June 08 Letter:
This letter is in a PDF format. To see this newsletter, click HERE.
March 08 Letter:
Dear Friends,
We just finished our end-of-year activities here at the Church of the Nations, so I wanted to send you some pictures.
In November we had a group from the UK come down to help us with the Children’s Home. It needed to be painted and have some repairs done to it. We were able to get all of the paint donated so that was a tremendous blessing. We also put the Voice for Change logo on our Activity Center in the Slum. After painting, we had a couple of days at the beach to rest a bit. I put together a video of the team’s time here if you would like to check it out: http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=abyPF6T30do (after you click on the link, push “pause” on the video and let it download (buffer) a bit then push play so that you do not have a “stop-and-start” experience.)
On December 18th Justin turned 15.
On December 31st we brought in the New Year praying at the entrance of our city. We wanted to do a prophetic act to mark this New Year. As we were praying, a Back slidden Christian came up to our group and told us that he wanted to come back to Jesus. We are believing for more presence of God and more converts for Christ in 2008.
On January 1st we baptized five people (including a stroke victim) at the beach and then BBQ’d some fish caught from the same river. Check out the 4 minute Video by clicking: http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=vhRJEOW4heg –Blessings… Skip
From a January 08 email to Pastor Bob:
"Pastor Bob told me to try to get the members up to "Critical Mass" several months ago. So far I have only been able to get up a Mass of Critical members!
In 2005 I felt like a "new shoe" kicking the "tar" out of the Devil. In 2006 I felt like a "used shoe", broken-in and cool. And in 2007 I felt like an "old shoe" bouncing around in the dryer. It was a hard one!
This year I have been working on re-aligning my "prayer-life-level" and my "image-of-Christ-conforming-ness" and feel encouraged. In this same vein, I also wanted to re-affirm Debbie and mine submission to you (and Mike). In the same words and spirit you spoke Pastor Dick, we are here to serve you! If you ever need anything of us, we are here for you!
We are praying for you guys every day. Excited to see the miracle that God is going to do.
Appreciate you and your vision.
Blessings,
Skip (and Deb)"
Skip & Debbie Rotert
Church Planting, Brazil
skipndeb@netpar.com.br
December 07 Letter
Dear Friends,
It is so good to finally be able to sit down and write a proper letter to you. Things have been crazy around here as usual, but good. Good in the “Wow-God-is-really-streeeetching-us” kind of way.”
October –Debbie and I spoke at a Couple’s Conference in Foz de Iguaçu (a Brazilian form of Niagara Falls) We had a great time and saw many marriages healed and restored.
September -the “Church of the Nations” celebrated its 3-year birthday, funny, it seems so much longer than that –streeetch ?
November -my parents (Bill and Claudia) sister (Lisa) and Uncle and Aunt (Stan and Liz) came to visit. It was so fun having them here as you could imagine.
December –all of Debbie’s family came to Joinville to visit for a week (20 people) so the house was quite crowded! But Fun! We laid mattresses our on every spare floor space we could find.
Our Youth Group had a Costume Night where everyone had to dress like a Bible Character so I am including a picture of us doing that. The Lamb that I am holding is a 50lb concrete gift from one of our members. Never knew what exactly to do with it so I was thrilled to finally be able to put it to good use.
The church is doing well in spite of some setbacks. Our Music guy up-and-left us so Debbie and I have had to take that over, streeetch. Several families went with him too, streee…you get the idea!
Thank you so much for your prayers, your support, your love,
With much appreciation,
Skip, Deb and the Boys
