Subj: CLM Prayer Warrior - 12-31-02

Date: 1/2/03 8:35:28 AM Eastern Standard Time

Tuesday, December 31, 2002, Brazil

Dear Prayer Warrior,

So we are in the last day of the year 2002. Tonight we will be going to church at 10:00 to pray in the New Year together with our Brothers and Sisters in Christ. Ever since I became a born again Christian, I have cherished the opportunity to enter into a new year before the throne of God together. It is like taking God's hand and letting Him lead me into a new start. I can feel the hope and expectation of what the next year will bring radiating through His hand. CLM commits our lives and ministry to our God and ask His blessings and His will to be done in this new year.

On Tuesday night, we had our Family Gift Exchange. It was a special evening with the whole family together. This year we opened the little gifts of love, 10 at a time. Other years we did one at a time, so you can imagine how long it took with over 70 participating. Fruit salad and ice cream followed which was a big treat for all. It was kind of late and it wasn't hard to put the kids to bed, because they all wanted morning to come fast.

We had a house full of excited kids on Christmas morning. It was an atomosphere of love and the presence of God. The day was beautifully warm, even though the weather report had been for rain. We started the morning with our traditional Frosted Flakes breakfast, which was followed by the big gift opening. The kids were cooperative and patient and everyone was greatly blessed. After squeezing in some of the lunch preparations, the adults went off in a corner for our gift exchange and prayer time together. It is uplifting to bring each other before the throne of grace. Lunch was simple and delicious and relaxed. After lunch, was the moment for the CLM family picture in our new yellow CLM shirts. Of course, many pictures need to be taken to get a ralatively good one. Individual pictures were taken, too, which took a while. The pictures turned out really good and everyone is pleased. The afternoon was filled with several hours of swimming, finishing the evening off with a joint dinner of leftovers. Jesus is born, bringing love, life, and hope to those that receive Him. We pray that your Christmas was as blessed and refreshing as ours.

We are already into making plans for the summer vacation. We need to work fast before the kids head back to school. On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of next week, we are having a CLM family camp. The campgrounds are about 1 1/2 hours from us and has two separate dorms, a chapel, a dininghall and kitchen, and a nice big lake to swim in. The theme of the camp will be "Be a Blessing!" and the goal is to be edified in the Lord, and to relax and enjoy being together. There is little time to pull it all together, but we have divided all of the responsibilities and each need to organize their part. We pray for God's protection, His presence, the power of Praise and of His Word, and good weather, if He so desires.

There are four birthdays this week. Elisabete will be 24 and Rosilda will be 19 on Saturday, January 4th. Elisabete came to CLM when she was 10 years old because her mother was unable to raise her after her father left the family. She was quite behind in her studies, but has managed to catch up, finishing High School this year. She is not sure what line of studies she would like to follow but would like to enter college in July. Elisabete has a giving and sensitive heart, she is a good worker, she is friendly and genuine. She enjoys writing and did a lot of it when she was younger. Pray for her spiritual growth, God's leading for her future, and the finding of a job.

Rosilda came to CLM when she was 9 months old with her three sisters and was adopted 4 years ago. Rosilda is the daughter of Werner and Joanna Weinhardt from Kitchener, Canada. She is back at CLM now for 6 months or so to help out and to continue seeking God's leading in her life. Rosilda is a very intelligent and talented young lady with a heart for the Lord and for children in need. She is presently leading up the laundryroom and involved in special activities with the younger children, as well as, many other responsibilities. Rosilda enjoys planning and is often the iniciator of programs at CLM or at youth group. She is a blessing to us and we ask for your prayers for her continue spiritual growth and God's leading for her future.

Anderson will be 18 years old on Sunday, January 5th. It is hard to believe that we have made it this far after many difficult moments with him, but he has grown and learned. Anderson came to CLM from the streets of Rio de Janeiro after the couple which was supposedly taking care of him were accused of trafficking children. Anderson was not used to attending school, therefore is somewhat behind in his studies. He will be entering 8th grade in February. He is a very intelligent boy and is actually starting to discover that himself. This year, he started writing poems and realized that they flowed easily and was a means to express what was inside of him. Anderson really likes animals and is the best friend of our dogs and our horse. He enjoys listening to music, too and playing soccer and fishing. Anderson very much needs intercessory prayer at this point in his life as he is very much at the crossroads, needing to decide to follow God faithfully or follow his own foolish ways. He has made a decision for Jesus, but there is still a tremendous spiritual battle over his life. Please pray for him.

Evanira will be 31 years old on Monday, December 6th. Evanira came to CLM when she was 12 years old, with her 4 younger sisters. Neusa, her youngest sister and Loeci, her neice are still at CLM. Evanira is married to Lauro and the mother of Kelly, 9 and Wesley, 2. They live nearby CLM. Evanira is a very dedicated wife and mother. She has had her trials with Wesley who has been a sickly child and also has had a serious problem with crossed-eyes, as she did, too. He is a challenge and Evanira has handled it well in love and nurturing. Please pray for Evanira's continued spiritual growth, continued solidfying of their marriage, and for the financial needs that they face.

One other CLM tidbit: Paulinho (14 months) is walking and is very proud of it. He did start to crawl, although walking is much more fun. We continue to need prayers for the babies, Paulinho, Ande, and Zachary to sleep through the night.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

1) CLM family camp - for God's protection, His presence, His filling and refreshing, good weather according to God's will, His help and guidance for all the preparations.

2) Elisabete - God's filling in her life, decisiveness in her decisions according to God's will, God's help with her need to forgive, finding of a job.

3) Rosilda - complete readjustment to CLM and Brazil, God's help and direction in her ministry and work, leading for her future, continual spiritual growth.

4) Anderson - that the Holy Spirit can penetrate his heart helping him to put on God's altar all that is binding him, a complete turning over of his life to God, deepening knowledge and understanding of God, a love and commitment to God and His ways, maturity.

5) Evanira - continual spiritual growth, daily strength for her responsibilities as wife, mother, and a Christian woman, strengthening of her marriage, God's help with their financial needs.

6) CLM babies - sleeping through the night, further development, good health.

7) Solange - will be going to Curitiba to live with a Christian woman and taking care of her 3 year old, special needs child. Solange is seeking to grow in certain areas of her life and seeking God's leading for His calling for her. Please pray for her during this crucial time of searching for yieldedness and growth.

8) Juracy - pray for the healing of her broken leg and for her recuperation. Also, for her emotional state, as she has been quite depressed and impatient with her situation.

9) Aninha - continued healing of her foot after her operation, for full recuperation, for her upcoming doctor's appointment.

10) Jake - continued growth through the trial of waiting for his visa, that the visa would come in God's perfect timing.

11) Kevin King - for his visa and preparation to go to Nepomuceno's Boys' Home.

12) Donei - God's choosing of a Christian family for him as he comes up for adoption, his preparation for that change.

13) Little Jessica - our prayer is that as she becomes free for adoption, that if it be God's will, that Steve and Diana Meyer would be choosen as her adoptive parents.

14) Joãozinho - that all would go through smoothly and under God's control for his adoption to Bill and Debbie Teater.

CLM wishes you a very God-filled New Years. May we all seek Him with our whole hearts. Once again, thank you for participating in Canaan Land Ministries with us.

God bless you,

Mary