Confidence

Another great week here in Brazil full of the little surprises that God want to give us, sometimes just to make us smile. 

As I said last week Emily has left us for a week now and it's been a little bit weird getting used to the dynamic of the team without her but we managed to get everything done. 

This week in the primary school in Maia neto, we were presenting the theme of "Judge and be judged". So we presented the story of the good samaritan and then talked a little bit about it. The kids were a bit crazy this week which was a little difficult but we realised it was because our lesson wasn't as dynamic as it could have been. 

The rest of Tuesday we tried to use to get some lessons together. It was really weird this week because when trying to put our lessons together we all had a mind blank. It just went really slowly. Were we would have planned three lessons in 30 minutes we planned one in like an hour. But we managed to get it all done. That night we got to go to a birthday party of one of the students. It was really good that we went because there was only like 3 other people there, and we were really able to bless her with prayers and with our presence. 

Carol the birthday girl

One of the frustrating things with Brazilian education is the fact that sometimes we don't really know what classes we are going to have what day and if we're going to have a classroom or not. Little things like that. So this week was a little bit different in the afternoon in Maia Neto with the young teens. We were teaching them about Gossiping reusing the lesson that we used ages ago in Floca. It went well with the classes that we did have and then we were back in the church for more preparation for lessons and then for our cell group. 

This week our Cell group was crazy. Crazy awesome but crazy. Due to the weekend that had just past with the men some of the teens had had experiences with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. (For those who aren't really sure what that is check out these verse in the bible Acts 2:1-13, Acts 19:1-7, Romans 8:26-27, 1st Corinthians 12, 14). It basically means receiving the gift to be able to flow in the spiritual gifts, to work closer with then the Holy Spirit. So we talked a little bit about it this week saying that if anyone wants it, like anything else that Christ died to give us, we just have to receive it. We just need to ask and he will give it. So we offered the teens a chance to just receive from God the gift of tongues and or the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We had the chance to see about 15 kids from the youth group grow a little more in the walk with Christ as they received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Thursday we were back in Ferreira again  but this week we only had the chance to teach one class but the cool thing was that they had asked their teacher specifically if they could have a lessons with us. All of us on the team feel something special about Ferreira, all of the kids just seem to be hungry for the messages that we're presenting which is awesome. We're just able to hang out with the kids really easily and because it's so small it's really easy to make relationships with everyone. They might not have classes next week at some stage so we might be able to hang out just like we've done with the other schools in the past. 

This next coming Sunday (the 16th) will be my last Sunday playing and leading worship in the church so this Thursday night we had a chance to practice with the rest of the vocalists for the night. 

I had some really good and interesting conversations with people this week about my future and where I'm going next. I have currently got a place In Queen's but am still a little unsure about that but I had some great chats with people to try and think it out. All in all God's in control.

Friday we were back in Floca morning to teach our lessons about being lost. There wasn't a huge turnout at the lessons but was a great lesson and I know that a lot of kids really did receive from the fact that they have a father who is searching after them with all his might. Each student received a little note that said "I was lost but now I'm found" that they can keep to know who they really are, sons and daughters of God. That afternoon just got to hang out and have a little fun with the students in the courtyard. 

What is a bit mental for me is that this Friday might have been my last Friday in Floca and therefore the last night I will see some students as next week the students might or might not have class on Friday. I didn't really find out until the end of the day after we had left so I didn't really get the chance to say my goodbyes which is a bit sad as well but hopefully we'll being hanging out with those guys next week. 

This Saturday I was running my "how to lead worship" lesson. Again only 1 person showed up but hopefully I'll be able to do it with the other guys before I go. I then just chilled out that night as it was going to be a busy Sunday. 

Sunday we were hanging out at one of the students house. Huge house with a swimming pool and everything so it was great fun. He's a student new to the school called Otavio and it cool that we can befriend him and make him feel welcome and loved and wanted. 

What is absolutely crazy is that in 3 weeks I will be at home at summer madness. Feels like ages away and yet it's coming so quickly.  But I am really excited for what God wants to do at home this summer and in me in the coming months. God is good, it wasn't Brazil that changed my life it was God and he's the same God wherever I go. 

Please pray for the different goodbyes that I am going to have to start saying. Also a little prayer for me playing in church next Sunday would be really appreciated. 

This week's blog is called "confidence". I have been watching how the students have been changing through their interactions with us this week. The fact is that the teens that have been ministering to this year have come to the stage where they themselves can minister! Their hunger and humility is so amazing. I named this blog confidence because I have complete confidence that when I leave the youth and the schools will continue to grow and change because of the missionaries that we have made and left there. 

thanks so much for reading 

love 

mark