Letting Somebody Know...So the World May Know

August 23, 2008

Pan American Christian Academy

Life got exciting when school started on August 6. PACA is influencing the lives of over 350 students this year, the highest enrollment ever. All but two of the classes are completely full with waiting lists. The PACA admissions committee had to turn down over 100 students because of space and language difficulties. On September 8 the teachers are being trained to use the new English Second Language software that will be used with the laptops that the Enid MB church mission group brought to us over the summer. We are so grateful for this gift!

Kindergarten Class

Denice is busy orienting 25 new kindergarteners to the concept of sitting quietly, not talking unless called on, and following directions….no easy task. She is really enjoying working with her classroom aid, Julie Cuthbertson. Julie is a certified teacher and is from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her husband is a graduate of PACA and has returned to Sao Paulo on a business venture with four of their six kids. Two of their children attend PACA.

Tim, Ty, Timmy, Jr.

After spending his summer in Indiana working for his uncle, Tim Jr. returned to Sao Paulo for the last year of his high school career. He is involved in the PACA worship team, the all school play, soccer and basketball while taking seven tough courses. He is concerned about life after PACA and is sincerely seeking the Lord’s direction. Please pray that the Lord will make His plans clear.

Admin and More

Now that I have finished my rookie season as a PACA administrator they have handed me a few more responsibilities. I have 26 juniors that I meet with every school day morning to take them through the books of Acts, Romans and the Pauline Epistles. As the junior class sponsor I am responsible for numerous “big events” including the junior-senior banquet and a major fundraising dinner theatre. I am mentoring four high school boys who I meet with at least once per week to talk, study scripture and pray. I am also coaching the varsity girls’ basketball team. My thirteen girls lost our first game in overtime to last years conference and post-season tournament champions. We’ll get em next time!



Accreditation Visit to Managua, Nicaragua

The Association of Christian Schools International has asked me to be a part of an accreditation team to Nicaragua Christian School. I will be traveling to Managua the end of March to serve on this team of four Christian school professionals. This particular school is an English speaking Christian school, like PACA. But they also have a Spanish speaking school campus where they minister to local Nicaraguan students in Spanish. This is a direction that the Lord could be leading PACA.

Favella Children’s Ministry

As the Enid MB mission team discovered, there are numerous outreach ministries in our area of Sao Paulo. As time allows, Denice, Timmy and I are involved in a few of them. For the last few Sunday afternoons we have been going to help with a children’s ministry at the Villa Sao Jose MB church. This ministry started last spring as a few of the church members would dress up in costumes and go into the favella (ghetto) to attract kids and bring them back to the church for an Awana type program. There are now between 30-70 kids that meet every Sunday afternoon to hear the gospel through this program.

Christian Camp and Bible Training Center

MB missionaries, Jim and Mari Lou Nightengale, along with MBMSI and eleven Sao Paulo churches are teaming together to open a Christian camping ministry and Bible training center just 45 minutes south of PACA. A 30 acre piece of the coastal rain forest has been miraculously purchased with the final paperwork being legalized about one week ago. They hope to purchase an adjoining 70 acres before Christmas. After the existing buildings are renovated and more buildings built, the facility will be used by local churches, street children’s ministries, orphanages, PACA, and sports ministries and more. We have had the pleasure of working alongside Jim and Mari Lou in this venture.

English Sunday School

Denice and I are excited about teaching an adult Sunday School class at Calvary International church this semester. This English speaking church literally has people from all over the world in attendance. We are looking at our faith through the eyes of the New Testament Christians.

Trade School for Rain Forest Indians

Moises and Davy Kang are living with us this school year in order to attend PACA. Their parents are Korean missionaries to the Brazilian Indians in the rain forest. Just recently after planting a church in Northern Matto Grosso the local Brazilian government awarded the Kang’s a land grant of 24,000 square meters in order to open a trade school in Juina, Matto Grosso. These rain forest Indian students will learn local trades while living in campus housing in Juina. Missionaries are not allowed to spend the night in the various tribes in the rain forest for fear that the missionaries may destroy the Indians cultural heritage. Consequently, one of the ways to reach these people is to have them come out of the rain forest and into trade school. The Kang boys are both tri-lingual, knowing Korean, Portuguese and English. Even though their mom and dad don’t know English, we have had a great time meeting and visiting with them. Moises and Davy are a great help to us when we need to communicate in Portuguese. Groundwork began for the new school in June and Construction on the trade school is to begin in December.

Fifteen Prayer Items

350 Students at Pan American Christian Academy
Denice, Julie and their 26 kindergarteners
Timmy’s future plans
Administrative Wisdom at PACA
Junior Bible Class
Junior Class Events
Varsity Women’s Basketball Team
Accreditation Visit to Managua, Nicaragua
Villa Soa Jose Favella Children’s Ministry
Christian Camp and Bible Training Center
English Sunday School Class
Trade School for Rain Forest Indians
Moises and Davy Kang and their parents
That Denice and I would continue to learn Portuguese
Financial Support for Continued Work in Brazil

Support Situation

Well, that should update you on our adventure here in Brazil. I am sure there is a lot more we could tell you, but you may want a life of your own. We currently have enough money in our account at MBMSI to stay in Brazil another 3 months and one week. Because PACA provides our house, a car, insurance and a small salary we are able to live in Brazil for $1,300 in donations per month. This is a great deal compared to many missionary families around the world. We have always believed that our calling to Brazil is a team effort. The people at Oklahoma Bible Academy, at the Enid Mennonite Brethren Church, at Corn Bible Academy and other friends and family members are all part of this team. Thank you so much for your part! I have just finished reading Jim Cymbala’s book “Fresh Power – What happens when God leads and you follow.” It reminded me that the Holy Spirit is the one that makes things happen. It is not me, not you, not programs, not schools, not even churches…….UNLESS…… we are following the Holy Spirits lead. Pray that God will give us Holy Spirit Power like many in the early church experienced.

We would love to hear from you. Just a short email from you brightens our day. We would love to hear what the Lord is doing in your life.

If the Lord leads you to give financially you can do so by sending your check to:

Mennonite Brethren Missions and Services
4867 E. Townsend Ave.
Fresno, CA 93727

Make your check payable to MBMSI and designate project # CO 561 with your check.

You can also donate online by going to http://www.mbmsi.org/ MBMSI will allow you to use a credit card or establish an automatic withdrawal account.

Thanks for being a part of our team!

Grateful to Him,

Tim Kuhns