sometimes engaging in tasks that take a lot of trust are the hardest to endure in the kingdom. Over the last few months I have been helping to plan and arrange for my Brazilian friends to be in Michigan for a little over three weeks, and for my daughter and I to be in Brazil for nearly 5. These plans were made knowing that we have to trust the Holy Spirit for 5 out of 7 tickets to be my responsibility. Some people would shake their heads and say that this is not responsible! who makes plans like that without the money in the bank?.. Yes Lee and I still have struggles.. Work goes up and down, we have kids, nothing is really certain in terms of comfort or security. I think back to the days when I was fighting with God about going to Brazil, living in a home that was in very bad shape and cold in the winter. I gave Tony Saraiva a hundred excuses why I could not (and should not) go to Brazil. Last year I went three times total. The church in Brazil is changing. The people have been experiencing the Holy Spirit in different ways, and my entire life is different. People that I never knew have helped me to go back and forth with airfare and skymiles. Lee and the kids and I are all different. I see how telling Lee about all of the miracles that keep happening are changing his thoughts about God and the church. His help with planning and ideas to make things work better there are part of the backbone in my ministry there. My kids are doing better in school since we moved and each is looking forward to life opportunities in Brazil. Dorothy is going this year to work, and James is planning to go for the Olympics in 2016 with our family. My son who hated people, life, and even living at one point is planning for the future with gusto. I should mention that God has blessed me that since I began praying in earnest, three of the five tickets I need to bring some here and us there are almost taken care of. I know that I do spend time praying everyday, asking God for the last $3000.00 dollars I need to make this happen. I try not to pray with worry, as much as I pray with faith. The reason that Carlos and his family need to be here is not just for my ordination, but to experience new facets of ministry themselves. They will have time to go to family camp at Bluewater something they have never done, as well as take time with their teachers and mentors that is not rushed the second week. The third week we will prepare for our project in Poa and I will finish spiritual preparation for my ordination... When you do mission work as your life calling, it takes everything you have, especially free time. After living with Carlos and Fernanda, I know that the church is their life not just in word, but indeed. People are always there with needs for the church, needs for blessings, and needs for direction. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen people with tears running down their faces banging on the door shouting Pastor!!!, and Carlos comes to the door half dressed while trying to prepare for worship or fully dressed and trying to cook a meal and answer his email and his ear is glued to the phone..., yet he asks them in and Fernanda grabs tissue and glasses of water and they give hospitality and the phone is hung up.... This does not even begin to touch on the needs that come from serving those who live in desperate poverty. Bringing Carlos and the family here will give them time to receive some ministry of respite and learning without interruption. I have my own kind of craziness that Carlos and Fernanda try to help me get respite from when I am with them. I continue to go to school, make jewelry, be a mom, and serve my community in different ways (weddings, baptisms, preaching like a mad woman... ect)... while also maintaining relationships in Brazil with the congregation at Poa,and Caro, like I said mission is a way of life, but I continue to trust and believe that God is taking care of things and doing the unbelievable, and that soon I will be able to tell you how God took care of 5 tickets for me, when even taking care of one seemed impossible...
Posted on: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 15:35:22 +0000
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