Justin's Experience
I look back on our journey to Brazil and wonder where to start. So many awesome things happened in the time we spent there. As I reflect upon our activities, there are a few events the continually stick out in my mind. Most, I believe, have been mentioned in other blogs, but for me, they are the most memorable events of the trip.
One event was during my first experience of street witnessing. Andy has written about the two boys he shared with, that, when another boy came up later, took the evangecube and went through it with the new boy, and later a girl, who all prayed to accept Jesus. It was amazing to see him do something that so many Christians, new and old, have a very hard time doing, openly sharing their faith. Not just to strangers, but to friends, and they can be the hardest people to share with.
Another event that will always stick with me is the third day at the school when the whole class of students, teacher included, prayed to accept Jesus. That was probably the best day of the whole trip. That morning was the first time I was able to witness to a person. It was a man that was going house to house asking for food because he was in Rio Branco for medical problems and had nothing. We gave him food and talked to him. I shared with him and with Tiffany translating, he prayed to accept Jesus. That should have told us it was going to be an awesome day. We went into the school, completely focused on what we were there for. Which unfortunately, is something we had lacked the previous days. It was incredible to see what God can do through us when we focus on him. Ben spoke in the class and later admitted he had no idea what he said, it just flowed out. It was incredible. We had success in other classes, but that was the coolest class I experienced.
And the teacher that Rhonda witnessed to, was the most sincere person I met the whole time about her new faith, it was incredible. But I'll let Mrs. Rhonda share that one.
The third was when Alan accepted Jesus. He was the neighbors son we had met and hung out with. After finding out his family weren't believers, Ben and I decided that it was our calling to share with Alan. When the chance arose, we took advantage of it, and once again with Tiffany's help, he prayed and even asked to go to church with us.
Which, on Sunday night, he did. He told me he enjoyed himself, even though he had an initial problem with how hot it was in the building.
We also had many opportunities to play futbol (regular soccer) and futsol (indoor soccer). Both were fun, and me and Ben were able to, for the most part, hang with the Brazilians. The coolest part is that we were able to take playing soccer and turn it into a ministry one night.
Emily read a Bible story and Ben shared the evangecube. We believe there were kids present who were sincere when the prayed to accept Jesus.
One other cool thing was going to the Portuguese speaking churches, not having a clue what they were saying and yet knowing what they were saying. You could feel the presence of God in the church. It was powerful. We were talking to a missionary lady in the airport on our way home. She was talking about the teenage Christians in Brazil, her son is thirteen. She said exactly what I saw in the churches, "In Brazil you are either fully ablaze as a Christian or you are engulfed in the world, there is no real in between. There aren't passive Christians." That seemed so true. During the worship at one service they had songs that said dance, sing, jump in praise, and nearly the whole congregation did it, even Pastor Rogerio, and he's a big guy.
They didn't are if they looked stupid. The passion in the churches there was awesome. I enjoyed being there immensely, especially when they played "Open the Eyes of My Heart" and we were able to sing in English while they all sang in Portuguese.
I was also glad that we were able to help Tiffany around the house.
Granted Mrs. Rhonda did most of the work, there's no denying that, but the youth were able to help with cleaning the yard, sheds, and other things. Some of which have very funny stories of "giant killer ants with pincers that could slice your fingers off." But that needs to be told in person for the full effect.
Thank you all for praying for and supporting us.
Justin
One event was during my first experience of street witnessing. Andy has written about the two boys he shared with, that, when another boy came up later, took the evangecube and went through it with the new boy, and later a girl, who all prayed to accept Jesus. It was amazing to see him do something that so many Christians, new and old, have a very hard time doing, openly sharing their faith. Not just to strangers, but to friends, and they can be the hardest people to share with.
Another event that will always stick with me is the third day at the school when the whole class of students, teacher included, prayed to accept Jesus. That was probably the best day of the whole trip. That morning was the first time I was able to witness to a person. It was a man that was going house to house asking for food because he was in Rio Branco for medical problems and had nothing. We gave him food and talked to him. I shared with him and with Tiffany translating, he prayed to accept Jesus. That should have told us it was going to be an awesome day. We went into the school, completely focused on what we were there for. Which unfortunately, is something we had lacked the previous days. It was incredible to see what God can do through us when we focus on him. Ben spoke in the class and later admitted he had no idea what he said, it just flowed out. It was incredible. We had success in other classes, but that was the coolest class I experienced.
And the teacher that Rhonda witnessed to, was the most sincere person I met the whole time about her new faith, it was incredible. But I'll let Mrs. Rhonda share that one.
The third was when Alan accepted Jesus. He was the neighbors son we had met and hung out with. After finding out his family weren't believers, Ben and I decided that it was our calling to share with Alan. When the chance arose, we took advantage of it, and once again with Tiffany's help, he prayed and even asked to go to church with us.
Which, on Sunday night, he did. He told me he enjoyed himself, even though he had an initial problem with how hot it was in the building.
We also had many opportunities to play futbol (regular soccer) and futsol (indoor soccer). Both were fun, and me and Ben were able to, for the most part, hang with the Brazilians. The coolest part is that we were able to take playing soccer and turn it into a ministry one night.
Emily read a Bible story and Ben shared the evangecube. We believe there were kids present who were sincere when the prayed to accept Jesus.
One other cool thing was going to the Portuguese speaking churches, not having a clue what they were saying and yet knowing what they were saying. You could feel the presence of God in the church. It was powerful. We were talking to a missionary lady in the airport on our way home. She was talking about the teenage Christians in Brazil, her son is thirteen. She said exactly what I saw in the churches, "In Brazil you are either fully ablaze as a Christian or you are engulfed in the world, there is no real in between. There aren't passive Christians." That seemed so true. During the worship at one service they had songs that said dance, sing, jump in praise, and nearly the whole congregation did it, even Pastor Rogerio, and he's a big guy.
They didn't are if they looked stupid. The passion in the churches there was awesome. I enjoyed being there immensely, especially when they played "Open the Eyes of My Heart" and we were able to sing in English while they all sang in Portuguese.
I was also glad that we were able to help Tiffany around the house.
Granted Mrs. Rhonda did most of the work, there's no denying that, but the youth were able to help with cleaning the yard, sheds, and other things. Some of which have very funny stories of "giant killer ants with pincers that could slice your fingers off." But that needs to be told in person for the full effect.
Thank you all for praying for and supporting us.
Justin
posted by "Deus esta conosco" at 6:31 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home