Ponderings

Have you ever got the feeling that things just were not working out the way you thought they should, but couldn't put your finger on exactly how or why? If so then you know what I felt like Saturday night as I was teaching the youth group here. Now I understand that I am not a great teacher by any stretch of the imagination, but I have had a few years of experience working with youth of various ages and last night in the middle of my lesson I just felt like things were not working out as I believed they should have been after working with these kids for so many weeks. I think that working through a translator (which is mighty rough for those who have never had that experience) has definately slowed down the process of me getting to understand the personalities of these kids and how their minds work, but I just got the feeling last night that for some reason the lessons and teaching I have been presenting is just not reaching them. Now the missionary who is translating for me and his daughter keep telling me that the lessons have been really good and that I am doing a good job, but I definitely think things are going awry. the tough part is I do not know how to reach out to these kids and figure out what it is because I do not speak their language, in more ways than one. While the culture and language down here are much different than what I have worked with in the States before I think at a base level people are the same world wide, so I am struggling with what I can do to figure out first of all if what I am feeling is actually really happening, and secondly if it is what can i do about it. I could really use some prayers on this matter, because I do not want my time that I have with these kids wasted if there is something more I can be doing to reach them. I believe that some of them are not believers yet and several that claim faith are very weak and shallow in it. So I do not want to squander any opportunity I might have to help some come to see the truth or strengthen those that are still crawling into faith. I myself know what it is to struggle in faith and the difficulties in reaching out to others for help to work through those issues and I do not want to turn any of them away because I was unable to overcome something and therefore become a hindrance to their walk. Please if you have any ideas on ways of reaching out to Brazilian or Hispanic youth I would appreciate your insights and more so your prayers.

BGFM Field Conference April 12-19

The week of April 12-19 was the annual field conference for the mission. All the missionaries in the country converge on a single location and discuss all the issues that need to be settled that affect them all. This year it was talking about changing the vision for the future of the mission and the new areas that they want to reach out into. They also talked about the leadership structure that needs to be in place to make this new vision a reality. It was interesting to see and talk with the different missionaries and their thoughts and ideas on both of these subjects. I also enjoyed getting to meet and interact with many of the kids of the missionaries. They had a VBS program going on for the children while the parents were in meetings during the mornings, and had church services every night of the conference. The VBS program was a military theme about being in the Army of God and the kids of all ages (some 30+) had a good time marching around singing cadence and doing military activities. All were dressed in camouflage and learned how to stand at attention. The final program on Sunday night was pretty fun to watch as the kids recited bible verses that they had memorized and sang songs that they had learned. Many recieved prizes of a military style and were proudly showing them off. Although now a week later I must admit that I am a bit burned out on the VBS songs (as the kids here in Mossoro) continue to sing them and even argue sometime about what the words are supposed to be. But I am sure i will die off soon and they all had a good time so I guess I can deal with it for a few weeks. The resort we stayed at was beautiful and had spectacular views of the ocean. The food on the other had was not the greatest and I am sure that at some points during the week we were eating leftovers. Also, myself and 5 others caught ear infections from one of the resort's pools, so the cleanliness standard is much less that would be expected from any resort in America. While many things would not meet American standards in many countries around the world it was overall a nice experience even though I was bed ridden for two days because of the ear infection. I am finally getting to the end of the ear infection and I still have great memories and new friends from the Conference. Got to spend two days at the beach and one of them was at low tide so the reef just off the beach was accessible on foot and got to walk along the reef and see some interesting sea life. I think it will be interesting to come back in another 5 years and see how the new vision for 2020 is coming along. They have a goal of expanding into several new cities and areas of the country. May God continue to Bless all their work here in Brazil. while Brazil is considered by may to be an evangelized country because of the large cultural influence that Catholicism has here mush of that is just that cultural. The number of believers is much less. Almost every car or truck on the road has some paraphernalia to do with Jesus or God many of them are just bumper stickers people put on thinking it will protect them in some way like a talisman would. Their belief and understanding of true faith is very limited and shallow.

Staff Retreat April 9-11

The teachers from Alfa (the missionaries school) had a staff retreat that I got to tag along on. The principle being taught at the retreat was about personalities and how to interact better and understanding the reasons why people do thing certain ways. If any of you have ever taken a personality test you understand a little of what went on at the retreat. There was a gentleman that traveled up to the mountains to give the personality test to all the teachers and other staff and then explain how each of the four personalities behave in both positive and negative ways. It was fun to watch how the teachers reacted when a personality trait that was extremely evident in one of them was talked about. There was a lot of laughing and a good time was had by all. The retreat center we stayed at was the ongoing project of another missionary team with BGFM. It is still in the construction stages but is very nice and the food and hospitality was fantastic. Everyone that went had a great time and we played lots of new games to me.
Even the 6 hour drive to and from the retreat center was fun. I got to see many new areas here in Brazil. While 6 hours would seem like I would have covered a lot of terrain, until you have seen the roads done here in Brazil it is hard to realize why on a highway with a posted speed limit of 110 kilometers and hour you can only go less than 400 kilometers in 6 hours. Even the extreme pothole situation in Omaha after this hard winter would be considered great road conditions for many of the places around here. So be thankful that we have such nice roads. It was interesting that Brazil has their military out building the new interstate system. Something maybe America ought to think about. They figured since they were already paying the military they might as well be out doing something since they are not involved in any wars, and do not plan on being in any. They have a very cavalier attitude towards other nations in that as long as they do not become directly impacted by what is going on they do not care.

Easter morning

So this morning the church here had a Sunrise morning breakfast with praise and worship after wards and a reading of the resurrection account. Though it was all in Portuguese, what little of the language I am beginning to understand helped me to track with the story recognizing words here and there as it was read. While it did sprinkle for a little and chased a few underneath the awnings, some stayed out in the rain and praised God also for the wonderful chuva (rain) that He was giving them. If you haven't figured out this rainy season has been a bit dry and everyone, not

just farmers, have been praying ceaselessly for the heavens to open up and pour forth, while it may not truly be Jesus' water of life, it is a blessing all the same. Everyone that came this morning had a wonderful time, and just as with potlucks in many churches back in the states there was more than enough food to go around, although almost all of it was carbs. No eggs and sausage to be had here :(. But it was a great time to be together worshiping the raising of Christ and praying for His speedy return.

Sorry for the long pause in between updates. There has been a few technical issues here with the internet that are getting worked out slowly. I pray that you all had a blessed week and that your worship time Friday and today was and will be a true raising of your spirit and soul. Blessings upon each of you.