Sunday

One of the great things about doing what we do is seeing what God can do with a small group of people who are trying to follow Christ. Sunday was another day of us being allowed to see God working.

We have a new brother in Christ. His name is Ellinton. He's an amazing guy, and has a great family. You can read more about him here on Matt's blog.

Sunday was the second time he's been in our house church. Every Sunday we ask where our tithe needs to go. If someone has a need or knows of a need, it goes to them. If there is more than one need, then we split it. You get the picture. If there is a need, we try to immediately meet it.

Ellinton has been with us for two Sundays, and both Sundays he has suggested our tithe go to Daiana. If you don't remember her, you can go here. She has 4 small boys at home, and is pregnant with her 5th child which is a girl. Her husband is in the drug and alcohol recovery center right now, so you can imagine how difficult things are for her right now as a "single" mom. Ellinton feels special compassion for this family since he got to know Everton, Daiana's husband, while in the recovery center himself.

One more Acts chapter 2 example of the body sharing and taking care of each other. Very encouraging for everyone involved.

Our prodigal son also returned on Sunday. If you've followed this blog for any amount of time, you know of our love for a young man named Giu. He was in Bronwyn's high school class for the last few years. He made some steps towards Christ last year and even decided to give his life to Christ. Not long after that he became more distant to Bronwyn, Ansley, our family and his house church family. He stayed away for some time.

A couple of weeks ago Bronwyn had a birthday dinner and invited a lot of her buddies. Giu was there. His mom lives in São Paulo, and Giu lives with his aunt and uncle. A few months ago Giu's mom asked Benay to take care of Giu, spiritually speaking, until she moves back to Porto Alegre. At the party Benay told Giu it was time for him to come back to house church. He said it was hard waking up on Sunday mornings. Benay said she would begin calling him every Sunday morning at 8:30 and then I would go and pick him up. He agreed. He came on Sunday and brought his usual amazing energy to the praise time.

He stayed with us the whole day. God even gave me a chance to talk with him about his giftedness in the kingdom and how Satan has been attacking him because of what, I feel, he knows Giu can do for God's kingdom if he just sells out. Pray for Giu to sell out.

Sunday was a pretty amazing day. We had 7 different families worshiping together.

I've had many people who have worked in missions tell me that in a lot of ways the real work doesn't start until after you have been somehwere 5 or more years. I am beginning to see how true that is. We've had a lot of frustrating times since we've arrived, but we are beginning to see that God is laying a solid foundation to what he called our family to do here 10 years ago.

This whole process of learning how to "be church" instead of "play church" has definitely taught us how to rely on God more. How to throw what man considers to be success out the window. How to look where God is working and blessing, and join Him there. We are learning that He is definitely blessing what is going on at the drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. At our last celebration (a once a month get together with all the house churches) over half of the people present were, in some way, tied in with the recovery center.

Sunday reminded us that He is in control and that His will is being done here on His timetable and according to His will.