Matthew and Simone McKinnon are missionaries at the Pan American Christian Academy in Sao Paulo, Brazil. They have been sent by the church at large and by the Brazilian Evangelistic Association, an independent mission board based in Ohio. Matthew teaches computer at the school while Simone keeps the home fires burning with their 4 children - Ian (7), Logan (6), Evan (4) Nolan (1) and one on the way.

PACA, as the school is called is a school started for missionary kids 40 years ago but is now a Christian school for any English speakers. This includes many nationalities with plenty of Brazilians, Chinese, Japanese and Koreans as well as Germans, British and others. We have a class of 25-30 in each grade level K-12. School has just begun on Aug 2 and will go till Christmas. Then we have the month of Jan off because it is summer. The following semester is Feb to mid June with another 6 week break. Kind of nice to have two such breaks in the year.

Matthew teaches computer at all levels. Each elementary and middle school class has one period a week, and he has 3 full time high school classes. The lab has 30 computers that vary in speed and workability. There are 7 that need urgently replacing since they are 486 with only Windows 3.1. A new network was installed this summer that required Matthew's continual attention over the break but gives him new ways to teach as never before. His vision is to teach from the heart passing on not only computer knowledge but God's love for each one. The students projects include such things as the school phone directory, school web page, alumni list and yearbook. We hope to prepare students to use the computer as a tool both in the workplace and in ministry. This year's school theme is "United in love to serve" from Eph 4:16.

Simone grew up in Brazil. She also attended PACA as a student and then as a teacher in the 2nd grade. She currently tutors students after school. She has a vision for reaching kids for Christ and would like to start a Bible Club with the kids on their street. She plays guitar and sings, activities that all ages enjoy in Brazil. Right now she has her hands full with 2 at home and another on the way. She is delighted to be in Brazil, a country that loves children and sees them as a blessing from heaven. One of her ministries is to answer the door. 5 or 6 times a day the doorbell rings with someone wanting to sell something or asking for food or clothes. What before seemed a nuisance, now is an opportunity to give a helping hand and add a passage of Scripture or a spoken word.

The field address:
Matthew and Simone McKinnon
R Cassio de Campos Nogueira, 393
04829-310 Sao Paulo, SP
BRAZIL

The mission address:
Brazilian Evangelistic Association
PO Box 22
Medway, OH 45341