The Atkisson Family Update from Brasil!
News for Friends, Family, and Partners
Summer 2002

Febre da Copa do Mundo (World Cup Fever)

Living in Brazil during this summer's World Cup (of soccer) was an unbelievable experience for our family. It's really hard to describe the fever and intensity with which the Brazilian people follow their national team. But suffice it to say that every move the players and coaches make both on and off the field are scrutinized and analyzed to the minutest detail. It reminds me of how we are prone to create idols so easily (or as John Calvin said we're "idol factories"...). It also reminds me of how others "scrutinize" our every move as Christians. If we tried to then live out our Christian lives in our own strength (which I constantly try to do), we are certain to fail. Thus, again and again I am driven to the cross of Christ to plead for forgiveness for my idolatrous ways and for my self-reliant attitude. Oh how I need the Holy Spirit every day to remind me both of the Gospel and that I am an adopted son of the living God!

English: the Lingua Franca of the World; Portuguese: the Lingua of the 5 time World Champions (and of some struggling missionaries)!

Language learning continues to be a challenge for all of us, but we can all say with some degree of confidence, that we are making progress. It's interesting to see how the Lord has gifted each one of us. I seem to have an ear for pronunciation, Lynn can read, understand and remember the proper verb the best, Jacob is probably the best at understanding when someone speaks to him (especially the "slang" of the teenagers...), Taylor amazes all of us with her ability to communicate with her friends, both verbally and nonverbally, and, then there's Hilary...Her language instructor tells us that she is virtually "fluent" at this point, she just needs to work on her verb conjugations. Many of you already know this, but we are finding (at least I am), that language learning is one of the most humbling experiences we have ever been through. For instance, when you walk down the street and you overhear a two year old babbling more Portuguese than you know, you are definitely humbled...Jesus said, "...unless you change and become like little children..."

Our Recent Road Trip (taken, of course, after the World Cup)

Recently, we were able to take a road trip with our good friends, Valdeci and Meire Santos and their boys, Jader and Danillo. We traveled 10 hours north to the state of Minas Gerais first to the city of Viçosa. We were able to visit with the Medeiros family (Elias Medeiros was one of my professors at RTS/Jackson and the speaker at my ordination service), and with Rev. Wade Coleman and some of the youth from Providence Presbyterian in Clinton, MS. They were all there on a missions trip working with the 1st Pres. Church of Viçosa doing VBS with children from the favela. We were also there to speak with the pastor of the 1st Pres. Church about their social program with children and with several other possible ministries. We then "traveled back in time" to the city of Ouro Preto. It was a mining town for the Portuguese, and most of the buildings and churches date back more than 250 years. After spending the night there, we went to Rio De Janeiro and then further down the beautiful Brazilian coastline before returning to Campinas.

Other Post-World Cup News...

Because of the generosity of one of our supporters, Hilary has been able to work for all of July and some of August at Doe River Gorge (a Christian camp) in East Tennessee. Although we are missing her terribly, we are thankful for this opportunity the Lord has given her to grow in her Christian walk. For the first time in their lives, Jacob and Taylor are attending school! They are now enrolled at a private Brazilian Christian day school (Hilary as well) and are making lots of new friends. Jacob continues to enjoy soccer school and Taylor is beginning guitar lessons at the Presbyterian church we attend. Hilary will resume ballet lessons when she returns. We were recently able to purchase a late-model small used van because of a loan from my (David's) mother. We are paying her back as gifts come in. For those of you that have helped us with this, please accept our heart-felt thanks. It is (and will be) a very useful tool in our ministry here. We would ask that you pray with and for us on the following matters:

  • learning, understanding, and speaking Portuguese
  • guidance and direction on where the Lord would have us serve Him here in Brazil
  • adjustment for the kids at their new school
  • also, continue to pray for Caê, Sgt. Cardoza, and others that the Lord would have us cross paths with. Pray that we would show them the love of Christ relying solely on His grace and not our own strength.
Oh, by the way, did I mention the World Cup...?

David & Lynn Atkisson Rua São Pedro, 328 Cambui Campinas - SP 13025-350 Brasil
datkisson@mtwla.org
www.mtwla.org/people/datkisson.htm

Please mark your calendar for the PCA Global Missions Conference sponsored by MTW in Atlanta on Nov. 8-10.  This conference will feature 26 tracks and 200 workshops on every aspect of missions. It is a great opportunity for you and your church to connect with other churches in missions. Contact MTW for more information or see the web page at www.mtw.org.

- August 10, 2002