March Prayer Letter

March 2015

Dear Praying Friends,

The entire process started a year ago.  Last March we journeyed up to the capitol, Lisbon, to take the mandatory Portuguese language exams which lasted all day.  When we received the results three months later, we had all passed with flying colors!

Then we had to gather all the required documents and information the Portuguese government required.  In October, it was time to turn in our applications, all the gathered documents and pay the required “processing fees”.  They informed us we would hear from them within two weeks. 

Three months later we still hadn’t heard from them in spite of our phone calls and emails requesting information.  We went in to the immigration office yet again only to be told that they needed one more document.  My wife pulled out the original and asked, “This letter, the one you made copies of three months ago?”  The sheepish bureaucrat looked at her computer and admitted that they did have that letter.  She left to talk with her boss who decreed the letter had to be notarized and given official seals not only by the U.S. government but by the Portuguese embassy in Washington, D.C.  They promised that if we were able to obtain this, then we would receive the desired residencies. 

Finally, one year after we started the process, they accepted our final document with all its official seals and stamps; we paid the exorbitant fees and received our PERMANENT RESIDENCIES!!!  Praise the Lord for this great victory!!  We want to thank those who gave financially to help cover the costs and those who prayed for God to intervene! 

Praising God and thanking you,

Mark Hale

February Prayer Letter

February 2015

Dear Praying Friends,

He came into the auditorium that Thursday evening with wide eyes and wonderment all over his face.  He spotted me at the pulpit and made a bee line to me with his hand outstretched.  “It is so good to finally get to meet you, Pastor Mark!” he said enthusiastically pumping my hand.  “After all these classes, I finally get to meet you in person!”  I had never met this man before and was a bit confused that he seemed to know me on sight.  Looking around he saw the video camera hooked up to the computer and rushed over to look through the viewfinder.  “Yep, this is where it all takes place!” he said with a wide smile. “I never thought I would get to take these classes in person!”  It finally began to dawn on me what he was talking about.

We have students from Portugal, Brazil, the Czech Republic and Spain meeting with us each week in our two Bible Institutes here, but many more tune in on line in their respective countries to take our classes via the Internet.  At last count we have between 20 and 30 on line students from Angola, Mozambique, Guinea Bissau, Brazil and other parts of Portugal.  Each one of these Portuguese speaking countries needs the gospel and we are thrilled to have an international influence upon the lives and ministries of people we may never meet while here on earth. 

This was the first on line student to move to Portugal and begin taking classes in person.  Only God knows the eternal impact these Bible Institute classes will have!  Thank you for making it possible for us to minister in southern Portugal and in other countries as a result of this vital ministry!

Teaching “all” nations,

Mark Hale