UPDATE - Bea Klingensmith, Missionary, Brazil 6/24/10

July 7th will be here before I know it, and I will get on the plane to Manaus and then to Miami, arriving at 8:25 pm. A couple from Fort Lauderdale will meet me and take me to their home for the night. The next day I will fly to Houston to meet my brother, David, and his family. That will be a big day for his two grandsons and me. July 20th I will continue to Pittsburgh, where I will meet my sister, Ruth Ann, and her family, with her 4 grandchildren. We will have a good time together with sweet corn, yellow beans, blackberries and all the good things of farm life that I miss here.

Yesterday I had to go into Belém, which is only 25 kilometers (15 1/2 mi) from Benevides, where I live. Even so, it took over an hour on a 4-lane road. The long line at the bank to exchange money made me think I wouldn't finish there in time to have blood drawn for an exam. The first thing I had to do was get permission from my Health Plan, and their laboratory didn't understand the doctor's writing, so they sent me to another laboratory. I had to pay the fee and then they will refund me. The results will be ready Monday. I went to the doctor´s office to make an appointment and it was closed – World Cup Soccer Game. I went to a big supermarket and it was closing – Soccer Game. I wanted to pick up medicine to take home, but pharmacy closed – Soccer Game. Headed home and the streets were empty – Soccer Game. I returned home quicker than ever due to no traffic and found everyone in the Ebenezer building watching the – Soccer Game. I was tired, so I sat in my recliner and watched the – Soccer Game. Brazil won! Yay!

In May we had some good and bad excitement around here. Sandy Parker, our director's wife, had some seizures that proved to be caused by a tumor in her head, discovered by exams done here. Gary thought it best to take her to the states. Gary's father and his wife came here to be with their teenagers while they finished school. Rick and Kim Parker had college kids and doctors coming to travel to the river people and needed translators. They called me to go as I have the last couple years. I hadn't planned on going this year since I´m going on furlough. I went and enjoyed myself, as always, and we attended more than 1,000 people spiritually and physically. It was a blessing to see young people challenged to help others know the gospel and doctors giving of their time and energy to provide medicine for these river people. While I was gone, they had our 4th Women´s Conference; that was blessed with some 200 women attending who enjoyed the challenges to walk with God daily.
Now Dick and Cleide are on the boat, too, with another group, and the teenagers are with their parents. Sandy had the tumor removed and is doing well. June 14th they started with radiation treatments to give more assurance it is gone. We trust God will bring her through this difficult situation. Please pray with us.

School is out June 25 and the students will be gone until the first week of August. They will have ministries in various places during the month. Third year students will be going to the Amazon area to work with our missionaries there. In July the others will have 5 weeks of camp. Be in prayer for the counselors and camp leaders as they prepare for the month's ministry and carry on the work.

Pray that Adriane and the librarians will be confident to carry on with library responsibilities while I'm gone. We had a nice noon dinner Monday in a new Benevides restaurant. They seemed to enjoy themselves and I praise God for each one. I'm working hard at getting the library and house ready for others to use.

I hope to see you during furlough. E-mail me to set up an appointment.