Tuwb (hebrew for goodness)

What a week full of the goodness of God. All God wants for us is to love us and to lavish his love and grace and mercy upon us, to have life in all it's fullness (john 10:10). He just doesn't stop to pour blessings on us when we just let him! When God showed his presence to moses in Exodus 33 he said "I will show you my goodness". When we let God bless us with the little "good" things we are experiencing the presence of God. 
This weeks blog is called "Tuwb" which is the hebrew for "goodness, fairness, joy and prosperity"

טוּב

This Monday we had another adventure to the lovely beach town Pipa. Was a day full of rest and blessing swimming in the seeing, kayaking with dolphins and having good times with good friends. Was one of the last  big things that we were going to be able to do before Emily leaves so it was great to be able to set the time aside. 

Tuesday we were back in the school Maia Neto. This week we did a recap of all of the stories we've done up to this point which was great fun, showing the kids how Christ is in the old testament. That little school is such a blessing. I don't know if I've shared this before but the school is on a street called "espirito Santo" (which means Holy Spirit) and every time we arrive at the school there is always a white Dove resting on it (a dove being a symbol in the bible for the Holy Spirit). Some people say that that is a coincidence but I don't believe in coincidence, I believe that God wants to use the small things as much as the big things to bless us and in this case to show his presence and favour upon what we're doing to bless that school. 
The rest of Tuesday we spent doing are team bible study (on matthew 17:1-13) and prepare for the week ahead. What's really cool is that lesson planning used to take us hours but this week we prepare for 3 lessons in less than an hour and a half which means the rest of the day was spent resting which  was awesome. 
Tuesday night was one of the most memorable of my times here in Brazil. This Tuesday we were getting our new Capoeira Cords (basically getting a belt in Kung fu). It was a whole night filled with the culture of Capoeria. All the different types of Capoeira as well as the different music. There was just us and two other people from the group getting new cords but even so all the instructors and professionals from all over Natal came just for us. We showed them a sequence of moves that we as a group had practiced and after that we have the "baptism" (as it's called in portuguese). Basically you have to go up against one of the really good guys and they eventually trip you up for that you fall. Then they give you the cord! Was an awesome night learning more about the culture that is Capoeira. 

Then when I arrived home my host Parents arrived from a trip they were on and gave me a pair of "Dr dre Beats" (copies). Needless to say an awesome Tuesday. 


video of me playing Capoeira

This Wednesday we were back in the Maia Neto again. This week we were teaching on Identity using one of the first lessons we ever used at the start of the year. In this lesson I shared a little testimony of stuff that happened to me in school and we had another imagination time to let them know what Jesus had to say about who they really are. I really love prophesying blessings and love into the lives those kids, showing them whole they really are  no matter what they hear from other people. 
That night I was speaking in the Cell group (which I had completely forgotten) but I ended up sharing on Hebrews 4:11 "Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest," This verse is all about entering into the rest that we have in Christ. In Our loves we shouldn't have anything to worry about. Jesus died on the cross for every solution to every problem we could ever have. Entering the rest means in everything whether work rest or play we "rest" in the fact that Jesus has the answer to every problem we could ever have, and had before the problem existed. 

This Thursday in Ferreira we were teaching the same identity question. It amazing to see how much more kids who are just slightly older can receive from these lessons about identity. In some of the lessons we had a kids crying through feeling God's love pour over them and I had the chance to talk to one kids who is going through a really difficult time at home these days. I just told him how much Jesus loves him and prayed that God would take hold of the situation. 
Then we returned to the church waiting for Capoeira. 

As the morning students weren't going to have class we had the morning of this friday to prepare some other little things for the coming weeks lessons. Then in the afternoon headed to Floca. Had a great cell group in the afternoon break time where one of the students shared a word which was awesome to see her understanding of the word. Then a lead a little time in worship. 
That night Jared and his Menti Vitor came over to my house to just hang out and play "just dance 4" great fun and as the buses weren't running that late Vitor stayed in my house and got to hear a bit more of his story and how God is doing amazing things in his life (and he is doing wonderful things)  



This saturday we spent the day as a team at the house of Jared's host family. His host mum (Tia Verhina) anti Vera as we call her, has been a huge blessing to us as a team so we helped her with a little project of food parcels that she was doing for homeless people and prayed for her. Was great to just hang out and love on someone who flows so much with God's love. 
That afternoon I was able to hang with my menti hermes and go through a little bit more of the old testament stories with him. It's amazing how much Jesus is present in the old testament!

I would really appreciate it if you guys could pray for our team member Emily this week. She will be leaving us on Saturday so it's going to be a week of tears for her. Just pray blessings upon her as she finished her time here that she would be able to take what she has learnt in the next step of her life. It's so crazy that she's leaving already, which means that it's going to be a really weird month without her. 
As well as this I've only got 4 weeks left her in Brazil which is absolutely crazy. Please send up a little prayer for that. 

me and emily one of the first weeks here in Brazil

This time next week I'm going to be at a Men's weekend in the church. It's set to be "intense" so please pray that I can really encounter God and learn from him for that weekend.

Thanks so much for reading everyone. Your prayers and support have been changing lives and will continue to do so for the next 4 week.

God bless 
Shalom 
Mark

'UWR- to rouse oneself, to awaken'

What an unbelievable blessing that God gives us the opportunity to pour ourselves out for him. That when we pour ourselves out for him in sacrifice he covers us in even more blessings.That's how the kingdom works! 

עוּר     'UWR

I have named this blog "uwr" which is the hebrew for being woken up. It's from my current favourite bible first which is Psalm 57:8 "Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn." I love the way that it says "my glory" not your glory or God's glory but "my glory". The psalmist is saying " when I awake that thing inside me that makes me me, when I realise who I am in God, a son or daughter of God, when I realise the glory that has been set inside me by the father of lights, I can awake the dawn inside people who are in darkness." I encourage you not to pray "less of me and more of you God" but pray "may I become more of the perfected son or daughter that you made me to be, so that others can see the image of God which is your glory in me". 

This week has been another blessing of me discovering a little bit more of the glory of God that he has set within me. 

This Tuesday I had the great opportunity of teaching the bible story for the younger kids in Maia Neto. Just want to say thanks to everyone who prayed for that because it went really well. I had the opportunity to teach the kids why God gave the law and how all they need to do is look to Jesus' cross like the israelites looked to the bronze serpent (numbers 21:4). 
That afternoon we were able to had a really good time of planning for the week ahead. Then we had a good wee night of walking in the rain, eating Acai , chatting with friends and capoeira.

Acai, a wonder frozen berry dessert from a berry that comes
from the amazon.  

Wednesday was the first time in the afternoon at Maia Neto that we taught one of our normal lessons. This week we were teaching on bullying with our "bully unchained" drama. Was received really well by the kids, so much so that one of the kids took one of the white links that we used as a challenge for them to stop bullying in the school and posted about it on his facebook page. 

the photo that the student posted after our lesson saying
"lets fight the chains of bullying with the force of love"

Thursday we were back in Ferreira this week teaching on identity. We weren't able to teach many classes as there were some bus protests this week so the kids were let out early to make sure they got home okay. What has been amazing in Ferreira this last two weeks is that Ramin and Jared have got to pray for two girls that we know really well and they have received the "baptism in the holy spirit". Basically means that they received the gift of tongues and a greater understanding of how to live in tune with the Holy spirit. It is a huge encouragement to see people like them who wouldn't even accept Jesus when we first met them who now pray in tongues. It's amazing to see how much God can do with us. 


This week in Floca was a bit different. There was a ladies weekend happening so our team leader Ramin was away helping them set up for it and with that Gina was sick so we started the day with just me Emily,  and Jared. Our lesson was one on teamwork which wasn't our best but it was fun as we got to play a few games with the kids. After lunch that day we went back for a little while and then Emily had to leave for the womens weekend, so it was just me and Jared. Was another one of those fridays that i felt a little "powerless" so I would appreciate some prayer for that but I was able to share a word with the cell group about God's goodness which was awesome. 

the amount of kids showing up for our cell group during THEIR break time!

Saturday as the ladies weekend was on we had a free day to do some mentoring. It was great to be able to spend the day teaching some of the teens from the church. Was able to meet up with a guy called Charles (pronounced sharleez) in the morning. He's actually thinking about doing Pais Ireland which is really exciting. I shared my testimony with him and we talked a little bit about what he struggles with. The rest of the day I was able to hang out with the guy I'm properly mentoring. He's a really cool guy and was able to spend the rest of day with him talking and just hanging out. 


It was a little bit of a slower week but God moves in the drizzle as much as the rain storm and we will have some busy weeks coming up anyway. I would really appreciate some prayer for the coming weeks for us as a team, Emily will be leaving in two weeks and then ill have only a few after that. I really just want to learn as much as i can while I can so please just pray that I can keep my eyes firmly fixed on here and now and not on then. 

Thanks so much for all your support, love and prayers it means the world to me.
God bless 
love 
mark

leading week

This week I was given the role of team leader to see if I would be up to scratch if I ever wanted to leader a team on Pais or any short term missions team (every Pais apprentice does it for one week). It was a great experience and really learnt a lot from the very short time I was incharge. Was a great week of God doing his thing in and through us and some really cool stories to tell. 

Tuesday we were back in the "primary school" Maia Neto teaching the bible story of Moses and the passover. Was really fun as we got to used really cool visuals by painting a door frame with "blood" (red paint). The kids were a bit more lively but they hadn't had our lesson for three weeks or so it was to be expected. That afternoon we spent planning a little as a team as we were going to a church on Saturday to teach on missions (all of us doing different seminars and stuff so we had to prepare). The rest of that afternoon was spent planning some more lessons for the week and then going to Capoeira. 
I would really appreciate some prayer for this Tuesday as I will be leading the kids story at Maia Neto. I've never really done anything like it and I've got a lot to prepare so please just pray that I get it all sorted in time and that the kids receive from it. 

teaching music class at Maia Neto

Wednesday was another day back in Maia Neto finishing off or "life choices" lessons with them. This week we were teaching them of how they can have relationship with God. Was really cool to see them receive during the small groups and even cooler during the appeal time. So what we've been doing here on our time a lot is given people a space to actually hear the voice of God for them. There are three steps to it. You become calm to hear, you let God us your imagination (he made it he can do it), you let him flow when he starts to talk and then you write it down so you don't forget. I lead a time of imagination with the kids in Maia Neto on Wednesday and it was awesome. Seeing all of the kids just with their eyes closed listening to Jesus tell them how much he loves them. I think it's the coolest thing that I do in my life!
That afternoon we had our cell group and Ramin talked about how our group of teens isn't just a group of teens it's so much more than that. That they aren't the generation of the future. They are today's generation! He showed them of how God wants to us them to change lives today! It was really cool to see the kids realise their own potential. 



(and also the guy who I've been teaching guitar lead worship and was awesome, very very encouraged!!) 


Thursday morning we needed to us to do some more planning for this weeks friday lessons and a little bit more for the coming saturday. That afternoon we were back in Ferreira teaching our English class. This week were just teaching on "first encounter" vocab and how to converse in English. One of the classes we ended up teaching a little bit differently. To start off the lesson I sang song called "The only exception" (youtube link: the only exception) then one of the guys translated the song a little and talked through the story of it, (which is basically a girls parents separated and this made her loose faith in love but this person she is singing to is the only exception). Then Ramin was able to us that to talk about the true (Agape) love of God that would never ever fail them!. 
That evening we did a little practice for this week's friday an it was off to Capoeira again. 

teaching the only exception in Ferreira 

Friday morning was back in Floca for our morning lessons. This week we were recycling the lesson that we had done in Maia Neto because it had gone so well, so like there we talked them through relationship (using  short drama), then brought them into the "imagination time". So many kids really received from Jesus, just hearing form him which was awesome. 
That afternoon we were back in for some more hang out time. As I was in charge I had to talk to the teachers to see if we had any classes to teach which another experience. We just had one class to teach that day so we got to hang out for the rest of it. After the class I got a great surprise when 4 guys who I ad made friends with last term in Floca and who had since left came in to hang out with us. Was really really great to see them and had some really awesome chats about how they're getting on. And they're just great craic (great fun if you reading Mailon! ). What's been really cool in Floca these days is that we've been able to have like a small group together to open the bible every break time. But this week it turned out not to be a small group as about 30 or 50 kids showed up. It was unbelievable and we took them through an "imagination time" as well and so many came to talk to us about how God talked to them through it!
I know I had asked for some prayer for this week for Floca and I really appreciate it as God did some really cool things. I got to have a chat with one of my good friends there and hear about how he doesn't believe in religion, so I got to teach him that it's not about religion but relationship. And the coolest story. The guy that I'm mentoring is an awesome artist and not only that but he has learnt how to hear from God a "word" or image for people and draw it for them. So this week I left him with a challenge. To do that for a random person at school. So we both together got to speak God's word into a random persons life through a really cool prophetic drawing that he had made for someone. I am really really proud of that guy and it's going to be really hard to say goodbye to him but it is awesome how much God has moved in his life through us and even through me!

the picture the guy I'm mentoring was drawing the first
day I met him. 

So Saturday. This week we were heading to a different church to lead a conference for 4 different churches on how to reach young people. We were doing three seminars "lesson planning", "Bible study" and "mentoring". It was a great day of meeting new people, new place and a new church. We got to minister to them about how ministry is about first receiving so tat we can give. That it is all about know how we are loved in Christ before we do anything! I was a great day and I think God really blessed what we had to say. 

If you guys want some extra light reading on us as a Pais team feel free to read this mouths newsletter. 
April newsletter

was mother's day here in brazil this week
so here's me and my siblings with our
mae
(happy Brazilian mothers day mum forgot to say :P)

God is so good. I know that he has awesome plans for the guys here in Brazil and for me when I go home. I know that his main aim is to love us, in all our good and bad he just wants to love us. He just wants us to receive that love. I would really encourage you to talk a time out from whatever you're doing when you're reading this blog and go back to the points I made about listening to God's voice. Just take some time and lets God's words of love speak over you today. Trust me if you do it will be the best thing you do this week. 

God bless everyone
Love you all
mark

Fundraiser week!

Unfortunately I could not  find the hebrew or greek word for fundraiser so I decided to use English for the title of this week. It explains itself, this week was mostly about organising our big event on Saturday to Raise money for the Pais project here in Brazil. Was fantastic to see everyone working together and how God used us all to bring about the final result. but I'll get to that later. 

This Monday I went to the cinema with all my friends to see the new iron man movie. Very good fun to just chillax and watch a movie with friends. 

good fun, good film

This Tuesday we were up relatively early for our Maia Neto kids morning. We arrived at the school and there were no students that. It had rained pretty badly the day before so some of the school had be damaged so they had some people in to try and sort out the problems. We talked a little with the directors and found out that it wasn't the only reason the school was closed. Two of the directors are sisters and they told us that their other sister had a son who just discovered that he might have cancer. Was definitely really difficult for the both of them but what was awesome was that we were able to pray for them both and ask God's healing power into the situation. 
The rest of Tuesday we spent during our team bible study and watch the Pais videos that Paul Gibbs (the leader of Pais) makes every week and then we were able to go home for the afternoon. We came back for Capoeira that night and were able to talk to the instructor about getting "Baptised" for our first cords (in capoeira you don't get belts you get like ropes that go around your waist and the "exam" for it is called a baptism). We weren't going to be able to do it with the rest of the group but he said that he will set aside some time for us to do it as a team. It's awesome because I thought I wasn't going to be able to get my cord before I left. 

really looking forward to getting our cords!

Wednesday was a Brazil holiday (May day holiday) so we used it to do most of our planning for the week and then had our cell group that night. We had asked the kids this week to each bring one of their friends who could benefit from the stuff that we're doing in our cell and the guys brought a whole bunch of new people. Each one of them got prayed for and really blessed throughout the night. It was awesome.

Thursday was our second full day in Ferreira, our new school. We decided to really work with English in Ferreira as it will be a really huge help for the teens in the schools that are working toward Uni. We did classes from 1-5 so is was long and as I was really doing anything it was longer but it was a fantastic lesson and we got loads of opportunities just to talk to people about God as well in the break time which was awesome! That night I just went home to rest for the floca day and to look over the songs for the event then got to teach my host sister some guitar which was really fun. 


Friday we were back in Floca and we had prepared a really cool lesson for this week all about bullying. We started with a "bully chain" drama to show that usually a bully is doing that stuff because they are being hurt themselves ("hurt people, hurt [other] people!").  We talked a lot about taking control of the situation and loving the person or other people in return, break the chain of bullying in their lives. At the end of the lesson we then gave them a little chain link to put on their school bags to say that "I want to break the chain of bullying". It was really cool because in the last class we had students who came up to the front of the class and said that sentence in front of everyone else in the class!
That afternoon we didn't have any classes to teach so we just hung out with all the kids that were in the courtyard area for a good while. The teachers have started taking registers (only now!) so the was less kids hanging about but it was still fun. Two funny stories! One of the girls from the afternoon came to say goodbye to my and my friend when she was leaving and she gave me a kiss on the cheek to say goodbye and then offered her cheek to me for me to kiss, I simply replied "no I'm Northern Irish, we don't do that!". Second story, I went to the staff toilet about half an hour before the end of school, I went to leave the the key for it back in the staff room and when leaving went to turn the light off. Unfortunately instead of turning the light off I rang the school bell, thusly liberating the students 30 minutes before the end of school!
Would really appreciate some prayer for my floca times this week. I've felt a little "powerless" going into floca these past few weeks and would really appreciate some prayer because I really don't have much time left there and want to make the biggest impact I can while im here. 

That night we had our first practice for Saturday from 10pm- 12pm. Was a good practice but didn't get home until 1am but got to sleep in the next morning which was awesome. 

The next day just spent most of my time sorting out a video for the fundraiser. I'm rather proud of it do even though its in portuguese heres the link 
interview with student

Then at about 3:30 it started to kick off in prep for that night. We got some tables set up, and then started our practice and sound check as a band. [So what we were actually doing was taking over the service for that night then serving up some fun at the end for people to pay for and enjoy. I was leading worship, Gina was singing backup, Jared playing drums and MCing, Ramin preaching and  Emily dancing (they have dance worship in our church which is pretty cool).] So then people started showing up. To start off with it looked like there was going to be very few people but as we got into worship people started showing up in true brazilian fashion. In the end we had more than 150 people there in support of us as a team, and everything went awesome, including the food! Apparently the worship went so well we were asked to play on Sunday as well! 

Just want to thank everyone who was praying for the fundraiser this week, God really blessed us as a team through the experience and Pais Brazil will go a little bit further thanks to the funds. 

I'm just starting to think about going home these day as there's only 7 weeks left now. Little bit nervous about going home, leaving this atmosphere but I'm also excited for the next chapter (whatever it turns out to be). Would really appreciate some prayer for that as well. 

love you guys soo much 
God bless 
Mark