Challenges And Victories

This is turning out to be one of the more difficult weeks we have had since we have been in Brazil these last 5 1/2 years. Because the team from Mt. Carmel Baptist Church is here helping us and because we will be sharing Jesus with over 3000 people, the spiritual battle has been very intense. The enemy is battling against us every step of the way, and we have had a lot of difficulties and complications and oppression so far this week. We have had numerous interpreters cancel and we have had to reschedule with others. We had the problem yesterday with the school cancelling classes and not notifying us and then having to reschedule to today, which means rescheduling rides, rescheduling with the church we were working with, and rescheduling all of the interpreters. We have had mix ups with people providing transportation for the team, and other various complications. Also, on Saturday and Sunday I started getting sick, but thankfully I have been able to get enough rest in between events and am feeling better now.

Today we split up and spoke in 2 different schools in Santos in the morning and again in the afternoon. When we arrived at one of the schools the director told me that we could not do our project there, even though we scheduled it with them and confirmed it again last month. I kept trying to convince her to let us do it, and she told me 3 times that we could not do it, all the while our American visitors and 5 interpreters and a team from Igreja Batista Areia Branca were waiting outside to come in and share Jesus. But then God intervened and the director, who is not a Christian, finally relented and changed her mind and let us do our project.

We spoke in 12 morning classes and then we had a great home cooked Brazilian meal at the church. We had a great time of fun and fellowship with the people from the church, including some of the children that attend the church. Then we returned to the school and spoke in 10 afternoon classes. The school is for students from 5th grade through high school. God prepared a great harvest in the school, and the students and teachers were very receptive to the Gospel message. God moved greatly and 517 students and 9 teachers accepted Christ and committed their lives to Him.

Nancy and 2 of the folks from Mt. Carmel went to the school that we had to reschedule from yesterday, also in Santos. The school is also for students from 5th grade to high school. They spoke in 8 classes in the morning and then had lunch, and then returned to speak in 9 afternoon classes. The students loved having Americans come in and speak to them, and once again God moved in a powerful way. 540 students and 10 teachers and 2 school coordinators accepted Christ and committed their lives to Him.

We praise God for securing the opportunity to share Jesus at the one school that originally would not let us in, and we praise Him for the 1078 people that accepted Christ today, including 19 teachers and 2 school coordinators, and we give Him all of the honor and glory. We are in awe of how great our God is, and we are so privileged to be a part of His work and mission to seek and save a lost world. 

Please keep praying all of us, as this work is very tiring and we need God to strengthen us physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Please also pray that God will protect and secure the remaining opportunities that we have scheduled in 2 other schools on Wednesday and Thursday, and that He will empower us to boldly and powerfully share Christ and reach precious people for His Kingdom.