On Mission with God

Over a week-and-a-half ago our quiet afternoon turned upside down and inside out as high winds and tornados moved through our city and county knocking down powerlines, trees, ripping roofs off houses, leveling barns and chicken houses.  This sounds like Texas! The thing that makes it all seem surreal is that Brazil is NOT supposed to have tornados. In the next 20 minutes after the tornado, ´sideways´ rain, and hail hammered our home and after we had squigied out gallons of water from the entry way (which I have dubbed the stairs river because I pushed it downstairs and out) we found tile sticking in the ground from our roof. Following this we began to see TV and read newspaper reports about the devastation. Following this our team began contacting  local officials and IMB disaster relief. And it has come together!

Southern Baptists, through the IMB, have sent thousands of dollars and now help is reaching the Hunsrik who have not been able to repair their homes. This home (picture right) belongs to the Pedro Seidel family in the Hunsrik community of Vila Olinda in Nova Pertópolis where we live. I visited their home yesterday and met them. Following this we worked with the Civil Defense and Fire Chief to purchase supplies. Today I went to the house with Joseph and John as the supplies were delivered. The Hunsrik are normally a very closed people, especially to foreigners, but not today. We were received with smiles, hugs and kisses, the boys and I, and spoken to in Hunsrik. Such a warm welcome often takes much more time to receive as the Hunsrik, wary of outsiders, guard their language and friendship for intimate circles only. Mrs. Seidel even had her daughter come out and meet us. She is five and pictured with her mom in the photo. This is also not the norm as the children are sheltered from strangers.

As you can see the tin roof was completely ripped off and water entered the house as the winds and rains pounded away. They were so frightened she said when I saw her yesterday morning. Today she is all smiles because tomorrow Pedro, along with neighbors, will come together and put the tiles back on. Following this she will be receiving food, matresses, bedding, etc… All of this is such a blessing from this side of the storm. We are grateful to Southern Baptists who have made this disaster relief possible.

Pray for the Seidels and others who are still in great need. Pray that they will have receptive hearts to Christ as we share his love with them in this hour of great need.

All morning she prayed for her neighbor. That day her husband asked her to make a visit with him to the neighbor´s home. During the visit Rosane prayed for her health telling her neighbor that there is none but Jesus who died and rose again for us and that he alone could heal her. Her neighbor responded that if she was healed in Jesus´ name then she would commit her life to serving him alone. She made this statement with an image of Mary, the patron saint of Brazil, over her shoulder. Rosane said that if she had not had the dream the night before she would have ´railed´ against the woman´s idolatry instead of praying for her. She rejoiced that she was able to give testimony and prepare her neighbor for what the Lord is going to do. Pray for Rosane who often suffers at the hands of Catholics. Pray also for her neighbor.

Luciano and his wife Rosângela learned Hunsrik as children from their parents in the interior of Brazil’s south where immigrants from all over Europe came seeking a better life. Their families have been Catholic longer than any of them can remember. With this many years of family and societal traditions change comes at a high price. Friends often ridicule you and family can cut you off. However, this couple continues to pay the price as they learn more and more about God through Bible teaching. Their journey has been one that the team has been watching carefully and praying over. 

Recently they studied the Ten Commandments and the issue of idols and images came again to the forefront. They have accepted that their worship of the saints through images as well as their prayer to the dead is a sin but now they are wrestling with what to with the images that are family heirlooms. Those who have walked this path understand the ties that exist with those who have gone before us being bound up in the images of the saints or Mary. Pray for Luciano and his wife to be set free from their past.

Recently the team has struggled through a series of difficulties both physically and spiritually that have begun to take their toll. Both IMB and national team members grow weary in the face of illness and spiritual darkness, and even spiritual attack, and this can leave one feeling as if the wind has been taken away. Often the difficult and dark days are a prelude to blessing and growth that is coming if we will but persevere.

Pray for the team and those in the churches to persevere. Pray for deliverance from evil and to love God, neighbor, and enemy alike. Many in the churches face persecution on a daily basis at work and at home. Also, pray that God would bring new workers to the harvest from among the Hunsrik. There are so many that have yet to hear that Jesus is so much more than a ceramic image.