Steve & Debra Rowe
Camipinas, Brazil

They currently have a project to purchase land and build a new hospitality house better suited for the needs of their guests.  Debra and Steve are also volunteer chaplains at that children's cancer hospital, and try to minister truth, comfort and hope to those who are suffering. 
Where They Live: Camipinas is a city of about 1 million people.  Steve and Debra live on the periphery of the city, in the neighborhood which has two modern hospitals as well as one of Brazil's largest universities. 
Prayer Requests: Pray as Steve works to train nationals in the area of missions and spiritual life.  Also pray as Debra and Steve minister as chaplains at the hospital and through the hospitality house as they share the love of Christ to those who are receiving cancer treatments, as well as for the new hospitality house project.
 

Mission Field Council The Brazil team of Converge World Wide,along with Mike and Marcia Flinchum, gathered this past October in Campinas for our annual field council. We meet to present and approve ministry plans and budgets, and get caught up on our lives as we listen and pray, sharing highlights and concerns. As field coordinator I coordinate the work toward our final proposal that we just sent to Mike, the CWW Regional Director of Latin America. It can be an arduous process, but it’s what enables us to exercise accountability in our ministry activities and financial planning.

Leadership Training 2012
Just days prior to our return to Brazil in June I was informed by the seminary where I teach that there were no classes for me this semester. Well, that was a surprise! I knew there would be plenty of other things that needed to be done in getting resettled, and responsibilities with mission administration that could be given more attention. But I couldn’t have imagined that in September I would literally be out of commission with a sciatic nerve problem from a protruding disk. Now recuperating and initiating physical therapy, I’m expecting to be able to handle the three classes I’ve been given for the first semester of 2012: Introduction to Cross-Cultural Missions, The Local Church and Missions, and Christian Spiritual Growth. I value your prayers as I prepare.

Christmas in Brazil
Last Christmas Eve our daughter, Krista, and Alex,her husband, announced that they were expecting. What a delight to be celebrating Sophia’s first Christmas this year. We’ll be joined by them, and our son, Jonathan, and Debra’s Mom, Elna, both soon arriving from California, and Debra’s sister, Kathy, and her family from São Paulo. I imagine that we’ll be enjoying pretty much the same cuisine as you will that day, probably with much warmer weather and higher humidity, as we celebrate our Savior’s birth.

Grateful for a New Car
Generosity was demonstrated through donations to our vehicle fund, and combined with the proceeds from the sale of our previous vehicle, in August we were able to purchase a Nissan Livina, which I expect will last us through the remainder of our missionary career in Brazil. I was especially glad that funding was sufficient for the purchase an automatic after experiencing the sciatic problem.

Prayer Requests & Praise

• After adjusting our support level and being given permission to return to Brazil our monthly support has held firm. However, we are still about $2,000 per month under what the mission recommends as a normal support level.
• Both my neurosurgeon and physical therapist have assured me that the muscle weakness in my right leg will eventually heal. I’ve been able to drive around Campinas, and I am now comfortable sitting at my desk for longer stretches.
• Thanks for your prayers for the holidays.

God bless you richly this Christmas!
Steve and Debra

To view the Rowe's home assignment video, click here.
To view the Rowe's blog, click here.