So let's see here...I haven't blogged in about 10 days, so let me try and think of what all has happened...

2 days ago, half the team went to Ouro Preto, Brasil, and we took about 10 Brasilians with us. Ouro Preto, which means "Black Gold," is a historical city in Brasil that was founded over 300 years ago. We did some sight-seeing but also got the opportunity to spend more time with the Brasilians we have been investing in for 6 weeks now. It was really fun and interesting and can be explained in detail another day by those that are interested in hearing.

Sunday, I spent the day with one of the Brasilians who has been a Christian for a few months now. His name is Wellinton. I am blown away, still, by the care and hospitality that the Brasilians give their guests. Breakfast was waiting for me when i woke up. Lunch was prepared for me, which took about 2 hours of prep time, and just the genuine care and interest he had for me was incredible. He was only concerned about my comfort and enjoyment during my time in his home. I wish I could demonstrate such love and care for others, but it definitely proves to be a challenge for me whenever I have the opportunity.

Something else I have learned this summer is how little I love people through my actions. Even learning the differences in cultures with greeting one another has revealed much sin to me. Being so used to the Brasilian style greeting of kissing and hugging and showing so much love through service and touch, it has made me feel unloved by my very team. It is so interesting looking at it now, that it doesn't even make sense how I could think that my team did not love me. Because of the cultures, I was setting expectations on the Americans to love me as the Brasilians do...but that just doesn't hold any ground when stepping back and really examining the American culture. We still find it out of place, to treat each other in this way, yet we find it completely appropriate and needed towards Brasilians. I value kisses and hugs so much more now, that it is hard not to receive them from my American team. I will say, my mom will be very happy to know that I will gladly be kissing her from now on. Yes mother, believe it! "I -ike kisses now."

We only have 2 weeks left here. It's hard to believe that this summer has gone by so fast, and I face the torn heart of wanting to go home and not wanting to go home. There is so much here that I love and so much back home that I love. There are countless things that I have experienced and learned and grown in here, that I will never be able to experience again (I will be listing and explaining everything in my final blog), yet I pray that it has so much shaped me and developed me into a godly man, and that it will continue to do so years after it is all said and done.

I am trying to think of what else has happened in the past 10 days, but it is hard to think because it seems like we never stop...I know that we have spent a lot of time with students and really trying to get into deep discussions with them. So you can continue to pray for them, some of them include Gustavo, Julia, Matheus, Natalia, Fernanda, Ana, Marco, Guilierme, and many more.

For our team, please pray that we would have rest in all areas of life (physical, spirtual, emotional) and that we would push hard through the end, and that we would continue loving one another. We have a final retreat this next weekend of the 1st, and then we will go into debriefing training where no Brasilians are allowed. Please continue to pray in this last week. Thank you so much for all your prayers thus far.

Wes

Into the second half

I finally have a good amount of time to sort out my thoughts, feelings, and what has been going on down here in Belo. This is a long one, so hopefully I can adequately catch everyone up on everything.

We just got back from our investigative retreat yesterday and it was an amazing time! We had about 70 Brazilians go to the retreat that was based on the movie Inception. It was really cool to see how our speakers correlated the movie and the important questions to turn peoples’ thoughts to our lives and eternity. Questions such as, “What could have possibly created us…” “What is the relevance of Jesus…” etc. It was really amazing to see the responses from the Brazilians in my discussion group (we broke up into groups of 10-15). It seemed for the most part that the vast majority in my group were genuinely interested in thinking past their lives on this earth. It is so awesome to see this after hearing the generalized outlook, and even experiencing the lack of interest from students thus far. I was continually praying (and knew that you too were praying) for God to give me the right words and to place me around the right people to impact his kingdom. Although a long and slow process, I know that seeds have been planted and will begin to cultivate over the months and years to come. Every question asked in our discussion group, it seemed God gave me the right words to help the Brazilians think deeper and see a perspective of someone who was once blind to the Gospel just as they are. Reminiscing back on when I first started truly investigating the gospel of Christ and finally understanding It (Dec. 2008), I realized we so desperately need three attributes in our search for any truth: Desire, Humility, and Courage. Without one of these three, our search and acceptance of the truth we find can be completely hindered. For example, in my own search, I had the desire to know a deeper truth, one I had rejected and overlooked so many years of my life (I did not understand the gospel of Christ in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, but rather had never read them, and catered the gospel to my own liking by picking, choosing, and even making up what I thought was in there). I also had the courage to discover truths and face the persecution from friends and others who did not agree, but I lacked the humility to admit my wrongs, my faults, anything that I didn’t agree with. Without the humility, I was still blind to the gospel and could not be affected by the love of Christ. I could not accept the truths that were so prevalent in his written word. For the Brazilians in my group this weekend, courage was the attribute that was so repetitively mentioned as being the attribute that was lacking in their lives. Afraid of what friends and family might say; afraid of what they might find that could change every bit of their lives… it was heart breaking to see how we let others get in the way of our eternities, but so encouraging to know how these students were so open and vulnerable to voicing these weaknesses and insecurities to people they don’t even know. Surely if they can do this, God can move in them to grow their desire to find answers and truths that can supersede any lie of this life. I am so excited to continue getting to know these students and start having conversations that could radically affect their eternities. Some of the students investigating include: Wesley, Pablo, Prescilla, Bruno, Raphael, Raphaela, Gustavo, & Venisus. Some of the students who are already believers and continue to grow in their walks and ministry are Wellinton, Vanesinha, & Renatha.

For me, I have still been extremely tired all the time. Physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually…in all areas I crash each day in the early afternoon. I believe that I have not been resting enough…not understanding when I have been filled my tanks to full, and also just not being able to completely relax when I am resting. I have realized that one of my deep desires is to worship in English. For me, it is so hard to listen to worship songs in Portuguese, and not know what all is being said, and having to concentrate on how to say words and figure out what they mean. During church last night, I was envisioning being back in Orlando and worshipping with the project there. It almost brought me to tears and even now makes my eyes water and my heart yearn for corporate worship where I can just cry out to God without any barriers. At the same time, I feel sadness and hurt thinking of leaving the friendships I have created here, with the possibility of never seeing these brothers and sisters in Christ again, until we reunite in heaven with our King.

I wish I could adequately express how this trip has already changed my life so much. Words cannot even begin to describe a one hundredth of what has happened to my heart here. I pray that when I return home, that these things will stick with me for the rest of my life and I will forever be a changed man who more closely reflects Christ. I think the only way to possibly come close to describing the impact of this culture, these people, this other world, is by the emotions that will reveal my heart once I come back to the world I once knew…that will be so radically different.

I’m sure that there is plenty I left out that I wanted to mention. I’ll look at my notes later and add whatever I forgot. Love you all, and thank you for your diligently prayers.

Search me, O God, and know my heart!
^(A) Try me and know my thoughts!^[a]
24And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and^(B) lead me in^(C) the way everlasting!^[b

Psalm 139:23-24

ughhhhh

Very angry at myself right now, because I accidentally deleted a lot of my pictures off of my computer. I was trying to organize them and lost the vast majority of them...not too happy right now.

I apologize for taking so long to update the blog, but it has been a very busy, draining week. I basically spoke and listened in Portuguese all day Monday and it drained me severely for the rest of the week. I have been pretty tired and sick of people quite honestly. I just want a day away from everyone, alone, by myself, so I can think and just relax. Today through Sunday we have our investigative retreat in another city about an hour from Belo. We will have about 70 Brazilian students coming with us which is awesome! We are really praying and hoping that the majority of them will be open to hearing new and life-altering ideas. It will be a very stressful, tiring weekend, but God will bless it for sure. Please pray for rest, strength, endurance, and an attitude of love throughout the weekend.

On a short tangent, it stormed here last night at our house. We were told it would probably never rain while we here, and it stormed like crazy...reminded me of Memphis before I left. The winds came and blew doors shut, leaving the kitchen looking like a tornado came through. A huge tree out front was blown over and smashed one of the Brazilian's cars. We were without power for about 3 hours. It was definitely fun though. I was so excited it was raining (thunderstorming), that I decided to get in my swim trunks and run outside and play in it...no one followed me for some reason.... oh well...I had fun.

I am beginning to miss a lot about home. My family, rest, isolation when I want it, the feeling of driving a car with more than 60 horsepower, alone...basically, I am missing the feeling of being in control of my life, which has revealed itself this summer as being a big sin in my life.

The great news is that I have a Lord and Savior that has reconciled me, and continues to teach me and grow me in the areas that I struggle, which is basically my whole life.

I have to go for now...I need to start getting things together for the retreat.

Ate depois