Greater Portland Baptist Church

Anthony and Gloria DaCunha: March 2006

Dear Pastor and Praying Friends,

It is hard to believe that the holidays are now gone. I am sure much has happened in each of your lives. We have much to share with you about things here.

Ministry Notes:
As we stated in our last letter things had been challenging. We have had no visitors or Portuguese in attendance for the last 6 months with our prospects changing jobs and most moving away. Sometimes things can get discouraging but we know that God has a purpose and a plan greater than our own.

We have prayed for God's wisdom in how to proceed. We knew that our colleague in Aveiro (near my father's house) needed help both financially and physically. The strain of rising costs to rent space, run ads, etc. was hurting us both. God has led us to join forces. We have already begun to help them with moving to a new store front, refurbishing the location, and much more. The refurbishing of the new storefront has cost about $1,200 so far and all the materials have been paid for in full. PTL.

We are now moving to the Aveiro area to better minister with the Harts at the Esgueira Baptist Mission in a team effort. We want to strengthen the current mission work, and start other preaching stations in this area. With a large population base, we can help each other and still have much to do. There is a great need here to be out amongst the people sharing Christ and encouraging them to follow Him.

We need your prayers in this time of transition. Gloria and I have both had the flu and respiratory infections (her sinus infection, me - bronchitis/ walking pneumonia). The children, thankfully, have only had winter colds and we are both recovering fine.

Our New Address:
Anthony/Gloria DaCunha
Rua Direita Bloco 1, 2 D
Eucalipto Sul, Aradas
3810-420 Aveiro, Portugal

On a Personal Note:
During late November and all of December my father's battle with blood cancer began to really take a toll. We helped him and Martha as much as we could. We drove him to the specialists in Leiria and Coimbra. We sat at his bedside as he lay dying. Then on December 26th he passed from this world to the next. We are still uncertain if he ever accepted Christ as his personal Savior as he never made a clear profession of faith.

His actions though spoke volumes. When we met him in 1989, we almost did not return to visit him again. Over the next 16 years with us and Mama witnessing to him, he changed drastically. Maybe he just cleaned up his life, but the drinking,cursing, smoking began to disappear and finally did. He stopped many bad habits in his life, but the most profound event happened the last time we were with him. Joy (now 7 years old) gave him a hug -"cause he needs love, too"- and then began playing quietly in his room. He called Gloria to his side. Though too weak to do more than whisper, he calmly told Gloria that he could not have Joy in the room. He was very adamant that Gloria was not to scold Joy; just get the little one to leave the room and thus, him in peace. That was about the last interaction we had with him. He slept all Christmas day and passed away at 3 a.m. on the 26th.

As many of you have faithfully prayed for him and us for years, I wished to relate the above story. God does change people! Even through the hardness of my father's heart, God could be seen at work. Thank you for caring and praying.

In Christ,
Anthony, Gloria, Josiah, Andrew, and Joy DaCunha