morays 20exercises daily, I have back a lot of use.  Please continue to pray for complete PL Razor, Angel. Butterfly Fish 20healing.  At the last check-up, the doctor said I need to go to the beach twice a week… PL Scorpionfish 20okay, he said “swim”, but that’s what I do at the beach.  I continue to film life under the water, but I also PL Wrasses 20include segments using my arms to swim.  Last time, I was able to get my arm out of the water enough to do PL Other Sea Life 20front crawl.  I have not had time to make videos, but I have been sending friends snippets from the recent footage, so I’m including several collages of some of the incredible beauty of God’s creation that I get to enjoy while the water’s warm and the beaches are open.  After 4 years of no skin diving at all while in Peru, I’m especially thankful for the blessing of being able to enjoy such beautiful beaches so close to home.

With a heart overflowing with thankfulness on Canadian Thanksgiving,

 

Brenda

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