Day 19

Day 19 (Tuesday)

Hello Everyone,

Christen and I leave Bom Retiro Do Sul in a few hours. It has been a wonderful 18 days of ministry!

The temperature has been consistently been in the range of 50F to 80F. I have not once brought out Ken Wallen´s awesome Sorrel boots or my long underwear. I sleep with a sheet and light comforter only.

Ysterday, our last ministry day, by the time I got up around 1:30pm, Christen had already met with three youth girls, and would go on to see six more before the evening ended. What a blessing for her to be on her own timetable and have independence in her ministry since she speaks Portuguese. She stirred a lot of youth unto the Lord on this visit and will be breaking some hearts when she leaves tomorrow.

Attached are photos of some youth that the former Hope Chapel Mission teams have had influence upon. (Note the purple fabric in the background.) Everywhere I went, (wedding reception, birthday party & Sunday Services) there were remnants of this material which Carlos Fejerang creatively used as decorations while here in 2007. I think he is due to come back to Brazil so that he can give them another spiritual creative shot in the arm.

The town which Sammy and Marcia pastor is full of ministry opportunities. Spiritually ripe fruit is here to be picked, but there is much darkness to contend with, particularly evident in widespread dysfunctional relationships.

As Paul expressed regarding Corinth "a wide door of effective service is open for me, and there are many adversaries" (1 Corinthians 16:9) so likewise is this true here.

This trip has been very rewarding. Hope Chapel’s investment into our Brazilian missionaries has been a joy to observe these last 18 days.

As I get back on the plane, I’m encouraged to know that this couple is not squandering their life here on earth, but are making a difference in people for eternity!

What an example to all of us!

See you soon,

Jason (with editorial input from Christen)

Days 16-18

Days 16-18 (Saturday -Monday) Hello Everyone, While Jason and Sammy prepared for Sunday’s sermon, and counseled members of the congregation, Christen was on a retreat with the women of the church. Approximately 30 women in total were there – including a leadership team with the sole focus of serving those newer believers attending the “Encounter.” Even though Christen has been a believer for nine years, she too had plenty to learn through this experience! It was an incredible opportunity to see the Lord at work transforming the lives of those who have very recently committed to following Him! The spiritual growth that took place over 48 hours would take months to attain outside of this concentrated period of teaching and ministry. It was also a blessing to watch as the church lived out the “priesthood of believers” and to know that the fruit of past Hope Chapel Mission teams is now bearing even more fruit. Those who have been in the faith for two or three years spent their entire weekend teaching, praying, or serving meals to those who were converted two or three months ago. WOW! In addition to simply observing the ministry, Christen was also inspired by a specific teaching on the cross. Although so fundamentally basic to our faith, the cross remains profound. Furthermore, every aspect of our ministry must begin and be centered upon it! Speaking of ministry, it’s our last day full day here in Bom Retiro and Christen still refuses to stop! In the midst of saying goodbyes last night, she was also making plans for lunch, ice-cream and more, to take place today. She was delighted to finally spend some time pouring into Agnes, Noelle, and Uliana over lunch. These three sisters were anxious for attention, but have not been consistent in church due to family problems which Satan has used to distract them. When praying, please remember the following requests: · These three girls, and the many lives which have been touched through our ministry here in Bom Retiro and the surrounding area. Pray that the seeds planted here will continue to grow – and bear fruit! · Jason and Christen as they prepare to travel. Pray for Christen as she spends the following week meeting with believers in Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia. · Marcia, Sammy, and Caleb as they transition back into “normal” life. Ask that the Lord would continue to sustain them and give them a period of rest. Blessings, Christen & Jason

Day 15

Day 15 (Friday)

Hello Everyone,

Christen and Marcia left this evening for a two night women’s retreat while Sammy and I went to a big birthday party for Karina, a 15year old girl whose is a younger sister of one of Sammy’s disciples named a Vladimir.

We had awesome churrasco (barbecue) and birthday cake.

We left the party and 3 guys joined us for late-night coffee back at Sammy’s home. These guys are in one of the 30 cell (small) groups in the church here.

The highlight of the evening was a new brother in the Lord, nickname Tatu who sung us a recent song he wrote. He is only three weeks old in Jesus.

He is a secular musician by trade. It will be wonderful to see him re-direct his talent to the glory of God in the years to come. I pray he will get grounded & his life will yield a fruitful crop (Matt 13:23).

Last year, he remembered Michael Chatman who came on the 2008 mission team in the studio when they cut a bi-lingual Christian Brazilian music CD. Tatu commented, “Oh, here comes these lame Christians again! How ironic- 12 months later his eyes would be open to Jesus.

“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary” Galatians 6:9

What a good reminder for us. You never know who is watching you and what seeds you are planting….even if from all appearances sake you don’t observe any spiritual interest.

On behalf of the team,

Jason

Day 14

Day 14 (Thursday)

Hello Everyone,

“Then he appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach and to have authority to cast out demons” Mark 3:14,15

Effective leadership selects, models, and releases people into specific assignments. They develop others to reach their potential. No one did this better than Jesus.

Tonight, I saw a 21^st century example of this in Pastor Sammy.

After leading Valcir to the Jesus in 1999, Sammy selected Valcir and Evaldo to begin a church plant in Novo Hamburgo (pop. 150,000) in 2004 . Each week, for one year, Sammy drove one hour away to this city, to form, nurture and develop the leadership base.

I taught in this church plant this evening. What a joy to see that what began in a living room has expanded to a church family of 100 followers of Jesus. It continues to grow under the solid pastoral leadership of Valcir & Claudete and Evaldo & Louvane.

After the service, I particularly wanted to meet the Sunday School Director and take note of the children’s ministry facilities. I discovered that 25-30 school-aged children (those who can read) meet in a big room. This room is divided into a smaller room by a partition to accommodate an additional 10-15 babies & children (up to 6 years old).

The sight of their facility reminded me of the early 1980s days when we began Hope Chapel, and the challenging conditions of our nursery and children’s ministry facilities.

These childrens’ workers in Novo Hamburgo are soldiers for Jesus. They labor in obscurity inculcating the values of Jesus into the little lives with which they have been entrusted.

After we returned home at midnight and enjoyed coffee and conversation with Joel, we were about to wind down. However, around 2:00am, we discovered the live broadcast of Kit’s memorial service, and like all of you, Sammy, Christen and I were more than inspired over the honor Kit gave to Jesus and the impact his life had for the Kingdom.

Jesus multiplied His influence through His disciples; likewise, the lives of Sammy, the childrens’ workers, and Kit are an example to each of us as well.

On behalf of the team,

Jason