Again, it's been a while since I last updated my blog and it feels like much has happened since last time.  We have continued to have discipleship lunches on Thursday afternoons. A few weeks ago, my friend Novinho (the former drug dealer-turned-evangelist) wanted me to come with him to talk to a man who used to be a pastor but was now using drugs. I have to say that my eyes were opened to the reality of drug abuse in Oitão Preto that day. Novinho led me down a narrow road and into a small 'house' were four people were sitting. All of their drug paraphernalia and their drugs were out in the open and they were preparing to take the drugs. One lady was sweating profusely as she had most likely just taken the drugs. I have to say that I had never seen anything like that before and I realized how sheltered I have been to things like this. We talked to the man who used to be the pastor. Novinho shared a word with him about choosing Christ or the world and it seemed to have an impact on him. We prayed for him and moved on to a house a little further up the street. It seemed as though everyone on that street was impacted in some way by drug abuse. We prayed for an older lady who was also addicted to drugs as well as a young woman. The pastor came to the discipleship lunch later that afternoon and he was open to receive prayer, yet he was not willing to change even though he knew that he needed to. Pray that God would have mercy on him and that the Holy Spirit would do a miracle in his life.  During this time, a young boy of about nine years old was following us around. Most (if not all) children in the community are exposed to the harsh reality of drug abuse, prostitution and gang activity. Oitão Preto is in need of God's love and power in a special way.
     At the same time, I believe that we are seeing pockets of light shining through the darkness. One example of a good work that God is doing is in the life of a woman named Marcia (whom I mentioned in my previous post). She recently gave her life to Jesus and God has set her free from her former way of life. I have the privilege of teaching her along with two others in the discipleship Bible study that we have recently started. Marcia recently expressed the desire to get baptized and publicly profess her faith in Jesus Christ. Everyone who lives in our house, her family, as well as some other friends went to the beach near her house for a baptism service. I had thought that Herb (our leader) would be the one to baptize her, but before we left he asked me if I would be willing to do it. I had never baptized anyone, but I agreed to do it and I was so blessed and encouraged. It is something special to be a part of someone's life whom God has set free from darkness and to witness the joy that He brings to their life. My heart was full of joy as I listened to Marcia tell of what God has done in her life.

     Last time I also mentioned a young man who gave his life to Christ. This young man is a drug dealer in the community but he has recently (a few weeks ago) decided to follow Christ. I was very excited this week because he came to our discipleship Bible study for the first time! God is doing a good work in his heart and he has a desire to live for God. Pray that he would rely on God's power and that God would transform every area of his life. I am encouraged that God is doing something good even in the midst of darkness!
     I have also had the opportunity to practice my renovation skills over the past few weeks. Our leaders , Herb and Lorelie are expecting a baby any day and there is a real need for another bathroom upstairs. We decided to convert a laundry room into a bathroom and though it has been a lot of work, it is almost finished! I had never done tile before, but I figured 'With access to Youtube to watch do-it-yourself videos, how hard can it be?' Well I have realized that I am no professional, but I think that I have done an all-right job for a rookie.

    Teaching and preaching keeps a man very busy and I have been very blessed to have many opportunities to teach as well as an opportunity to preach. We have a service here at our house every other Friday. We always hold our services in the courtyard where there is plenty of room. This last Friday I spoke on 'The Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ' from 2 Corinthians 4:6. I feel that this was one of my favorite sermons that I have given; there was an atmosphere of worship during the message and God, in His mercy, touched hearts and stirred a hunger to see His glory. God is so good and so worthy of all of our praise! I know that when I get discouraged I need to fix my eyes upon Him.

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Ok, so it's been a little while since I last updated my blog; it's time. In my last post I mentioned how a drug dealer from the community had given his heart to the Lord. A group of us went to the community (Oitao Preto) with the group of young people from Acampamento (the 3 day camp focusing on missions).  We went to the community to spend some time praying at the prayer house as well as to do some house visits and talk with people. We were upstairs in the prayer house and Novinho (a former drug dealer who has given his life to Christ), took me to the window and pointed to a man who was working down below. Novinho told me that this guy was a drug dealer and that it would be good if I spoke with him. Novinho went down to talk with him and he consented to come up to the prayer house with Novinho. We asked him if we could pray for him and he consented. We all laid hands on him and prayed for him. I really felt that God was doing something in his heart and so I told him that I felt today was a very important day for him. I briefly explained the gospel to him and told him that he had two paths in front of him that he could take. He could either take the easy, broad road or he could take the narrow, difficult one. He said that he was ready to follow Christ and so we prayed together with him and he committed to follow Jesus! We were excited! Pray that we would be able to follow up with him as it is understandably difficult to find him in the community. Pray that the Holy Spirit would continue to work in his heart and that he would grow in love for Jesus.
     One thing that I am also involved in is a discipleship/lunch at the prayer house on Thursday afternoons. We invite people to come and have lunch and then those who are interested stay for a short teaching. One of my responsibilities is teaching at this lunch and we will be going through the book of Luke together. This last Thursday was the first time that I taught and I have to say that it was a bit chaotic! People were talking with one another loudly while I was trying to speak and I was wondering if anyone was listening. After the teaching, I asked if anyone would like prayer for anything and there were a few people who wanted prayer. We prayed for an older lady named Maria and she had a lot of questions. It seemed as thought the conversation was going in circles. We were trying to explain the gospel to her but she didn't seem to be understanding. We decided that we needed to pray for her and so that's what we did; we prayed that the Holy Spirit would make things clear to her and He did! After we prayed for her, she was able to understand what we were telling her and she said that she wanted to follow Christ! Pray for Maria. Pray that she would grow in understanding of God and in her love for Him. Pray that she would continue to come to the discipleship meetings on Thursdays. I've posted a link to my friend's blog. http://kingdomcomebrasil.tumblr.com/post/49482620783/maria-the-one-in-the-red-hat-gave-her-life-to