Friday, June 27, 2008

Our Recent Newsletter

Dear Friends,
Where have the past 6 months gone? It’s hard to believe we’ve been living in Brazil for 6 months already. So much has happened and we want to give you an update of how God is moving.

Housing: We stayed with Renato’s parents for about 3 months before we found a house to rent. The house we found is such a blessing! Here are a few of the blessings: Good area of town, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 bedroom closets (houses in Brazil usually only have the walls, you bring your own storage), and kitchen cabinets (usually the kitchens are totally bare).
We were also blessed by Renato’s parents who gave us many “used/old” furnishings. This was amazing, because we only had to purchase a washer, microwave, water dispenser, stove, table/chairs, TV stand, and buffet table. Furnishings in Brazil are VERY expensive, so Praise God for “hand-me-downs”!

Transportation: After almost 2 months without transportation, we were able to buy a car. It may be small, but it gets us where we need to go!

Teaching English: We needed to find a way to earn money here in Brazil, since we don’t have enough monthly income from the U.S. to fully support us. So we started teaching English. It’s been great! Michele is able to use her “teaching skills”, and Renato is able to teach them techniques for learning a 2nd language. We have 8 students so far!

Personal: Renato has been busy with pursuing other business interests. Michele has applied for her Brazilian Green Card, and is trying to learn Portuguese. Camden is busy keeping his parents on their toes.  He is growing into such a fun little boy, with a HUGE personality. We are spending a lot of time taking walks, reading books, and playing together as a family.

Ministry: After 6 months of “transition/adjustment” time, we feel we finally have an outlook for what God wants us to pursue ministry-wise. God is placing so many people around us that Renato knew from Denver, it’s just amazing! We feel we’re being called to really serve and get to know the people He’s placed in our path. So we’re beginning a weekly Bible study/fellowship time on Sunday mornings, and inviting the people we’ve met so far. We are so excited to see how God moves in the lives of these people.

In March, we traveled to Belem (in northern Brazil) to work with a church we know there and minister. Renato was able to travel into the Amazon once again to visit the churches along the river. He also had a chance to speak at 2 of the church services in Belem.


Prayer Requests:
1) Ministry opportunities/Bible study. Pray for God to guide us and to give us wisdom and vision.
2) Finances. With furnishing the house and making an unexpected but necessary trip to CO in May, we had to pretty much wipe out our “one-time” donations savings account. We also need about $400 more in monthly donations.
3) Michele can always use prayer for learning Portuguese!  Thanks!

Thank you for your continued prayers and support! Your prayers are POWERFUL and we feel them daily.

**Please consider becoming one of our monthly financial supporters. Like we stated before, we need to increase our monthly donations by $400. We need only 8 people to donate $50/month, or 16 people to donate $25/month. If giving monthly doesn’t work, you can help us “build-up” our one-time donations account. Every cent you donate is a HUGE blessing!!!!
Send in donations to: Now Hope
PO Box 62337
Colorado Springs, CO 80962
**Write CASSULA in the memo**
Or contact Now Hope by email for credit card donations: brian@nowhope.org

We’d love to hear from you! Here is our Brazilian contact information:
Renato & Michele Cassula
RUA Benedito Correia #45
Bairro Sao Domingos
Americana, SP- Brazil 13471-150

Emails: renatobrazil_3@msn.com cheled77@hotmail.com
Website: http://mybrazilianlife-michele.blogspot.com
Home Phone: 011-55-19-3621-3997 Cell Phone: 011-55-19-8204-2633

Our continued thoughts and prayers are with you!
Renato, Michele, and Camden

2 comments:

Carrie said...

What a wonderful letter! Thanks for sharing all that is going on in your life... I also had to stop and say CONGRATULATIONS!! I saw your "baby number 2" ... how very exciting.

Blessings,
Carrie

nagelland said...

Congratulations on your new baby!!!! Love, Jon & Rachel