The Building of Excitement

Stacey Parker, one of the members on our team, recently said, “I have never known until now what it felt like to have my heart break and overflowing with joy at the same time.” She was talking about what happened at one of our Bible studies. Stacey and Mary Virginia are studying with a group of six of Jaci’s, our language teacher’s, nieces (all in their teens and early twenties) and their friends (Mariluse, Marilene, Taimires, Larissa, Jamile, and Daiane). There is also a guys evangelistic Bible study begun by Travis and Matt with Jaci’s nephews, her son, and their friends (George, Anderson, Douglas, Elder, Jackson, Andreus). At one of the recent studies the question at the end was, “If you were to ask God which path your life was on, would he say you were following His path or another?” Daiane, the youngest and the quietest said, “I don’t think that I can answer that question yet because I do not know which is the path of God or what He wants for my life.” Stacey later put to words what I was feeling as well, heartbroken that no one has ever told Daiane the way of God and overflowing with joy that she is earnestly seeking to know God and what He wants for her life. Since that lesson we have had two more about the life of Jesus and the teachings of Jesus again with Daiane and others (including some of the guys as well) asking some very searching questions. Next week’s Bible study is lesson six on baptism – Participating in the Greatest Story of All Time. Please be praying that God will protect the hearts of these young people from Satan’s attacks during this hopeful turning point in their lives. Also pray that God will open up doors for us to study with Daiane’s parents and the families of the other friends that have come to Jaci’s family’s house to hear the good news.

Not only are we getting to study the Bible with this huge family but they have also been helping us get the building ready for the inauguration. On Saturday we held a work day and had all three of the other churches in the city represented. Mary was in charge of the food which was a challenge with no stove, refrigerator, or microwave yet; but luckily the
American families on our team had crock pots (a thing the Brazilians had never seen). It was great to work together painting and cleaning alongside other Brazilian brothers and sisters and hopefully 10 future members of our church too. The city is pretty well shut down right now for Carnaval (which is why we had a huge push to get as much done as possible before hand). Renovations on the front of the building start next week and the sign on the front should be finished by then as well. Invitations are already ordered for all of our new friends and neighbors, plane tickets bought, and most importantly prayers are underway as the excitement builds. We are so glad that you are a part of this with us!