Saying good-bye to many Brazilian friends It felt oddly familiar as, over the last 5 months, we have transitioned out our responsibilities in Santarém, sold everything and said goodbye to loved ones and friends to move across the world. Seven years ago, we did the same thing when we moved to Santarém. Now, our destination is Tokyo — plus 3 kids. Before our April 24th arrival in Japan, we will spend some time visiting family, friends and supporting churches as we look to raise additional support. Our goal is to raise $8,000 of monthly support. Our current remaining schedule looks like this:
Sun, Feb 16: 1st Free Moline
Sun, Feb 23: Crosspoint Eureka
Sun, Mar 2: Geneseo Free
Sun, Mar 9: New Life Morton
We just happened to return to the midwest for one of the worst winters in recent history, piling the miles on the van just as fast as the snow can fall. I missed experiencing winter after living in 7 years of eternal summer, but I’m quickly getting my fill of the wild weather and will soon be ready for Spring. While the girls like the snow, they also are experiencing the not-so-nice side of the 4-season life: cabin fever. We have been eating plenty of McDonald’s recently, or any other food place that offers indoor playlands — anywhere the girls can run around and burn some energy!
Rebecca and Anna go sledding for the first time with their cousin Sophie
We very-much look forward to visiting our churches, friends and family and connect and catch up. We’ve been encouraged by many who have increased their support and others who have just started supporting. We are excited about this new chapter God is writing and your love and support is more critical than ever. We’ll see you soon!
We recently went with a team of Brazilians from our PAZ churches to minister an Encounter with God in Japan — the first one ever for our PAZ churches there. The Encounter with God is a powerful weekend with the purpose of bringing each and every person face to face with their loving Savior. It’s one thing to hear about God and know about Him, but it’s another thing entirely to experience Him. Here in Brazil, people come away from the weekend on fire for God, and there are always testimonies of how God breaks the power of sin, bad habits, addictions, unforgiveness, bitterness, failed marriages, homosexuality, prostitution, rebellion, witchcraft, unhealthy dependencies, hatred and just about any other vice you can imagine. The team that ministers the Encounter spends at least one month in prayer and fasting for this to happen, and the results have been nothing short of tremendous for the Brazilian church.
Arriving in Tokyo
One of our big prayer requests was that God would pour out the fire of what He is doing in Brazil on the Japanese. As we prayed, we all sensed that God would move powerfully and that this is the time of harvest for Japan. And that’s exactly what happened. We heard several testimonies of how people’s lives were transformed when they met with God face to face, and those that didn’t get to go are already wishing they had. Several people were called into ministry, some to reach their friends and family for Christ, and others as missionaries to closed countries! Others experienced release of forgiveness and bitterness, receiving healing for past traumas and deceptions. Missionary Tim Huber said that in all his 20 plus years in Japan, he had never seen such a powerful response as this!
The church hears powerful testimonies of what God did at the Encounter
But our purpose wasn’t just to bless Japan in the short-term, but to also be praying about long-term missions in Japan. Japan is an unreached country, with less than 1% Christian. In fact, Japan remains one of the most secular nations in the world according to the World Values Survey. PAZ Japan leaders Tim & Christine Huber have been praying and requesting a Brazilian missionary team in the explosive ADM vision of cell group and discipleship for some time now. Already Paul Hrubik, Ruth’s brother, is there with a several year commitment to pastor one of the churches and transition it to an ADM church. He is doing a tremendous job, and the church is soaking it up, well on their way!
Anna and Becca with cousin Paul
The Japan Team would ideally consist of 5-10 couples and is slated to move in the summer of 2014. We have been selected as one of the couples to go, so we covet your prayers for this to be completely confirmed for us. Interestingly enough, as a little girl, Ruth used to dream about serving with her Uncle Tim (Huber) in Japan, but never got a chance to go. Now we have seen with our own eyes the overwhelming need of the Gospel in Japan, and our own hearts go out to them. We feel like God is confirming in so many ways. Thank you so much for all your love and support. We need it more than ever! God bless,
Christmas Eve marked 6 years for us in Brazil! Wow, what a time it’s been. Just looking back on 2012:
The girls rode their tricycles down the hill at Grandma & Grandpa’s house 1,967 times (more or less).
I recorded and produced the church’s 2nd worship CD: Adoração com Propósito
We spent some time in the States going to the weddings of Debbie & Ben, Jed & Susan
Ministered alongside Reinhard Bonnke in the Congresso da Paz, bringing over a thousand people into the Kingdom
Had fun missions teams and great visits from Geneseo, New Life, and several friends
Continued in disciple-making and leading/supervising our ever-multiplying cell groups!
Had one of the best MDA conferences yet with participants who came as far as Japan and Italy
Became the Leader of Praise & Worship at the PAZ Church when the leading pastor (Pastor Welson) went to a new base to take over leadership
Became pregnant with our next baby! That’s right, #3 is coming along, due early July!
For more on our 2012, click to open our Christmas newsletter
All this week are Christmas celebrations, next week is new years and right afterwards the Leadership Conference. Then we have a week or two to prepare for Japan — yes Japan! We are going there on a vision trip with the possibility of going to help the PAZ churches there over the next several years. Looks like our first 3 months of 2013 are set 🙂 Enjoy these picture highlights from 2012! Click on your favorites to see them full screen. We love you and appreciate your love and support so much!
Judging by the start of 2011, it should be an exciting, fruitful year! The girls are quite busy people, walking around, climbing on anything and everything, blabbing away and even helping mom and dad with the housecleaning. They are more and more fun every day as they interact with us and each other. The word “no” is being taught, much to their dismay (but for their own good). Being parents of twins is not just a full-time job — it’s two full-time jobs. Fortunately over the holidays we had Ruth’s family in town to celebrate Christmas with us! We were so, so very busy last year that this year we are paring back a bit in order to balance our new life-responsibilities well!
The Hrubik family all together!
Robbery Prompts New Security Measures
Among some of the more interesting happenings as of recently has been the theft of several things from our property. Just before Christmas, robbers started entering our yard when we were not home — jumping over the tall walls. Unfortunately, we had lots of the girls clothes stolen, their bedding, our clothes and many other things left on the drying line. Just two weeks ago they opened up our outdoor chest freezer and took everything in it — tupperware and all! Even the brooms and fabric softener went. We had to do something, so we installed a security-camera system to deter the thieves. But they just kept coming in, even entering while we were at home. When we saw them trying to break into our house (via the video footage), we knew something more had to be done. We got some quotes and installed some concertina wire around the walls. The stuff is nasty, and hopefully will deter the crooks. Hence the “sharp” start to the year.
A few fingers were pricked during the installation of this fence.
But no security measure is perfect, nor could it be. Our treasure isn’t here on this earth anyway. Thank goodness our treasure is in a place where thieves can never steal it. Is yours? Sometimes you don’t know the answer to that until something is stolen. What would your attitude be then? In the end, we’ve been praying for the good of our “enemies” by praying for their repentance and salvation. But we must also be wise in this world and do our part to protect our family and the things God has given us to use for His Work, hence the fence.
2011 — The Year of Discipleship
Looking back on 2010, we were able to complete a vast majority of our goals. The CD was launched successfully, we had a successful (but quick) furlough in the States, our ministry and family grew (physically, not in numbers). But some of these things happened at the expense of other goals: cell group and discipleship growth. For 2011, we realized we needed to make these things a bigger priority, because they’re a priority to God. 2011 is the year of discipleship and multiplication (cell group growth). We are focusing on investing in our future leaders and disciples, to raise them up to take over the groups we’re going to multiply this year.
Our vision is to multiply our group early this year, supervizing the new groups as we train in two different couples in each group to lead. Then in October, we multiply both of those groups again, installing 4 couples as leaders. Please pray with us to see that happen! To invest in leaders, it takes time, but the harvest in great!
Praise and Prayer Requests
Praises
Our continual safety in Brazil
Generous year-end gifts
A great 2010, with an even better 2011 coming
Requests
The raising up of new leaders
Wisdom in balancing all of our responsibilities in the mission, church, family and ministry
Continued increase in support
We thank each and everyone of you from the bottom of our heart for your generous support of our family and Project AmaZon. We look forward to seeing all that God has for us in 2011! Enjoy these pictures and don’t forget to click them to see them larger!
I arrived home in Brazil to this beautiful woman! Ruth is 6 months along, and she and the babies are doing well. We just had an ultrasound done yesterday and found that one baby is 1 kg and the other 750 g. This is well within the normal range but means that there is a 2 week difference in the due date of the babies. We’re praying that the smaller one catches up with the bigger one. In just the last week (since the last ultrasound) the smaller one made progress, so praise God! Doctor’s orders are for Ruth to eat well and rest much. Wow! Not bad 🙂 Our doctor here is great and meets with Ruth almost once a week to keep a close watch on those precious babies.
I had a wonderful trip to the States, visiting family and friends, running across the States like a madman! A few of the highlights included:
3 family reunions (dad’s side, mom’s side & immediate) in 2 weeks
Going to the Henry Ford Museum
Visiting a couple churches, pastors and missions teams
Staying in 6 different homes 6 days in a row!
Seeing a car go through a building (not on purpose either)
Golfing the worst and best golf game of my life
Enjoying hot tubs everywhere I went
Seeing how much things have (and in some cases have not) changed in 3 years
I got a chance to see many of you and thank God for allowing me to pack in so much in such a short time.
Good thing I handled my own travel arrangements - these guys aren't the safest
Speaking of packing, I was able to bring down lots and lots of baby goodies as well as lots of the food cravings Ruth had. Using nearly every pound I had, I got everything down and nothing broke or spilled. Now that’s packing! I passed one of the important tests of missionhood.
The Reutter Family (minus Ruth)
Now that I’m back, I’m being put to work on an exciting new project with Project AmaZon. It’s our largest communication effort and I’m excited to dive in, but it means lots and lots of work. Work I need to do before the twins come! So off to work I go. Thanks for your prayers and support, they are making a huge difference here in the Amazon.
