Back from South Africa

Well, I'm finally writing to let you know I'm back from South Africa. I've actually been back almost a week, but with having to jump right back into working combined with jet lag and being sick I'm just now getting the chance. I want to thank you for all of your prayers during my time in Johannesburg. What an awesome experience it was and one where I really saw God at work! I spent almost 3 weeks with a group of 200 Brazilians whose goal and passion was to see God glorified and be a part of what He was doing in South Africa. And it was amazing!

I wish you all could have been there, to experience the excitement of being in Johannesburg during the World Cup, to see how many opportunities we had and how receptive people were to this group of Brazilians, and to watch South Africans worship God with such simplicity and sincerity. I can't share everything with you, but some of the highlights were – 1. Telling a South African woman at the hospital we visited that we came all the way from Brasil (and the US) not to go to a World Cup game but to visit her and tell her how much God loves her. 2. Interpreting a sermon from Portuguese into English both Sundays at 2 small and passionate African churches 3. Sharing my testimony at a church about how God has a plan for each of us and wants to continue to use us, how 8 years ago I didn't speak any Portuguese and now here I was in South Africa with a group of Brazilians translating a sermon back into English that a Brazilian pastor was preaching! 4. Laughing and hanging out with the group of crazy, fun Brazilians that love God and missions. And getting to share my story and encourage many of them that were on their first mission trip. 5. Praying and seeing God open up doors and opportunities for us to minister – in schools, in a nursing home, in a hospital, in a clinic. 6. Getting to share the Message of Hope, Love and Peace with people in a country that is still suffering from a history of hatred, bitterness and forgiveness and watching God bring unity to a nation that desperately needs to be united. 7. Watching the Brasil soccer game on a big screen in the church sanctuary crowded with 200 Brazilians and 50 South Africans and getting caught up in all the excitement!

Continue to pray for South Africa, that God would grow the seeds that were planted and the lives that were changed this past month. Pray for the leadership group that is staying until the end of next month, for the Brazilian full-time missionaries and the churches in Johannesburg. And pray that God would continue to work in the lives of each Brazilian volunteer and that God would continue to lead them and use them for His glory! I started getting excited about God using Brazilians on the mission field while I was living in Brasil but after these past few weeks I now truly believe that God is going to use Brazilians to change the world!

My next adventure is only a week away! Next Saturday, July 3, I will be going to the Brazilian Amazon for a week! I was invited to go with a medical team from Brentwood Baptist Church because they needed a nurse practitioner and someone to help lead the team because Sharon is taking a medical team to Haiti (Please pray for her this next week as she and the team will be in Haiti and also for Stephen (Sharon & Ray's son) who is in Haiti until the end of July working with teams from Brentwood). God is doing a lot all over the world and it is so amazing the doors he keeps opening up. I will send out more details about the Amazon before I leave but pray for me and the team as we prepare. Please pray especially for my health and strength... although I love it and wouldn't have it any other way, it is hard with all the traveling and having to work part-time and do everything I need to do. The spiritual warfare was so strong when I was in South Africa and especially after I got sick I was thinking how Satan definitely doesn't like all that I'm doing... I need your prayers more now than ever as I continue to go where God leads and take advantage of every opportunity He gives me. Thank you once again for your continued prayers and encouragement!!! May God continue to bless each of you and give you opportunities to share His love and salvation wherever He leads you! Love you guys!

Last Night in South Africa

It's my last night here in South Africa. I can't believe it's already over! I am feeling better although I still was not well enough to go out today. There's a possibility that I may be able to go out for part of the day tomorrow. It was not in my plans to get sick (but I guess it never is) but I've been praying that God would be glorified even during my sickness. Thank you for all your prayers and please continue to pray for my health. Pray that I would feel ok during my 16 hour flight tomorrow night. Pray especially that my cough would not be bad on the flight. And please continue to pray for the work here and for the Brazilian team. Love you guys and appreciate you so much!!!

Freezing in South Africa

It's been a busy past few days as different groups have gone to churches, schools, clinics, communities, etc... Thanks for your prayers about the clinic... we were able to go there yesterday and gave some presentations on dental care and HIV. HIV is a serious and growing problem here in South Africa and there is a still a lack of education in so much of the population.

Yesterday was Brasil's first game and some of the group went to outside the stadium and talked to people and handed out tracts. We all piled into the church to watch the game on the big screen with some visitors from the community. It was a victorious night, first because Brasil won the game and second because people gave their lives to Christ during the invitation at the end of the game. Praise God for the lives He is changing as the result of us being here!

It's freezing here – literally!! You don't think of cold when you think of Africa but it is the middle of winner here in Johannesburg and this week has been really cold. Last night it was in the 20's and the buildings don't have heating. These poor Brazilians that have never left the tropics don't know what to do but it's been miserably cold even for me.

It has been somewhat of a discouraging past few days for me because my cold and cough has only gotten worse. I had to stay at the camp today and call the doctor to come see me because I was feeling worse, couldn't stop coughing and had a fever. Praise God for Dr. Lance who examined me and gave me antibiotics and cold medicine without charging me anything. It's been hard because of the cold and having to interpret and I knew today I had to stop. Pray for quick healing with the antibiotic. Pray that my cough stops and I'm able to sleep and rest. And pray for wisdom to know whether I should stay in tomorrow or if it's ok to go out. I leave on Friday night so I only have 2 days left. I want to make the best of the rest of my time here but I also don't want to get worse, so pray I'll know what to do.

Thank you again for all your prayers! I will try to post something tomorrow night but if I don't get to, pray for these last few days of ministry. Most of the Brazilians leave on Sunday or Tuesday so they still have a few more days here. Pray for their continued health and safety. Pray that God would grow the seeds that were planted and continue to work in the hearts of people we have come in contact with. Pray for my flight home, that I will feel ok and be able to rest. Thank you guys so much! Love you!!

A Great Weekend!!!

Things are going great here in Johannesburg! Thanks for all your prayers! I wish you all could be here with me! Yesterday was an awesome day, probably the best so far. In the morning I went with a group to the boarding house that I talked about in one of my older posts. We visited with people for a while then had a little program with them – a personal trainer did stretching exercises, a dentist taught them about how to care for their teeth, and we also had a time of music. I was the interpreter and was even able to share with them a Bible verse and encourage them to look to Jesus for joy and peace. It was such a blessed time!!

In the afternoon I went with another group to a hospital (a door that God opened this week!!). We went through the first few floors and visited the patients. A couple of the Brazilians dressed up like clowns and they even gave me a funny hat and clown nose to wear... it's amazing how just seeing us made people smile. And then we talked to them for a few minutes and prayed with each patient. You should have seen this one woman's face when I told her we came all the way from Brasil to visit her and not to go to the World Cup games! When we asked if another patient had any prayer requests, she wanted us to pray that God would change her life. And the nurses loved us! One asked for a present from Brasil and we gave her one of the salvation bracelets and I explained to her the meaning of the colors. And then all of them wanted one so I shared with them as well. We prayed with the nurses and I was able to share with them that I was also a nurse and I know what a hard job it is and what a great ministry it is. I don't have the words to describe how great the visit was to both places or how much I felt God using me. Hopefully I will get to go back to the hospital but it's just amazing how we gave hope to patients that were there and made friends with the nurses which will hopefully help keep the door open. Thank you for all your prayers!

This morning we divided up in different churches and I went to a small church with a pastor from Rio. The church was in the favela/slums, a part of Joburg I really hadn't been in yet. It's a squatter camp and there are 20,000 people living there... and it really was just shacks made of aluminum, worse than most of the favelas. I've noticed at the other squatter camps we've driven by and this one as well that there are 2 port-a-pottys (however you spell it) at each camp... I guess the government puts them there... they just look so out of place there. haha The church was made of aluminum as well and was very simple... they didn't have power until halfway through the service. They were so hospitable, joyful and so receptive to us. It was wonderful to be with them and God blessed Edson as he shared and me as I interpreted. God was in that church with us! This is Pastor Edson's first mission trip and he was nervous since it was his first time to preach through an interpreter... but it all went great! We talked on the bus about this trip, missions and I was able to encourage him and share some of my other experiences. It's been amazing to see God at work in these 200 Brazilian volunteers... I really do believe God is going to great things with each member of this group, even after this trip is over!

Continue to pray for our health and safety, for strength and discernment. Pray for open doors and for the leadership as they have so many decisions to make every day regarding logistics. Pray that God would bring people into our paths and that we are able to know what to say and how to help them. Pray especially for the Brazilians that know some English, that God would give them the words and the confidence to speak and that people would understand their English. Pray that I would have wisdom to know when I need to be an interpreter and when I need to talk to people on my own. I can't thank you enough for your prayers!! You are a part of God's work here in South Africa!!

P.S. I just found out that I'll be going tomorrow to one of the neighborhoods to talk to the director of a clinic about the possibility of us visiting. Pray for us, that God would grant us favor in their eyes and that the door would be opened.

The World Cup has begun!!!

The 2010 World Cup has finally begun!!! Today was the opening ceremony and first game. How exciting it is to be in the city where it is being held even if we don't get to go to any games. Everyone here in Johannesburg is so excited, all dressed in South Africa's colors and making lots of noise! It is definitely an exciting time!!!
Today was also our first day of real ministry. We finished the training yesterday and had a special service last night with some of the South African pastors where they commissioned us to go out and serve. It was a wonderful time together, praying for Africa and the world. We are divided in different areas and there are 3 different communities we are serving in. Today my group went to Troyville, which is in downtown Jburg. We set up a big screen in the sanctuary and invited the community to come watch the Opening Ceremony and South Africa game with us this afternoon. During the time we had games, arts and music for the kids. The kids are precious! I love that you can make friends with kids no matter what country you are in! :)
Continue to pray for us. I can't believe it's gone by so fast but I leave one week from today. The next week is gonna be intense. Continue to pray for our safety and health. Will you please pray for me, especially for my throat. I am still sick and felt worse today, so just pray for healing and that I am able to talk and feel good. It got colder the last few days (freezing temps at night with no heater), so I think it's affected everyone's health. So please continue to pray for our health. Continue to pray that God would direct us, open doors and be glorified in all we say and do. May South Africa be forever changed in 2010, not because of the World Cup but because of what God will do in this country!

Thanks for all the prayers!!!

Thank you for your continued prayers for us! The other half of the group arrived on Sunday and have done their city/safari tours that we did last week. Yesterday and today my group got to visit 2 of the areas we will be working in the next week. We went to prayer walk and to get to know the areas but already saw God at work. God is working through us, touching lives and opening doors. Today we went to Pastor Diego's church – he is a Brazilian missionary that has been here in Johannesburg for 8 years and is a pastor of a local Portuguese church. The church is located in an area of town that has had a long history of racial/ethnic hatred and even killings. We walked through the community praying for God's salvation, peace and restoration of this community. 70 Brazilians walking through the streets called a lot of attention... people would jump up and down and yell as we passed by... they love soccer and love Brazilians... this opened up doors for us to talk to people and tell them why we were here and about the church. There is a boarding house a couple of blocks from the church that has 63 older adults living there. We were invited inside, able to greet and visit with the residents and even had a mini worship service with them. It was awesome but only after returning to the church did we discover that Pastor Diego has been trying to connect with this place for years but has been unable to because of the situation here in South Africa. God used our group to open up a door and gave us an opportunity to share His message of peace, hope and salvation!

Continue to pray for our group here – for our health, safety, strength, endurance and boldness. The spiritual warfare is real and strong here in this country and we have felt it so strong. We are praying more than ever and know God is going to do great things this next week. Pray specifically for the health of each of us. People are getting sick every day. The last few days it seems like every few hours someone gets sick. And I even had a sore throat and fever yesterday morning and praise God that I am feeling better today, but our health is something I ask you to really pray about.

Tomorrow and Thursday we are doing training with the whole group and then Friday we will divide up and go to our different ministry areas. Continue to pray for us as we prepare and plan. Pray for the English training we will be doing with everyone. Pray for the leadership as they divide the groups and handle all the logistics. It's a lot of work and they are doing a great job! The group that I'm here with is amazing and I've enjoying so much getting to know them and serving with them! Thank you for your continued prayers! Love you guys!

A Wonderful Sunday

What a wonderful Sunday it was here in South Africa! And I know it was all because of prayers – those of you that are praying across the ocean and all of us praying here. Most of the group went to a larger church, but a few of us went to some smaller churches. At 10pm last night I found out that I would be leaving at 630 this morning and would be interpreting for the preacher. I was so exhausted and didn't get many hours of sleep so I was a little worried this morning. But our God gave me the strength and energy I needed. The service was amazing!! It was a small, simple church full of the presence of God. I think it is the most amazing church service that I have ever participated in! I cannot even describe to you how amazing it was! The people worshiped God with such sincerity and with all their heart. I was a little anxious about interpreting, but it went so well. I ended up sharing a few minutes with the church in English about my story, missions & God's plan for each of them. And then I interpreted as Junior preached (A seminary student that found out last night he would be preaching and was scared to death!). God's hand and His Spirit flowed through both of us as we shared. It was God – that's the only way I know how to describe it! And as I shared with the church, it is amazing to think... 10 years ago I didn't know 1 word of Portuguese and now here I am in South Africa translating from Portuguese into English with a group of Brazilian missionaries!! It was so wonderful to see the South Africans not just excited about the World Cup, but praying and expecting God to do great things during this next month. South Africa is a country that has a history full of hatred, bitterness and sadness. It is a country that God wants to transform, to bring unity through His love and grace. And we were able to see a little glimpse of how God is working here in this country. The South Africans are working alongside us to reach out to their country and to the world. What an awesome partnership!

This morning I read Isaiah 42:16 “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” We are walking blindly, not knowing what to expect or how God is going to use us, but He is guiding us and is with us every step of the way! And in a country that is full of such darkness, we are the Light and He will use us for His glory!

Thank you for all your prayers and I ask that you please continue to pray for us. The oppression and spiritual warfare is so strong here. We need your prayers – for health, for safety, for rest, for peace. For all the places we will go and all the people we will come in contact with. That above all, God's Name would be glorified!

Quick Update from South Africa

Hello everyone! Well, we really don't have internet yet and I'm not sure if we will (pray that we'll be able to get it), but they were able to work something out for a few minutes for us tonight. So I wanted to let you guys know that everything is going well. I met up with the group yesterday here at the camp and we've had a couple of days of rest, training, and fun. The group is awesome and I can't tell you how awesome it is to be with Brazilians on a mission trip! It's been amazing to hear everyone's stories and how God brought them here. And we're all excited to see what God has in store these next few weeks! The rest of the team will arrive on Sunday and we will finish training and start the work after they arrive. Today we got to experience a little of South Africa at a rhino and lion safari. I got to play with baby lions and hold a hug snake... don't worry I have pictures to prove it! :)

I ask that you continue to pray for us and our team. I can't stress how much we need your prayers! Please pray especially for our leadership and for all the logistics that have to be worked out for 200 people. I am very impressed because it has been very organized and am praying that God continue to give wisdom, strength and everything they need. Please pray for strength and endurance and for health for the whole team. I was woken up early this morning because someone was sick with a high fever and have been able to use my medical skills. I am thankful that I am able to use the gifts God has given me, but I prefer that no one gets sick. :) Pray for rest and for preparation these next few days. Pray for our safety. And pray for the people that we will encounter and for opportunities to be the Light in this dark world. God has us all here as a part of His plan and I know He's going to do awesome things!!!

Ok, I have to go and I'm having trouble thinking in English (I've just spoken Portuguese for the past few days!). Pray also for my language, for Portuguese and also for the English training I will be helping with as well as interpreting. Thank you guys so much once again for all your prayers and support!! Keep praying even if it takes me a while to post again.

Pictures!!!

My first friend in South Africa

Roberto and Edna Carmona and Ana Khalipa, our host Brazilian missionaries

Safely here

I'm in Africa!!! Thanks for all your prayers for my trip! The 16 hour flight wasn't bad at all and I was able to sleep for 9 hours (thanks to Tylenol PM). I was most worried about meeting up with the group, but when I walked out of customs, there was someone with a sign with my name on it. PTL! The group of Brazilians arrived earlier in the day and went to the camp where we are staying. Since it was already dark when I arrived, I stayed the night and the missionaries' house. Pastor Carlos and Edna Carmona are Brazilian missionaries here in Johannesburg and are our hosts for this trip. They are so nice! And they have an adorable 1 year old daughter, Ana Khalipa, a South African that they adopted at 4 months. She was my first friend here in South Africa! :) Please pray for this couple during the next month, as they are coordinating over 200 volunteers. I know what it's like to work with volunteers and can only imagine the stress they are under with so many volunteers for such an extended period of time. Pray for health, strength, wisdom and for God's special blessing on their family during this time.

After a good night's sleep even with the 6 hour time difference, I feel rested and ready to start the new day. I can feel your prayers, I really can and am so excited about this opportunity that God has given me here in South Africa. I will be going to the camp to meet up with the group today. The next few days will be mostly spent in training and preparation. The other half of the group will arrive on Sunday. Continue to pray for all of us during this time. I will post updates as I can but I think the internet at the camp is limited. So don't worry about me if you don't hear anything for a while (although you can pray for internet access:) ) and keep praying! Love you guys so much and thanks again!!

Leaving on a jet plane

In just a few hours I will be getting on the plane for South Africa. After this busy week of working, packing and getting everything done I am now ready. I'm going to South Africa today!!! I don't know what these next few weeks will be like but I know that God has gone ahead of me and will go with me. I appreciate your continued prayers for me and for our team during this time. I plan on updating my blog while I'm there so y'all can know what's going on (hopefully the internet connection will allow that).

Please pray for my flight - 16 hours nonstop from Atlanta to Johannesburg. Pray that I am able to rest and sleep on the plane (Because I had to work the past 2 days, I haven't had a lot of time to rest up). Pray that I would have a peaceful and restful heart. Pray for the Brazilians that will be traveling over the next few days, for all the details and logistics and that I won't have any problems meeting up with the group at the airport.

Thank you once again for all your continued prayers and support! I love you guys so much and am so excited that you get to go on this next journey with me!