Hello Dear Church –
Our Brazil missions trip is half over and we wanted to update our church family on the ways that God has used us in Brazil thus far. We arrived at around 2am on Friday morning after a delay at the airport in Sao Paulo. We had no idea how or where we were supposed to meet Jon & Patty Hutchins, but soon heard shouting and cheering from the small crowd. Jon, Patty and several other missionaries met us with smiles and excitement, making us feel instantly welcome! We have been staying at the seminary facilities near the Igreja Bautista, living and serving among the students and church members.
FRIDAY: After our daily morning devotions, we headed to the city center in Porto Alegre and handed out 700 tracts and sang hymns in Portuguese. Pastor Jon was able to witness to a man names Sergio while we explored the area and bartered with local craft merchants. Then we headed to a poor barrio (favella) just off the main road called Tristeza (Sorrow). The barrios here are called favellas, shanty towns crafted of tin and wood that seem to spring up at random right next to rich areas or shopping centers. Stray dogs roam the streets and high-tech satellite dishes stand on top of crumbling shanty houses. A wonderful, godly woman named Fernanda started a Friday kids club only a few weeks ago and we taught Bible stories, made wordless-book bracelets and animal balloons for 30 favella children. Praise God, they were receptive and open to the gospel, thankful for our stories and songs and happy with the balloon animals. Then, that night, we attended a teen meeting at the seminary and were able to fellowship with an entire family of brand new believers. We pray for Sandro, his wife Marieusa, and their children William, Mike, Moema and Natalia. We pray for the Igreja teens and their youth leader, a wonderful, Godly man named Marcos. His wife Marisa has cooked for us several times and his son, 8-year-old Dionathan, is the team’s unofficial little brother.
SATURDAY: The rain and cold weather has continued, though, praise God, he’s given us a flexible, “can-do” attitude. We helped around the seminary (organized the library, bookstore, stapled tracts, and made visuals and prizes for the various church Sunday Schools). Then we headed to the church at Ponta Grossa and taught at the kids club there and did crafts with around 20 eager kids, who LOVE learning English phrases and teaching us Portuguese. A mother and faithful church member thanked us for the lesson on “love your enemies” because her son was going through a difficult situation at school just last week! Later that afternoon, we split up and had a men’s and women’s fellowship with Ponta Grossa church members. That night we were in for a treat: Alexander (who is unsaved) and his wife Deise (faithful church member) invited us to their home and cooked a traditional Brazilian BBQ, called a churrascaria. TRE LEGAIO!!!!!!! (sooooooo cool). They definitely “killed the fatted calf” and put out their very best, making us feel loved (and stuffed!) with wonder fresh meats, traditional gaucho breads and five (yes, five) traditional desserts. We gave Alexander a plaque that he hung above his powerful churrasco fire-pit and showed our gratitude by washing all of the dishes while we sang hymns.
SUNDAY: We worshipped with pastor Roger Crowder and his wife Sharon at the Igreja Bautista. We sang for the congregation and presented testimonies. Pastor preached from 2Peter 1:3-4 and we helped in Sunday School, teaching Bible stories to the children. That afternoon we got a small taste of the Brazilian WalMart (Biggy Biggy!) and gave tracts to the register workers. Then, we worshipped during the evening service at Ponta Grossa, where we sang and gave testimonies again and pastor preached from John 5.
That evening we invited Marco, Marisa and Dionathan, and the missionary at Ponta Grossa, Mike Ring and his family Tammy, Nick, Noelli and Nikayla, to eat with us at the Brazilian pizza. We’ve been so fortunate to experience Brazilian hospitality at every turn, and this was no exception. We sang hymns in the restaurant and gave tracts to the patrons sitting next to us. We closed out the pizza place with singing and festivity that made the waiters smile.
MONDAY: So far today we’ve helped roof the Pnta Grossa Sunday School (men) and gone on visitation (women). During visitation, we met an unsaved couple, Saulo and Nara, whose son comes to Sunday School regularly. We sang for them, gave testimonies, and got a tour of their farm area. They are proud people, carving out a living in the traditional gaucho (cowboy) style, eager to show us their horses, chickens and home-made passion fruit ice cream (oh boy!!!!!!). We felt that Saulo was a bit more receptive (especially when Daniel gave him his team jacket to keep) and pray for the Lord to work in their hearts. We’re at Jon & Patty’s apartment now, fellowshipping with Roger and Sharon Crowder. We’re half way around the world and you wouldn’t believe it: Ashook and his brother in law, Johnny, (such a blessing) have made up Trini-style curry dinner. The Brazilians won’t know what hit them!!!!
Gob Bless you all. We have brought you here with us in our hearts. We’ll see you Saturday and, God-willing, send another update before then.
Brazil Team!!!!!
Job 36:24-25
