Hey Family! This month was a another ATL (Ask. The. Lord.) We had no contacts, didnt know where we would stay, or what we would be would be doing. The unplanned moments have been the best so far! Our days have been filled with God answering crazy dreams and leading us on a journey of being present in His presence And what it looks like to partner with Him daily.
I am constantly reminded of Jesus going town to town to preach the Good News, heal the sick, and be in community with people along His journey to the day of His crucification. Jesus was never too busy or proud to help. He was present and available.
We started in French Guiana with nowhere to go and ended up being dropped off at a beach because all of our planned camping grounds did not work out.
Here is a glimpse of some of the people we got to encounter.
-Heidi (meet at McDonald’s as she was grading school papers) who after hours of searching found a place for us to stay with the Clair family in French Guiana.
-The Clair family who treated us like royalty. We gave the parents date night, walked the kids to school, and picked cotton and papaya from the trees in the yard.
-We arrive in Macapa and ended up staying with a pastor who speaks on a christian radio station that broadcast locally and internationally. She hears our journey and wanted us to share on the radio. She also wanted us to talk with students from a seminary school who desired to be future missionaries. We talked with them sharing our stories individually and encourage then to pursue their desires for missions.
-After 5 days of being on a boat we get to Santuren, Brazil. We had no leads or contacts. Two team mates meet a lady named Victoria who opens her home for us to have lunch with her. Little did we know we would be meeting people from all over Brazil who had come to attend a Christian conference of over 7,000 people. They wanted to hear our journeys that lead us to do the world race and were encouraged by out walks. We enjoyed fellowship with them, sang with them, and prayed.
-We arrive in Maunas and were greeted by a couple of men outside of a hostel in our attempt to find a place to stay. We told them our budget and Jesus intervened. They escorted us into their tourist business to sit and relax as they were trying to find a place for us. I shake the owner’s hand and he immediately asks, “Are you all missionaries?”
A team mate responds, “Yes, was it because of our clothes?”
He laughs and says, “No when I shook her hand I felt something. I can’t explain. Something warm in my spirit.”
We were all caught off guard and knew God was definitely up to something.
He asked if we wanted to stay in the jungle but we knew as much as we wanted it wasn’t in our $30 nightly lodging budget. He makes a deal with us and we get to go into the jungle for two days. This was a answered prayer. Most of us were desiring different things and we all were able to experience, piranha fishing, Cayman hunting, see pink Dolphins, go into the jungle, have a/c with a bed with white linen sheets lol.)
As we are preparing to leave the owner asks us if any of us were pastors and we all shook our heads no. He wanted us to talk with a guy who in less than 24 hours had been shot in the head 3 times by someone and the bullet did not touch him. He literally didn’t understand how he was alive but he was convinced and ready to give His life to the Lord. We were all shocked and excited to join in this beautiful moment. We quickly jumped at the opportunity to encourage him. The local pastor came and we all were able to witness Edward give his life to the Lord. It was by far one the most beautiful things I have encountered. I watched a broken man being restored back to the Father. The joy in his face and the hope that bleed through his words was evident that God had a purpose for Him and God called him son.
-We get to the jungle and immediately after putting our bags down I see a woman with a guitar singing songs to two kids. It was so precious because they were so in tune and the passion behind her words was like joy to the bones. A day later were about to leave and Ajue(our tour guide) called me “Candy bum bum come.” I walk towards him and he says “Come this lady wants you to sing songs about Jesus to her.” I said, “Me?”
In my head I’m thinking Lord now you know I’m just a choir member. Esther (team mate) is the soloist. You sure you don’t want her?
Here I am sitting in front of the lady who was just singing songs about Jesus to kids And she wants me to sing to her. She had the biggest smile of excitement on her face. And she motions me to sing something. Guys a frog was in my throat, my heart started beating uncontrollably, as I’m looking for Esther to appear like a miracle and say the day and I just blurt out, “Your presence is like heaven to me. Jesus loves me yes I know. For the bible tells me so…”
She starts singing along with me and by the end of the song she begins to speak in Portueguesse about how great God is, how majestic He is, and his unfailing love endures. Up until this point understanding Portueuesge was a struggle but in that very moment I understood every word she was saying and it blew my mind. I was just being present in His presence.
The video you about to see are some of the encounters that you are reading about. God opened His arms for me to be present in His presence of intervening in people’s lives, of showing his unfailing love through song, showing his kindness and goodness by serving others, to experience His love through encounters with strangers who wanted more of understanding and knowing Jesus. I have been so grateful to walk alongside Him and experience such encounters as these. It’s a constant reminder that He chose me. He chose this journey for me to see His heart, His people, and witness encounters that changes the lives of people with his love.
We have finished pioneering the Amazon and have landed in Iquitos, Peru. What He is doing here already is amazing! Stay tuned and continue riding this journey with me! It only gets better and better!
Enjoy!
