I don’t believe we have ever had a year quite like this one!  We celebrated some pretty significant milestones, worked “away from home” extensively, moved (again!) and continue to help provide leadership for our local congregation and lead weekly small group Bible studies in our home. I apologize for our lack of communication this year.  Our crazy schedule this year has had me struggling just to keep up.  But, I do want you to know that you are never far from our thoughts and prayers.

Allow me to share a bit from a slightly modified Philippians 1:3-12

“We give thanks to our God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in our every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. We are sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  It is right for us to think this way about all of you, because we have you in our hearts and you are all partners with us in grace, both in our teaching ministry and in the defense and establishment of the gospel.  For God is our witness, how deeply we miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And we pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, so that you can approve the things that are superior and can be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.  Now we want you to know, brothers and sisters that what has happened to us has actually resulted in the advance of the gospel.”

Here are some of the highlights from the year.

FAMILY:

• On May 6, we gained a beautiful daughter-in-love, Rebecca Mullinax Johnson. Our son, Stephen and his lovely bride now live in Euless, TX.
• While there for the wedding, we were able to visit our daughter Sarah, son-in-law, Beau, and the two grandest of grandsons, Owen (now 3) and Elliot (soon to be 2). They now live in Princeton, TX.
• Mark and Caron were able to spend a short time with each of their mothers, both of whom have had several falls, broken bones, and other health challenges this year.
• In September, we moved to a new apartment. This marked our 12^th move in our 32 years of marriage, 7 of those in the last 16 years. I guess it’s no wonder Mark always asks, “Caron, do you know where I can find _____?”
• In October, we celebrated our 25^th anniversary as career missionaries with the IMB. We have been in Brazil all that time (except for the occasional furlough and stateside assignment).

MINISTRY: (Thank you for making all this possible through your prayers and financial support.)

• In looking back over the calendar, there were 152 day this year where one or both of us were traveling, working away from home! No wonder we are tired!
• Mark has traveled extensively this year, teaching week long “intensive” courses, where students receive 40 hours of lecture (an entire semester’s worth of material) in one week. Sometimes he writes the course content he teaches in Portuguese; other times, he is the translator for visiting American professors.
• Mark has mentored masters level students and has provided orientation for 7 of these students working on their dissertations. Some of his students have included senior leadership in the Brazilian Baptist Home Mission Board, as well as pastors and Brazilian Home Missionaries.
• Mark accompanied Dr. David Platt, president of the IMB on part of his recent trip to Brazil and had the privilege of translating for him at “Crist-o-landia”, a neighborhood formerly known as “crack-o-landia” (due to the high number of drug addicts who live on the street). Dr. Platt and Fernando Brandão, President of the Brazilian Home Mission Board, were there to give a message of hope to those on the streets and share about the transformative power of the Gospel through Jesus Christ.
• Mark lectured extensively this year on the 500^th anniversary of the Great Reformation, with materials he wrote concerning Baptist History of Missions in light of the Great Reformation. He also has written numerous articles (in Portuguese) for publication in Brazil.
• Mark taught on-line classes for several different theological institutions, and is currently preparing materials for upcoming classes to be recorded early in 2018.
• Caron also has been working with Brazilian students who are writing their dissertations in English. She has had the privilege of walking alongside these dedicated students studying and writing in a second language. Caron serves as a reader and editor for these students.
• Caron traveled on a monthly basis, teaching Theological English at the Litoral Baptist Seminary in Santos, São Paulo.
• Caron prepared materials for the on-going weekly Bible study that meets in their home, and has had the privilege of mentoring and discipling 8 ladies on a one-on-one basis, in addition to the on-going ministry of the small group.
• We were saddened by the recent loss of a dear friend (member of our small group) who passed away after battling cancer, and have walked with his family and friends as we have grieved together.
  

  

  

Finally, here are some upcoming ministry opportunities we want you to be aware of for 2018. Please pray about how you can be involved with us. If interested in more details, send a message to caron.johnson@gmail.com

• We are looking for one or two single girls (min. age 22) or a young married couple (no kids) who would be willing to teach ESL (English as a Second Language) for a semester. No experience necessary. We will provide the training you need.
• We are looking for a church who would be willing to help host a ladies’ weekend event at the International Congregation of our church. We are looking for a key-note speaker for 2-3 events. We would love to have 2-3 ladies come (a different one could speak at each event) and also have ways for a Sunday School group or the entire church to be involved in helping to host this event for English speakers in the city of Curitiba.
• We are looking for pastors, seminary students, and laymen interested in partnering with us in teaching initiatives in several different locations in Brazil in 2018.

We wish each of you the Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Mark & Caron