We're learning this more and more every day. We haven't had a regular schedule since we've been here. It's made it really difficult to educate the boys and to have any sort of 'plan' for the day. But we are learning to embrace it. To be prepared in every moment to make the most of the time we have. These are skills that I believe will certainly benefit any ministry we are taken to in the future. Don't get me wrong. I'm not communicating to you that it has been easy to embrace it. I still struggle with frustration, but each day I overcome more and more.
One obvious hurdle has been our inability to upload an update to our blog! I know this has been frustrating for you all back home. I can assure you that I have been working tirelessly each moment I get to figure something out. So- until we can find a better solution, I have decided to use this online blog template. This will be the address for you to find updates on from now on, until further notice.
Many of you will receive a newsletter in the mail soon. It will have a few pictures and some brief descriptions of what has been going on here. We are very happy! There are many boys about the same age as Alex and Nathan that live on the 'base' here. There is a lot of room for them to run around and play. They have learned to pick fruit, like Mangos. They are enjoying the HUGE variety of critters. They even enjoy school. It was hard to convince them that we had to set aside some time in the day to study, but once we began, it became easier.
We finished our Carnaval Outreach this past weekend. You can look up Carnaval on the internet. Beware. There were an estimated 1 million people on the streets of Recife, which is the city we are in. There is a lot of spirit worship, which stems from the African heritage of many Brazilians. It was a little scary one night when we actually had to change our T-shirts from the Outreach shirts we had on to shirts that didn't have anything about being Christian on them. We had plans to attend a drum ceremony where they chant and try and connect with the spirit world to 'hand the key' over to the city. We couldn't be singled out, because people would have made us leave. We went there to pray for the people there. I can witness to you that the atmosphere was physically different. It was very heavy and almost 'thick'. I've never felt anything like it. There were so many people I thought I could be trampled to death if I lost my footing. I've never been in a crowd like this. People were chanting and shaking their hands in the air trying to conjur spirits. I was so thankful when it was all over. It's amazing that the city officials were involved with this, and even children were involved in the ceremony.
The outreach was really good. We learned some useful skills that we know will help us in the future. So far we have taken classes about Relationships, Our Identity in Christ, Forgiveness, Fear of God, and so much more, just in day to day outreach and interaction with the Brazilians. We are learning a lot of Portuguese, and it's cool to hear the boys speaking some as well. I'm sure they'll far surpass us soon. We have a 2 month outreach that starts in April. Some of the students will be doing their outreach in Afghanistan! We have prayed about this and do not feel like this is what our family needs to do. Most likely we'll be doing our outreach here in Brazil. The orphanage in Delta is not ready for us to work at yet. It is best, we think, because we know there is still much for us to learn before we can be effective there.
Please continue to pray for our safety and for our minds to be able to absorb all that we are learning. We are very much at peace here. Life is a lot different, more hectic, more strenuous- both physically and mentally. But- more fulfilling.
I'll be update this often. Thanks for our patience. Please email us if you like- I don't want to post the address, but you can find out from our parents or someone at First Baptist.
We are so thankful for you all. We know that we are partners in Telling the Nations!
Jon, Jennifer, Alex and Nathan
4 comments:
Hay, it's good to hear what's going on in Brazil. There is a chance I might be coming to Brazil in June or Juy, but it would probably be in the Campo Grande (Mato Grosso do Sul) area. The June trip would be a construction trip. July would be with Upwards to do a camp and possibly train coaches so they can begin their own leagues. Please e-mail me directly, if have few questions about Delta. I have to admit, there is some confusion on if, when, and where God wants me to go. I look forward to hearing from ya'll.
God Bless!
Max G.
I gotch. Great to finally catch up. Thought you might like to know Fred Dorsett died today. That is Amy Nelson's father. He had a stroke. I don't know if you know him.
Lots of good stuff going on. Last weekend we had a quarterly meeting and invited Al Norwood and his Crystal Coast Community Choir to lead in worship before the meeting. Al plays for Luke's Baptist and will be in our He's Alive 2008 Community Easter Service. They rocked.
The deacons will be meeting this Sunday night at New Life Assembly of God to do business and then pray with the people of this church who are our intercessors for the Easter service.
Deborah Lockey is doing well with our youth and senior adults. Carol has given her the Joymakers though Carol will still be engaged.
The youth are slowly getting to know Deborah and the youth committee is planning lots to do with the youth. Deborah is a student of God's word and likes to share it.
I met with the Mayor's Association this past Wednesday night and shared with the vision of Operation Inasmuch, a day of hands on mission work. I ask the mayors of each community to consider what it would look like if the people of faith lead an effort to bless the people of our area for one day on April 19th. What if the town council feed them a hot dog meal at mid day. What would it look like for the people of faith and the people they are serving came together for a meal served by our public servants. The agreed to provide the meal.
I could go on, but it is late.
I pray that you continue to know how interested God is in you, how much He loves you, how wonderful it is to bring together the outsiders and the insiders all in the name of our Lord Jesus. One day there will be no marginalized. We will understand even more clearly, that "God so loved the world." I continue to rejoice in your obedience.
In Christ,
Charles
Your newsletter has arrived. What a blessing I received upon reading it. Thank you. The removal of "creature comforts" quiets your life in much the same way the addition of cancer to mine has quieted my life. I too have been given the chance to seek and hear God more clearly. God can use everything to bring us closer to Him. What a testimony to His greatness!
Your words paint a picture that declares God's works and world. Know you 4 are in our prayers. We count it a privilege to share in your story.
Agape,
Lu Phelps
Greetings from Cindy Hannah and Isaac Delafuente. We read your news letter and are praying for you. Isaac especially wanted the boys to know that he says HI!!!!!. He became chaplines aid for his scout troup this week so hee has his own little mission going on. Please send you address or is it better to send to the address at the mission board? Love and Prayers
Cindy
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