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!

Next Stop... South Africa!!!

The next adventure is here... I'm going to South Africa in 12 days!! Just wanted to let you guys know about my trip and ask for your prayers. As many of you know, the 2010 World Cup will take place in Johannesburg this June & July. I am so excited about this unique opportunity that God has given me – I will be spending 3 weeks in South Africa doing outreach and evangelism with a group of 200 Brazilians volunteer missionaries!!

My Brazilian sister, Luciana and her husband, Marcos are leading this team and when I was in Rio in March, they invited me to go with them. I told them that of course I wanted to go but I needed to pray about it to see if it's what God wanted me to do. So I began to pray about this opportunity and as I began to feel a peace about going, I started praying for a confirmation of a cheap ticket... because I would be traveling separate from the Brasil group, I had to buy my own ticket and tickets were over $2000. God answered my prayer above and beyond... I was able to get a ticket with Delta Sky Miles! I only paid $70 for my ticket!! Less than 3 months before the World Cup and I was able to get a sky miles ticket! Anyone that has tried to get frequent flier tickets knows that this is a miracle!! God has prepared everything – the finances, my flexible work schedule, even my English & Portuguese language ability! Praise God for His direction, confirmation and provision!

On June 1, I will be flying to Johannesburg, South Africa to meet up with 200 Brazilians. We will spend 20 days reaching out to the South African people as well as tourists from around the world to share with them about God's love. I don't know what God has in store for us in South Africa or how He wishes to use me over there, but I have no doubt that He has not only called me to go but has prepared the way before me! And I'm so excited about the chance to be a part of a Brazilian mission team!

Here are some things you can pray for: 1. Please pray for me in these next couple of weeks as I prepare for this trip. Pray that God would prepare my heart and provide me with everything I need physically and spiritually to be used by Him. Pray that I would continue to focus on Him and wouldn't get stressed with everything I need to get done between now and June 1. 2. Pray for the Brazilian volunteers as they prepare - for peace, spiritual preparation and for health. 3. Pray for Marcos and Luciana and the other leaders – for last minute preparations and the details to fall into place. 4. Pray for the hearts of the people we will encounter, that God would begin to work in their hearts even now.

Once again I want to thank each of you for your prayers! Thank you for embarking on yet another journey with me. I am so excited to see how God is going to work and feel blessed to be a part of it. And I am so thankful for your continued prayers and encouragement! I'll write more before I leave with more details... thank you once again!!! May each of you continue to seek God and walk with Him on the journey He has for you, wherever that may lead!

“You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas... those living far away fear your wonders; where morning dawns and evening fades you call forth songs of joy.” Psalm 65:5,8