Thanks for takng a look at this month’s newsletter. Hope you are having a great week! Click the link for this months newsletter.Brent and Jill Nichols July Niteroi, Brazil Report
Brent has been on the American football team for a year here in Niteroi. He has been interacting with the same 40 guys for weekly practices and occasional games. I have to admit, that I was disappointed that the entire team wasn’t at our inauguration! Sometimes I set my expectations just a little too high. So basically, I had resolved myself that the football team was not going to be receptive to a 10 am worship service and that was that.
Well, Brent had a game this last Saturday. I went to take him something he forgot and stayed to watch the end of the game. Two of his teammates came to talk to me at different times and said they would be coming to worship on Sunday. I left the game, feeling good that they said they would come, but inside knowing they wouldn’t. Sunday morning, Davi, one of the wide receivers, was one of the first people to church. And he said that he really enjoyed it. He even stayed after visiting with some of our American visitors. God is so good! Even when I have my doubts, He is working in spite of my bad attitude. Praise be to God who is building His church in Niteroi!!
Brent and Davi after worship on Sunday.
We participated with many churches to bring donations to some of the many people in Niteroi who lost their homes and belongings in the floods and mudslides. Click on this link to enjoy a video of our day working together!
We hope you are doing well We continue to be blessed by your love and support. Hope you enjoy this month’s newsletter. Have a blessed day!
Brent and Jill Nichols May Niteroi Newsletter.
Well, just as I was about to write a blog about how I have nothing to write a blog about, this week happens. Brent and I were starting to feel life here had become hum-drum and that blogging about it would be bor-ing, when Monday it started to rain.
It rained all Monday afternoon, all day Tuesday and then finally took a break Wednesday morning. (It’s raining right now.) Most people who have come to visit have gotten to see how quickly Niteroi floods when it rains. This is the heaviest rain we have seen since we have lived here. Buses weren’t running, no one would send a taxi, and our doormen actually wouldn’t let us leave our building all day Tuesday.
I have to admit that I didn’t know rain could be so dangerous. Then came all the reports of people losing family and homes to the mudslides. People here can live cheaply on the side of a mountain. It’s available land in a place where space is at a premium. Over 200 people died in our state alone because of the unrelenting rain.
Then today, while Zane and I were working at the church building, a man cautioned us to close our doors and we couldn’t understand why. Then we saw all the other storefronts pulling down their heavy steel doors and the people were all running in one direction off the street. A mother and her daughter stopped in front of the church contemplating where to go. I asked them if they wanted to come inside and they immediately entered and the woman began trying to calm her daughter, Bruna. “Look, it’s okay, they’re locking their doors.” That’s when I noticed little Bruna was shaking.
“What’s happening out there?” I asked. I got some water for Bruna as her mother explained, “Some of the people who live on the mountain, are rioting. They don’t want to go to the shelters while their belongings are still in their homes, even if they are falling down. The police won’t let them stay there, it’s not safe.” We talked a little longer, and after 30 minutes, her husband called and told her it was now safe and she and Bruna left with Zane who volunteered to see them safely home.
All different reports are still coming in regarding how many stores were vandalized. Today the threat of a riot shut down at least 4 neighborhoods in our city, including our downtown. Traffic was stopped and people were hiding indoors. This has been a week of much bad news.
I’ve never been one to watch the news, usually I know what Ellen DeGeneres tells me. In Edmond, I didn’t usually need to know what to do when it rained, and I didn’t worry much about riots. I didn’t rely on public transportation and I didn’t know people who lived in a shack on the side of a mountain. Please pray that God can use this catastrophe and devastation to bring people to Him and the comfort that only He provides.
Brent and Jill Nichols March Report
We just returned from the week-long missionary conference in Salvador and I wanted to share some pictures. We had a great week hearing from Jim and Susan Clark and then finished off the week with a banquet. Most of the pictures are of the lively entertainment that was offered. Thanks to the team in Salvador for a great time and hope to see everyone and more next year in Belo Horizonte!!
Getting to be with Ron and Georgia Freitas from Great Cities!
David Bayless was entertaining ALL week long!
Johnny Penisi had the whole room rolling!
Linda Nealeigh and I...are usually up to NO good!
The Zincks, Gotchers and Nichols a little out of character.
Three of the lovely ladies on our team.
Some of the Salvador kids living it up at the party!!
Me with Sara Meadows, one of my favorite ladies!!
It is always such a JOY to see other missionary women at any conference and to see Sara, is always a blessing. I love this picture because the emotion here is not faked. I really love her and she really loves me. Thank you God for the blessing and encouragement of other believers!!
Brent and Jill Nichols January Niteroi Report
Brent and Jill Nichols November Niteroi Report
Brent and Jill Nichols September Report