Heiderich News Brief - January, 2009
posted in Missions, South America |Family Institute of Latin America Website
Friends and Family Day for the Brasília Team
The Brasíli
a Team is on their way to their new home. They each have found an apartment and are in the proc
ess of making their move to Brazil’s capitol where their training will continue with teachers from CGC and the Family Institute. Before their departure, we invited them and their friends and families to a special goodbye party at the Ninth of July church in São Paulo. In 30 years of ministry, this one is among the most memorable weekends we have experienced. This is the first Brazilian team recruited by CGC. It was the first “Friends and Family” workshop for a mission team in Brazil. This inspiring Saturday included testemonies from Bryan and Jacqueline Bost and Maria Dutton, long term missionaries and 
mentors to many on the field. They shared their inspiring stories of faith, courage, defeats, rejection and discouragement, victory, changed lives, churches begun, and families and supporters who sacrificed and tenaciously supported them. António and Ju Borges, from the Brasília leadership, were there to assure the parents that these three couples will be well cared for in Brasília. The team shared their dreams for the mission they feel called to embark upon. Each family unit was able to get together separately to share their love for each other, express their concerns and hopes and pray specifically for the success of each couple. The highlight of the day was the baptism of Otávio’s mother. Sunday was the “sending off” service for the team at Nove de Julho and João De Marco, one of the elders, blessed them. Jerry’s sermon challenged the church to remain focused on God’s mission in Brazil. This weekend was the culmination of months of preparation by the Family Institute for the event and more than two years of preparation of the team.
Here are some of the team’s thoughts after the event.
God gave us a grea
t gift when my mother decided to give herself to Jesus. I have been praying for her and studying the word with her for 15 years. On this day I witnessed the baptism I have most wanted to see. God presented me with the joy of going into the fields to find the lost knowing that my mother is no longer among them.
This weekend helped many people to get a more mature idea of what missions is all about. Our families are feeling more comforted about us being far away from them. Today they understand how important this work will be for the Kingdom.
It was good to share some of what we have been through in this training and to hear the experiences of those who have worked in ministry for so long. I feel we have gained allies and supporters for this work. I loved being able to tell my family what they mean to me and how much I will miss them.
A Personal Note
At the very time this amazing day ended, six thousand miles away, the celebration service for Prentice Meador began. It was Prentice, with two other men, who first scouted out Brasilia thirty years ago.
We were so blessed to have our children here with us over the holidays. We thank Joel and Angela and Kris for spending the time, energy and money to give us the best Christmas present: time together.
This week Jerry is in Honduras teaching at the Baxter Institute. He is helping to train a Hispanic team that will soon be going to begin a work in Mexico City. Please be in prayer for Jerry and for this new church planting team.
Jerry and Gail Heiderich