Thank you so much for visiting the website. We are leaving for Brazil September 25, 2008. Sarah and I were married on December 16, 2006. On August 11, 2006, we returned from our 6 week survey trip to Brazil. We both had a blast and really saw where we could be used on the field. Sarah saw the need for counselors in the hospital and I saw the continuing needs of training Brazilians in the church.
We would love to have you join our prayer support team by keeping updated on us and praying for us. David sends out an update letter about once a month. To receive it, just send him an email at carrelda@gmail.com with Update email in the subject box. Also, you may view our video online if you would like at http://media.putfile.com/Dave-and-Sarah-Carrel-missionarys-to-Brazil
A new thing online is an interview. To view this, go to www.missionarytalks.com and episode 21 to hear this interview.
We would love to have anyone visit us on the field (when we get there) and we are also recruiting for people to go to the Amazon.
Bits June
June 30th, 2009 -
5 down, 1 to go. We can't believe it, but we finished our fifth session of language school last week and we only have six more weeks of class! Sarah keeps telling everyone that she feels like she needs another year of class. And she has a great point to that as there are still so many concepts we have not fully grasped and there are so many times when we do not understand. But then I look at how far we have come, and I am very encouraged. We can pretty much communicate to everyone and whether it is the easiest way to say it or not, we generally get our point across. However we still hear the same thing this Yankee heard all the time in school in the south: "you ain't from around here, are you?" I guess college prepared me to hear it even more here in Brazil. Oh well. Another ten years in Brazil and they may not be saying that anymore.
Sarah started the Story of Hope with the ladies Bible study this last month and although a few of them were hesitant to study a basic book, they are all really glad they are going through it. A few of the ladies go back to the states for the month of July and so they are breaking for this month, but then they will be back in August going through the New Testament stories and then take a look at the Bridge to Life, which is the back of the Story of Hope that explains what the Bible says about God, Man, Sin, Death, Christ, Cross, Faith, Life and how the decision to believe what the Bible says results in salvation. So often I think that we get into studying passages and stories and forget to look at God's overall plan of redemption which involves the whole story of the Bible. When you study the Bible chronologically with a focus on those things, you see God's Sovereign control and His brilliant plan for salvation!
I have stayed busy studying for Sunday school each week in which we are going through Romans, as well as doing a Men's study through Isaiah. I have not studied the prophets that much in my life and I have learned a lot from Isaiah. This next month pray for me as I will be preaching in Portuguese on July 12 and 26. The first time will be over Romans 7:1-12 and the second over Romans 8:1-17. Romans is so deep and requires quite a bit of studying, so pray that I will be able to communicate God's message through Paul to the Romans in a culturally relevant way to the Brazilians here! I am excited and nervous about the opportunity as we can never take lightly the preaching of God's Word.
Also, please pray for the church down here as we seek to reach out. The people that we are trying to reach are a really tough group to try to reach. Despite hard work in numerous outreach events, we have had few people show up. The people here work a lot and then spend time with family on the weekends and so there is really little time that they want to spend at a church. Pray that God will do a work in their hearts so that they will be more open to the gospel.
Thank you to those who heard about me having issues of my back and prayed for me. I would not consider it too serious now thanks to your prayers. Please pray that it will heal completely so that I can be my normal active self again. I miss playing soccer. ha. Also, our move went well and we are settled into our new apartment! I will leave the address below for those who need it. Thank you for all your faithful prayers and support. We are so blessed to have so many friends! God bless. All for HIS glory, David and Sarah Carrel
Baby Update: Evelyn is moving all around now and has definitely grown. Sarah has been very healthy and we are looking forward to the end of September!
Address: Costa Rica 17/701 Bloc A Jardim Lindoia, POA, RS 91050-210, Brazil
