Break A Leg Or Maybe A Wrist

Break A Leg Or Maybe A Wrist

            July 1, 2011, Nicholas, my son, and I traveled 6 ½ hours to Cajazeiras to encourage, teach, visit and spend a week with the church and Rivaldo Café's (the evangelist living there) family.  July 2, 2011, I fell playing soccer and thought that I had broken my wrist.

            Let me back up a little.  I fell while playing, fell again, but finished the game, of course.  After the game, both Café and I went to his house to get ready to go to a Bible study, I taught the Bible study, and then we visited another family.  After the visit I could not take the pain anymore and asked to be taken to the hospital.  The doctor said it was probably broken but would only show up on the x-ray about 15 days after the fact.  I didn't really care at the time and said, "Put a cast on it," which gave my wrist support, relieving the pain.  Since it is illegal to drive with a cast on your arm in Brazil, Raniere Vieira, one of the evangelist in João Pessoa, traveled by bus, yes, 6 ½ hours and then drove me back home on July 8, 2011.  Thank you, Raniere! 

            While in Cajazeiras, I taught different aspects of the Christian life to the kids in the Right Step soccer program, a church resource for outreach into the community, changing lives through love, discipline, visits, trips to other cities, soccer and of course God's Word. 

 Café and another church member involved in the project, Deusimar, have been teaching the kids about honoring father and mother.  I talked with the kids about what honoring someone means in practical terms and what the penalty was in the Law of Moses if a child did not honor his/her parents.  We discussed how honoring father and mother plays out at school, on the job, on the soccer field and throughout their lives, even after parents have passed away.  I conversed with some of the older teens about Jesus' coming back and asked if they were ready.  On other occasions I taught studies to some of the parents of these same kids, who have expressed how amazed they are at the change in their sons' and daughters' behavior, all learning not to use four letter words to express themselves verbally or fighting to express rage.  These same children are also getting better grades in school.  All of these things are program requirements and the kids want to "stick with the program".

Although my time in Cajazeiras was a challenge physically, the joy of being used by God to build up His church by far overshadows my own shortcomings.

Baptized In Salt Water: Becoming Salt To The World

                                                                                                                        Baptized In Salt Water: Becoming Salt To The World

 

            I visited Sônia and Beta in Areial about a month and a half ago to talk to Beta about questions she had concerning her faith in God.  After her sister Simone died leaving a six year old daughter behind Beta doubted God's love.  We talked and she seemed relieved but still needed to "work things out" with God. 

            Sônia told me while I was there that she and her son were planning on coming to João Pessoa in June to spend some time at the beach and relax.  I received a call on Wednesday, June 22, that she would arrive on Sunday along with Beta and her daughters.  Sônia also informed me that Beatriz, Beta's daughter, wanted to be baptized.  What a great surprise!  They all arrived on Sunday as planned, and Beatriz was baptized for the forgiveness of her sins and now has God's seal of the Holy Spirit in her.

          It seems as if Beta worked through her doubts and is more confident than ever that God is love even though we do not understand everything He does or allows.

            Please pray for Beatriz and her new life in Christ in a city of around 10,000 inhabitants and only three Christians.  Please pray that God will open up people's hearts in this small town so that God may save them. 

Baptized In Salt Water: Becoming Salt To The World

Baptized In Salt Water: Becoming Salt To The World

 

            I visited Sônia and Beta in Areial about a month and a half ago to talk to Beta about questions she had concerning her faith in God.  After her sister Simone died leaving a six year old daughter behind Beta doubted God's love.  We talked and she seemed relieved but still needed to "work things out" with God. 

            Sônia told me while I was there that she and her son were planning on coming to João Pessoa in June to spend some time at the beach and relax.  I received a call on Wednesday, June 22, that she would arrive on Sunday along with Beta and her daughters.  Sônia also informed me that Beatriz, Beta's daughter, wanted to be baptized.  What a great surprise!  They all arrived on Sunday as planned, and Beatriz was baptized for the forgiveness of her sins and now has God's seal of the Holy Spirit in her.

          It seems as if Beta worked through her doubts and is more confident than ever that God is love even though we do not understand everything He does or allows.

            Please pray for Beatriz and her new life in Christ in a city of around 10,000 inhabitants and only three Christians.  Please pray that God will open up people's hearts in this small town so that God may save them. 

Evangelism Hidden Behind The King

Evangelism Hidden Behind The King

 

            I have studied the Bible with my neighbor through his interest in English two or three times.  He and his family are faithful Catholics.  The first time we studied I was very excited but soon disappointed.  The same happened the other times we studied as well.  It never went far because he seemed interested in English and not the Bible and would soon become busy with other activities.  So when we arrived back in Brazil in February of this year and my neighbor approached me and asked to study English using the Bible, I admit I was not excited and really thought I have better things to do with my time.  I have gone on a 12 mile walk with him and his friends, attended birthday parties, help hang paintings, installed a new stove, TV, etc. and could not think of anything else that might allow us to spend time together and build a friendship where he would see Christ in me in such a way that he would what to learn about Him too. 

God is patient and He wants everyone to be saved.  One day I heard him coming down the hall with a couch that he had gotten reupholstered.  I went out to help.  After that he asked if I knew how to play chess.  I said yes but it has been a while.  He asked if I would like to play a couple of times a week.  We found a time once a week and began playing.  I have lost 10 games and won only one.  I thought I was better than that.  During a chess game you don't talk a lot but during the week when we see each other there is a bond that was not there before.  I plan to win more games, but there is something of much greater importance at stake that needs to be put in check.  Please pray that Romero will see past the king on the chess board and give himself up to the King of all kings.

Using Money Matters To Mature Christians

Using Money Matters To Mature Christians

 

            Maturing new Christians is a very important part of establishing congregations.  Most adults who become Christians here in Brazil have many things to change in their actions and attitudes to be salt and light to the world around them.  I really enjoy studying the Bible with people and seeing the joy in their eyes when what they have heard most of their life about Jesus and what they are now reading in the Bible intermix and truth is found, their eyes opening, seeing, and believing.  But what about after they are baptized?  How do they proceed from there, learning to walk in this new life of service to God? 

One of the areas of life that most people have a hard time being salt and light is financial, an area lurking in the shadows, which no one talks about much.  The truth of the matter is that Jesus talks about money as one of the two masters that we will either serve or hate in Matthew 6.  I have begun to teach couples in the church some principles that I have read and heard from Dave Ramsey.  I am teaching these couples that living debt free makes sense, that it is possible and they will be able to help others, by giving, supporting Brazilian evangelists and helping establish new congregations as well as traveling to visit and help in campaigns, etc.  It may not seem like the most exciting thing to do but actually it is exciting.  You can see joy in their eyes when they see the possibility of growing spiritually and helping others.  It is not the same joy as when they understood better what Jesus did for us all but it is still exciting to be a part of helping others grow, learn and become more mature.  Thank you for your prayers.

Valentine's Day In June

Valentine's Day In June

 

            My family traveled this weekend to Caruaru, a city 1 hour ½ outside of Recife, Pernambuco, the state below Paraíba, where we live.  The purpose of our trip was to teach a couples meeting on Saturday, June 11.  Here in Brazil, June 12, is comparable to St. Valentine's Day although it is called Sweetheart's day.  I gave the topic of our lesson to Paulo, the evangelist with the church in Caruaru, a couple of weeks before we traveled.  I had forgotten it would be the Sweetheart's day couples meeting.  The topic of our lesson was "Complaining".  Not a very romantic topic for such a special day.  Once I remembered the occasion I decided to go ahead with the theme since complaining is what throws cold water on most of romances anyway.  It went well and everyone seemed to relate to the topic being discussed.  It's a pity they could relate so well.  

            There were 20 couples present at the meeting, some singles, maybe looking for advice and some whose better half could not be there.  11 couples were visitors.  It is always fun to teach and talk about relationships with couples.  There are a lot of practical things in which we all need to be encouraged.

May God bless you in your relationships, married or not, they are all around you.  

Thank you for your prayers. 

Happy Brazilian Valentine's Day to you all!