On May, 2006, I blogged about the sale of our bus to a ministry in Southern Brazil called "PROJECT LIFE". Many have asked if I regret that sale. My response is a big, "no way!" Let me tell you, God is using that bus in ways I never dreamed of, and each month the director of that group, Paulo, sends me a report of activities. WOW! God is soooo good!

Paulo, and the Project Life folks, are so grateful for the bus, and the work we had done to it. They could have never afforded a bus like that for the symbolic price we sold it to them for. And Diana and I have no regrets.

If you could read Portuguese you would be amazed at what this ministry does. They actually have two buses, for two groups of teen volunteers, that will travel up to six months at a time doing presentations in schools, churches, and parks all over Brazil. Their up-beat Christian message with music, drama, and clowns, is to avoid drugs, sex, and drinking, and allow Jesus Christ to make a difference in your life. They also will set up free medical and dental clinics in poor areas, and give free haircuts during the day.

Check out their site at www.pvps.org.br

I am including some fotos of "our" old bus from off of thier website. Enjoy!!!!

The Brazil Turleys have had the opportunity to travel a good deal, sharing different topics along the way. for example, In Tabatinga, Amazonas we shared family seminars, both with Walk Thru the Bible and Diana's own How to Win Over Anger study.

In Manaus Tom went to share during a 40 Days of Purpose campaign, and learn from the youth ministries, there, about their Dating Workshop.

One of our favorite topics is still missions, however, and how missions is a lifestyle, not an organization nor campaign, nor event. Missions should be on the "Missions Statement" of every follower of Jesus Christ.

The River of Life Evangelical Church in São Caetano do Sul, Brazil, is a favorite of ours. We have preached there 03 times, and wow, what a church. This past Sunday I preached the closing of their first missions conference. Click on the poster they had made, and you will see that "Thomas Turkey" was the special speaker. That makes for a good laugh.

It is such a wonderful thing to "rest" in the Lord Jesus Christ; to know that all things work to our good, even those "bad" things, things we don't understand like: sickness, pain, accidents, grief, job loss, among other things. To know we are loved by Him, and that we can love Him because He first loved us.

I wish all of you could have been at the Abide Ministry- Brazil retreat these past few days. WOW! Mike Wells was a fantastic speaker. He challenged us to always keep Jesus Christ focused right up front, because if we don't our problems begin to look bigger than Him.

Mike's ministry, Abide, takes him all over the world. This is the second time we have heard him. Tom has translated for him in two events as well.

The setting was perfect , too - in the mountains at the Abide Brazil Training Center located at the Ebenezer Campground, in Campos do Jordão, Brazil.