EBNESR

Ministry Training School Graduation 2008
Sixth Ceremony
Sixty-five people gathered Saturday, the 6th of December 2008, to honor 5 graduates.

Left to Right: Bruno, Valnice, Lee, Chagas and Paulo

Chagas pictured with wife, daughter, mother in green and a friend from the church in Prazeres.
Francisco das Chagas Gomes is from the West and 12 hours from Recife. He is from Picos in the state of Piaui, married with one child and already works for the church there. It took Chagas a while longer to finish than many. He lost time when he had to have surgery for a hernia. He was out for three months. Then after being back for a while he started having stomach pains. He delayed a bit hoping they would go away but they did not. Once he got to the doctor he was told he had to have emergency surgery as his appendix was about to burst. The church in Maracanau who helped start the church in Picos had the foresight to support Chagas while he studied and prepared for ministry. He spent many hours back and forth on the bus to be with his family and work with the church and then return for more study. Despite his problems he was the Valedictorian of this class. I wish we had a thousand just like him wanting to train.


Paulo pictured with Eline.

Paulo Roberto Vidal is from Maracanau in the state of Ceara approximately 12 hours to the North of Recife. He finished his work too late for the last graduation but he has been through for several months. He did not return home though for two reasons. One is Elaine who lives here and is his fiancé. The second is that he received an offer to work with two congregations here in greater Recife.

Bruno pictured with wife, mother and daughter.

Bruno Henrique C. da Silva is from Vertentes in our state of Pernambuco about two hours from Recife. Bruno is married and recently became a new father. He has just received the promise of support to work with the congregation in Vertentes by the same Brazilian brother who has supplied the money for them to build their building.


Valnice

Valnice Maria Tinum da Silva is from the state of Bahia, the city of Salvador about 12 hours to the South of us. Valnice had returned home already but of course returned for the graduation and will stay for her friend Lee’s wedding next week. Valnice, single, is the same age as Kathy and I.


Lee pictured with some of the children she works with.

Maria Aparecida de Barros Correia is from our state of Pernambuco the city of Garanhuns about 4 hours from here. But if you were to speak to someone about Maria Aparecida no one would know who you were talking about. She goes by Lee. She too finished some time ago and has been working with Kathy’s guidance in various children’s and ladies’ programs we sponsor. She is a gem. I must say something else. Next Saturday she will get another certificate but this one is a marriage certificate. She is engaged to Danny Bratcher our coworker and should be around for awhile working with us. http://dannyelee.blogspot.com/

Keep praying as these graduates go out and use their knowledge and ministry skills in the Lord’s work. (Ore por estes formados saindo com onhecimento e talentos ministeriais para fazer a obra do Senhor.)

Blessings, (Bençãos)

Randy Short