Winter 2016 GOM Missionary Orientation Week

     Great week with our GOM Team 

           and new missionaries! 

All activities took place in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada @ http://pearable.com. Missionaries being equipped for: Honduras, Japan, Philippines, Haiti, Canada and The USA.

Border crossings, Niagara Falls, offices in St.Catharines, Canada, and in Buffalo, NY, training seminars, counseling, worshiping, praying, encouragement, videos, powerpoint, International Skype calls, devotions, ministry reports, and did I mention good food and snacks?! Late nights, early morning, little sleep, ice, wind, snow and power outages could not dismotivate or slow down this TEAM! We were on a Mission - to expand the Kingdom of God around the World!

"Upside Down Productions", a drama team, now working under GOM, joined us for the week. The team's director, Kevin, brought a great  devotional. Enjoyed their presentation at Destination Life Fellowship, in Niagara Falls.














Tom teaching the DISCO class. Personalities discovered while learning to work together with our differences.

D-Dominant
I-Influential
S-Social
C-Cautious
O-Others

GOM Vice President of Development, Dennis Campbell, did an excellent job sharing the vision of ministry projects in Sierra Leone, as well as some Global high tech stuff.


Diana's devotional-Our Pain Can Be HIS Gain. God has a plan and a purpose for EVERYTHING!














Diana's favorite time - ladies' session.

Sweet fellowship - Godly Relationships.

Friday's Banquet! A great way to end a great week!
GOM President, Brian Albrecht and his wife Patty, always bring a special touch.
Hats off to vice-president of HR, Greg Constable, in red representing India, for another "intentionally fantastic" week!
             
Can't wait for Summer Orientation!

The event was a blessing to everyone involved! Your financial partnership and prayers enable us to better prepare missionaries for service around the globe!

One of Charity's dreams comes true... a ride in a Limo!

Who is Ms. Betty?

A good friend of the family was able to come to the wedding because of the generosity of Hospice. Ms. Betty was our mother's room-mate in the nursing home. She was like an angel from Heaven, God had given to our mom in her last days of life. Betty was a dear, caring room partner. She did things for mom that the nurses on duty could not get around to doing. Her helpful,cheerful, playful and loving ways ministered to mom and won our hearts.  After mom went to be with the Lord, the family keep in touch with her. She often calls us to chat. She was determined to attend Brittany and Curtis" wedding. Her wish came true. A black limousine was in front of the church(early)and we all wondered "who came in that car"? Sitting in the front pew at the Bedington U.M.Church was Ms.Betty. Hospice not only brought her in style, but she looked stylish as well, and she grinnned from ear to ear. God heard her request and answered our prayer that day. Thanks to Hospice Care.

Gift time at Global Orientation

Another happy, happy missionary!

Closing Banquette always a special time.

The Brazil Turleys Are Getting Back on-Line!

We plan to keep you up to speed on what is happening in our lives by posting weekly. Here are some of the life-changing stories coming your way in the up-coming weeks 

• Candidate Orientation Training Retreat
• Tom's mom "Nanny" spent 2 months with us 
• Charity takes 11 Blue ribbons at the County 4-H Fair
• Trip to the Outer Banks, NC and visit with Tom's family
• WV visit with Diana's family, celebrating Charity's 14th
• Ladies/Men Retreats
• Our Roles within the Mission
• Field, missionary profiles, pictures, video clips and much more!

We are embracing the World, but Brazil is close to our hearts.

Who are these people?
 Stay tuned to find out more!

It is not always the "frozen tundra" here in Western NY. It is a beautiful area with vineyards, peach, cherry, and apple orchards - farms and communities full of life and vigor. Springtime was aglow with blossoms of every color, and the harvest should be plentiful this year. We have found New Yorkers to be kind, generous, and warm to us "strangers."

Temporary housing at the Niagara Bible Conference & Adventure Camp is most adequate; even comfortable. We are blessed beyond measure.

Well, after being "off the air" for several years, the Brazil Turleys have decided to re-introduce our blog  to the world.

As most of you know, Diana, Charity Maria and I re-located to Buffalo, NY, from Brazil, to minister to the 500+ missionaries that work with Global Outreach Mission, Inc. This was not an easy decision, as we dearly love Brazil (home for the past 25 years) and have many "adopted" family members there. But, as we have taught over the years, the best place to live is where the Lord leads, and after much prayer, and counsel, we made the move.

Member Care, as our new ministry is called, is an exciting ministry, as we get to be involved in what God is doing in the lives of missionary families around the world. That may involve travel to foreign lands, training, counseling, and much more. It also includes applying 25 years of experience into discipling and mentoring new missionaries and church planters.

At present we are in a missionary home located at the Niagara Bible Conference & Adventure Camp, located on Lake Ontario in Olcott, NY. Lord willing, we will purchase a home of our own in the near future, near the Buffalo - Niagara Falls area, in Western NY.

Your interest in this ministry is encouraging to The Brazil Turleys. Thank you for visiting our blog, and participating with us thru prayer, financial support, and just plain ole friendship.

Enjoy our future blog posts, sure to contain many pictures of family, fun, friends, and fantastic opportunities. If you want more information about our ministry, and Global Outreach Mission go to our web site;
 www.missiongo.org
or email us at:
brazilturley@gmail.com

Blessings,
Tom, Diana, and Charity Maria Turley

Thanksgiving Thoughts

Some time back, a Brazilian friend commented that “Thanksgiving” was not a Brazilian holiday, “Because Brazilians do not have anything to be thankful for like the Americans.” He did not know that on August 17, 1949, Law number 781 was passed making the last Thursday of November an official Brazilian “Dia de Ação de Graças”, or Thanksgiving. In 1966 that law was amended to change the Brazilian Thanksgiving to the forth Thursday of November.

Brazil does not celebrate Thanksgiving as a national holiday, although the cities of Rio de Janeiro, and Cabos, in Pernambuco, declared “Thanksgiving” municipal events in 2000 and 2005 respectively. But, just because one does not celebrate, does not mean that we have nothing to be thankful for.

There are many myths and legends concerning the origins of modern Thanksgiving. Allow me to share a few thoughts, and quotes, that may help clear our minds about the true meaning. I trust we can learn that a true “Thanksgiving” does not come from the abundance, but rather from the realization that “all things” whether big or small, deserve our gratitude, and that that gratitude must be directed to a person, more specifically, the creator of heaven and earth. Cornelious Plantinga, Jr wrote, “It must be an odd feeling to be thankful to nobody in particular.”

First, we must remember that almost all civilizations celebrate a harvest time. Depending on the location of the country, harvest celebrations take place in just about every month of the year all somewhere all over the world. Almost all peoples seem thankful for the earth bringing forth its substance. Thanksgiving in America is tied to that same thought, as well.

Depending on your personal beliefs, you may feel that Thanksgiving is a time for personal gratification. The truest humanistic belief says I worked hard to get what I have. I did it my way, and now I will revel in my glory, albeit short-lived because death eventually comes to all.

I, personally, believe that Thanksgiving takes me to a place where I realize that all I have, including the health and strength to work, comes from a higher power. That power is the sustaining factor for all things. That power is God!

The ancient Hebrew people were the first true “Thanksgiving” revelers when they worshipped God with a Feast of Harvest, a Feast of Tabernacles, and a Feast of Weeks. They were grateful not just for the stuff, but realized there was a God who provided it for them. They celebrated the first true Thanksgiving.

The first European settlers to the new land, America, in 1619, knew what true thanksgiving was, even though they had just lost over half of their loved ones during the long hard three month journey. When they arrived in what is now called Virginia, those 38 English settlers set aside a day of Thanksgiving and prayer. That thanksgiving had nothing to do with a harvest, however. It would be another year before the next settlers would reach Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts, and two years before what would eventually become known as the “First Thanksgiving Feast,” related to a harvest.

It certainly was not the lack of suffering, nor the “over” abundance of stuff that caused those first settlers to be thankful. It was not exemption from hardships, or death that caused them to want to celebrate a day of Thanksgiving. On the contrary, those first “Thanksgiving days” were full of reasons not to thank the creator.

H.U. Westermayer wrote, “ The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than those who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving.” Over one-half of the first settlers died within the first year.

George Washington’s 1789 proclamation of a day for “public thanksgiving and prayer” came at a time of tremendous turmoil in American history. He realized the true meaning of thanksgiving when he wrote, “ It is the duty of ALL NATIONS (emphasis mine) to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.”

Seventy-four years later, in 1863, as America lay divided, suffering, and impoverished by a civil war, Abraham Lincoln declared a national day of Thanksgiving to be observed the last Thursday the month of November. He wrote, “It has seemed to me fit and proper that they [gifts form God] should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people.” Lincoln also wrote, “We often forget the Source from which the blessings of fruitful years and healthful skies come… No human wisdom hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God.”



Some believe that America has a Thanksgiving because it is the richest land on earth. While the richest part may be true, financially speaking, the real meaning of Thanksgiving goes much deeper than having money and things. After all, Brazil now produces more grains, more aluminum and copper, and exports more frozen chicken and meat than any other country. Brazil, now, has the tenth largest economy in the world. Would it not seem proper, then, that Brazil, too, should celebrate Thanksgiving Day?

Charles Haddon Spurgeon said, “You say, ‘If I had more, I should be very satisfied.’ You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled.”

The founders of the United States of America were visibly human in their errors. Imperfect men. But, they were just as visible in their recognition of the Most High God. May we learn to be as bold, and verbal, in giving thanks to our Great God. May we remember this THANKSGIVING DAY to give tribute, praise, and honor to Him who is the maker, and sustainer of all things.

Hebrews 13:15 says, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name.”



Thomas Ray Turley Nov 23. 2008
São José dos Camps, SP, Brasil



More THANKSGIVING DAY quotes:

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” John F. Kennedy

“We would worry less if we praised more. Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction.” Harry A. Ironside

“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.” Cicero

“Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men, but be careful that you do not take the day and leave out the gratitude.” E.P. Powell

“ It is literally true, as the thankless say, that they have nothing to be thankful for. He who sits by the fire, thankless for the fire, is just as if he had no fire. Nothing is possessed save in appreciation, of which thankfulness is the indispensable ingredient. But a thankful heart hath a continual feast.” W.J. Cameron

“Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.” W.T. Purkiser

“If we have enjoyed the hospitality if the Host of this universe, Who daily spreads a table in my sight, surely I cannot do less than acknowledge my dependence.” G.A. Johnston Ross

“Happiness is the realization of God in the heart. Happiness is the result of praise and thanksgiving, of faith, of acceptance; a quiet tranquil realization of the love of God.” White Eagle

June was a blurr, and now, here we are in the middle of July, and I haven't posted for a month....where does the time go?

If you have never heard of John Gage, then you are either not a musician, or you just haven't paid attention to the names on the music. He is an accomplished musician, songwriter/
composer/arranger, that just happened to spend 10 days with our church here in São José dos Campos, in June, with the Global Missions Project orchestra.

I am waiting to get pictures from our church "photographer" to post. You can go to the orchestra website for highlights and details at www.globalmissionsproject.com

Diana, Charity and I accompanied the 25 peice orchestra translating in hospitals, factories, schools and at church. They played in five services on the Sunday they were with us, including The International Church. WOW! They also taught beginner, intermediate, and mater level workshops.

The highlight was the Tuesday night concert. Twenty-five musicians from the USA and Europe, accompanied by invited Brazilian musicians made up the 80 plus piece orchestra. What a night! Over one and a half hours of music to lift one's soul... and lift souls it did. As testimonies were shared between pieces, God did a work. At the end, an informal invitation to receive salvation through Jesus Christ was given. It was requested that those interested fill out a decision card, and turn it in at the reception desk. Twenty-six names were recorded in heaven that night. What a night! These names have already been contacted for follow-up.

I can't wait to get the photos, but will have too, as tomorrow, July 12, we will be receiving another group, this one from Rick Warren's church, Saddleback Church, to help us in one of the poorest areas of all South America, te Brazilian Sertão.

Sunday, July 13, Tom, Diana, Charity MAria, and five Americans will fly into the Sertão for two weeks of ministry. Lord willing, by te time we get back we will have pictures of both the orchestra and the Sertão. The Ôxente Project we will be working with has a site, too:
www.oxente.org.br and if you don't speak Portuguese, just click on galeria de fotos to see pictures of past events.

Never a dull moment. Thanks for praying for us. Check in in about a month for new updates.