Has it really been that long since I've last updated my blog? Too long! There has been many things happening since the last time and I will try to bring all of you up to date. A week ago, we had an all night prayer vigil at the house of prayer in the community. I can often feel a real sense of spiritual heaviness when I walk into the community and times of prayer really do feel like a battle although I really enjoy them at the same time. It is clear that there are demonic forces at work in the community and nothing less than the power of God will be required to see true and lasting results. The night we had our prayer vigil was from Saturday to Sunday (June 30th to July 1st). As soon as we arrived in the community, I could sense real heaviness and a coming battle. One of the girls who is doing the internship at our house (she is from the community), was facing really strong temptations to back to her old way of life. When we arrived at the community she said that she wanted to join her friends at a party which was a really bad decision for her. When we arrived at the house of prayer, there was water all over the floor as it had rained a lot that day and water came in through the windows as well as the roof. At the same time, one of the girls who was praying started to experience strong pain in her neck and back. I really sensed that the enemy did not want us to pray for the community and others sensed the same thing as well. We cleaned up the mess in the prayer house and started praying. If any of you have ever prayed through the night, you know that it can be difficult. However, we found that the time went by really quickly, and before we knew it, it was 6am in the morning. The girl who ran away to be with her friends came back the following day and she is continuing in the internship (continue to pray for her as there is still a real battle for her life. She desires to live for God and yet the old life still has a pull on her). We really feel that prayer is a key component in seeing God's power break into the community. There was a clear change the last time we had an all-day prayer event and shortly after this, we saw some real fruit. A girl from the community gave her life to the Lord (she's the one who was baptized), a drug dealer gave his life to the Lord and an older lady did as well.
God has also been working in the life of a man named Dede. Dede is a very kind man who seems to be friends with everyone. However, Dede is addicted to alcohol and it has had a very negative effect on his life. A number of weeks back, Dede expressed interest to be taken to a rehabilitation house and get free from his addiction. A few of us made an appointment for him and he agreed to a time that we arranged. When we arrived at the community, however, he said that he didn't want to go but wanted to stay in the community; it was a very discouraging morning for me. More recently however, it appears as though God is doing a real work in Dede's heart. Myself as well as a few others have talked and prayed with him a number of times and he has expressed a real desire to change. He says that he wants out of his old way of life. A few weeks ago Dede came to the house of prayer and a number of us laid hands and prayed for him. We prayed that God would get a hold of him and encounter him. The next morning a few of us went to the community and we talked to him and prayed with him again. He said that the previous night, a light descended into his house (he has no electricity or lights in his house) and he felt the presence of God. He said that he really wants to go to a rehabilitation house and change. We are hoping that we will be able to take Dede within the next few weeks. It's really necessary for Dede to get out of the community because there are so many temptations for him there and alcohol is easily accessible.
I am also continuing to lead discipleship Bible studies on Monday and Wednesday afternoons and I feel that these are going well. We are going through the Bible and right now we are looking at the life of Christ, specifically on the Sermon on the Mount. I feel that everyone who comes is growing in understanding of who God is and what it means to be a follower of him. The other day, I had to do a lesson in Portuguese because there was no one to translate for me. I can confidently say that I still have a long way to go in learning the language! However, times like these are good because they remind me that I need to rely upon God's strength and not my own knowledge or ability.
One thing that God has been doing and continues to do in my own heart is that he is giving me a greater desire to take the gospel to people who are unreached. I feel like one of the reasons why God has me here in the this season is to raise up Brazilians who will go to unreached places, both here in Brazil as well as in other nations. I had the opportunity to speak at a church a week ago and I spoke on Romans 10:14-15 "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'" God touched people's hearts and I pray that there will be lasting fruit from that service. We are also planning on have a 'missions camp' this coming week for young people who are interested in missions. Right now, there are not many people who are signed up and so we are praying that God would bring the people that he wants for the following week. We are continuing to pray that God would raise up laborers to send to the harvest!
God has also been working in the life of a man named Dede. Dede is a very kind man who seems to be friends with everyone. However, Dede is addicted to alcohol and it has had a very negative effect on his life. A number of weeks back, Dede expressed interest to be taken to a rehabilitation house and get free from his addiction. A few of us made an appointment for him and he agreed to a time that we arranged. When we arrived at the community, however, he said that he didn't want to go but wanted to stay in the community; it was a very discouraging morning for me. More recently however, it appears as though God is doing a real work in Dede's heart. Myself as well as a few others have talked and prayed with him a number of times and he has expressed a real desire to change. He says that he wants out of his old way of life. A few weeks ago Dede came to the house of prayer and a number of us laid hands and prayed for him. We prayed that God would get a hold of him and encounter him. The next morning a few of us went to the community and we talked to him and prayed with him again. He said that the previous night, a light descended into his house (he has no electricity or lights in his house) and he felt the presence of God. He said that he really wants to go to a rehabilitation house and change. We are hoping that we will be able to take Dede within the next few weeks. It's really necessary for Dede to get out of the community because there are so many temptations for him there and alcohol is easily accessible.
I am also continuing to lead discipleship Bible studies on Monday and Wednesday afternoons and I feel that these are going well. We are going through the Bible and right now we are looking at the life of Christ, specifically on the Sermon on the Mount. I feel that everyone who comes is growing in understanding of who God is and what it means to be a follower of him. The other day, I had to do a lesson in Portuguese because there was no one to translate for me. I can confidently say that I still have a long way to go in learning the language! However, times like these are good because they remind me that I need to rely upon God's strength and not my own knowledge or ability.
One thing that God has been doing and continues to do in my own heart is that he is giving me a greater desire to take the gospel to people who are unreached. I feel like one of the reasons why God has me here in the this season is to raise up Brazilians who will go to unreached places, both here in Brazil as well as in other nations. I had the opportunity to speak at a church a week ago and I spoke on Romans 10:14-15 "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'" God touched people's hearts and I pray that there will be lasting fruit from that service. We are also planning on have a 'missions camp' this coming week for young people who are interested in missions. Right now, there are not many people who are signed up and so we are praying that God would bring the people that he wants for the following week. We are continuing to pray that God would raise up laborers to send to the harvest!
Yes Lord, raise up harvesters!
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