Purchasing a Car

The following are the steps we had to take to purchase our car here in Bolivia and get it registered:

- Guillermo, the president of FIEL, took us to a place that sells used cars.  After looking at different cars all morning, we found one we liked that was in our price range and told the owner that we wanted to have Guillermo’s mechanic check it over.

- That afternoon the owner brought the car to the church and Guillermo’s mechanic came to look it over.  After thoroughly checking the car over, the mechanic said that the car had engine problems, so we discarded that option.

- The following Saturday Francisco, who from the time of our arrival in Bolivia has been our trusted helper, took us to the same used car location to look for a different car.  Once again, after looking at cars all morning we found one that seemed to be a good option.  As we had done with the previous car, we asked the owner to bring it to the church so that Guillermo’s mechanic could look it over.

- The owner of the car kept the appointment.  This time the mechanic said that though there were some minor things that would need to be repaired, over all the car was in good shape.  We therefore made the determination to purchase the car and made an appointment with the owner for making the transfer.  In order that he would hold the car for us we made a small down payment of $200.

- That same evening, I did a search on the internet on the license plate of the car and found that it had been involved in a crime committed in 2007.  We therefore told the owner that we would have to first investigate to see if there would be any legal problems with the car if we purchased it.

- On Monday and Tuesday of the following week, our trusted helper, Francisco did a thorough investigation to see if there were any legal problems with the car.  He found that there were none.  We decided to continue with the car purchase.

- Since the owner wanted to be paid in cash, we had to go to the bank in order to withdraw the money.  

- We went to a lawyer and had the purchase contract drawn up.

- On Thursday of that week we met with the owner, paid him the remaining amount that we owed, signed the purchase contract and the owner then turned the car and the ownership papers over to us.

Next step - Registering the car (coming soon)....

Advancements Affect Mission Work

BRAZIL

Technology

How times have changed! What a wonderful tool the internet and Skype can be! Pastors in more remote areas are being trained using Skype and missionary families can talk daily with their relatives in the U.S. Yes, how times have changed!

Population

In Dourados, Brazil, some of the results of the 2010 census are being published in the media. These first results really underscore how times are changing in Brazil. For instance, the current population is 190,732,674. Brazil is a big country in area and population! But for the first time, the number of people above the age of 65 is more than the number of children below 5 years of age. Families are limiting themselves to 2 or 3 children, and many opt for just one child. What a contrast to just a few years ago when families of 7 or 8 children were common! What has brought about this change? Strange as it may seem, the changes are due to an increased standard of living for many people, and more education, as well as better health care which is extending life for many people.

Economy

Again, these are drastic changes. Whereas a decade ago 90% of the population earned less than $340 per capita per month, that number has now been reduced to 60%, thanks to aggressive government programs to reduce poverty and a stable economic climate. Brazil has an emerging middle class which understands that it is possible to have a decent life, free of economic misery, but it means limiting family size. These government programs also are only available to people whose children remain in school and where any adult who is still illiterate must also attend literacy classes at night. Meanwhile the government encourages employers to insist on an education in its employees. These days, you can't even be a sacker at a supermarket unless you have finished 8th grade.

The level of abject misery in the country of Brazil has dropped to only 16 million people. Abject misery is defined as a family who earns less than $44 per capita per month. And the present administration is trying hard to lower this type of economic misery in the country even more.

Education

Besides this, the government is opening more and more free courses for people to train for a profession. For instance, one of our congregation members, as a high school graduate, entered a one year free course for learning to sew, to make patterns and all about style and the marketing of clothing. Today, newly married, she has a good job in the clothing manufacturing industry, and the chance to attend more free courses to upgrade her skills.

What do all these advances mean for mission work?

Sad to say, the picture is not so rosy there. For one thing, Satan has used this new-found economic up-turn to tempt people to over-reach themselves. Credit cards appeared on the scene a number of years ago, and their abuse is also very common. As one of our church council members said, "People get themselves in over their heads with easy credit purchasing and then have to pay their bills and have no money for offerings." Actually, offerings are better than they used to be, mostly because all our members are working. But they are not nearly what they could be. Sound familiar? Satan knows how to use even the improvements in life to test us! And it is so easy for people to think that money will make them happy, and see less of a need for God in their lives.

Another thing is that many of the established churches are offering much more glitzy services - mega-churches are booming, and the Gospel bands and singers are making good money in all these churches. So people begin to desire to see this same level of "entertainment" in all churches. "Your church doesn't have a band?" is a not uncommon question. What need is there for the pure Gospel, if you can have not only a rousing, rhythm in church service, but picnics, special speakers, health care education, retreats, etc... Mission work is more difficult today than it was 20 years ago.

But, the Lord is still calling His own, and we are still His tools to spread the Word of salvation. And that Word will bear fruit, as the Holy Spirit works in hearts. There are still baptisms regularly, there are people in instruction to be confirmed, there are hearts willing to give their hard-earned money to the Lord, and God's people are still carrying His message to others around them. And we are all working together in this endeavor.

An adapted mission update from Retired Missionary Charlie and Beth continue to serve Igreja Luterana Brasileira – The Brazilian Lutheran Church as active volunteers, residing in Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul.