Brazil: Wednesday

Brazilian law says that all public school children have to have a religion class.

Wow!

And so all kids are taught about "religion."

Sometimes schools can't afford religion teachers,

so Palavra De Vida steps in a volunteers their time.

How nice.

But this gives us huge opportunity!

Between the 3 groups,

we got to reach about 13 school in that one day!

Talk about tiring,

but boy did God work,

I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

God loves all the little children!

Brazil: Monday-Tuesday

I combined Monday and Tuesday, because we spent that day and night, and most of Tuesday on a River Community.

The Community, Igarape Grande, was a small village about two hours north on the Amazon. You can only reach it by boat.

So about 30 of us boarded this boat, and rode for two hours. It was a fun trip, it was also really pretty. The pictures don't really do it justice, but you can see your yourself.

I got to spend a lot of the trip talking to friends, reflection, and interviewing one of our translators, Levi, about what it is like to be a missionary. It was really enlightening to learn all about what it is like to be a missionary, but definitely not discouraging!

We finally reached the community after two hours of travel... and I feel in love. Maybe instant love isn't real, but looking back it seems like that is how it happened.

WE got there, and two girls were on the docks waiting to see who was coming in. The looked scared, but I know they were excited! I sure was!

We were told not to share the gospel because some missionaries had come in five years before, and did a poor job of presenting the true gospel. We were only allowed, by the mayor, to be there for travel reasons.

That can't stop us living the gospel though! I know, in eternities future, we are all, all of us on the team, are going to see many good things come from this stop on our trip!

We started by playing some games with the kids, and it ended in Brazil vs. USA... in the rain. Totally out of our league. But luckily an Australian, four or five Brazilians, a Canadian, and a really good USA soccer player were on our team. Basically, we won, but not without the "foreign" help. Good times.

After that I wanted to go swimming in the Amazon, so I got some people, and we jumped in! It was great. I got up onto the barge, and was standing there trying to catch my breath. Sure I used to be a life guard, but it was been a while! While I was standing there, I saw that two boys, about my age, were standing there. Lacking the language skills to communicate. i did something that is universally spoken. I pushed the one closest to me in.

After that it became battle royal. I fought with two little kids, about 7, and two older boys, about 20, and we tried to throw each other in. Believe it or not, I got them a lot, although they did get me too. Some where from people that I thought would help me, Maddie Robinson, but all was well, we had a great time!

And I got a good friendship out of it! (This is Jonas)

Jonas and I spent a lot of time together. Even though we don't speak the same language, God's love is universal, and doesn't need to be verbally spoken. And I know that he could feel it!

We taught each other English and Portuguese. He took me and some friends on an exotic fruit hunt (although they are not exotic to him, I thoroughly enjoyed them!), and I got to give him an English Portuguese Bible. I wanted so bad to explain salvation to him, but I highlighted a few key verses (John 3.16 and Romans 10.17). Luckily for me, the Bible is strong enough, that it doesn't need a weak vessel, like me, to explain it. It can do all the talking it needs to by itself!

I cool thing I liked learning about, was charcoal, and how it is made.

This is the building that it is "cooked" in. There is a hole out back were a certain type of red wood is placed. The hole is then sealed, except for a small portion, where air can enter. The oxygen travels into the cavern, carbonizes the wood, and travels out through a hole in the back (or the front in this picture) as smoke. It sits for four-five days, and when it is done cooling, it is ready for BBQ or cooking with!

This was Jonas' job, that is what he did for work. Tuesday morning, while the rest of the group was playing with the kids, I did a little personal exploring. And I happened upon Jonas. I got to help him move the wood for charcoaling, and talked to him a little. That is a loose term though. The whole time this was taking place his boss was watching with a glaring eye. Gringo distraction. I helped Jonas move 2 loads of wood, and the time flew! So on the third time I decided to take over pushing the wheel barrel. And I was pushing it fine, although it was difficult (that and the humidity made me break out in a sweat in no time!). A man happened by us, and thought that it was so funny that I was pushing the wheel barrel. Having seen me take pictures before, he wanted my camera to take a picture. Laughing the whole time, he just couldn't get over it. I was happy to let him take the picture.

That is when Jonas' boss saw us... and he was laughing too! He had me take several pictures of him, and then had me come over, hold his ax (he was cutting the wood), and had Jonas take a picture.

The quote goes, "The people won't care about how much you know, until they know how much you care."

We could have gone in there, pushed the gospel at them, and had some come to Christ, while others were left forever scarred.

Or we could have done it just like we did.

Showed God's love.

The boat driver, Wilson, goes in there, and now he, and others, have tons of ministry opportunities to share the gospel with that community!

Monday night, we showed the "Jesus Film" in Portuguese. About 25-30 showed up. I didn't understand what was being said, and having a lot of things I wanted to write down, I headed to a quiet part of the shelter. And Juliel came with me.

I was writing about 5 minutes, when this man, Juliel showed up. It was obvious that he wanted to talk.

After feeble attempts, he took my journal, and wrote in it. He kept that up for a good while. Then we tried talking again. Luckily Levi showed up, and was able to translate for me.

Juliel was an electricity worker, and traveled around to all the communities in that area and worked on electricity. He and about 20 others.

He and I got to talk for a while, if I ever go back, I know I will have his friendship.

But before he left, he told me that he wanted a present. Something to remember me by.

Boy, did he know what he was getting into!

I was able to give him a Portuguese English Bible (everyone wants to learn English, huge gateway to evangelism!). I don't know what he thought about the Bible, but it was in English, and it was from me. I think that he liked it.

Monday night we spent the night sleeping in hammocks. There was no electricity, yet, so we had to do all of our cooking and eating in the dark, but it was an experience. And even though the way the hammocks were wet up, were uncomfortable, and rooster started crowing at 3 am, and I didn't sleep more than half an hour. I have a lot of good memories, that I would never want to trade!

Sadly, it was time to leave, and when I say I didn't want to leave, I mean it.

But I did, and even got to take a nap on the boat.

After another two hour boat ride, we got to a boat landing, and got out. It was time for dinner! We got to eat at a Brazilian steak house, the food was great! And spend the rest of the time on the beach right below the restaurant.

It was there, that I was baptized (along with Jessica Pezzente and Josh Salinas)... in the AMAZON!

(Ryan Williamson was one of the leaders on our trip. He works with Missions at Headquarters here in New York)

Don't worry mommy! I got something for you!

Brazil: Sunday

Sunday was a more chill day than was Saturday. It was spent well though!

We went to a modest church, and actually got to run the whole service ourselves.

We had all previously broken up into three groups, children, teens, and adults. I was in the teen group. It was nice, there was a small, but decent number of teens at the church. We shared a testimony, our drama (The "Everything Skit"), and then Greg Sheridan, one of my teammates, shared from the word. It was nice.

(This is a group picture of our whole group)

After that we all went back to the BI to hang out for the afternoon, during that time, I explored the Amazon.

I found this tree house, my new home.

That night we went to another church, it was a bigger one, one that was in the city, Belem. It was really cool because they had a huge sign language ministry. There are about 2000 people in the Belem area that are deaf, and this church actively pursued reaching them!

That night, we got to eat out. I wanted to try something Brazilian, or at least Arab, but people screamed out Pizza Hut, and to be honest it was the only place big enough for all of us. So we went to Pizza Hut... In Brazil.

But it was cool cause I got to try a Brazilian pizza. I forget the name, but this is what it looked like.

It looks gross, and may even sound it, it had shrimp, this Brazilian leaf, and some sauce. The leaf would make your tongue go numb, or partially, but it was really good!

A night well spent.

Brazil: Saturday

(School is winding down, and consequently, it is getting more and more hectic, especially trying to write down all my thoughts from Brazil!)

The first day that we were really there, we got the great opportunity to visit a place translated to Creative Hands. It is an organization the reaches out to kids that live with their families in the landfill. The landfill is where all the trash goes, from there it is organized, and disposed of. But the families that live there make houses out of whatever left over pieces of scraps they can find, and that is what they call home. Much below poverty level here in the states.

It was an amazing opportunity just to love on these kids, but it was also heartbreaking to see how little they had!
But you know what? Even with as little that they had, they were content!
Seeing them run around with nothing, and still having smiles on their faces, it humbled me. I mean I complain when I don't like the meal served here at school. Or when Facebook won't run as a fast as I like.

I am so selfish!

It truly was a humbling experience!



This is a home of one of the families, they have a new baby, Matthew, he was only two weeks old!



This is what the homes of many of the people looked like, who in America lives like this?!

This is us walking through the streets of the landfill, talk about Gringo parade.



One of the games that we prepared to play with the kids. This is Hudson, he never left my shoulders the whole day.



We played dodge ball with the kids. It was a little different then ours, and because of the language barrier, all of us American's had to catch on by watching.


There is that little rascal, Hudson, he walked into the room, hit me, and ran off. He was a little trouble maker, but he just wanted attention. And when you gave it to him, he loved you like no other!


I learned a lot about God's love that day. How it doesn't matter who you are, where you are from, or the color of your skin. God loves you, and desires a personal relationship with each one of us! I would love to go back one day and help out with the ministry there!

Brazil: Friday

We arrived Friday, the 30th, around 12 pm, after having left the day before, Thursday, the 29th. It was a long travel time, but it was well worth it! Here are some beautiful pictures of the campus, and a few around Belem, Brazil.

An open air meeting hall, for church and other get togethers.

Typical red dirt.

A pretty garden decoration.

Local trees.

A typical Amazon style house.

A bridge to the scenic island.

Pathway to the dorms where we spent the nights.

Typical roofs.

One of the nicer bus stops.

This was just what I encountered on Friday, there are a lot more pretty pictures, exciting stories, and adventures to come!

Brazil: The Impact

Going into second year, I was greatly looking forward to Missions Reality. It was the talk of all my roommates the year before, and it was something that I really thought that God could use. When it came time and we heard about all the different trips, I quickly figured out which one I wanted to go on. I stress the “I.” After that I “prayed” about it, but honestly, I had made up my mind and I knew which trip I would be going on. God had a plan also.

Although I selfishly pursued Brazil, God totally blessed my support raising. I don’t have a big church, but when I got the newest directory, I was surprised to see that I had sent out over 70 letters to friends and family. After sending out the letters, I knew that I would easily get the money. However, from all the letters that I sent out, I only had about two responses from them. I wasn’t angry, but I was highly disappointed.

Despite not getting support form my church family, God REALLY blessed me in getting money. I got money from people I didn’t expect to. I got money from people I barely, and in some cases, didn’t know! I even got a significant amount from my favorite camper from the Island and Snow Camp!

When it came down to it, it was Thursday, the day before all the money was due. Up until that time I had been praying that God would give me peace, and not let me get worried about the money. And He was faithful, I wasn’t nervous at all. And just like that, Thursday dinner I had all my money in, and around $150 over!

Going on the trip I was so excited about all that I was going to be doing! Again, I stress the “I.” I prayed before hand that God would prepare the hearts of all my teammates, the people we were going to be seeing, and even my heart. But again, it was a lot about me.

Looking back now I can see that the trip started off as a lot about me, but God really worked in my heart and showed me how selfish I truly was! I am ashamed to have to write about all the negatives, but God was faithful, and He really glorified Himself through the whole process.

From all the different ministries we were involved in, Creative Hands at the landfill, to local churches, to Igarape Grande the River Community, to the Tribal Ministries Headquarters, God really worked in my heart and gave me a new, previously, unfound passion for the lost.

I have always known that I need to share the Gospel, and I have sometimes really felt burdened to share the Gospel with people I knew didn’t have the Lord. But never before have I had such a passion as to want to spend all of my days reaching those in a community as I have with Igarape Grande.

Going to Igarape Grande was an amazing experience! We loaded a boat, and spent the next two hours traveling up river to the civilized community. The ride itself was adventurous, but the view was even more intense! I spent a great portion of the time taking pictures so as to remember the trip for later on, but I also spent a good amount of time questioning and learning from, a now good friend of mine, Levi. It was a spiritually invigorating time, as well as thrilling. Once we got there, it was like the community stole a part of my very being. I instantly fell in love with the place. It may have been the scenery, or the time spent playing soccer, or the good times spent swimming around in the Amazon river, or the exotic fruit, or the love of the people, but whatever it was, it has taken my heart, and forever it will be help by them.

The past two years God has really been working on my heart as far as missions are concerned. Three years ago I would have greatly opposed anyone that would have told me I was going to desire to share the Gospel with a lost world. But now, all I can see myself doing is reaching the lost and dying. This last year specifically I have felt called to be a missionary at the up and coming Word Of Life Bible Institute in Korea. I love the people, the language, and the food. But something about the River Community has really captured my heart.

Korea is one of the leading countries in sending missionaries, were in Amazon region of Brazil there are 30,000 river communities alone that do not have the Gospel presented to them! And that is where my desire and passion now lies!

I have spent a lot of time talking specifically about the River Community, but that is because it has meant so much to me. However, Missions Reality as a whole was a truly life changing experience. The entire tea was draw n together under the connection of the Holy Spirit, and kept thriving because of the love that Christ enables us to have. Someone said it well, that the trip was characterized by love. Love for one another, love for the people that we were sent to, love for the God that we desire to glorify.

This trip may have started off selfishly, but God sure had other plans. He showed me how much we, as Americans, have and waste. How much we whine and are never content. How much we say we will go, but won’t when it comes time.

I now no longer desire to live this life for myself, but to glorify, surrender, and live for the One who has saved me from eternal damnation. First Timothy 1.12 talks about how God has appointed us worthy, and despite our previous life styles, we can (and all have been called) to give their entire lifes over to the One who has called us here below.

If someone were to ask me about second year, I will now tell them, that if for no other reason than for God to work in their lives over the ten days of Missions Reality, it is all completely worth it!

Brazil

I just arrived back from Brazil, and I have been o encouraged by what God did in my life, the lives of my teammates, the lives of the BI students in Brazil, and in all the hearts of the people we came in contact with!

The trip just flew by! We left on the 29th, and we arrived to Palavra De Vida Norte on the 30th around 12 pm.

Here is a brief overview:

Saturday we went to the Landfill ministry, Creative Hands, and got to play with kids, love on them, and share Christ with them.

Sunday we went to two different churches. One in the morning and one at night. After the evening service we went to Pizza Hut and ate some good pizza.

Monday we went to the River Community. That is where my heart lies. We went two hours north up the Amazon, to a community, Igarape Grande, that can only be reached by boat. We spent the night there, sleeping in hammocks. While we were there we were not allowed to share the gospel outright, but we could live it. And live it we did. We played soccer with the kids in the rain, went swimming in the Amazon, and I got to help Jonas, a local guy, work making charcoal.

Tuesday we spent the morning in Igarape Grande, but we left late morning to head back down stream. After the two hour trip we stopped and ate at a nice Brazilian steak house right off the beach. And ended the day by swimming in the Amazon. But before we got to the swimming, Ryan Williamson baptized Jessica Pezzente, Josh Salinas, and me in the Amazon! How many people can say that?!

Wednesday we went out to a ton! of public schools. Brazilian laws say that all kids are allowed to religion class. Some schools do not have money to pay for a teacher for that. That is where M.E.B.E comes in (It is a Portuguese acronym so it will not translate properly, but means teaching and evangelizing the Bible in public schools). It was an intense day, but it was well spent!

Thursday we started the day off early, 5:45, and headed to a Tribal Ministry headquarters, were we got to learn all about tribal people, there culture, and there thinking. It was really enlightening! After that we got to go out shopping! You could barter the price, but things are more expensive when you are a Gringo. after that we went to a school for boys. The school went to the streets and rescued the boys from living in destitution, and works hard at what it does!

Friday morning we had a missionary panel board where we got to ask questions of the local missionaries. It was a learning experience! They were all so alive for God, and done for whatever God had in store for them.

Then we left.

Leaving was hard, I didn't want to. God really laid the River Community people on my heart. The are 33,000 river communities in the Amazon alone. Only 3,000 of those have any gospel presentation. What about those other 30,000 communities?

I believe that is what God has called me to do.

I will write more on it later,

but when the time comes,

are you going to be ready to help share the gospel with a lost world?!