Wednesday

You remember Everton and Daiana don't you?

Yesterday we were blessed to be a part of their wedding day.

It took place at a government building in front of a justice of the peace. It was a big deal. A lot of Brasilians prefer to live together instead of actually getting married. It's very common. So these guys are great examples of wanting to do it God's way.

Benay, Leni, Paulo Renato and I went to pick them up at their house and take them to the justice of the peace. Benay and I were also blessed to be asked to be the official witnesses to their wedding.

Before I go on I need to share that on Tuesday Benay, Leni and Bronwyn went and picked up Daiana and took her to buy some new clothes for the special day. The house church that meets in our house used our tithe from Sunday to buy those clothes. There was money left over and so they gave it to Daiana to get her hair fixed as well as her nails. I don't think she had ever had that done before. When we picked her up yesterday she was, literally, smiling ear to ear.Leni's son, Jorge, gave Everton one of his suits for the wedding. Leni made sure he looked perfect.
They both looked great.The ceremony was short but they were made to feel like they were important as the office workers kept every other person out while they did the official service. One poor guy came in and the woman performing the ceremony (I'll call her "the Enforcer") stopped and said, "Can't you see we are in the middle of a wedding? You will have to wait outside until we are done." The man apparently didn't think one question would hurt so he began to ask if anyone could help him and he got chewed out and told to leave again. He left and never came back. I almost lost it during that part. Those women were serious about making this just about Everton and Daiana. I liked that. When it was over "the Enforcer" presented them with their official marriage document. Immediately after the ceremony Everton told me that he felt like he could breathe again. He said had been very nervous.

After the wedding we took some family (blood and spiritual) pictures...........and then took Everton to work.

On the way, Benay and I were blessed to hear our Brasilian brothers and sister talk about how much of a blessing God's family is and how they are more connected with God's family than their own blood family. Isn't that the way it is supposed to be? Benay and I just smiled as we listened to the conversation.

Please pray for them as they continue to be a light to their kids and to their neighborhood.

A new house church was started in their house just two weeks ago. Our brother and sister, João and Clarice, are helping Everton and Daiana as they plant this new house church with hopes of reaching many of their neighbors with the good news.

We will have a religious ceremony/celebration at our house on Sunday. We hope to post some photos of that day as well.

God is doing so much good stuff here. It's going to be hard for us to leave next week for our visit to the United States.