So the video below is a skit that I spoke of, I think. I helped direct it and I think it was very moving. Enjoy. (you can also find it the original version on youtube).
Also check out http://www.projectamazon.org it gives updates as to what is going on here. They are getting ready to do the Congresso. A huge 3 day conference, last year I think 1470 people came to the Lord in those three days. I am pumped to see it. Especially in contrast to coming out of a city that that is preparing to have a festival that is the opposite. But here we are celebrating the LORD. Gosh, y'all can pray for me, there are so many things going on, so many things I would love to share with you. I need the Lord to help me gather my thoughts. May you be blessed by the Lord.
Jun 26, 2008
Jun 18, 2008
Jun 17, 2008
Salvation in Parintins
SO I am still in Parintins. Man, it is tough here. We are doing prayer walks at 5 AM. Yikes. Yeah, that early morning stuff is not my style. But you have to count the cost right? Change for this city is worth more than sleep. At 5am I may answer differently, but in my right mind I know it is good to sacrifice for the Lord. So we get up, pull ourselves out of bed, march and pray. We walk around the stadium where a big festival happens. Along the walls of the stadium are well done relief sculptures. As an aritist I can say wow and give props, but as a Christian they make me sick. They tell of myths and the old beliefs that are held here. The
pictures I hope to take for you will speak of the intesity.
We hear rummors of how bad it is here and we have had little tastes of it. Here is an example of what is going: We met with a girl last night after a prayer meeting at church. She wanted some advice, she has a discipler who out of town. Also, I'm sure we seem all wise and knowing since we have been preaching and hanging out with the youth here. Anyways, it really opened up my eyes to what girls go through here. I will share bits of her story. She has been "groped" (the word she used) when she was nine by a guy that must have used to been a part of the church. Then I think it happened again rencently by her own brother. Along with other things. She is twelve now. But looks fifteen. It crazy. She was asking us advise on this boy she likes. I was still like, "What the heck, your tweleve. You don' t need to date." He is ninteen. So the three of us definalty gave her many words such as focus on the Lord, you have all the time in the world. Obey your spiritual authority and your parents' authority, you need that covering. I think we definalty had an impact. It was awsome for me to be there, I felt privillaged. My heart gets excited about siutations like that. Not that I want things like this to happen, but I love to talk with people and help them walk in a upright way. Not saying I have all the answers, but the guidence from someone older is always appreicated.
A few more cool things. A guy we prayed over on Friday night was healed! He used to be in a gang and had messed up his ribcage, collar bone, and neck. So Crystal and I prayed for him. Then I asked him, "Does it feel any better?" He said a little. I said, "Well, lets pray agian." So we did I asked againhe said alittle bit better so I said okay again. we pryaed a third time and this time we prayed over his neck. He started bending his head back and forth and said, "Wow! I have not been able to ever do that!" He said the pain in his chect was gone, like his bones moved or something. I was so excited. SO EXCTED. The next night it was youth night. I had the idea to open it up take the chairs out and let the youth have fun with praise and worship time. Then one of us spoke from the team and then we did a very powerful skit. I was the director, I will post it later (but if you are looking for me I am not there, haha). Sorry. They did an awesome job. So this guy was there and he said, "I have never been to church and I am really liking it." So I was praying along with friends throughout the service. Well, at the end he came up to recive salvation and so did another guy. I am so pumped to know we are having an effect in this tough city. The next night another young girl came to Christ.
I felt I needed to share some good stories with you. Well, we have to run.
I have found many new roles to fill and ways to help out while on this trip. Examples: taking care of everyone physically (don't tell them I am not a doc), helping organinze food for the team and just helping remember what is going on. I am actually loveing the fact that I can be a help. :)
Jun 16, 2008
What have I been up to? Well, I have been assisting with translating to Portuguese, not so well, but still have been a help. Mostly in the little day to day things for the team that has been here for a month and a half. They are from ORU- ORAL ROBERTS UNIVERSITY. Where is that Tulsa Oklohoma? They have been awesome to serve with. Along with the team on our first trip were the two guys from Paz, Paul and Isaiah.
We were in a city called Mucha Algegrie where we helped in clean up and construction of a church. But also were a big encouragement to the youth there, and hopefully to the pastor and the other church workers. It was awesome and I really feel we gave them a boost. They are sold out making disciples of Christ.
From there we came home to Santarem for a day and then went out on another boat trip to Miri, a little river village town to start work on a church there. We picked up four more short-termers and headed back out. There is a cell group that is meeting in a house there, so we started from scratch. Clearing the land and digging the foundation, I learned to tie rebar and lay bricks. Two new construction tricks for me to add to my belt. We were able to take a break one day simply because we were working so fast they didn't expect us to get so much done. So we took a 1 hour drive, which turned into 5 I think, but it was worth it to go to the waterfalls. They were amazing! I don't even have the words. We took a beautiful quick hike through the woods to another waterfall. You could have left me there in the jungle, it was beautiful. It reminded me a lot of the TN Smokies, my favorite place.
We only took off that one day. Then back to work, but back to work with bumps and bruises. You see, we road in the back of a truck there and then at the waterfall I was not too steady on my feet so I definitely along with others got bumps and bruises. Back at the boat we could not park right next to shore as I had been so lucky to experience in the past. We had to wade out into this pasture witch was flooded due to the rainy season in mud and cow poo. It smelled lovely, let me tell you. You would sink down in it with each step. ☺ Fun times. People were amazed at how clean I could stay and yet do a full days work. So they plotted and yes I got shoved into the field of cow poo and mud. I was covered. And when I say covered, I mean spread eagle on my back in it, then almost face first. Bits in my mouth and on my face. SO if anyone has any good pranks they want to pass along feel free to share.
We were also blessed to see some dolphins jumping in the Amazon. YEAY.
After returning to Santarem again after that week long trip we repacked, picked up a few more short termers, and headed out to Parintchins.
In Parinchin we have been painting a camp and some preaching, but also getting up at 5 am to go prayer walking. I am hating the getting up part, but loving the prayer walking. We are in a city that has a party similar to Mardi Gras but worse. They are celebrating the festival of the bulls. We wanted a video of it. It made the whole team's mouths drop at the idol worship. They make these floats that just look demonic, and it can be a very unsafe place to be during the festival. (Don't worry we are leaving right before). But many young girls seem to get pregnant right before the festival. It is drunkenness and parties everywhere. You can feel the oppression. Or at least I do while I have been here. SO we are praying huge things for this city.
We were in a city called Mucha Algegrie where we helped in clean up and construction of a church. But also were a big encouragement to the youth there, and hopefully to the pastor and the other church workers. It was awesome and I really feel we gave them a boost. They are sold out making disciples of Christ.
From there we came home to Santarem for a day and then went out on another boat trip to Miri, a little river village town to start work on a church there. We picked up four more short-termers and headed back out. There is a cell group that is meeting in a house there, so we started from scratch. Clearing the land and digging the foundation, I learned to tie rebar and lay bricks. Two new construction tricks for me to add to my belt. We were able to take a break one day simply because we were working so fast they didn't expect us to get so much done. So we took a 1 hour drive, which turned into 5 I think, but it was worth it to go to the waterfalls. They were amazing! I don't even have the words. We took a beautiful quick hike through the woods to another waterfall. You could have left me there in the jungle, it was beautiful. It reminded me a lot of the TN Smokies, my favorite place.
We only took off that one day. Then back to work, but back to work with bumps and bruises. You see, we road in the back of a truck there and then at the waterfall I was not too steady on my feet so I definitely along with others got bumps and bruises. Back at the boat we could not park right next to shore as I had been so lucky to experience in the past. We had to wade out into this pasture witch was flooded due to the rainy season in mud and cow poo. It smelled lovely, let me tell you. You would sink down in it with each step. ☺ Fun times. People were amazed at how clean I could stay and yet do a full days work. So they plotted and yes I got shoved into the field of cow poo and mud. I was covered. And when I say covered, I mean spread eagle on my back in it, then almost face first. Bits in my mouth and on my face. SO if anyone has any good pranks they want to pass along feel free to share.
We were also blessed to see some dolphins jumping in the Amazon. YEAY.
After returning to Santarem again after that week long trip we repacked, picked up a few more short termers, and headed out to Parintchins.
In Parinchin we have been painting a camp and some preaching, but also getting up at 5 am to go prayer walking. I am hating the getting up part, but loving the prayer walking. We are in a city that has a party similar to Mardi Gras but worse. They are celebrating the festival of the bulls. We wanted a video of it. It made the whole team's mouths drop at the idol worship. They make these floats that just look demonic, and it can be a very unsafe place to be during the festival. (Don't worry we are leaving right before). But many young girls seem to get pregnant right before the festival. It is drunkenness and parties everywhere. You can feel the oppression. Or at least I do while I have been here. SO we are praying huge things for this city.
Jun 9, 2008
Hey guys,
I wanted to ask you all to pray for me. I find my self lately missing home and wandering lots of things. I know Satan can really take these thoughts and run with them. So I am asking for your help in lifting me up in prayer. In these times find my self-contemplating every aspect of my life. I feel like scratching it all and starting over. But I know that this can’t be from the Lord and is a fleeting moment. But I asks that you help me in the spiritual realm fight this battle.
I wanted to ask you all to pray for me. I find my self lately missing home and wandering lots of things. I know Satan can really take these thoughts and run with them. So I am asking for your help in lifting me up in prayer. In these times find my self-contemplating every aspect of my life. I feel like scratching it all and starting over. But I know that this can’t be from the Lord and is a fleeting moment. But I asks that you help me in the spiritual realm fight this battle.
