CABEÇUDOS!!!
Brief testemony from one american student that is here in Brazil
Hello everyone!
Well, we have only 6 days left before we leave for home. It has been a great summer here in Brazil and I am both sad and excited about coming home. Our retreat went awesome! After a summer of continually devoting ourselves to the students here in Belo, we finally got a great chance to go deeper in our relationships and begin to discuss our desires and where they lead us.
Students were challenged again to think about fulfillment and how or if their desires could be fulfilled. One student, Lucas, came to the retreat not knowing what his desires were or where they were leading and left the retreat considering Jesus. He was challenged to investigate the life of the "real" Jesus and not the Jesus who others might portray him as. He left with a real hunger to know the real Jesus and what He stood for (John 6:25).
I read a passage in 1 Thessalonians 2 today that really summarized our time in Brazil. Paul had gone through much suffering while in Philippi that had produced a boldness to declare the Gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. I have felt similar many times here because it has not been easy meeting new people day after day, but through those sufferings, God has given me boldness and a desire to proclaim His love to others.
The passage goes on to say that while Paul was declaring the Gospel, he never came with words of flattery, or seeking glory from people, or others but came to them as a humble servant, being affectionately desirous of them, sharing not only the gospel of God but his very self because they had become dear to Paul. I believe the same is true for the team and me as well. We came to Brazil to share not only the gospel of God but also our very selves and through all of that time we have developed great relationships with the Brazilians here because I believe they have become very dear to us.
God is doing great things here in Brazil! Each of you has played an important part in my summer. Therefore, on August 5th I would like to invite you to come and learn more about my time in Brazil. I have planned the night to consist of music as well as information about our summer and what we learned while we were here. I am excited and look forward to talking to each of you when I get back home!
In Him,
Isaac
Hello everyone!
Well, we have only 6 days left before we leave for home. It has been a great summer here in Brazil and I am both sad and excited about coming home. Our retreat went awesome! After a summer of continually devoting ourselves to the students here in Belo, we finally got a great chance to go deeper in our relationships and begin to discuss our desires and where they lead us.
Students were challenged again to think about fulfillment and how or if their desires could be fulfilled. One student, Lucas, came to the retreat not knowing what his desires were or where they were leading and left the retreat considering Jesus. He was challenged to investigate the life of the "real" Jesus and not the Jesus who others might portray him as. He left with a real hunger to know the real Jesus and what He stood for (John 6:25).
I read a passage in 1 Thessalonians 2 today that really summarized our time in Brazil. Paul had gone through much suffering while in Philippi that had produced a boldness to declare the Gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. I have felt similar many times here because it has not been easy meeting new people day after day, but through those sufferings, God has given me boldness and a desire to proclaim His love to others.
The passage goes on to say that while Paul was declaring the Gospel, he never came with words of flattery, or seeking glory from people, or others but came to them as a humble servant, being affectionately desirous of them, sharing not only the gospel of God but his very self because they had become dear to Paul. I believe the same is true for the team and me as well. We came to Brazil to share not only the gospel of God but also our very selves and through all of that time we have developed great relationships with the Brazilians here because I believe they have become very dear to us.
God is doing great things here in Brazil! Each of you has played an important part in my summer. Therefore, on August 5th I would like to invite you to come and learn more about my time in Brazil. I have planned the night to consist of music as well as information about our summer and what we learned while we were here. I am excited and look forward to talking to each of you when I get back home!
In Him,
Isaac
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