This
summer we went to Sao Paulo, Brazil with a short term team from Japan. In Brazil we joined a team from the States to
work helping a relatively new church serve their neighborhood and paint the
inside of the church. We did not do
anything extraordinary. We painted,
moved furniture, and cleaned. It was
mundane work that did not require great language skills. One member of the
Japan team and I knew Portuguese. Since
I know it but cannot speak much it took great faith for our team. There were times we just quietly did the task
assigned to us. We often worked
alongside Brazilian believers and accomplished the day’s task. Words were few, but smiles and hugs were
abundant. We demonstrated the body of
Christ functioning together to show Jesus to the world. We got hot, tired, and dirty.
The
Brazilian Christians took care of us. We
made more work for them in many ways.
The drove us to our destinations.
They gave up their beds for us.
They cooked great food to nourish us.
They tried to communicate with us.
They shared their music, and even let me participate. They shared the love of Jesus with us.
We
went to Brazil as strangers to these people and left as family. In their eyes we saw they resembled our
Heavenly Father. We felt the heat of
their passion for Jesus, and it sparked new flames of our own passion. We left
Brazil feeling we had experiences a small preview of heaven. It sharpened our longing for the day when we
will all stand before Jesus and sing praise to the King. I am sure some of that music will be
Brazilian. I sure hope so.
Until
that day we will be faithful to do Kingdom work here. Some in Brazil, some in the States, some in
Japan. Because the real point is to be
obedient to the task. So I am back in
Japan doing my work for Jesus. Our friends in Brazil are doing their work for
Jesus. Our friends in the States are
doing their work for Jesus. Together we
are doing kingdom work and looking for the day we will join together before the
King and offer our praises too Him.
I've been to Säo Paulo twice, and I know how much help they need getting out the good news. When I went, there were many homeless on the streets, even children sleeping on the sidewalk. Hunger makes them so sleepy.
ReplyDeleteThere are many seeking to fill that "God-shaped vacuum" with drugs, glue, and even gasoline when they can't get anything else. The term for "crack cocaine" actually came from Brasil, because freebasing it in a can would cause it to crack.
The Brasilero Brothers and Sisters were instantly accepting and loving of me and others. There was an instant rapport between me and a few other believers: a level of friendship and trust that is rarely reached between others in the States.
God Bless you, Brother!