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BUNCHES IN BRAZIL

Summer 1980

BUNCH NEWSLETTERi

Spring-Summer 1980Dear Friends:

I'm writing to you as I sit alone, before a fire, in a quaint oldcabin on a creek near the North Umpqua River in Oregon.

I have been separated (physically) from Sandy, Mistie, Corey andJonathan for a month now, and I miss them. Our close walk with theLord and conciousness of His leading make the separation morebearable.

I have been very busy since my arrival Stateside. I've spoken atthe Beaverton, Glide and Lorane churches and even briefly at agathering of Portland area ministers and their wives. I also underwenturethral surgery to correct a problem that dates back to a near-fatal"car accident in 1963.1 was staying at my brother's in Beaverton when,just two days following my release from the hospital, "Helen blew hertop." We went to church that morning at Beaverton Christian, whereI had preached two services and shown slides just a couple of weeksprevious. We could see the mountain spewing steam and ash thousandsof feet in the air and were deeply impressed with the awesome powerof the natural forces of God's creation. That afternoon we saw a filmthat brought the days' events into focus: "The Late Great PlanetEarth." As we heard prophecy of increased volcanic activity in the endtiihes, I felt the walls of"Ehe theater to see if they were heating up:People throughout the Northwest are suffering from "ashid"indigestion as the mountain continues to do her thing.

Sandy and I covet your prayers on her behalf and for the men whoare taking responsibility for the Christian Body in Cuiaba. Our oldestChristians have just under two years in Christ and most are much

"Born Again" Acoholic Felizberto, his pregnant wife, mother-in-law and six sons. Pray for him as he leads during my absence.

younger. They need the power of the Holy Spirit, unleashed by yourfervent prayers.

Bruce and June Colson, our co-workers, since our 1977 furloughs,will be spending seven months in the States. They will bring Mistie withthem, and send her out to the West Coast the end of June. Mistie willvisit Grandparents, in-laws and out-laws following the North AmericanChristian Convention in Seattle, and return to Brazil with me in Augustafter Wi-Ne-Ma Week of Missions and the dedication of Issaquah's newbuilding on August 10. We still plan a Family Furlough from Novemberthrough January of '82-'83 or '83-'84.

May the Lord bless and give you courage as you remember thewords of I John 2:17: ".. . the World passeth away and the lustthereof; but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever."

Jim

y

A Note from SandyGod is with us and hearing our cries and He used you to come to our rescue.

We thank Him and you for giving in abundance to cover Jim's travel to and fromand during furlough. By the time this newsletter reaches you, he'll be amongst your

smiling faces, sharing the "joys" and "trials"of beginning a new work in Cuiaba. Pleasecontinue to pray for the children and myselfduring his four-month absence that the Lordwill bless and sustain because separation isnever easy . . . one day there will be no more"separation." The children are doing well inschoolMistie in the 3rd Grade, Corey in 1stGrade and Jonathan in Pre-school. Mistie isalways making new friends, Corey believesthat he's the world's best reader since he cannow sound out a few words and Jonathan immediately discovered that there's also workinvolved with going to school, but he has alittle "girlfriend" that helps him get throughthe rough places! We have changed our Sunday School time and now the children aremeeting when we meet for our "cultos." We

all sing together, then the children go for their special Bible story and then havetime for singing and coloring while the adults are studying and taking Communion.This arrangement seems to be working out very nicely. Our women are meeting onTuesday and Friday afternoons. Pray that the Lord will deeply touch them becausemany are weak in the faith.

4

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i i 1j a I iSandy examines tropical fruit tree(mam'ao) Jim planted in front yard.

Child ChatterHi, I have a good, good teacher but I don't know her name. In Portuguese the

name for teacher is Professora. And the little ones call their teacher "Titia" whichmeans Aunt. I have 20 people in my class because there are two Grades in my room:

the 4th and 3rd and I'm in thehere and play with me and we

3rd. I have a lot of friends and they always comesing a whole "gob." I have another friend and shelives a little bit aways. She has a swimming pooland we swim there. Her name is Paula. Marlene,she's one of my friends, too, and one time shecame and took us to a friend of hers. And therewere these boys playing "war" with burrs andwhen they stick on you they really hurt and onestuck on my mouth and I started running and atruck about run over me. Good-bye, and hope youhave a "Happy One"! Now, here's Corey: Hi,You know something? I have a little friend and Iplay with him. His mommy gives us a lot of stuffher give food for us. Cinder got some babiestenbabies and one died. We gave all the babies awayand just stayed with one. Cinder bites the babyso-ooo much. We're hating tests at school thisweek. I know how to read so-ooo much. I knowhow to read this sentence: "A faca e da mamae"{The knife is of mother). Good-bye and be a goodChristian. Jonatas (Jonathan) says "oi, como vai?"(Hi, how are you?). Vai com Deus (Go with God).

u

"Hey! Look what I caught, andDaddy didn't catch no fish."

ixeri

Jim and Sandy Bunch, Missionaries, Caixa Postal 1092, 78.000 Cuiabfi, MateGrosso, Brazil, S.A.

Christina Semple, Forwarding Agent, 2676 - 39th S.W., Seattle, WA 98116,Phone 935-2798

Bob and Gladys Christian, Promotional Agents, 17641 S.E. 60th, Issaquah,WA 98027, Phone 747-8964

Parkland Christian Church, Mailing Agent, 757 S. 138th Street, Tacoma,WA 98444, Phone 531-0757

Issaquah Christian Church, Sponsoring Church, P.O. Box 400, Issaquah,WA 98027, Phone 392-5848

PARKLAND CHRISTIAN CHURCH757 S. 138th StreetTacoma, Washington 98444

Address Correction Requested

'iissjci'j sBox 1/"'

AUG 4 j9p(i

Non-ProfitOrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 570

Tacoma, WA

BUNCHES IN BRAZIL

Winter 1980

BUNCH NEWSLETTER

Dear Friends:

^ A t980Winter 1979-80

7

i

Greetings from the "BUNCH" of us here in CuiabS, Mato Grosso, Brazil.As you have seen on the cover, the "good news" is a bigger Bunch family.

Jonathan David (Jonatas Davi) has been legally adopted and is a wonderful"energetic" addition to our household. We trust that the Lord will use his life in agreat way. Sandy will tell you more.

Perhaps many of you were wondering what happened to our Fall prayerletter.Was it lost in the mail? The fact is, there was no letter. You are experiencing aI- recession and we who depend on you

i fffk .. are passing through some difficult times...M JJl - V Chrissie Semple, our precious sister in

~ . . BSf--- /fc* " Christ and Forwarding Agent for theMission, has done a great job of tryingto keep things together; however,retirement, transportation and furloughfunds have all been exhausted in orderto pay expenses. The monthly checkswe write have been met with"insufficient funds" in our statesideaccount. Fortunately, after bouncingone, the bank has been kind enough toadvise Chrissie and wait for her to coverthe bad checks with funds as they come

in. Needless to say, things cannot continue like this.The cost of living has taken a dramatic increase with gasoline leaping to a

record high of about $2.40 a gallon of regular, heavily diluted with alcohol.We have never made this kind of financial appeal. The Lord has always moved

in the hearts of his people to meet our "unadvertised" needs. We trust that yourprayers will be focused on every aspect of the Brazilian work, but that at this timeyou will remember, especially, the underwriting of this ministry to lost Brazilians.

We have opened up a new "bairro" called C.P.A. Those who have showninterest in the Gospel are being visited in their homes. We hope to see a new bodyof Christians worshipping and serving there soon. Two others have been baptisedfrom the Cidade Alta work, which was opened in July. We have a growing family ofChristians in that area.

The Bunch family recently had extensive physical exams at a clinic halfwaybetween Cuiaba and Uberlandia. We all had a variety of worms (common here) andeveryone but Corey had bladderinfections. Sandy is treating a uterineinfection and my E.K.G. indicated afirst-degree heart block. The doctor saidI needed to continue running and toavoid stress as much as possible.

My plans are to leave the family forabout three months beginning nextSpring and to visit with the churches inthe Northwest. I plan to arrive inPortland the first part of May and tospend time with the Oregon churches andrelatives, going on to the Seattle area theend of the month. These plans are very Dr. Donald McGavran, of the School ofmuch subject to God's will and will only World Mission, shed new light on poten-be possible ashe provides travel funds. conference m

IsSome of our men from Cohab-Terceirogather for Bible study.

nWe.Jiope.to have a family furlough beginning in November through January of1982-83.

"Tis the season to be jolly . . We can be thankful that as the world crumblesaround us, we who follow the one bom in Bethlehem nearly 2000 years ago havereal reason for rejoicing. Soon His reign will be established and the evil forces ragingin the world today will be extinguished forever.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, thatwhosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life."John 3:16 Jim

A Note from SandyOur second year in Cuiaba is coming to a closeit has been a good

year with many blessings: Good health is high on the list of blessings;except for worms and other minor things. The children have had a goodschool year and have made many new friends. Mistie turned ninerecently and Corey six. One special birthday present for both of them>was anew brother. Jonatas (Jonathan) was born in Brasilia 3V^ yearsago on March 17th. His mother is unmarried so Jonatas has neverknown a father. He adores Jim and his eyes light up and even sparklewhen he calls "Papai" (daddy) and Jim responds. At the present timehe calls me "auntie"since he was so close ic-to his own mother.His mother workedoutside the homeand left her nine-year-old daughter totake care of Jonatasand their 10-month-old baby brother.There was no adultsupervision and,needless to say, thechildren were left toraise themselves and My friend Barbara (center, behind Bruce),adopter Jodasee,

timoc +V>oTr baby in Tammy's arms. The Colson's three girls aremany times they g^eat friends with our children,were hurt with noone to take care of them. The mother loves her children but had noresource to take care of them so she adopted them out. The babybrother is now adopted by our close friend, Barbara Vogel, who lives inOregon. We Praise the Lord, along with Barbara, for our new sons andfor the way that they have adjusted so quickly to our families. MayGod's Peace be with you this Christmas Season and throughout theNew Year.

Child ChatterHi, people in the States. I'm very good here in Cuiaba but it's

pretty hot. In the States you can't go swimming outdoors all the timebut you can herethat's why it's good here. Did you know that our

doggie "Cinderella" has a boyfriend?!? Schools about out and I thinkI'll pass. I had a good birthdaywho is having a birthday; have a goodone! And I hope you have a happy Christmas and don't just say, yea!I'm going to get lots of presentsyou have to say, yea! it's Jesus' birthday! We got a new brother and his name is Jonatas and we like playingwith him so much. Now Corey's going to talk with you a little bit:

We have a little brother and hisname is Jonatas. We went to thezoo in Brasilia on my birthday. I'msix now. I know how to ride a bigbike now. Do you know how toride a bike, too? I know how tosay the alphabet in Portuguese.Mistie got a new teacher now because her other teacher went toSao Paulo. I like to go to the churchmeetings to learn about Jesus and

No. this isn't our pet hamster, it's a Play with the kids. Mistie's birthdaycapybara, the world's largest rodent. He already passed and Christmas isgrows to over 100 lbs. and is a common coming. Do you know why it'ssight inthe pantanal near cuiaha. Christmas? Because it's Jesus'

^ birthday, that's why. Good-bye . . . people that love Jesus.I

Jim and Sandy Bunch, Missionaries, Caixa Postal 1092, 78.000 CuiabS, MateGrosso, Brazil, S.A.

Christina Semple, Forwarding Agent, 2676 39th S.W., Seattle, WA 98116,Phone 935-2798

Bob and Gladys Christian, Promotional Agents, 17641 S.E. 60th, Issaquah,WA 98027, Phone 747-8964

Parkland Christian Church, Mailing Agent, 757 S. 138th Street, Tacoma,WA 98444, Phone 531-0757

Issaquah Christian Church, Sponsoring Church, P.O. Box 400, Issaquah,WA 98027, Phone 392-5848

PARKLAND CHRISTIAN CHURCH757 S. 138th StreetTacoma, Washington 98444

Address Correction Requested

iteGilvrey, ManagerMIBSIOH SSRVICS5Box 177Keapt-oog IridiAiia

Non-ProfitOrganisationU.S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 570

Tacoma, WA