Grace

Meet two members of our house church - Ivoli and Grace. (Pronouced like Gracie in Portuguese.) This mother and daughter were just beginning to participate in our church when we were still in our church building, and when we changed to house churches, we have had the blessing of having them in our house every Sunday. While both Ivoli and Gracie have had a strong faith, neither one had made a public committment to Christ in baptism. At the end of last year, Gracie decided that she was ready to take this step. So one Sunday in December after our worship time, we went to our teammates', Sascha and Jennifer's house for the baptism. Gracie is great friends with our daughters Bronwyn and Ansley - something for which we are very thankful. Gracie is a great girl in every way and a good influence on our girls. When it came time for her baptism, Gracie chose Bronwyn and Ansley to do the honors. (Would this ever happen in a "normal" church?) Bronwyn and Ansley took their responsibility very seriously and chose special scriptures to read before the baptism. We sang songs and gave others the opportunity to say something to Gracie or share a scripture. Gracie chose a song to sing called "Be the Center". It says "Be the center, Be everything, In my heart Lord. Be the life in my chest, everyday here and eternally." The baptism was one of the most moving and special things that I have ever been a part of. There was just something so pure and innocent about 3 sweet girls going down into the water to publicly proclaim Christ as their Lord.
After it was over, I don't think there was a dry eye among us as all of our house church members, one by one, hugged and loved on Gracie as we sang songs of praise. This is Gracie's mom, Ivoli, hugging her.
This was an especially bittersweet day because the week after this, Gracie would leave us for a while to do a work exchange program in the US. She is an excellent English speaker, and she was chosen for an opportunity to work in Orlando at Universal Studios for a few months. Here she is sharing a prayer with Bronwyn and Ansley at the airport right before she left. She is still in the US now, and has had a wonderful experience - although we have missed her terribly. We are so proud of the way that she has represented her family, Brazil and especially Christ on her trip - as He, too, represents her before the Father. I couldn't write this post without thinking of the song by Point of Grace called "Saving Grace". I looked up the lyrics, and while all of them don't pertain to our Gracie, some of them were very appropriate. You see, Gracie didn't decide to become a Christian because one of the missionaries had a Bible study with her. I believe that she was shown Jesus consistently by our group, and especially by Bronwyn and Ansley. These lyrics say it all.....

She never darkened the door of any church

She would say, What for...no one there would care for me

We have to go where she lives

Simply show her who Jesus is

Watch Him set her free

For grace flows down from above and

faith requires a selfless love

For a world that's dying to see

the hope in you in me

It's all about saving Grace

All about living love

Being Jesus to those He came to save

Sharing life and giving our own away

it's all about serving God

All about saving Grace

There are countless millions just like Grace

Who need a merciful embrace

They won't believe our God is real

Until they feel His touch

It's all about saving Grace

All about living love

Being Jesus to those He came to save

Sharing life and giving our own away

it's all about serving God

All about saving Grace

Thank you, Lord, for letting us be a part of your saving work in Gracie's life.

Gracie - We miss you and we love you!!