Takin’ it to the streets

Street ministry/house visits
 

Jeanette anointing and praying over a lady we met in the Becco village


 
Becco village – the poorest part of the city we saw

Junior Jesus march for VBS
 

Alianca Church praise and  worship

Dance/drama teams

Alliarte Youth dance/drama team

Alianca dance team that performed at our “going away” ceremony.

Submissionary wrestlers

Alianca Church where we stayed

Picture of the team wearing  t-shirts the Alianca Church blessed them with at the “Breakfast of Honor”.

Dulce, Pastor Francisco and Jon

The picture below is of Ricardo, one of the Brazilian wrestlers.  He has qualified for the World Cup and will be participating the end of this month in southern Brazil. 

Seven years ago he had a terrible vision of how his life would end up if he didn't change his ways.  He is also who our wrestlers have been supporting and are very impressed with what he has done with his academy in just a year.

These are men who are in REVID (drug rehabilitation facility).  Jon was speaking into their lives of how God can rehabilitate them spiritually.

Team members

Praise God

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Praise God to whom all blessings flow....

God is SO GOOD!!! We are down to the last couple days of our mission trip and we are blown away by the blessings given & received here in Brazil. We have been a blessing to the people here but at the same time, many of our lives have been forever changed by the blessings we received from them. It is so hard to put into words our feelings right now. Our hearts are singing for the Lord!!
Last night we attended another satellite church to share with their praise & worship time. God rocked that church!!! It was a younger crowd that attended there– the majority 20–40 year olds. It was awesome to see how they worship. NONE of them hold back, which is something that we definitely tend to do in America. Mike VanMeter described it best - ``Intense``!!!

Natasha Hollis shared her testimony of hope. She grew up in a Christian home and lived a Christian life through high school. She shared of her struggles through her college years and how God never left her side.

Misty Nieman shared her testimony about no matter how bad things get in our lives, God is always there to be our light. He will lead our way. She grew up in a dysfunctional family and dealt with low self-esteem which caused her to make bad decisions in the past. Her faith was tested many times, including being diagnosed with cancer, but she reminded us of her life Bible verse—Philippians 4:13 ``I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.``

There was an all-night praise & worship at the church last night. Only one of our team members made it until the end—way to go, Laura!!! A few others made it until the middle of the night but everyone else decided that sleep would be a better option to get prepared for today. It was a busy Christ-filled day yesterday and we were all tired!

This morning (Sunday) we attended a Chinese church in Manaus. Mimi Bottrell is on our team and she attends Westpoint. She served as a Chinese Linguist and is fluent in the Chinese language. She gave the sermon today, including her testimony. She spoke it directly to them in Chinese and then translated it to us in English. She shared with us about the Chinese culture and how strong & important family is to them. She has a twin-brother who is also in the military but at a different location. When things get tough, they lean on each other to remind one another why they are doing what they are doing.

We are preparing for 2 services here at the Missionary Alliance Church this evening. We will be singing and can´t wait to end our journey on a high note with the members of their congregation.

We will be going on an Amazon boat trip tomorrow and packing up to get ready for our midnight departure on Tuesday morning. We will probably not be able to blog again while in Brazil. Please pray for a safe trip home for our team on Tuesday. We have appreciated your faithfulness in praying for us during this journey. We take great joy in knowing that we have a strong prayer support back home. God bless you all.

It just gets better and better…

Each day just keeps getting better and better!

Last night (Thursday) we attended the youth service. Approximately 100 kids were in attendance. The costumes and dances were a beautiful site to see!!

They divided us into groups by what colors we were wearing. Each group represented a world nation and had someone dressed in what each culture might wear. It was motivating to see how these kids cover other countries in prayer.  Their leaders are doing a great job in paving the way through this ministry!

Russ Wruck gave his testimony last night. He shared how it was difficult losing his dad to cancer at the age of 3 and then his grandpa a few years later to a heart attack. He showed them how he had come to rely on his Heavenly Father in a time of despair.

Dr. Eric Slane also shared his testimony. A lot of the kids could relate to his testimony as many of them may be ready to give up on their dreams. He challenged them to keep pressing on with the help of God and to fellowship with influential friends that will help hold them accountable to their dreams.

Jake Crase rounded out the evening with his “T-shirt sermon”.   It was definitely a message from God. Jake had prepared this months ago not realizing these kids have been praying over different countries. He did an AWESOME job at capturing their hearts.  He had dug through his closet and found shirts made from 7 different countries that he packed in his suitcase. Each shirt not only represented the country from where it was made, but also a meaning, such as integrity, armor of God, etc. and each time they put on a new shirt they should look where it was made and pray for that country and remember what they want everyone to see them wearing that particular day.  Then he took each shirt and threw it into the audience. It was INTENSE!!

This morning we awoke to another beautiful day. Today was VBS for the children. They started off with a march for Jesus around the neighborhood. Approximately 100 kids attended. They played games and shared the gospel.

The adults took part in a deliverence message where Jill Bess shared her story once again. Its neat to see how God uses her each time she shares her story. So many people were delivered out of bondage. Personally I was taken back as I´ve never witnessed something like this before. Demons were casted out and Jesus was put in!!

What a blessing it has been in winning souls for Jesus on a totally different level.

Thank you again for the coverings of prayer. They are being felt and transformed right before our eyes.

Four days left

It’s hard to believe we only have 4 more days left in this beautiful country. The heat is making us all feel tired physically and emotionally, but spiritually we are ON FIRE FOR GOD!!

God has truly been working in each and every one of us on so many different levels!

Yesterday afternoon (Thursday) the men in our group along with Mimi visited Ricardo´s jui jitsu Academy. Those who have been on mission here in Brazil before were amazed at the work he has accomplished in just one year. Last year when they visited his academy it consisted of a cement slab with a few old wrestling mats. This year they were able to witness the return of their offerings to his academy.

Since leaving last year about 6 men have gone out and recruited sponsors. They along with themselves help to support this mission. They couldn´t believe the seeds they planted this past year had grown into such a beautiful academy. Ricardo now has a larger facility with dividing walls and new mats. He not only teaches jui jitsu to almost 200 kids, he is also teaching the parents of the children computer skills, to do hair and nails, and to sew. This happens all within the academy walls. He does this so they can support their families with an honest income.

You see..Ricardo had a vision 7 years ago. He saw himself lying on the floor in his mother´s arms dead. He had been shot in the head. He knew if he didn´t change his lifestyle, that vision would soon become a reality! In previous years he had been a prostitute, abused the use of drugs and alcohol and was on the verge of losing his wife and children. His life was so full of sin and he knew the only person that was going to be able to save him was God, so he attended church and surrendered his life. God told him to use what he had to further the kingdom of God. But he told God “I only have jui jitsu” and God said “so use it!”` He has shown us how God uses us even when we think we have nothing.

A few months ago, Ricardo lost his home and most of his belongings to the flood here in Manaus. He was out cleaning up some of the mess when a neighbor noticing him laughing. He asked Ricardo...”How can you laugh in a time like this?” Ricardo told him...”This is only stuff, God provides me with all that I need materialistically, I would only be crying if I had lost my family, so you see I laugh and rejoice because I am blessed”. Ricardo is now in the midst of rebuilding his home into something much larger and nicer.

Once again...when you are faithful with the little things God gives you, he will certainly bless you with larger things!

We attended the Amazonino Mendes Church last evening which is another satellite church of the Alliance Missionary Church located about 30 minutes away. Once again we arrived early to divide into groups and seek out those in the neighborhood to come join us for service. It was moving to meet people on the street and share the reason of why we are here in Brazil. We´ve been wearing our new shirts that Pastor Francisco blessed us with and we are making quite an impact in the neighborhoods when wearing them.

Nikki Hahn shared her testimony about her & her fathers' realtionship - both her earthly father and her Heavenly Father. She told us how blessed she has become to find such an amazing love in her Heavenly Father even here on earth. Everyone rejoiced with her in not letting herself become discouraged through her life´s circumstances.

Jon shared how she along with Misty Nieman had joined together in a fundraiser to earn the money needed to go to Brazil. Nikki used her artistic ability and Misty made lots of candies and together they earned over $1700!! All within 6 hours!

Kim Thomas also shared her testimony. A lot of the women in the congregation could relate to the same struggles she has encountered most of her life and the things her family has suffered through. She challenged them that whatever life choices they had made or whatever crisis they were going through that God could bring them deliverance. And if they wanted peace in their lives they needed to surrender it all to God and ask him for forgiveness.

Mike Bottrell spoke of his testimony and how he battled pornography and gambling over 30+ years ago. But when he went to the navy, a man there introduced him to God. He had us check for our pulses to see if our heart was still beating. He then challenged us to see if our heart was operating in a healthy manner. If not we (as a team) would assist him in doing open heart surgery. For those wanting a new heart we would come along side them in prayer and help them to replace their old worn out sinful heart with a new and healthy heart blessed only by God. Several members stood wanting this spiritual procedure done.

It definitely reminded us all of how the crop was plentiful and the workers so few as there were more people standing than what our team could pray over. God definitely showed up and RADICALLY changed lives last night.

We were all undone!!

This morning we were given bracelets from Mike Bottrell. They read “Christian Warrior”. We are to give them to someone who has gone to battle for us. Someone who has made a difference in our life on a spiritual level. Dr. Eric Sloan shared how he had given his stethoscope to the pastor’s young daughter last night. She is dreaming of becoming a doctor, but it is VERY HARD to get into medical school here in Brazil. He shared how he too struggled with getting into medical school in the states and the day that he had, a young Christian woman blessed him with this stethoscope. God told him to bring that stethoscope to Brazil. He prayed he would not need to use this for medical reasons. God answered his prayer.

He took that stethoscope and gave it to the pastor´s daughter as a physical reminder that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.

Please continue to pray for our team.

There is one person in particular that needs special prayer from our team. Please know any further information will be kept confidential. But we as a team feel the importance of you joining with us during this battle. This particular individual is at war within themselves. Please know as a team we are doing our best to encourage them in their walk. Please pray for them to have peace and to find their purpose of not only being here but also in life.

God Bless.

Alliance Church

Oi  from Brazil!!!

I apologize in advance for this blog being so long, but our free time here has been a bit limited and I am behind a couple of days.

We were so happy that our team from Wisconsin arrived safely late Monday evening. 

The last few days in Manaus have certainly been God filled to say the least.  I know my words will not even come close to describing what we have all encountered. Hopefully you will be able to join us for our Mission Rewind (June 24 at 7pm in the Freeport Campus small auditorium) in order to really get the feel of what we have been experiencing.

We were blessed with a breakfast of honor yesterday (Wednesday) from the pastors and their families of the Alliance Church.  The food was AMAZING! There was so much to choose from and of course we had to try a little bit of everything.

Pastor Francisco shared how he started this church with a vision over 20 years ago. He and Jon both dreamed of bringing teams from all over to grow the kingdom of God and heal the city of Manaus.  The team is pretty moved with how God has provided in so many ways over the years.

To think….the church originally started with an old wooden shack with no more than 2 rooms and is now grand and glorious and blessing hundreds of people each day! God is so faithful when you believe!!

To give thanks to us they honored us with a ceremonial blessing.  Pastor Francisco had each of us come and sit with our eyes closed while they played the song “To the ends of the earth”.  When we opened our eyes there sat in front of us a beautiful gift of appreciation with a letter enclosed. Inside the gift bag was a shirt that read in Portuguese ´´Win One For Jesus´´ a lady from the church had also needle pointed prayer towels for each of us with our full names on. There wasn´t a dry eye in the house! Before long  we all had our shirts on!  What a beautiful sight!

None of us have ever encountered such appreciation for our presence before!  We were totally blown away!!! And that was just the beginning of our day….we couldn´t imagine it getting any better, but it did!!

Jon took us to a drug and alcohol rehabilitation camp that the Alliance Church has developed.

This is a rehab center that is not forced upon them to go to. They must want to come on their own.  At any point in time they may leave.  Their mission is to rehabilitate them for God’s use not societies. They are put to work as soon as they get there. They sweat out the chemicals they have plagued their bodies with. They do not use pills or fancy treatments to heal them.   They rely strictly on God´s deliverance.

Currently there were 12 young men in rehab and/or mentoring to others.  They ranged in age anywhere from 17 yrs to 30 yrs. Each one was given the opportunity to share a bit of their story.  Each one has recommitted their life to Christ and wants to return a better man than when they first arrived. We had the privilege of doing the rope course with them, as well as, swimming and playing volleyball.

We arrived back just in time to attend another AWESOME church service. We just can´t seem to get enough of their praise and worship time.

One of our team members (Mike Bottrell) gave the message.  He spoke on how we not only need to train up ourselves, but we need to bond the chains of life together with one another as well. Here in Brazil we are not only sharing Christ with one another….we are in training.  We have definitely been  learning alot from the people of Brazil that we will carry back with us.

On Wednesday morning we went to the River Village about an hour away.  Youth on a Mission provided us with a boat in order to get there.  It was located on the back waters of the Amazon River.  There the youth group from Alliance Church performed a drama and dance.  Our team blessed them in song together. We were able to see their school which ranged from Pre-K age to 8^th grade.  Many of the children either come by foot or by boat to attend.

The younger children entertained us in song from their tribal language. It went along with the song we know as “If your happy and you know it” so of course we sang it to them in English after they sang it to us. 

Last night (Wednesday) we attended a satellite church of the Alliance Missionary Church.  We arrived early so we could divide into teams and walk the streets inviting others to attend the services. It was a very dangerous neighborhood, but in Christ we all felt safe as a team.

God was rocking the house once again during praise and worship time. We sang songs that were both from Brazil and America.  Many of us couldn´t believe that the stage did not collapse with all of us jumping for joy and praising God for all that he has done and  has yet to do!

Jill Bess and Jamie Avis shared their testimonies.  Both of them were so moving.

Jill shared how she had been abused as a child and how it has affected her relationship with others through the years.  But God has since released her of all the guilt and shame that she carried around with her for many years.  She heard God telling her that someone there last night was in need of being released from those same feelings.  Whether they had been abused or were the abuser…she knew God was wanting to deliver them from their pain.  Over 12 men and women stood asking for that peace to rain down on them.  Each of us as a team laid hands on those individuals. Praying over them and rebuking the enemy that had cursed their lives. It was so powerful!!

Jamie shared how her life choices had kept her running. Never wanting to share or grow close with anyone. But God had recently convicted her, and she needed to share these things with others in order to grow closer to Christ.

This morning (Thursday) we were anointed as missionaries of God by Pastor Francisco. Jon read from Isaiah 61, encouraging us to go and preach the Good Word.

Pastor Francisco then took us to the Becca Village today for a prayer walk. Giving us the opportunity to use what Mike Bottrell had taught us during our debriefing time. To share the heart of God with others, to touch them and pray for what we saw in their eyes.

The language barrier has not been a problem. Many of them know by our outer expression of what we are trying to convey.  Each of us was given a bottle of anointing oil to place on those that we met or to place on the pathways that they walk.

Most of us were devastated by the living conditions we saw.  With all the rain there has been much flooding, which has resulted in a lot of the sewage waste backing up. The stench alone made our stomachs turn.  We have all been wrecked for God and can´t wait to share more with you in person.

Thank you again for all your prayers, it´s greatly needed and appreciated!

Chow!!

Day Two

Oi from Brazil!!

Since our last blog, we had the chance to experience an INTENSE night of worship!!!
Sunday night we took part in two services at the Alliance Missionary Church. We rocked the house when we performed "God of the City" and "I am Free." We were all very moved by their passion during praise & worship. They don´t hold anything back - they dance freely and praise openly. Even though we were unable to understand their language, we knew what they were speaking & singing by their actions. Remember - 70% of communication is shared through body language.

In his sermon, Pastor Francisco reminded us that even though our lives may sometimes seem like a desert, with God, even a desert can be paradise.
We were all moved when Pastor Francisco asked the congregation "Who needs God in their life tonight?"
He encouraged everyone to keep their eyes open and to not be ashamed in celebrating those who are stepping across the line of faith tonight. Over 20 people came forward-it was an AMAZING event to witness!!!!!

Today (Monday), we were again blessed with a beautiful, but hot & humid day! Jon encouraged us to relax and enjoy the moment, just like a soldier prepares to go to battle. We have an emotionally and physically exhausting week ahead of us. It is important that we take care of ourselves in order to participate in what God has called us to do here.

We enjoyed a few hours of relaxing time pool-side at Pastor Francisco's home where he shared with us his powerful testimony of how God has called upon him to build the Alliance Missionary Church. He is such an obedient servant to God. We were all very blessed to share this time with him.

This afternoon we were divided into four teams to do home visits led by Jon, Dulce, Pastor Andre, and Sam (a 16-year-old member of the church who volunteered to translate for us). We all experienced very powerful, yet different, situations during these visits. They ranged from encouraging current church members to praying over a very sick 5-month-old baby to casting out demons. It´s amazing how we can live worlds apart, yet share in the same life issues.

Please pray for Jon as he has been led to visit the family of a former small group member who, just months ago, was gunned down & killed in front of his home, as his family witnessed this horrific act. Pray that God gives Jon the words he needs to comfort and encourage the family to remember that God is faithful in every situation.

We are excited that our Wisconsin team will be arriving into Brazil tonight around midnight. Jon has invited us to join him in welcoming them but says that "this trip tonight is not for the faint of heart or the overly weary," so a few have decided to stay at the church and get a good night´s rest.

Even though it has only been two days, our team is beginning to feel like family. God has truly knit us together. We are building friendships that will last a lifetime!!

Until next time......God bless you all and thank you for your continued prayers!!!

Ola` from Brazil

Ola´ from Brazil!

We are thanking God for making our trip so smooth.

We arrived last night around midnight and had the welcome of a lifetime!!

Pastor Fransisco, as well as, about 20 of Jon's youth group greeted us at the airport. They are such loving and beautiful people. They have worked so hard for our team to arrive and the preperations shine through!

We awoke to a beautiful, hot and muggy morning. The ladies of the church prepared a wonderful breakfast with lots of fresh fruit, breads and meat. None of us could get use to the warm/hot milk and the coffee that will grow hair on your chest. ha ha!
Jon encouraged us to try things we´ve never tried before. He told us to try them a couple of different times as some things have an accquired taste.

It's cool to see how god has been working since we left the states. The way he formed this group to come together to make a difference for him in a foreign land is amazing. It was very evident at this mornings devotional. Each one of us heard God speak in such a way that was inspiring us to be more determined in our walk with Him. In every circumstance, He is there paving the way for us. We need to step out of our box and let the revelation begin.

We spent most of the morning practicing with the alliance´s praise and worship team. We will be performing with them tonight singing God of This City, A New Halleluia and I Am Free. It's going to be quite intense!! Their praise and worship is about 1000 times stronger than our Nights of Worship and that's putting it mildly.

We are at an internet cafe just across from the church. A young boy of about 13 yrs old works it. The internet is slower than dial up, but even so...we are happy to just be able to communicate to our loved ones. We have all commented on how appreciatvie we are of the things we have back home. They have so little and yet are so happy and filled with love. It just radiates out of them. I will try and write again when time and electricity allows as with the rain and humidity we often lose power. I don´t think we´ll be sending pictures as it takes so long just to log on.

God Bless and thank you for all your prayers,

Kim

We're headin' to Brazil...

Our team from Crossroads Community Church is heading to Brazil in less than 3 days, leaving Saturday, June 13th and returning on the 23rd.

We are so excited! For some of us this will be our first time out of the United States. Cool, huh?

We're thrilled you're following along with us through this blog. Stay tuned for updates.