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11 September 2001

Special messages, and excerpts from messages, in response to the terrorist attack on New York.

All of these people were ones that I met during my Spring of 2000 ( August to December ) trip to Brazil, during which time I helped tutor a number of students in that are learning English in the Webb language school operated by ISBL. The several missions teams that came to Londrina during that time also met most of them.

Remember that many people in Brazil can be very emotional about many things. A number of people there were just as upset about the terrorist attacks as we in the USA were.

Because of all the missions related activitiy in the Londrina area, many people there have a number of friends in The States. Therfore a number of these messages were sent to a number of different people.

All messages are as close to as-written as possible, with some lines left out, due to the personal or administrative nature of that part of the contents. Some characters may appear strange on your computer. This is because they originated in Brasil, and certain computer codes for different characters do not agree between the standards used in various countries.

To:
From: "Priscila"
Subject: MAY GOD BE WITH YOU DURING THESE DIFFICULT TIMES
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 17:32:48 -0700

Dear American Friends
 
I know don't how to start this but what I really would like is just to let you know that my heart is with you
and I'm praying for this whole situation in your country. Praying for the people who are trapped in the airports,
for the families who lost their dear ones, the president so that he may receive wisdom from up above and for you
all who probably are going through lots of tension, and I promise I will try to pray for the responsible for this disaster that they may encounter the God of all the earth who is above political and any other beliefs.
God is control, He is almighty and He knows what it is all about even when we can't understand and I'm sure He will help you through. I hope you will receive the comfort that only comes from Him right now.
 
Love each and every one of you
 
In Him
Priscila
The flower at right was e-mailed by this woman student at Webb, included as an attachment as part of the message below. This woman was an entry-level student at Webb during my 2000 trip to Brazil, and so the mere fact that she found the courage to write the following in English was a wonderful encouragement to me.

From: (name not revealed)
Subject: I'm here
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 20:28:50 -0700

I'm studying English two times a week but....
I'm not very well yet.
So, excuse me my mistakes, ok?
My life is wonderfull, because of God's mercy!
I work a lot every day.
And you?
How are you with the attack in New York?
The Brasilians are very worried!!
God bless your nation, ok?
To:
From: Rev.Valdir
Subject: En: From your brothers from Brazil
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2001 16:57:52 -0300

Dear Brothers,

This morning we woke up still shocked with the latest events which toke place in your country yesterday. We were flooded with news from morning, going through the nigth giving us all un update with the news. This is just a short message to say that all your brothers around the world, including this part of Brazil, are praying and asking God for guidance and wisdom for "those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quit lives in all godliness and holiness."

We are also praying for those families who lost their dear ones in this horrible atack. I want to share with you this morning a message from 1 Peter 1:3-7, I hope that it migth encourage you all in keep praying for those who did that and that the outcome this may glorify the Lord.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy has given us new birth into a living hope through the ressurection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the savation that is ready to be reaveled in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith - of great worthy than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed."

Please do keep in touch

May the Lord of Peace, make your hearts rest in the begining of this new day

Your Brothers and Friends
Valdir, Silvana, Rebeca and Filipe França

From: Adriana
Subject: THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD
Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2001 20:18:45 -0700

Dear brother Glenn.
We´re terribly sorry for the great lost in America.
However, we believe in the sovereignty of GOD. His Word has to be fullfiled and it is happening!
I´m thankful to GOD that Jan and her family, finaly arrived here safe and sound.
The American missionaries that were with us on the Cruzade also went back to the States and are all fine!
More than 15,000 people gave their lives to Jesus! Praise the Lord!
 
Hope you are fine.
"CHILDREN YOU BELONG TO GOD, AND YOU HAVE DEFEATED THESE ENEMIES. GOD´S SPIRIT IS IN YOU AND IS MORE POWERFUL THAN THE ONE THAT IS IN THE WORLD.1John 4:4
God bless you,
in HIM,
Adriana
Brasil
 
The following message was a small part of a regular missionary update from the Dormer family. Jan Dormer is one of the primary people that helped develop the Webb school.

To:
From: Rod & Jan Dormer
Subject: Dormer Update From Brazil
Date: Sun, 23 Sep 2001 23:05:46 -0300

As many of you know, we were on our way to the airport on Sept. 11 to return to Brazil, when we heard about the terrorist attacks on the radio. We were so fortunate to have not been in the air, nor be stuck in a strange airport. We returned to my parents home to wait.

We were finally able to leave on Friday, and wondered what awaited us at the airport with the necessary tightening of security. Well, let me tell you, you've probably never had your stuff searched like ours was searched. We had eight large, very carefully packed containers. They went through each and every item in each piece. Unwrapping, opening; in essence undoing my work of art. It took about an hour. And yes, we had things broken when we arrived as a result of this process. But the good part was that they were nice about it all. They were just doing what had to be done, and God did give me the grace to bear it!

When we arrived in Newark, there had been some kind of scare, and people were evacuating the airport. Never having been one to just take someone else's word for things, Rod said we would head to our gate anyway, until someone in a uniform stopped us. Well, Rod was right. Our gate was okay. It was further away that was being evacuated, and after about half an hour the whole airport was re-opened.

We had an uneventful flight, and God REALLY helped us entering Brazil. First, we had no trouble with immigration. We had thought we might, as we had gone beyond our 90 day limit due to the attack. But we were stamped and through more quickly than ever before. Next came the miracle of customs. I saw most people ahead of us being directed to the side where they check the luggage. I prayed, "Oh God, I really don't think I can go through this again." God must have agreed, because when it was our turn, the guy looked at us with our eight pieces and said, "Are you living in Brazil?" We answered yes. "Are these just clothes and household things?" We answered yes. "Go on then," he said, motioning us to the CLEAR line. I almost shouted hallelujah.

When we exited we found ourselves face to face with flashing cameras and cheering crowds. I assumed there must have been someone famous on board (I was pretty sure it wasn't us!), but later learned that our flight was being celebrated as the first one from the New York area to Brazil after the disaster. I never found out if we were on the news or not that night.

The last miracle came when we got our flight from São Paulo to Londrina. Our tickets weren't for the right day, of course. Normally we would have been put through a long procedure to get them re-issued. But the manager was walking by just as she heard the counter guy give us that directive. She turned to us and asked, "Are you coming from the New York area?" We said yes. Then she turned to the guy and said, "Let them go on those tickets." Well, an even more amazing thing happened with our luggage. It was 182 kg overweight, which would have been very, very expensive. Just as the guy was tallying up the figures, the manager again stepped in and said, "Let it go." Wow! Thank God for that manager!

That was a week ago today. We have our house back in order now, with most things put away. The girls are back in school, and actually happy to be there. (A very positive note: the coordinator decided that they don't have to make up any work!) We have re-stocked our kitchen, and I was even able to make a bunch of strawberry jam! I was so pleased that there are still strawberries here. The season ends about this time.

There is much more that I wish I could include here, but would be difficult to do so. During my December 2001 - January 2002 trip to Brazil, many people came up to me and talked about the attack. Some I could understand, and some I could not (My Portuguese isn't that good). While there was some mention of the Brazilians that had lost their lives in the terrorist attacks, and the sadness over the loss to Brasil, many were just plain overcome by sadness. There were also many questions about the USA's foreign policy, and why the USA insists on giving money to other countries that then terrorize the USA or other places. One person showed me a place in the prophet Daniel ( Daniel 8:1-8) where he felt that perhaps the terrorist attack might have been seen in the Old Testament. ( Remember that in Brasil, somewhere around 60 to 80% of the people are involved in some sort of voodoo or other occult practice. While this activity is not at all part of the protestant church teachings, this part of the culture, and the viewing of signs and wonders and spiritual meaning of all earthly acts, is something that many in Brasil are familiar with because these things are also part of the traditional occult practices there.)

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