Prayer Letters

a few more requests??

noreply@blogger.com (Al Yoder) — Wed, 04 Sep 2013 03:15:00 +0000

Hello good friends-

a special request??

We are at the airport for a midnite flight to our next set of meetings-

We received a call and a lady member of our church, three kids, no husband, is in the hospital and apparently her kidneys are quitting, a situation far above the abilities of the local doctors. Her name (in english) is Grace. She is the aunt of one of our two teachers. She is in critical condition and they have called the capital to see if they can get a ICU airplane to fly up tomorrow and take her to the capital. We would appreciate your prayer for her, thanks.

One more request?

Our hosts and fellow missionaries Jerry and Linda Neuman (in fortaleza) on their way to church a few nights ago, were hit by an uninsured driver and I believe their car is totaled. He is the one that had the accident a few months back shattering his one leg. And they are the workforce behind the conferences there. I'm sure they are under a lot of strain right now and could use your prayers also- Thanks so much

Our schedule?

a week of 5 classes ahead of us, (an add on we confirmed today, be there from 5th through 11th) then

Sept 16 - 19 Natal seminary for a week of classes all day long: "Christian Home".

Sept 20, banquet with MMM mission (that our kids Mike and Renee are directly working with in Cape Verde Africa.

Sept 21 One night class with a church on pornography

Sept 23 to 27 the 5th annual Biblical Counseling conference at SIBIMA seminary in Fortaleza, 4 tracks.

Sept 30 to Oct 2 - six night classes, mini conference in "Russia" Ceara

Oct 4-6 finish the push with a YOUTH Retreat on the Fortaleza Beaches (and how i hate going to the beach) but this part promises to be the high point for me- I love working youth retreats.

Thanks for your prayers for Kim and I as we travel tonight, tomorrow night and the other trips

Do pray with us that the Holy Spirit will prepare hearts ahead of time that this will be a powerful few weeks of ministry.

and MUCH fruit

thanks so very much

your servants HIS bond slaves

Allen and Kimberly

noreply@blogger.com (Al Yoder) — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 12:08:00 +0000

Busy Month Ahead!

Sept 1-4 Aviation Physical and License work in Manaus

Sept 4 Fly Manaus to Fortaleza, Fortaleza to Cape Verde Africa

Sept 5- 11 5 Biblical Counseling Classes for the MMM Missionary group

Sept 11, return to Fortaleza

Sept 16 - 19 Natal Seminary- 32 classes on "Christian Home"

Sept 20 Banquet MMM Mission (where are kids are working under in Africa)

Sept 21 Big conference in a church in Fortaleza- Subject "Pornography"

Sept 23 - 27 SIBIMA seminary- 4 tracks of Biblical Counseling training (our 5th year)

Sept 30 to Oct 3 Mini- Conference Interior Ceara' at a town called "new Russia"

Oct 4-6 Youth Retreat Fortaleza

then Home on the 7th

Indian Institute (airplane ministry) going very well- restarting in October

In His Service

A & K

February 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Al Yoder) — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 09:44:00 +0000

Snake bite story is over! PTL
Doing well
swelling going down very fast- walking again and back on the job!

Upcoming schedule:
March 1-17 in town - normal schedule with church plant
March 5 Indian Institute
March 4-9 probable extra trip to Manaus to work on (yup, you got it) aviation paperwork
March 19 -- headed home for one month furlough
March 20 -24 Houston and Austin Texas   with Son Peter and wife Faith
March 24-29 Concord Ga (catch up time, get car running)
March 29-April 3 NJ (meeting Easter Sunday Home church Haddon Heights Baptist)
                               see my Dad
April 7 AM Wealthy Park Baptist, Grand Rapids
             PM Oxford Baptist- Oxford MIch
April 10 Speaking at Chapel Cedarville University
April 11 - 12 with Son in Law Brandon and Daughter Regina two days Wisconsin
April 13-15 with Son Jonathan at NIU
April 17 Frankfort and Lafayette Indiana
April 21 Berean Baptist Griffin Ga
then next week back to Brazil

April 28- May 5 Manaus- Airplane paperwork

thanks for your prayers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

jararaca bite part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Al Yoder) — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 09:35:00 +0000

Dear Friend

I had to come into town today for a not so pleasant reason, so thought I would pass this on to you now. Once again, it's hit and run, I head back in a few minutes to camp and wont have planned contact here until Wednesday next when camp is over.

I just received word that my dad has had a bad fall, broken his color bone and badly hurt his face, some 10 stiches on his mouth... I don't have many details, but enough (considering our distance and us being at camp) to know he must be in a lot of pain and discomfort. He just celebrated his 88^th birthday…. Please pray for him.. My sister Becky and her husband Bob are taking care of him.

I am also having a few small problems- may have to have a small intervention on the leg as infection is very close to a bone and with the doctor's advice, we want to avoid having any bone infection… Praise the Lord we have a great doctor (Chip Phillips) at our side (even though thousands of miles away) giving us his counsel and help!

CAMP? Expecting 80 we have 120! (to put that in perspective, I took 10 drums of fuel off our hangar/house- weighing 3000 ponds, and another 3000 pounds of airplane, and in it's place added 19,000 lbs. of teenagers) We are packed! We definitely need to plan more buildings…

And these teens are ready….

Very exciting! Wish you were here to enjoy it with us… (though you would have to sleep in the basement) Please pray, I believe God is very strongly at work in their hearts. This promises to be a very fruitful camp.

Especially pray for safety, already had one young man hurt and he went home. (nothing very serious but obviously any injury is serious in our book.) And please continue to pray for Kimberly… who continues to astound me…. Put's a whole new meaning to "weaker vessel" J

May HIS name be praised.

Thanks for your important part in our work together for the Lord

Your servants HIS bond slaves

Allen and Kimberly.

(PS this is such a difference from the "old days" when we would send a letter home and you would get them weeks after the event)..

=============================

Dear Friend

A quick update/report that we OWE you as supporters, on a wild 30 days.

Camp #1 at SAI (our hospital site downriver) over: I believe there were 5-6 souls saved and there seemed to be MUCH fruit this year there. 70 campers.

Camp #2 ended yesterday (Wednesday 13) 120 campers. We had 5 youngsters saved and quite a few that "made decisions" to change lives and be more obedient in a smorgasbord of areas in their lives, from more faithful in devo.s, to repentance from others… As you know, this year (as never before) we had a "plague" of vipers.. I was hit a few days before (in the leg) we found one on the dock the day camp started, two in the water near land a few days later, and one on the dock the day they left, BUT NO INJURIES! We put our Indian brethren to good work, they scouted out the land every day and cleared it for us J (incredible eyesight they have)… Phil Peace (colleague) killed two… We are hoping that this "plague" (as Egypt's) is history. (it was due to the very late and very fast river rising this year). We had teens from our town, two indian villages, Tonantins and Santo Antonio (two other ABWE missionary church plants).

My leg- doing well. I was carried on a home made stretcher (though they refused to let me down from the roof as I requested) and sat in an easy chair for teaching. Half way through the week we had a small scare but it is doing much better now! Daily the swelling goes down. THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS. I am sure beyond a shadow of a doubt God worked miraculously here to save me from what could have been much worse suffering!

My dad- I have heard nothing yet, hope to get caught up when I get into town to send this off.

Short future- Next week- (18-22) a full week of intensive pre-marital counseling with a couple.

19^th and March 5- two different Indian Bible Institute class days

March 17- April 17- One month "furlough" visiting churches.

Once again, thanks for your love and prayers!

Your servants HIS bond slaves

Allen and Kimberly

=====================

Jararaca Bite part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Al Yoder) — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 09:34:00 +0000

Dear Friends

Well I guess my plan worked- tell my daughter and she tells the world---- her communication abilities are the best I have ever seen, thanks Renee and Mike!!! For being there when I really needed you!

The Title: Al – 50, Snake – 1

I have killed at least 50 snakes since here, this one scored

It was about a 4 foot Jararaca, very venomous. A friend of mine got hit by one a few months back in another town and he was bleeding through the nose, in the hospital for some time, etc etc (no details needed)

As short as possible- We have a new yard guest, a wildcat that is eating my guards chickens…We also have our second very large camp coming, where we use my running trails for competition.

So, picture the scene, here goes great white boana with a pistol in one hand hoping to get a few shorts off at the cat and the machete in the other to clear the jungle trail up well for the camp next week

What I didn't know is Mr. Jararaca was sunbathing on the trail in the only very little part where the grass is high… As I took off, I was looking ahead to watch for the thorn bushes that cut across the paths. I felt a sharp pain (up front shin bone left leg 6 inches from the knee downward) My FIRST thoughts were, wow, that was a large thorn =--- how did I miss it, (and I kept running another 5 steps.) The mind then started saying- "go back and cut it away so you wont trip on it again next lap.

As I went back I saw the snake slithering off into the jungle (I was going to put here that I found him upside down shivering in pain from food poisoning)….My reaction? cold chill….. I looked down and blood was coming through my sock… "snake 1" (I had stepped right on him and he was not a happy sunbather)

Can't run on a snake bite… so I started walking home (only about 30 yards, PTL I wasn't a mile back on my run) and yelled for Kim to get the snake bite zapper (a half power stun gun that wont hurt anybody but zaps the poison and "neutralizes it"… my thoughts? Wow, I'm finally going to get to test that out having bought it some 25 years ago…. Get my money's worth out of it.

I made it to the canoe to cross over and pushed it off, got stuck on a tree… the workers wife plunged into the river (my heroin) and got the canoe loose and towed me to the house. Kim got the shocker out, it was not working. So she ran for the little portable one and it did work (I zapped myself 15 times… and believe me it was quite a bit more painful than the snake bite and my yells sounded like the fog horns, I know that because people were pulling over to let me through J (again, just kidding on that part)

From bite to hospital, 35 minutes. MIRACLE: A doctor was there. Miracle 2- they had antivenins.

I had three very painful hours during the night, but all that passed. At one point the leg swelled and foot so I could put no weight on it.

I'm not here to make or sell a product but when I zapped the bite I could SEE the swelling going down. The doctor could not believe I wasn't loosing blood this morning, so he gave me permission to go home as long as I keep foot elevated, no running, rest, for two weeks.

Speaking of rest- thanks for praying> OUR BIG CAMP OF THE YEAR STARTS WEDNESDAY. I am speaking 23 times. Fortunately they have game directors to do all the rest.

Have a GREAT DAY, and thanks to the hundreds of people who prayed for me.

With love

Your servants HIS bondslaves

Al and Kimberly

2 comments stood out

1- Elijah (Mike and Renee's #2) .. with fear in his eyes…. "Is grandpa saved?" to which Renee said yes. (relief in eyes) he says "oh good, then if he dies he is going to heaven"!

2- My oriental daughter in law---- she thinks I'm brave (or dumb?? Sometimes things get lost in the translation) for zapping myself with a stun gun….

========================

Update Sunday PM

I am very hesitant about writing another update… but will not be back online for the next 10 days so thought I would drop you all a line. (just received a few requests for updates) We will have email till Monday late morning.

We have been so overwhelmed (maybe overjoyed is a better word) with the numbers of prayer chains and churches praying for me at this time, calculating literally in the thousands….

God is in control.. The man I told you about last month, same snake, had much bleeding. The man in this hospital that was hit a week ago (out hunting) has had to have some surgical process to help him. There have been two amputations in the last 4 years for lack of meds and care.

Me? I missed church all day… That's all. The leg is stable, so we decided not to push it at all. Not able to support any weight or stand with it down. But it really is feeling great especially considering all the suffering that God has spared me from. Our plans now- body horizontal, foot high for a few days. Anti-venom treatments are over. Other treatments continue.

We head home tomorrow, then camp starts Wednesday- which sounds radical but really isn't. It promises to have up to 80 campers. I will post a picture of "preaching from my hammock"… promises to be a first… I will not be coming back to town for the next 10 days.

Renee (our firstborn) will keep track and if communications need to be made, she is our common link. Kim is going to try her hand at getting email middle of the week.

Pray with us for:

- Healing;

- Kim and all the work load;

- Safety for the campers (the very small area the snake was in is being flushed out to make sure my friends family are not still slithering in the high grass).

- Safety for the three boat loads of youth coming to the camp,

- AND MUCH FRUIT. This promises to be quite a camp.

We love and appreciate your prayers very much

Always, your servants HIS bond slaves- Allen and Kimberly

update January 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Al Yoder) — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 09:32:00 +0000

Dear Friend:

Well graduation is over.
the service was one of the best of many years
THE CAMERA'S LITHIUM BATTERY died after one picture... (of the cake)
sooooo no pictures.
HOWEVER we were promised some pictures by the young man that also took many so we will put some pictures out as soon as we get copies, it may take a week or two.

PRAISE THE LORD!!!! it was a very emotional and wonderful evening- after
12 years of IBAS, some 60 students that went through, to weep in joy with our first four graduates, bachelor degree in Theology/ministry

Here are the thoughts that went through my head as I fell asleep last night, an old song from my teen days ---

O God, the world is lost in sin,
And so few who seem to care!
Many of whom profess Thy name,
No burden will help to bear.
Give me a passion Lord, for Souls
To bring the lost ones to Thee;
Our hearts must be stirred,
till all have heard
of Jesus of Calvary

Chorus
LET ME BURN OUT FOR THEE OH LORD
BURN AND WEAR OUT FOR THEE…
Don't let me rust, or my life be
A failure, my God, to Thee.
Use me and all I have, dear Lord,
And draw me so close to Thee
That I feel the throb
Of the great heart of God,
O let me burn out for Thee.

Always, your servants, HIS bond slaves

Allen and Kimberly

=====================

update december 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Al Yoder) — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 09:31:00 +0000

Dear Friend,

Adoniram Judson, missionary to Burma, endured untold hardships. For 7 heartbreaking years he suffered hunger and privation. During this time, 17 months were spent in almost incredible mistreatment in Ava Prison, resulting in ugly marks made by the chains and iron shackles. Upon release he asked for permission to enter another province. The godless ruler indignantly denied his request, saying, "My people are not fools enough to listen to anything a missionary might SAY, but I fear they might be impressed by your SCARS and turn to your religion!

In preparing the Christmas program, I have done some research on "the great cloud of witnesses" that have gone before us. We also are reflecting on how many USA pastors right now are suffering far more than we have even had to. "Deny self and take up your cross and follow me" is becoming more and more painful in its reality for those serious in obeying the LORD of Christmas. May God give YOU all peace, even as "the love of many waxes cold". May Christmas somehow move believers to look at the cross more than what is under the tree, be worried about fulfilling the commission far more than who wins an election or a ball game. We are praying for you all also… Maranatha! And MERRY CHRISTMAS.

NEWS from the Amazon front:

1) CESP kid's club not only is doing real well in its last few weeks before Christmas break, but we have seen CESP start up in Atalaia (a town upriver) and now a church way down in Sao Paulo (in the "slums" of that massive city) is asking for Kim to help them start a club there also, (by long distance!) thanks to our son in law Brandon Bell who was there preparing the way for his and Regina's future ministry as missionaries.

2) IBAS- after two churches, two towns and now 12 years of teaching, We are going to see our first graduation. Three will get their Bachelors degree in Bible and Ministerial studies. A young lady, our Ticuna Missionary and our Peruvian deacon. Amidst great rejoicing we still are sad we have no future pastor from the program, which was our main goal. Graduation is on Jan. 6. Our church remains pastor-less… thanks for your prayers!

3) Aviation/Indians- amidst impossible conditions (we serve the God of the impossible) the plane is still being used to "teach the tribes" now with THREE villages holding classes. We need help! Thanks for your prayers. The third, we just made contact, has a promised more than 100 students that will gather monthly to study God's word, a mix of youth and older men and a few women. We are also organizing weeklong blocks of training now in town to help economize.

4) Christmas program is in the cooker… We have a very talented young lady that loves drama and music and their preparations have been powerful and God Honoring!

5) We are preparing for two camps again this year, one in Santo Antonio (the hospital site) where we will be speaking all week and then the next one, our normal full week one up here at our camp- both next year (end of Jan. beginning of Feb.)

6) Pray for our church leadership--- we still struggle with many issues that keep us from being able to turn this work over and start anew.

7) The yearly big VBS is also upcoming--- a big one, done mostly by them.

Thanks so much for everything- your love, faithful prayers and support

We love and will miss you all this Christmas.

Always Your servants HIS bond slaves

Allen and Kimberly

update november 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Al Yoder) — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 09:28:00 +0000

Dear Friend,

NEWS from the Amazon front:

4) Christmas program is in the cooker… We have a very talented young lady that loves drama and music and their preparations have been powerful and God Honoring!

6) Pray for our church leadership--- we still struggle with many issues that keep us from being able to turn this work over and start anew.

7) The yearly big VBS is also upcoming--- a big one, done mostly by them.

Thanks so much for everything- your love, faithful prayers and support

We love and will miss you all this Christmas.

Always Your servants HIS bond slaves

Allen and Kimberly

update sept 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Al Yoder) — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 09:26:00 +0000

September 1, 2012

Dear Friend,

"Have I done my best for Jesus?" The song echoes in my mind, have i? There is little new going on though we do want to catch you up and September promises to be different….

IN CHURCH - We still are needing (main request) national pastoral leadership. Please pray that God will bring about a solution. Church continues to grow, some old leaders are struggling, some new ones emerging, general slow but steady growth.

CESP - Still a lot of work, but we remain full of kids. Pray that our youth leaders will be steady and long term that we may see more fruit.

YOUTH GROUP hovers around 35, but we have seen newly saved and the current series seems to be going over very well.

IBAS - We are TWO WEEKS from finishing the last of the heavy courses (Acts and Hebrews: I believe I have learned more than the students) and then there are only a few electives to finish by the end of November- and we will then (after many, many years) have our FIRST graduation of those that have finished the course. The academic dean of the seminary down south is hoping to come up to do the graduation with us.

INDIAN institutes - still going well, but about to stop for a month (low water month off for our traveling to help in conferences). My heart though is still heavy: "When Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him, when he saw the city was full of idols" (Acts 17:16)… we observe heart idolatry tearing Christians apart even more than pagan idolatry is to the unsaved. It is hard to watch false teachers sway the babes in Christ as well as unsaved religionists. Passing a church the other night ("evangelical"), the pastor was taking an offering and saying for them to put a list of their sins in the offering envelopes, and to make the offering good, for "it is so hard having to bear your sins for you," he said . . . A young woman leaving church to attend another because "even though we have good Bible, theirs is more interesting - they fall on the floor" . . . Indian believers "through covetousness . . . with feigned words (are being) made merchandise" (II Pet. 2:3) of those that use them to make money.

BIBLICAL COUNSELING seminars Northeast Brazil? We have many. This year we are still returning to Fortaleza to help teach (with a team) 4 tracks of training at the SIBIMA seminary. Drs. Viars and Hodges will be joining us! We also are doing a partial track one interior (Jijoca) evenings, and simultaneously, a full Track 2 at a Bible Institute called Antioquia. The next week we'll be teaching a partial Track 1 in the evenings and much practical training and counseling at Limoeiro. Then, lastly, a full Track one in Natal, the capital city of another state. Four weeks, some 300 students. Please pray with us for our stamina and my voice, and that the Spirit will accomplish much preparing their hearts and teaching, and for safety through much travel.

For those that did not hear, Mike and Renee Skibinski (our first daughter and hubby) are now ON THE FIELD, in Fortaleza (with 3 of our grandsons). Their visa was approved! And they are now in language training.

Brandon and Regina (our second daughter and hubby) and our 4'th grandson are on the other end--- very low support, deputizing. We so remember those days; they were a blessed hardship! Please pray that they will soon see support growing and be on their way to the field.

Jonathan is back in college for his junior year and doing great. He spent the summer with family in New Jersey.

Peter and Faith are so far away… in the native jungles of Texas, we see less of them than any… Their business is going well, and they are working in their church and small groups.

Thanks again so much for your support, prayers, love.

Always, your servants HIS bond slaves,

Allen and Kimberly

update july 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Al Yoder) — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 09:24:00 +0000

The day the lights went out…

If you will allow me 5 minutes of your time to tell you of GOD'S MIGHTY HAND OF PROTECTION, once again, in my life, second only to the Guyana incident.

This occurred Monday. To catch your interest: I really don't know what happened, I have little to no memory of it, and am telling you what I have learned from others… I write these stories now so later in life when memory is not so good, I can remember how God was so gracious… to the story-

I was up on the floats, up on the plane, up on the cart on our floating house taking the cowling off the plane to put on the part that my boss Herman Teachout and my great friend Wilson got/sent to me (and that went through 7 pairs of hands to get to me, never has a part made it so fast from the USA). Needless to say, I was quite excited about getting airborne again after four weeks down. Kim was upstairs cleaning and did not hear a thing. By God's grace my worker had just arrived on the dock.

All I remember is that the cowl was stuck and I pulled harder to get it loose. I vaguely

remember a rope touching the back of my leg, nothing else. The worker said he looked up and I was flying backwards with the cowl in hand, my legs got tangled in the ropes that tie the plane to the dock, went upside down and fell flat on the top of my head, on the dock. He came over and tried to talk to me but my eyes "were up in my head", and I "was shaking" (lightly). To me, my world was spinning, the first thing I remember was the worker's adolescent daughter rubbing my shoulder and asking me how I was. (Kim later told me there was 20 minutes between when she came down and the workers daughter showed up, and that she had been trying to talk to me). I "came to" talking to her, and was holding a bag of ice on my head sitting on the floor by the plane. At this point Kim (having asked me several questions and not gotten 'normal' answers), decided to contact Chip Phillips our doctor and they talked a few minutes on symptoms and what to do. (setting: to do this she had to jump in a boat with the worker and drive half way to town to get a phone signal)…

I ended up with a rope burn behind my knee (apparently the rope I tripped on), a cut right ankle, bruised right hand, bruised left arm including a swollen elbow, three cuts on my face where glasses left their mark, a 'sore back', a goose-egg on the back of my head a very sore "top" of the head, and 20 minutes of total lack of memory.

So, praise God I have a very hard head and that there are no symptoms of any danger… (though the head does remain a tadge tender). We slept in town that night (this happened just before dark) to be close to doctor care and a very fast boat if needed to get to Chip. The next morning we got business done in town and I spent a delicious two days at home low profile.

I DID get the part on the airplane. Thanks to all that made that possible. To keep flying is still a tremendous trial. Now we are so very low on fuel that I probably only have one more trip to the Indians before I am totally out, not counting emergency reserve. We "ordered" fuel months ago.

THANKS especially to you that prayed for me the evening of the incident!! I believe what could have been very serious, turned out as it did because of your prayers, and frankly, I am grateful to God for not being able to remember the ordeal.

Love you all

Thanks for your prayers

Allen and Kimberly

To take advantage of this note and let you know our agenda:

July- we have two visits to the Indians and one more set of classes at SAI to finish

counseling training there.

August, "normal month" at home only. LOW water month, worst month of the year for

just living conditions and travel to and fro house.

September (the end) we travel again to Fortaleza for 3 Biblical Counseling conferences

and one week of the practical training.

October, back to "normal" in our town of SPO

We hope that in December, or January we will be having our FIRST graduation from our little amazon jungle bible seminary. Will keep you posted.

July 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Al Yoder) — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 13:32:00 +0000

Years ago, a friend of mine with the DEA, when asked how well they
were doing made the statement,
"Let me put it this way, I have job security." We could echo the same
words here in SPO. J

But first, the indescribable incomprehensible blessings from His mighty hand:

- We are seeing much fruit in discipleship and Biblical counseling training.
- Our airplane's "substitute," the speedboat, though twice as
expensive for travel, is running well even after 25 + years without
overhaul. (next project . . .)
- We did receive (via 7 changes of hands) the one part to get us
airborne again.
- We are working with a new group of 5 young men to groom for the
future leadership.
- We have a strong youth group yet.
- We have two tribal villages where we do monthly Bible classes.
- We have two to graduate from IBAS and a new group of 7 students started.
- We have Biblical Counseling training here, in SAI, and in Fortaleza.
- CESP - a huge success!

* Sending men out to get an education has not shown fruit. Bringing
them in has not lasted. The "home grown" has still been the most
fruitful: Pr Cristiano, pastor of the BC church (with multiple leaders
and a missionary), a product of our youth group; Pr Jacó, pastor of
the Santo Antonio church (with multiple leaders and missionaries, at
the hospital site) from the BC youth group

Our major challenge: the SPO church

12 years - no pastor, and a disappearing leadership (even after the
two large exoduses, we remain "perplexed, but not in despair").
The proposed future pastor (repercussions from events 20 years ago
when he was unsaved have caused documentation woes that prevent him
from pastoring for the next 4-5 years) has now chosen to back off from
the IBAS training; therefore, will not be graduating. (He does still
help in the preaching.)
The older deacon at church was offered a job preaching upriver in a
little village - may be leaving soon.
The younger deacon, also in "on the job training as youth pastor"
(overworked at his job), is dropping out of IBAS and now talking of
returning to his tribe to help them with their youth,(a noble
aspiration!).

* I sometimes wonder why the churches with so much leadership seek
helpers from the church that is so needy, and not vice versa. We are
passively pensive about what God may have in mind for SPO and its
autonomy.
Please especially pray about this request – leadership – with us! Thanks.

And to the more humorous side of challenges: Banks whose ATM machines
(our way to get money from the USA) withdraw money from our account in
the States but don't do the final step of giving it to us here;
magical post offices that make letters disappear; books ordered 12
months ago that never make it to us; our computer/internet system
compromised for the second time, even with good virus protection (so
sorry to those that got the bogus email letters from us) . . . but
then, we DO live in the jungle J, not
Atlanta.

A list of PRAYER REQUESTS?

1. 12 years and our goal for turnover will be delayed . . . Down to
only 2 to graduate from IBAS, including no male leadership at this
time for our church. Pray as we seek wisdom to know how best to use
IBAS at this point.
2. This church needs a pastor. Pray that we may know which way to go to get one.
3. Aviation: annual inspections that take months, parts bought in
February that still have not made it to us, fuel ordered months ago
that hasn't even been purchased yet . . . No help for the aging and
weary ( J that would be yours truly).
4. The Ticuna Bible Institutes: The main Ticuna church (Bible
Institute) "kicking us out" as they are now "Korean" (past invasion of
proselytes) and "not Baptist," yet many individuals still begging for
training. Pray with us for the airplane, energy, and wisdom as we
attack this problem by working in two new centers, one of which we
have 30 students.
5. MEN? Faithful men in the church? Pray as I need to drop some things
and start anew to do a better job in this area.
6. Our kids, Mike and Renee (about to head out to the field, just
waiting for VISA clearance) and Brandon and Regina (still on
deputation).

Your servants, HIS bond slaves
Allen and Kimberly

noreply@blogger.com (Al Yoder) — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 13:24:00 +0000

January 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Al Yoder) — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 22:56:00 +0000

Our Schedule: Jan. 21 and beyond…

Today, Jonathan left home in Atlanta Georgia, airline, for Dunbar Wi. where he is entering Northland Baptist College where he will either get a degree or turn into an ice cube… it was 50 here when he left and will be -12 tonight there.

Mike and Renee visited us passing through for a meeting down south.

They leave for Miami today and back through here on Monday on their way back home to Lafayette, Indiana.

We are moving out of our home Jan. 31…

Feb 3 in Oxford Michigan
Feb 6-13 in Lafayette In for another round of Biblical Counseling courses.

February 16, the big day- we head out to Brazil to start another term, (and thaw out)

Feb. 18-27- Get DNY flying again, get home, set up (and repair) home, meetings with the leadership of the church to see how everything went and is going, and set up goals for this year (Lord willing including the graduation of the first students from IBAS, the ordination of the first pastor, the turning over of the church formally.

March 2-9 The BIG camp of the year- carnival time camp.

The paperwork that finally arrived for the airplane is no good. We will start that project over again.

The Indian institute continued on the entire time we were gone.

The church did their own youth camp
The church just finished doing a large VBS and the comments were it was exhausting and a large blessing.

It will be very good to get back to ministry- we have loved getting together with all of you! But we deeply missed the ministry and are very excited about teaching/preaching/counseling/serving, and being able to send you reports of what God is doing to establish HIS church in the Amazon, Brazil.

Thanks to all of you for your love, prayers, and support.

Your servants HIS bondslaves
al and Kimberly

Christmas Special

noreply@blogger.com (Al Yoder) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 16:37:00 +0000

This Christmas:

Dear Friend, December 2010

Much is happening on the Amazon regarding the aviation program. It has been (and still will be) an uphill battle, but without it, we could not cover the 14 Indian villages we are covering with Bible Institute training for their leaders (that being the main reason for its existence, there would be no MEDIVAC flights, there would be no supply flights…).

The paperwork problem is almost at its end! Our thanks to Sharon Payne who has done a tremendous lot to help us get that detail done!

We no longer have had our shop. The last shop we worked with has cost us thousands of dollars in missing equipment, time down, and we are being asked not to use them anymore. The new shop, mentioned in our last prayer letter (with the roof blown off) is really struggling to get going, though at this time, humanly speaking, it is our only hope for maintenance. We thank God for Tim and his great sacrifice to help our missionary aviation stay alive.

We have done the calculations and it will cost far more to rebuild CJG than it is worth. We are down to (practically speaking) one airplane and it is still heavily regulated by a system that has not caught up to modern aviation (i.e. months waiting line for checkrides, float plane regulations that conflict with each other, etc.)

We have now found another major solution. Please read this carefully… The plane pictured above is a four place amphibious airplane that is under a category that does not need to be taken to a licensed shop to do maintenance (but does still require a Brazilian-approved mechanic, which I am). It has proven over time to be very reliable, will fly the speeds of our big-bird Cessna 185s, and will run at almost half the cost in AVGAS per hour, though it does carry less load. We can use it in the water and we can use it on land. We can do our own maintenance at our floating house/hangar under my Brazilian mechanic's license and save thousands of dollars per year.

We are now planning to keep DNY alive, but make some more changes to be able to comply with ANAC regulations. We are putting what is left of CJG up for sale.

We believe getting this airplane will move us into a new phase of ABWE-Air missionary aviation that will be workable at a fraction of the cost. The beauty of it is, we already have about half the money we need to make the purchase!

Now, this is going to sound like a sales pitch and it is not! It is just an excited aviation church planter that has found a solution to 10 long years of trying to solve a difficult situation. This is Christmas, a time when we spend megabucks on gifts for each other. May I have the liberty of making a comparison? If 50 people were to not get that plasma large screen TV and send that money to God's work, with the money we already have, it would be ours. If all of the members of all of our supporting churches were to give 10 dollars each, the plane would be flying for Jesus on the Amazon. Or, if all of our supporting churches were to give 1000 dollars, the airplane would be ours to set our program up for a long, long time.

We are not begging for money! If God wants us to have this, He will provide. I just wanted to show how little sacrifice it would take to make a major impact in ABWE Amazon aviation church planting, let alone freeing me up to do much more ministry flying than beaurocratic paperwork.

Please pray with us concerning this - a Christmas gift for the One who's birthday it really is! And please pray that God would send MORE pilots from either the USA or Brazil to train up to keep this work going, long after I can't fly anymore, if the Lord does not come back sooner.

Thanks so very much,

For HIS glory, for HIS work in His name.

Your servant, HIS bond slave,

Allen and Kimberly Yoder

ABWE

PO box 8585

Harrisburg, PA 17105-8585

Yoder Aviation account 0111983 sub account 007 aviation

ANY QUESTIONS?

allenyoder@aol.com

PLEASE check out our website: http://theyoderministry.com/

Special Project List

noreply@blogger.com (Al Yoder) — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 17:12:00 +0000

Special Project's list

Aviation:

1- The Brazilian Mission paperwork- (aviation) it has taken a long step forward last week. We hope to get the airplane's paperwork all in order as we start this next term.

2- The new shop- Tim Lankford's shop seems to be our only option open to us. Pray still for the funding we need to replace his roof that was destroyed in that storm.

3- New pilots- Things are looking much better for the continuation of the aviation ministry, but we as yet do not have replacements on hand to take over the flying of our little band of Cessna's… Please pray that if it is God's will to continue on, that He would soon supply some new pilots, either American or Brazilian to join the team.

4- Annual Inspection- We will be headed back to Brazil early next year, the first project being doing an annual inspection on DNY then flying it back down to SPO to start a new term

5- Teams- we are still hoping to have workers/teams in several areas. Tim is looking for mechanics that would give a short term to his maintenance hangar, with A&P and experience in doing annuals, on airplanes and/or helicopters

6- On land hangar- We are anticipating the possible construction of a hangar on land. More details after we get back and do some preliminary work.

Non-Aviation

1- MAP- missionary apprentice- Any older high school or college age that are interested in the MAP program for next summer or any other summer, please contact us at allenyoder@aol.com

2- GYM FLOOR- We will be having to re-cover (cement work) the gym floor behind our church (part of our property). Any teams of cement workers interested, please contact us as above…

3- Long range projects this term- we are anticipating the moving of the floating house downriver to another point in the latter part of this term.

getting our attention

noreply@blogger.com (Al Yoder) — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 00:40:00 +0000

Pray for the Aviation Church Planting work in São Paulo de Olivença

Is God is getting our attention?- we need prayer

Two weeks before we go home on furlough, we are robbed by our own guard

of two stainless steel drums of AVGAS- forcing us to move out all AVGAS

and leave the airplane in a hangar 150 miles upriver from “home”.

Military control turns to Civil Control in Aviation- result- Hangar license revoked.

The airplanes are taken to another shop for annuals. We are grounded for 3 years.

One airplane (above left corner) is now airworthy. The other airplane:

came up needing a lot of work…

To solve our woes, God supplied a new friend, Tim Lankford, BMM MK

now Continental pilot USA/Europe

who purchased a shop in Manaus

And a few weeks ago, along came a storm

and blew the hangar roof off.

Few weeks ago, our home town, with water at a record low and heavy rains, had a

landslide- leaving people without jobs, 200 without homes, and a fledgling church with a

lot to do.

For more pictures, check out our face book albums

IF you want the pictoral letters, please let us know via allenyoder@aol.com and we will add you to the list

Thanks for your prayers

Allen and Kimberly

August

noreply@blogger.com (Al Yoder) — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 18:00:00 +0000

Dear Friend,

It is somewhat hard to write letters to you at this time, for we feel so "un-plugged" from our real life. Being at home visiting our churches is not only a great joy, but also has precedence (Acts 14:27- … gathered the church… rehearsed all that God had done with them…) But it is so hard to leave our beloved children and all the work, hard to slow down from a heavy teaching preaching schedule to a "devotional and slide show"… though for sure, we have enjoyed the delightful weather (!) and seeing the beauty of God's creation as we travel the many miles…

We just finished a week of ME (missionary enrichment) classes and a second week as a "facilitator" for the candidates headed to the field in a class to teach them strategies and methods of church planting. We now are headed up for a meeting in NY Sunday followed by a wedding in Oxford Michigan. The wedding is on a Saturday, then we have an overnight drive to Atlanta to catch our plane back to Brazil.

August is busy, with a weeklong meeting in Sao Paulo (down south) with the Brazilian Association of Biblical Counselors. The next week we will be in Manaus a whole week working on renewing my mechanic's license (which is vital to our aircraft maint. needs - we really need prayer on that one- Aug 16-20), The following week, we will be joining Randy Richner, Fernando (VP for the association mentioned above) and another Brazilian for a combined track 1 and 2 of Biblical Counseling training we are giving at a seminary in Fortaleza, Brazil.

GOOD NEWS from the field- Our church is going rather well, far better than we expected, praise the Lord! We had a half hour call last night and got all caught up. We won't go into details here, but to ask for continued prayer for our toddler whom it seems is walking on it's own! This will allow us (upon return) to work more on outworks as we help the church continue to develop its autonomy. They also continue to support the young Ticuna Indian missionary from our church that is covering all the Indian works in our absence. This is very exciting news in the life of a church plant.

OTHER GOOD NEWS:

Pictured on the next page- we are finding solutions to our aviation dilemma- we are forming a partnership in networking with other pilots from other missions in the area of maintenance. Tim Lankford is a BMM MK, now a Continental Airlines pilot, that has purchased a shop (see pics) in Manaus. We hope (with successfully renewing my mech. license) that this will allow us to do all inspections at our own place, give us two bases in our area, and greatly help the security situation. Please pray that all this works out, greatly enhancing our current work and securing a future for this (still) very needy work! We are also working (with special help now) at getting the plane documents changed over to our area in Manaus. Some documents are needed from the 1960s that we have not been able to find yet- so pray with us that we can find them or resolve the problem through a hired on attorney.

August 1, 2010

The new shop in Manaus is at the Airclub. It's success can keep the airplanes up and flying, and therefore keep the Indian works growing- and starting to reproduce.

GOOD NEWS- we received a letter from the two Indians that work on staff with us, one a missionary from our SPO church. They want teaching in how to organize a mission and start sending our missionaries from their own association- this is also quite exciting! We are prepping classes even now on the subject.

As weather changes, so does the interpretation of the law by those in power over us. It is becoming apparent that if we tie in with the NEW shop, we will not have to buy a rebuilt engine! But with the paperwork push and inspections at hand, and a lawyer now to pay, we still need to pray for and ask for funds to help. Thanks for joining us in prayer for that one!

As I write while putting through the Pocono mountains and the breathtaking beauty and majesty- I am reminded how big our God is, and how small our problems really are in comparison.

Thanks to all of you once again for your love, prayers, and support. God give you a blessed summer's end.

Always

Your servant and HIS bond slaves

Allen and Kimberly

On the road

noreply@blogger.com (Al Yoder) — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 00:21:00 +0000

Dear Friends,

Hello to you all- crazy two weeks, 5000 miles on the road- sometimes I wonder if there is a better way… but wow, what a blessing it is getting to see you all again and have the sweet fellowship we so miss when on the field. Besides meeting in churches, we also got to work on a few planes with Phil Bowers, a man that has made it his mission to help us missionary pilots in a big way.

Next on the list is a renewal course in Nashville Tuesday, and then up north east to see Al's folks for the first time this furlough! We are really looking forward to that - Our nephew Robbie Colby will be getting married on the 10th, all gifts can go to the Yoder aviation fund (just kidding)…

We then have a week at the ABWE ME conference and will get to help out at the new candidate training school the week after. We have a meeting in the far north of New York state Aug 1, then a wedding in Oxford Michigan the 6th/7th, a long drive to Atlanta overnight as we board Sunday afternoon for Brazil again.

August: 9- 13 we are in the annual meeting of the ABCB (Brazilian Association of Biblical Counselors). 16 – 20 (please mark these for special prayer!!) we head to the other end of Brazil to Manaus where we hope to renew our Mechanic license, Move the other plane to a shop that will help me rebuild it, and work on aviation paperwork. 23- 27 we return to Fortaleza to team teach an entire track 1 and 2 conference in Biblical Counseling. We head back for home arriving Lord willing August 30, Atlanta.

Many pastors and churches have asked for project needs- our outstanding one now is the finances to do the rebuild on the airplane engine and equipment for the shop.

Please pray with us as this is no small project, but we have no small God! We should have (in about a month) a website with all the information, films, description, etc.

Thanks again for your love and prayers. Looking forward to seeing the rest of you in the months to come as we head to your churches for the needed report.

Your servant, HIS bondslaves
Allen and Kimberly Yoder