Chico - The Brazilian

The SBP was an experience that I will never forget and that has really marked my life.

When I arrived in the SBP, I was very excited.  All that structure, all those people. Most of them really interested in knowing God, all of them with one go. I found incredible to take a walk in the hotel and to see lots of people studying the bible, talking about God.

19^th of January, in this night I felt something inexplicable and very strong for me. I could feel the presence of God in my life. I could feel as if He was rescuing me, that He was forgiving my sins. In this night I could see the value of the sacrifice of the cross. How good it could be to walked with God. Another thing without explanation was the way as my faith was empowered. From this day on, I have the confidence of who God is. Another feeling that marked me very strongly was the assurance that it does not matter what can happen in my life, God will be always on my side.

Wesley Silva

Mechanical Engineering Student

O PNP foi uma experiência que eu nunca vou esquecer e que realmente marcou a minha vida.

Toda aquela estrutura, todas aquelas pessoas. O mais interessante é que todas estavam voltadas para um alvo. Eu achava incrível passear pela pousada e ver as pessoas estudando a bíblia, conversando sobre Deus.

dia 19 de janeiro. Nesta noite eu senti algo inexplicável e muito forte para mim. Eu pude sentir a presença de Deus na minha vida. Eu pude sentir como se Ele estivesse me resgatando, que Ele estava perdoando os meus pecados. Nesta noite eu pude ver o valor do sacrifício da cruz. O quão bom seria uma caminhada com Deus.

Hoje, o que eu mais quero é continuar em direção a Deus. E pela grande graça do meu Senhor, eu tenho convicção que Ele me dará forças para continuar nesta caminhada.

Wesley Silva

Mechanical Engineering Student

Before knowing God, I always had an emptiness in me, that was mainly the result for the lack of a love of father in my life, and I tried to fill this emptiness through drinking, using drugs, trying happiness in women, working, studying, but I did not find happiness I in none of these things. I only found true joy in God. I was in this beach project that the emptiness that existed in me was total filled by the love of God. He showed me that I can find joy in small things when they are done for God's Glory as for example to dance. The confidence that I got in God is now reflected in my relationships and I started to have true communion with other people showing the real me, and then I started to see the importance of the community in my life so that I can experience each time more the love of God.

Bruno Ribeiro

Mechanical Eng. Studet UFMG

Antes de conhecer a Deus sempre existiu um vazio em mim, provocado principalmente pela falta de um amor de pai em minha vida, e eu tentava preencher este vazio atraves de bebidas, drogas, mulheres, trabalho, faculdade, mas eu nao encontrei felicidade em nenhuma destas coisas eu só encontrei alegria verdadeira em Deus e foi neste projeto na praia que o vazio que existia em mim foi totalmente preenchido pelo amor de Deus.Ele me mostrou como posso experimentar alegria em pequenas coisas quando elas sao feitas para a sua gloria como por exemplo dancar.A confianca que obtive em Deus refletiu nos meus relacionamentos e eu passei a ter comunhao verdadeira com as pessoas mostrando o que eu realmente sinto, e entao passei a enxergar  a importancia da comunidade na minha vida para que eu possa estar experimentando cada vez mais do amor de Deus.

Bruno Ribeiro

Mechanical Eng. Studet UFMG

It is clear for me that God was present at all moments of my life, as He makes in the life of each human being, but there was a moment where I was convinced by the Holy Spirit of the love of God through Jesus Christ and this love was bigger and more wonderful of any another thing that I already had tried. And this Love was for me, totally for free (grace).

So I was certain that this love was enough reason to live, and was therefore moved to enjoy God´s love and to live for Him as a consequence. Then in that time I was saved and the Holy Spirit came to live inside of me. He was not anymore a mere participant but as main influence and because of these I tried to search for every day how to be his son and belong to Him. Of course it is a process, in which my mind has being transformed and I have being moving each day more form the Kingdom of the "I" to the kingdom of Jesus Christ. This happens many times in difficult way however of great value for the growth.

l In this new life the presence of other Christians guided for God has been essential to help me find direction, to grow, to motivate and to be true brothers in this journey.

I have learned more from God. I have seen the transformation in me, my dreams had changed, my way to see life had changed and life had changed.

I am so thankful for all He had made in me and for all He will make in me in the future.

Gustavo Bastos Costa

A diferença que Deus faz na minha vida!

É claro que Deus esteve presente em todos momentos de minha vida minha vida , como o faz na vida de cada ser humano , mas a partir do momento em que fui convencido pelo Santo Espírito de que o amor de Deus por meio de Jesus Cristo era maior e mais maravilhoso do que qualquer outra coisa que eu já havia experimentado,era por mim, e de graça , então tive certeza que essa era a razão pela qual valia a pena viver, e era por isso eu queria viver, então pude receber a salvação e o Santo Espírito para habitar em mim.A partir de então Deus não mais distante ,mas Pai, se fez presente de forma diferente na minha vida, não apenas como um mero participante mas como principal influência pois passei a cada dia buscar mais dele de como viver para ele e sendo filho dele.Claro que é um processo em que isso ocorre, no qual minha mente vem sendo transformada em etapas saindo do reino do "eu" e passando para o Reino do Pai , muitas vezes de maneira difícil porém de grande valia para o crescimento nessa jornada , mas repleta de alegria e esperança pois o amor de Deus e suas promessas sempre me lembram que não tenho motivos para desespero ou tristeza.Nessa nova vida tem sido essencial a presença de outros cristãos guiados por Deus para ajudar a me orientar, viver , crescer , motivar , enfim serem verdadeiros irmãos e participantes dessa jornada.Tenho aprendido mais de Deus tenho visto a transformação que vem sendo feita em mim, meus sonhos mudaram minha maneira de ver a vida e viver.Tenho muito o que aprender e experimentar estou no processo de amadurecimento da fé e sou grato ao Pai por toda diferença que ele tem feito na minha vida e pela diferença que isso fará ainda mais no porvir.

Gustavo Bastos Costa

Hello my friends!!!

I want to tell all of you that my brother and his family (Guilherme&Amber and Samuel) are coming to US. They are raising support and will be there for one month. We as a Team decided for Guilherme to travel and to Cristina and I to stay in Brazil (We were planning to visit US). So we could lead the community here in Brazil. Guilherme will be in Birmingham from 19^th February to 2^nd March. Then He will go to Tulsa (3rd to 6th) and 7th to 16th Saint Paul.

I would like for you all to be praying for them as they travel so many days out of home and for God to provide their support.

Please if you want to see him and help him in his trip here is want you can do:

• Pray for Him
  
• Support him with any amount you want monthly
  
• Give Gui and Amber an opportunity to meet some of your Christian friends (Sunday school class, small group friends, work friends, …) so that He can explain our ministry and get them an opportunity to think if they want to be involved. If you want to help send me and email: chico@campusoutreach.org and I will be glad to help you to help him. Or just contact him directly galbergaria@campusoutreach.org
  

These are essential acts for the success of this trip. Be a part of that!

Praise the Lord, because HE IS EXPANDING THE KINGDOM!

Chico

This project was my second as a director. I was more calm and trusting more this time. Lead is a hard task, especially if you try to do it yourself (and I tend to do this way), instead of trusting God and letting your team work with you. This year our team was a young team and we were excited but at the same time, we had some trust issues to work out. God really used the project to treat our characters and to join us as one Team. First, because He likes to works in unity, love and trust; and second because there is no way to show God as a body if we are not one. This lesson is very clear to me now and God has taught us that with our team in this Beach project.

Leading this year was more enjoyable. I think God is giving me more maturity to lead and enjoy leading instead of being stressed.

Please keep praying that God will give me all maturity in Christ to lead and to show His glory as I serve Him.

Praise the Lord! He is always teaching us how to work for Him!