2018 Brazil Trip Report
We left the snow storms of NE Pennsylvania on February 6th for the warmth! and beauty of tropical Campinas, Brazil, then on to San Jose do Rio Preto. We were met by Samuel Sousa– director of Oanse, and Daniel Lucas, his brother-in-law and associate in ministry. We were in Brazil to speak at three Oanse conferences and several churches from February 6th to 25th.
After the first Oanse National Conference in Rio Preto on “Heart Idols”, we traveled to Atibaia for a “Shepherding the Heart” conference. On to Fortaleza for meeting with Pastors and Wives, lectures for teachers, and the second national Oanse conference on “Heart Idols”, followed by preaching on the Lord’s Day. On to Sao Jose dos Campos for “Shepherding the Heart” lecture, meeting with Pastors and Wives, lectures for women, and lectures for Christian school teachers. On to Campinas for the third Oanse national conference on “Heart Idols”.
The highlight of our travel to Brazil was working with the Oanse team, who are dear friends in Christ, having ministered with them now several times. Their work to strengthen homes through ministry to churches throughout Brazil, is heartwarming. Also, the delight and precious fellowship that comes with the hospitality and love of our Brazilian sisters and brothers in Christ is invigorating!
Even language barriers cannot dampen the joy of fellowship in Christ. In one home, our hosts did not speak English, so we did the best we could with sign language and the translate app on Tedd’s phone through lunch time. The lady on the translator app was having as much trouble understanding us and translating as our hosts most of the time. At on point we were laughing over the ways she (or it) translated a phrase, and she began laughing too, imitating our laughter. Then we all started laughing! Of course, the food was exceptional, as it always is in Brazil!
We had the joy of meeting American missionaries along the way and hearing their stories, which remind us of God’s amazing strategies for spiritual movement of His people around the world. It was especially enjoyable to see Rick and Kimberly Denham and their family as we have a history with the Denham family and Fiel.
It is so encouraging to see the vitality and zeal for the Gospel in the churches we visited. God provided abundantly in wonderful opportunities for ministry, excellent and godly translators, new and precious relationships with fellow laborers in Christ’s Kingdom, renewed acquaintance with former friends who we love in the Lord, and stamina and health to undertake the ministry schedule in the heat of Brazil. We are both humbled and thankful for God’s care for us in our weakness.
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