Sunday-Part 2

We've shared before about our great friends Freitas and Auristela.  We got to know them a few years ago from our frequent trips to their store. They are the owners of a hardware store in our neighborhood.

God has really grown a great friendship with our family and these guys.

They, and their son Maurício, are a part of the house church that meets in our house.

We love all three very much and are so thankful that God put them in our lives.  They are a blessing to us in many ways.

A few months ago Freitas decided to open up his hardware store on Sunday mornings to try to generate more business.

One of the things I love most about what God has called us to do is that He is reminding us that the word "church" means us, his kids. It doesn't mean a building or a fixed time every week at a fixed place.House church is mobile. It moves when there is a need and it morphs when needed.

When Freitas decided to open up his hardware store on Sunday it was time for our house church to morph.  We then began some Sundays together with the men of our house church meeting at the hardware store and the women meeting here in our house.

Each group got to go a little bit deeper into our studies together.

One Sunday we opened up the subject of baptism at the hardware store. What it meant, why do it, etc.We then closed the store and came back to our house.  When we entered our house the girls were studying the exact same thing. It wasn't anything we planned but the Spirit was planning on us having the same study on the same morning.

A little while later Auristela told Benay that she wanted to be baptized on May 23.  It was her birthday and she wanted to make it an even more special day by sharing her commitment to Christ with her blood and house church family.

So after the marathon relay on Sunday we came home and got ready for a special time together with our house church family.

We were then blessed to be a part of Auristela's baptism. It was an amazing time. Auristela had asked Benay and Leni to baptize her.  Benay shared what Auristela meant to her.  Leni read some verses from Romans 8. It was a really special time.

Here are a few photos from the day:

Some of you may be wondering what in the world was Auristela baptized in. Well, we had lots of rain and cooler temperatures last week and, even though our neighbors graciously allowed us to use their pool again, no one really wanted to get into that freezing cold water. So we used some of our house church tithe and Freitas bought a caixa de água. It's a tub that people put in their attic or on top of apartment building that holds water so that you always have a reservoir in your house.  Benay's sister said it's a giant rubbermaid container with a lid.  That's a pretty good description.

One of my favorite pictures is the second one. It's the one where Freitas, Auristela, Leni and Benay are all with Maurício. They were all explaining to this two year old what was happening. What a great example of the love of God's family. The baptism didn't take importance over loving on Maurício.

Here is a video of the baptism. I'm not going to share everything that was said. I'll allow the Spirit to speak to you through the video as He was completely covering that special time.

One of my most favorite things about this time was that Auristela's mom and dad were there.  Auristela was raised Catholic and was baptized as an infant.  Before the baptism Benay had the chance to thank her mom and dad for the way they raised her.  She wanted them to know that Sunday's baptism was an incredible addition to them dedicating her to the Lord as a baby.  That it was a further affirmation of the way they raised her and that she was now making her own commitment to the Lord.

Her mom, Terezinha, was the one speaking at the end of the video as she shared how heaven was rejoicing because of Auristela's decision.  Benay and I are growing a deep love for her parents.  We love it when we get to spend time with them. They are very special and we were so happy that they could be a part of the day.

We then had a birthday celebration lunch and cake together.

Matt and I was talking about the day yesterday.  When we first moved here, almost eight years ago, we had a game plan as to how "church" would look like here in Porto Alegre.  Eight years later it is nothing like we ever dreamed it would be. It's much more intense, much more difficult and much better than our little human minds could have imagined. We shared how much more humble we are now as we realize we didn't and don't know anything about "church strategy." Everything is done in God's timing. We just look to see what God is blessing and go there and join Him. I am thankful and blessed to be a part of team that isn't afraid to change when change is needed and isn't afraid to go outside of their comfort zone to reach the lost and be Christ in any way that God chooses to ask us to do so.

We are reminded, with Auristela's new faith walk, that everything begins with friendship. Auristela is our friend and now, praise God, she is our sister in Chirst. What an incredible blessing. Even if Auristela never decided to give her life to Christ she would still be one of our special friends here in Brasil.  Everything starts with friendship.

Sunday was an amazing blessing to be a part of and we know that God has more good things to share in the future. In fact, tomorrow we are going to share more good things that He did on Sunday.