First Updates

Saturday:
After an 1 1/2 hour wait in DSM to board our first flight our travel was good. We arrived Saturday morning in Rio a bit flight weary but excited for the mission ahead.
After we arrived at our host location we were informed that our schedule had changed and their was a womens tea scheduled at the church for the ladies of the community. Faith did a great job sharing about her faith journey and where the Lord has her at this point. She finished her talk by singing a song. We then finished the evening meeting and connecting w/ some new friends. It was a great beginning to the mission here.

Sunday:
Sunday was an incredibly busy day! We began our day w/ a great time of worship together beginning w/ a time of sharing in Sunday school. Michael and Andrea shared w/ the children and did a craft with them. The children love American crafts! Faith had an open sharing time w/ the age 16 thru adult aged gals. It was a powerful time of connection and sharing about how the Lord is working in their lives. Pastor Gary shared about the 'four pillars of a man' w/ the aged 16 - adult men.
The men really opened up and began to grasp the concept of discipling other men.

Next was our time of worship in music and the preaching. There was also a wonderful time of baptism as a middle aged gal was baptized. Pastor Gary shared about the New Testament church from Acts 2:42-47 and the importance of living in community w/ one another as we grow in our walk w/ the Lord. The message ended w/ a call for anyone who didn't know the Lord to talk w/ Pastors Andre, Gary or the person who invited them to church. After the service four people asked to speak more about that this week. Praise God! We will keep you updated as we continue to share the Gospel of Jesus to this part of the world.

After the service the team went to an 'assisted living home' for women. We shared a time of worship in music (beautiful hymns in Portuguese). We also shared the Lords Supper w/ them. And Pastor Gary gave a brief message from Isaiah 40. We enjoyed some snacks w/ these gals - many of whom are in their 90's.

We finished our day going back to the church for an evening service where Michael Miller shared his testimony about reaching out to his friends and neighbors w/ Christ. Michael gave a great message and challenge to the people of Brasil.

We praise God for a great beginning to our mission. Today we will utilize this day to connect w/ the pastor and his family as we prepare for an extremely busy Tuesday through Sunday ahead.

We appreciate your continued prayer for God's divine leading in all our days as we serve our Lord together.

We look forward to adding pictures to this blog when we return next week.

All for Him! 

Sunday sharing at the assisted living center

Sunday Michael sharing with teenagers during Sunday School

Sunday: Michael sharing with teenagers during Sunday School

Michael sharing during Sunday evening service

Update -9/22/09

Tuesday: Today we had another very busy day. We began our day going to a 'favella' (slum) in Rio de Pedros (River of Rocks). This slum has some 50,000 people in it. This is the same slum the team went last year so it was good to see some familiar faces. We met with the pastor of this church named Sergio. We walked down the mud roads and met people. We invited them to our outreach event we will be doing there on Saturday. We met with a mother named Isabelle. She had once gone to the church but had fallen away due to some unreconciliation. We had a time of singing, sharing the Word with her and praying with her. There were many tears shed. Pray that she will reconcile with this person and will come back to community w/others. We then went and met w/ith her daughter-in-law (Paula - in red and white shirt in photo) and son and his brother and Paula's children. We sang, were encouraged by some Scripture together and God turned our attention to John (an 18 year old boy who is in back row of photo in black shirt) who lives there. We shared the gospel with him. John is very near to receiving Christ. He said it is very difficult to do this. Pray for John and that God will call him to Himself this Saturday during our outreach event. After this time we went around the town and met more adults and kids. We invited them to Saturday's event. Please pray for the people of this favella that God will become prevalent there in this part of the city. It is very dark, dirty, spiritually and economically poor and needy. Pray also for our outreach Saturday that God will be glorified.  

Tonight the team went to a small group (not so small group) gathering. There were approx 30 people who gathered. The house that Marcia lives in with her husband and son is about 6 ft X 12ft in size. She invited her friends and neighbors over to meet Americanos. We met with them outside on the mud walkway. We sang with them, Pastor Gary shared the Gospel of Jesus with them, and then asked Pastor Andrei to close the message as he saw appropriate. He invited those who wanted to claim Christ as their Savior and Lord to stand and come around him so that we could pray for them as they start their Christian journey. We believe that some that stood may already be Christians but are pretty certain some hadn't been (until tonight). Praise God! There was probably 10-12 that stood up around Andrei. Pray for these folks who have taken a giant step for Christ and for the discipleship of these people to get rolling through Andrei's church. We closed the evening singing, serving them a simple meal that we brought for them, and the team went around to continue talking and opening any spiritual conversations possible. It was a great evening of seeing lives transformed and encouraged. We just got back a little bit ago (its about 1AM here) and are going to get a brief evenings sleep before we go to another favella tomorrow near to Andrei's church that one day we'd like to plant a church to share the gospel.

Thank you to all who have supported us through financial giving and through your prayers. Please continue to pray for us throughout each day! We feel called to much work here and have a very busy schedule yet to come this week. May God be glorified!

We look forward to updating more tomorrow.

All for Him!!!

Picture of a main road into favella

The 'small group' gathering outside of Marcia's house

At the end of Pastor Gary's message Pastor Andre invited any/all who would like to make Jesus as Lord and Savior of their lives to stand up and gather around.  Here is a photo of the gathering.

Picture of Marcia and Gary

Here is a photo of Marcia at her home.  It is a very humble home.  It is approx 6ft wide by 12 ft long.  She lives there with her husband and son.  She is praying for help to build a bit larger home for her family in the future.  She is such a light in this community for Jesus.

Update - 9/23/09

Wednesday:

It has been very rainy here. So far it has probably rained 3 days. This makes it very diffucult to go into the favellas 'slums' due to the slippery mud road and huge mud holes in the walkways and roads. Not to mention the intensity of mosquitos that come out with all the standing water. The Dengue virus that is carried by mosquitos is on the rise again here this year - especially in the poorer areas of Rio. When we go into these areas we 'bathe' in deet to prevent mosquito bites. Unfortunately we weren't able to distribute invitations and meet some new people in the favella due to rain. Instead we went and had a lunch with a gal named Sandra who recently received Christ as her Savior and Lord. We ate, read Scripture, prayed together and she gave her testimony to us. Andrea also shared a testimony with all of us of what the Lord has been doing in her life recently. This really spoke to Sandra because her husband has not surrendered his life to Christ but he has begun to attend church and the small group that the Lord used to lead Sandra to the Lord. Pray for Sandra's husband that he will receive the Lord. He will be at church this Sunday.

Wednesday evening the team met at Pastor Andrei's house with the elders and the deacons and their wives. We sang, and read some Scripture and then Pastor Gary was asked to talk about the structure of Timberline. It was a great discussion about elders' roles and responsibilities and also about how the church is designed to meet in small groups around the town - according to Acts 2:42-47. We also discussed the importance of the elder team being a team - where everyone does their part to help build and spiritually lead the church. This was very enlightening and encouraging to them. Sometimes we as people (leaders too) can get into a rut. It looks as though that was a refreshing conversation for the leadership to talk and pray more about. The mission team finished the evening by getting to know one another that was gathered and to encourage one another. It was a wonderful time of bringing a 'cool cup of water' to a church - to a people who are thirsty.

Thanks for your prayers. Please continue to pray for us as we finish the week with all the planned activites and that the rain will stop. It is Thursday morning here and raining again. We need dry weather to do our Friday and Saturday activites. Blessings to each of you from Brasil! 

Thursday Update

Thursday:

Today it rained again all day. Here in the northern part of Brasil it often rains for 3 or 4 day in a row. Today is the second day of rain so we are hopeful that tomorrow we may have an early reprieve from the rain. We have some outside activities planned to reach the people. Please pray for us to follow what the Lord wants through the team tomorrow rain or shine.

Much of today we spent meeting different people in their homes. Sharing a meal or snacks and sharing the Gospel message with them. At the last home we visited tonight Michael shared a verse and his testimony. He did a great job sharing his faith. It was moving for all. We are all making some good connections and having good conversations with people who don't know Christ and many who do. Pray for these connections to continue to show fruit for the Lord well into the future.

Today was also Pastor Andrei's birthday. Birthdays are very important in Brasil. So, in saying this everywhere we went we would celebrate his birthday (even if he didn't know they were planning anything). It was fun to see Andrei on his birthday. He has said multiple times what a blessing (birthday gift) the mission team has been this week. It has been good to encourage this pastor and the church God has him leading.

Thanks again for your prayers. Please pray for continued health and safety and for us to reach all that He has planned for us to share the Gospel with in our time remaining.

All for Him.

Friday and Saturday update

Friday was pretty rainy all day so we spent some time doing some necessary time together and planning for our Saturdays events. 

Saturday

We began Saturday praying that the rain would end.  It downpoured heavily from 6 - 8 AM.  Shortly after praying the blue sky came out and the rain was done. 

During the lunchtime we spent the time connecting with the Pastor Andrei's church.  They held an all church BBQ in honor of Pastor Andrei's birthday.  We met many new people and heard some amazing stories of lives who were transformed over the past years by Jesus and through his faithful servants.  One story that was very memorable by the team was Evonette.  When she was 17 her father died and her mother was unable to continue to raise their 6 children so her mother made up fake death certificates about all six children and then dropped them off on the street for the kids to provide for themselves.  During this time the siblings (who were by paper documents considered dead) lost track of one another.  In order to eat Evonette began to ask different girls on the street how they were making money.  The gals routed Evonette to the Catholic church and said that the Catholic church was willing to feed and clothe the girls on the street if the gals - through prostitution- would give half of their earnings to the church.  This bothered Evonette alot but she was hungry and scared and wanted some shelter.  So she did this.  Then one day as she was going to 'work' she got onto a city bus and 'ran into' an American missionary that told her about the truth of Jesus Christ.  This missionary continued to share their faith with her and Evonette turned her life to Christ.  Shortly after this Evonette one night was raped and as a result became pregnant with a son.  The American missionary continued to help Evonette but told her that unfortunately their visa was running out in Brazil and had to return to the US.  The missionary told her that Evonette needed to pray for God to provide a good church that would listen to her story and help her.  So she did.  Through a divine introduction Evonette met Pastor Andrei who began to help her.  She has now taken a course on how to be a maid.  God has provided for her a good job where she is a maid and has a home to stay in for her and her son.  And a roof over their heads.  And a church that loves her, prays for her and has simply welcomed her with open arms.  This is how the church of Jesus Christ is to work.  What a praise!

Saturday afternoon

After the BBQ our team went and practiced a mime that we could use Saturday evening at the favella.  We went to do a worship service, to pass out invitations and gospel tracks, and to share the good news of Jesus.  When we arrived we grabbed the sound equipment that the little church has in the favella.  We took it and set it up in front of a small store - for electrical power supply.  The worship team began to play and sing.  As we began to play/sing the bars that were located on both sides turned up their music.  Amazingly God seemed to drown their music out with the worship music.  People began to turn out.  They stuck their heads out of the windows and doorways. After about an hours worth of worship singing/playing Pastor Gary was introduced.  He shared the gospel (while it was translated into Portuguese).  The message was finalized by the drama the team had prepared.  The drama was about hitting 'walls' in your life and how Jesus will make the doorway - but that NOT ALL will find the Way.  During the drama Pastor Sergio motioned to Gary to come over.  There was a couple of men there who wanted/needed to talk.  During this time one of the men (named Johnovo - pictured in teal shirt) began to sob uncontrollably.  Pastors Gary and Sergio invited the men up front where they could openly declare their repentance and salvation they had just received.  It was a powerful time.  Shortly after this there was a time of testimonies by people in the church along with a finishing time of worship.  This was an amazing sight as we did this on this mud/dirt road in the middle of a favella that had 50,000 people living in it.  Toward the end of our worship time another man (Manuel - pictured in off white shirt) walked up and asked his buddy who held closely onto Pastor Gary what was going on.  Johnovo shared with Manuel about his new faith.  Manuel seemed to be interested but scared.  Pastor Andre and Jeff (Brasilian missionary) also shared with him about Christ. It was about this time that Pastor Sergio walked up to meet this man.  As Pastor Sergio approached Manuel put out his hand and said please back up.  Manuel noticed the cross on the front of Sergios shirt.  Manuel said that when he sees the cross he burns uncontrollably inside.  We all immediately sensed that Manuel was demon possessed.  It was an amazing experience to cast a demon from Manuel that evening.  After that Manuel and Johnovo and the rest of the mission team and the others from the church met back at the humble church building.  It was there that Manuel dropped to his knees and gave his life to Christ - while his friend Johnovo was there by his side on his knees praying for/with him.  It was an amazing time together.  At the end of their prayer the church errupted into praise and worship in singing.  And to think that the singing in heaven was even more beautiful than what happened that evening is hard to believe - but the team looks forward to that day.  Johnovo and Manuel are both plugged in to the local church with Pastor Sergio.  We look forward to hearing reports of these mens continued walk with the Lord in the days/years to come.  Pictured in the teal shirt is Johnovo and the off white shirt is Manuel.

Thanks for the prayer!

Photo of Evonette

Photo of Evonette

Andrea and Faith connecting with the youth

Sunday update

Sunday

Sunday morning began with the team working/sharing/teaching in the various Sunday Schools.

Michael and Faith worked with the teenagers on some Scripture and some crafts together.

Andrea shared her testimony with the women of the churc about some exciting things that have been happening in her life recently and how the Lord has been using both her small group and her parents small group through prayer.

Pastor Gary shared with the men of the church about the 'passivity of Adam' from Genesis 1-3.

We then enjoyed a wonderful time of worship during the service.  The worship set began with a very familiar song called Mighty to Save.  Pastor Gary gave the message this morning from Phillippian 2:1-11. The service finished appropriately with the same song as it began called Mighty to Save. Our God is mighty to save!

Sunday evening the team headed to the airport to board our overnight flight to Atlanta.  It was hard to say goodbye to some dear new friends.  It has been a wonderful time of connection and service together for our Lord. 

Praise God for all of you who have helped us go reach others with the truth of Jesus Christ.  It has been such a blessing to be used by God to do His work.  Thank you for praying for us and those we were called to reach.  For providing the necessary financial support for us to go.  And for praying for us as we return back to the States to get acclimated to our culture once again.  Please continue to pray for the many people who surrendered their lives to Christ over the past 10 days.  Pray that they will continue to walk and be strengthened in the Lord and to grow in the understanding and obedience to Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

All for Jesus!  The Brazil Mission Team.

The Brazil Mission Team and the Droogsma missionary family Thank You for Sending Us!