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A Vision Unites Us June 07, 2003   Today was not a normal day, but then again, I wouldn’t know what a normal day looked like. I was calling Marlon Alvarado a Latin American pastor in Columbus, Ohio who is planting Latin American churches. In 2001 I met him here in Brazil at the 5th Latin American Mission’s Conference. Marlon (in Spanish) told Pr. Edvaldo (who speaks Portuguese) that his church would like to help one of our Brazilian workers, Glaumir, move to Manaus and finish his training at our Bible College. I was speaking with Marlon (in English) and was amazed at the vision that God has given him and the Latin American churches in Ohio. They wanted to help Glaumir for the entire 3 years, pay for books and even give an offering for his move to Manaus. Marlon also explained that the church would like to help with street kids or children in the interior. How excited and challenged I was to see someone unselfishly and sacrificially following God’s vision and His will! Thank you Lord for Marlon’s faithfulness. A few days later I was talking with Juarez. He is a Brazilian Wesleyan working with Youth with a Mission. A few months ago they took a group of 40 youth across the northern border of Brazil into Venezuela. Lately Venezuela has been in chaos with political and economic upheavals. Juarez shared with me that a worker in Venezuela had warned him that the government was planning to close the borders and not allow any crowds or people to gather because of the threat of riots. Juarez said that they had prayed about whether to go or not, but felt led by the Lord to still go in as planned. His words were, “We felt that people in Venezuela, at this extremely difficult time would need to hear of God’s love and of His grace. Perhaps many would be open to the Gospel like never before. We cannot let them down.” Dear Lord help me to remember them in prayer. Help me as well to remember the example of Marlon and Juarez, their faithfulness and boldness to do your work. Lord I thank you for how you are doing a new thing here in Latin America, bringing the various members, the various cultures and peoples of your church together to build your kingdom. You’re an awesome God! Help me to grow with your great vision for the work here in Brazil….and around the world. Tom Ensz