How is everyone? We are all fine. It seems the time goes by so fast with services, school, cell groups and youth group. While we were in the states Pastor made some changes with the youth group so now we are starting from scratch with adolescents and high-schoolers, while he takes the 19 and up group in a new direction for a while. Some of our cell group members have been through various crises and we have been trying to gather some that were “scattered” in the month we were gone in the states. Please pray for our cell groups and for the kids here. It is amazing how much drugs and prostitution has invaded much of the city and how it affects lives on every level. We really need grace, power and wisdom from God.
THE KIDS:
The kids are back in the school groove and doing well this year. Israel and Lucinda seem to be doing much better this year. I had a good conversation with them the other day and am encouraged that even after the visit to the states they seem to be used to being here now and are beginning to appreciate Brazil more. They have friends over, and visit them. We have a shopping center nearby that they can walk to at times etc. Talita of course is really looking forward to going to the states and being with relatives in Belmont WI as well as much closer to her Freeport friends. Thanks to my folks my Sister and Brother-in-law and the Lyremans I think she’ll be able to really feel at home yet have a healthy sense of accountability in both places.
MINISTRY NOTES:This past month has been some regrouping, adjustments and some setbacks with a couple bright spots as well.
As I mentioned the cell groups took a hit while we were gone but they are still going. One of the guys (Bill) who had gone back to using cocaine and even selling it, is back in church the last two weeks and seems to be drug free and making better choices again. Another one of my guys (Wellington) after his second relapse finally got into rehab and came clean with his entire family last month. He is still in treatment, him coming clean with his family and putting himself in rehab was a BIG Deal. Please pray for both these guys. Dulce’s cell group is solidifying but also has had some major things to attend to. We are trying to teach them to be people of the WORD and not so emotional tossed around to and fro by circumstance.
The ministry to the wrestlers suffered a couple setbacks too. One is that I don’t have time to go very many evenings to train with the young guys so I am hoping to fix that or be able to get Juliandrey stronger in the faith so he can do it. He has been slacking a little and it has shown. I have been doing a little “church on the mat” with the little kids every Saturday and that was going well but last Friday the owner of the building moved in and is creating a LOT of problems. His ex-wife lives in the building and had rented the space to us. He wants us all out, I think to spite her. Fortunately the night he went so crazy on them I was there and was able to pray and God intervened so that for a few minutes he acted reasonably and we were able to calm things down. The next day though he was back to acting crazy, he actually loaded a gun and has been threatening to use it on us. Needless to say we are going to have to move out. We don’t have a place to go right now though and are trying to work that out.
Some bright spots…
We are starting a new ministry that is a little more age appropriate as I mentioned. We have some potential youth leaders that I am excited about. We are forming a praise team and dance team with them and hopefully next week will start an evangelism team and try to restart the stalled impact teams going into the public schools.
Dulce has also accomplished a LOT with the computer programs for worship projection with words and images etc. She has gotten them software and inputted a LOT of stuff and really made the worship experience so much better with the words and images corresponding with the music and has done well in putting Pastor’s notes up as he preaches them. Stuff you guys at Crossroads take for granted but things that are cutting edge here.
We also had our second retreat for youth and kids it was a great time with some cool ministry moments and a lot of fun. It ended up costing us a bit out of our pocket to make it affordable but it was worth the investment just to see the great time these kids had. Many of them have NEVER gotten to do something like this. There were 3 swimming pools, 3 soccer fields, volleyball, a Luau, worship, messages, just a cool time. I put some pics at the end to give you and idea but really you had to be there.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
- Our cell groups: Some who need special prayer- Juliandrey, Mary, Bill, Wellington, Junio, Junior, Giavana, Valnisa, Marilda, and their families
- The new youth group/ for God to raise up leaders, impact teams, the camp we are trying to plan, impact teams and wisdom for Dulce and I
- God’s continued provision, protection, anointing, purity and blessing on our lives
- God’s guidance with the Jiu Jistu /wrestling ministry, His protection and blessings
CLOSING…Thanks so much all of you for your prayers and support! We pray God’s richest blessings for you! Please stay in touch with us! You can email us at jeastlick@crossroadscn.com or joneastlick@yahoo.com
Love,
The Eastlick’s
Support can be made out to Crossroads with a memo: “for the Eastlick’s” and sent to:
CCC, 1668 Crossroads Ln, Freeport IL. 61032.
All gifts are tax dedutible..
PICS FROM THE RETREAT...
THE JIU JITSU GUYS AND KIDS...
IZZY AND LULU
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