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.
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